Towards revitalizing WIND activities to strengthen the fight against child labour

ACCEL Africa II and ENACTE Projects Review Achievements in Implementing the WIND Approach to Combat Child Labour in Côte d’Ivoire

Yamoussoukro, April 3-5, 2024 – The ACCEL Africa II and ENACTE projects of the International Labour Office (ILO) recently organized a workshop in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. The workshop brought together approximately twenty participants from various organizations including the Ministry of Employment and Social Protection (MEPS), the National Rural Development Support Agency (ANADER), the Coffee and Cocoa Council, the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI), cooperatives, and communities. The main objective of the workshop was to review the achievements in the implementation of the WIND approach to combat child labour in the cocoa value chain in Côte d’Ivoire.

The WIND Approach and Its Impact on Working and Living Conditions

The WIND approach is a methodology developed by the ILO to improve working and living conditions in rural areas by applying Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) principles. The workshop focused on reviewing the interventions conducted between 2021 and 2023 as part of the deployment of the WIND approach in cocoa-producing communities in Côte d’Ivoire.

During the period of 2021 to 2023, a total of 135 community actors received capacity building based on the tools of the WIND approach. The participants involved in the implementation of the approach acknowledged that WIND has contributed significantly to overcoming the reluctances associated with child labour initiatives. The approach primarily targets improving the working and living conditions of the communities. Achievements such as improved stoves and the cocoa pod breaker have positively impacted the working conditions, making them less strenuous, and have also improved living conditions by reducing health risks. Consequently, there has been a decreased risk of child labour in these communities.

Identifying Challenges and Lessons Learned

The sharing of experiences during the workshop helped identify the main difficulties faced by the actors involved in the deployment of WIND. These challenges include the short duration of implementation and monitoring of activities, as well as the low level of ownership and commitment from some peer trainers despite the support provided through income-generating activities (IGA).

Several lessons learned from these challenges will guide the resumption of WIND interventions in Côte d’Ivoire. Concrete improvement avenues were also identified, including the introduction of a general module on OSH and Child Labor during training, the involvement of cooperatives and companies in supply chains to implement interventions, and the implementation of activities for the standardization and dissemination of selected champion innovations such as the cocoa pod breaker and improved stove.

Developing an Action Plan for WIND Revitalization

At the end of the workshop, a WIND action plan for the period from May 2024 to May 2025 was developed. Follow-up meetings will be organized with key actors such as ANADER, the Coffee and Cocoa Council, and MEPS to finalize and validate this action plan. The aim is to begin the effective implementation of the WIND revitalization interventions. Additionally, certificates were awarded to trainers and peer trainers who received training between 2021 and 2023, marking the conclusion of the workshop.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the implementation of the WIND approach to combat child labor and improve working conditions in cocoa-producing communities in Côte d’Ivoire. This directly relates to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. It also connects to SDG 12, which focuses on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by addressing child labor in the cocoa value chain. Additionally, the involvement of various organizations and institutions in the implementation process highlights the importance of strong institutions and partnerships, aligning with SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

The article highlights the efforts to combat child labor in the cocoa value chain, which aligns with Target 8.7 under SDG 8. This target specifically aims to eradicate the worst forms of child labor. Additionally, the focus on improving working and living conditions in cocoa-producing communities relates to Target 12.3 under SDG 12, which aims to reduce food losses along production and supply chains.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
• Indicator 12.3.1: Global food loss index.

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but it implies that progress can be measured by monitoring the proportion and number of children engaged in child labor (Indicator 8.7.1) and by assessing the global food loss index (Indicator 12.3.1) in the cocoa value chain. These indicators would help track the effectiveness of interventions in eradicating child labor and reducing food losses.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: ilo.org

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