Breaking the chains of child labour in Burkina Faso and Benin

Across the globe, 160 million children are trapped in child labour, denied their right to education, safety, and play. In sub-Saharan Africa, this crisis continues to grow, particularly in the realm of domestic work, where children, especially girls, are among the most vulnerable.

In response to this, the project “Breaking the chains of exploitation of children in domestic labour in Burkina Faso and Benin” was launched to address the systemic and deeply rooted issues surrounding child labour. Running from 2023 to 2027, the initiative seeks to rescue and provide holistic support for at least 5,000 affected children and raise awareness and educate on risks of child labour and exploitation for at least 1 million people.


Partners

AFAS Foundation

Woord en Daad

SPONG

CREDO

ADDAD

Children Believe

CEATS

LYDIE

DEDRAS

CIPCRE


Sector

Child domestic labour


Services

PMEL and design services

Data collection

Data analysis and visualisation

Data sharing


Location

Benin

Burkina Faso

The challenge

Child domestic labour in Burkina Faso and Benin is often hidden from public view, disproportionately affecting young girls from impoverished, rural backgrounds. Families, driven by economic desperation, send their children to urban areas in search of opportunity. Instead, these children frequently face exploitative working conditions, including being underpaid, isolated, denied access to education, and vulnerable to abuse.

Although both countries have legal frameworks that outlaw child labour, enforcement remains weak. The issue demands not just stronger policy but a coordinated, multi-sectoral response that addresses cultural norms, poverty, and gaps in education and child protection systems.

 

The solution

Funded by the AFAS Foundation and implemented by a ten-member consortium - including Akvo, Woord En Daad, SPONG, CREDO, ADDAD, Children Believe, CEATS, LYDIE, DEDRAS, and CIPCRE - the project aims to combat child domestic labour through a holistic, multi-tiered approach.

Akvo played a key role in delivering PMEL (Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning) and data services across the project. This included:

  • PMEL services: Designing the results framework, Indicators Reference Sheet (IRS), and data collection tools.
  • Study methodology design: Developing survey tools, sampling strategies, and data collection plans; creating geographical maps of project areas; and drafting Terms of Reference (ToRs) for enumerators.
  • Data collection: Recruiting and training field teams, conducting primary and secondary data collection, and overseeing real-time monitoring.
  • Data analysis and visualisation: Cleaning and analysing data, calculating key indicators, producing visual dashboards, and authoring comprehensive reports.
  • Result dissemination: Organising workshops to share findings with stakeholders and publishing study results for broader advocacy and learning.
Above: The dashboard developed by Akvo to drive decision making among actors

The impact

Before working with Akvo, there was limited and outdated data on domestic child exploitation in Benin and Burkina Faso. We needed large-scale data to inform the prevalence and design our interventions.
We chose Akvo for their expertise in data collection, dashboards, and platforms, and because they have presence in the countries where we operate. Unlike some public institutions, they move quickly and deliver within limited timeframes.
Since working with Akvo, we now have evidence to back our work. The study showed the scope and prevalence of child exploitation, helping us understand issues like difficulties in obtaining birth certificates. This allows us to plan interventions, raise awareness, and make data-driven decisions. We now speak with real data, and that makes all the difference.”