April 24, 2025 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The IGAD secretariat in collaboration with Save the Children have kickstarted regional consultation on the development of the IGAD Child Policy Framework. A consultationworkshop hosted by the Federal Government of Ethiopia from April 23-24, 2025 in Addis, Ababa aimed at kickstarting the development of a Results Monitoring Framework to track implementation of the IGAD Child Policy Framework across the multi-stakeholder implementation group including the IGAD Secretariat, Member States and partners as outlined in the policy.
Experts in Monitoring and Evaluation, Child Rights and protection, from Ministries responsible for Children Affairs in IGAD Member States and representatives of international partners in child protection affairs, including UNICEF, UNHCR and IOM attended the workshop.
Dr. Afework Kassa, the Monitoring and Evaluation Expert from IGAD Health and Social Development Division while representing the Director, Health and Social Developmentsaid that the consultations were laying the foundation for effective, evidence-based strategies to address the complex challenges facing children in the IGAD region.
“The Results Monitoring Framework will serve as a tool for harmonizing data collection and reporting, creating a regional platform to gather disaggregated data on key child rights indicators, and enabling Member States to more effectively meet their reporting obligations to international, continental, and regional bodies,” emphasised Dr. Afework.
Ms. Susan Wambui, the Project Manager, East Africa Migration Routes Project at Save the Children remarked that the IGAD Child Policy Framework was a testament to the region’s growing commitment to ensure that all children, regardless of their background or circumstance, grow up in safe and nurturing environments.
She reaffirmed Save the Children’s strong commitment to continue supporting IGAD and its Member States in advancing child rights and protection across the region.
The consultations concluded with delegates from Member States and partners accomplishing the development of key performance indicators across the thematic areas of the IGAD Child Policy Framework, developing data collection and reporting mechanisms and proposing a way forward and timelines for implementing the Results Monitoring Framework.
On December 13th 2024, IGAD Ministers in Charge of Children Affairs adopted the IGAD Child Policy Framework aimed at safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children in the IGAD Region.
The Ministers in a Communiqué issued at the adoption meeting agreed to among others, develop a results-based framework for monitoring the implementation of the IGAD Child Policy and ensuring accountability at national and regional levels, with clear roles and responsibilities for the IGAD Secretariat, Member States, and other stakeholders.
The IGAD Secretariat is implementing the regional Child Policy Framework in partnership with Save the Children and the Swiss Development and Cooperation.
