"E ne e le bophelo bo sa tloaeleheng”: It was just a strange life

Published: 2023 Miscellanea

This participatory study, conducted with youth in Lesotho, provides a profound understanding of their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. It sheds light on how they navigated the challenges and changes brought about by this global crisis, revealing insights into their adaptability, resilience, and the crucial role of community support. The study highlights how children and adolescents in Lesotho adapted to new governmental regulations and diligently followed preventive measures like mask-wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing. Their adherence intensified with direct experiences of the virus within their communities. Despite their compliance, there was a notable reliance on parents and household members for information about the pandemic, leading to increased anxiety and confusion about the virus, especially concerning its origin and spread. Economically, the pandemic exacerbated existing socio-structural inequalities, leading to heightened instability, particularly in families affected by migration.

In response, children and adolescents showed remarkable resilience, participating actively in income generation and developing coping strategies for stress and boredom. The crisis also had a profound effect on their educational journey and future aspirations. The abrupt shift to irregular schooling and the lack of remote learning options caused significant distress, with many voicing concerns over the long-term consequences on their educational and career prospects. However, amidst these challenges, a strong sense of community support and solidarity emerged, reflecting the deeply rooted cultural norms of the Basotho people. This communal resilience offered emotional and practical support to those most affected by the pandemic's multifaceted challenges.

Leading Minds 2022 Conference

Leading Minds 2022 Conference

Published: Miscellanea
In the 21st century, children’s identities are evolving, shaped by forces such as globalization, urbanization, demographic transition, climate change, digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitics. Identity is also at the heart of how many young people experience discrimination. Such experiences have led young people, in particular, to question entrenched beliefs, traditions, inequities and injustices related to identity.

These questions were at the heart of Leading Minds 2022, a conference held in by UNICEF Innocenti in Florence in November 2022. The conference involved leading scholars, scientists, innovators, influencers, philanthropists, governments and young people who gathered to discuss identity and the need to build positive child identities. This publication provides insight on this critical conversation. 
Expériences, perceptions et opinions des enfants et des adolescents sur la pandémie de COVID-19 à Madagascar

Expériences, perceptions et opinions des enfants et des adolescents sur la pandémie de COVID-19 à Madagascar

Published: 2023 Miscellanea
Depuis l’apparition du virus SARS-CoV-2 , le coronavirus responsable de la pandémie de COVID-19 n’a cessé de se propager. Madagascar n’a pas échappé à cette situation. La pandemie entrainait des conséquences économiques et sociales importantes mais elles peuvent être plus désastreuses chez les enfants qui sont considérés comme plus vulnérables à des chocs aussi violents que le coronavirus et présenteraient un niveau de résilience beaucoup moindre que les adultes. Initiée et coordonnée au niveau mondial par UNICEF Innocenti - Centre Mondial de la Recherche et de la Prospective ayant son siège à Florence, dans le cadre d’une initiative multi- pays avec la participation de l’Italie, Canada, Lesotho, Indonésie, Chili, la présente étude a été menée par le Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Economique pour le Développement (CERED) de l’Université d’Antananarivo grâce au fruit de la collaboration avec l’UNICEF Madagascar.
La pandemia a través de los ojos de niños, niñas y adolescentes en Chile: Experiencias y opiniones sobre el COVID-19

La pandemia a través de los ojos de niños, niñas y adolescentes en Chile: Experiencias y opiniones sobre el COVID-19

Published: 2023 Miscellanea
La pandemia producto del COVID-19 derivó en una crisis en múltiples niveles y ámbitos donde el ejercicio de los derechos de niñas, niños y adolescentes fue puesto en riesgo. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo generar evidencia sobre las experiencias, percepciones y opiniones de los niños, niñas y adolescentes sobre la pandemia, y la respuesta que tuvo Chile frente a esta.
Annual Report 2022

Annual Report 2022

Published: 2023 Miscellanea
The world is facing unprecedented compounding crises. The war in Ukraine, the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a looming economic crisis, energy shortages, the increasing cost of living, and the ongoing effects of climate change and the associated food insecurity have created challenges across the world, and continue to disrupt the lives of children, their families and communities. More than ever, UNICEF needs to understand the implications of the emerging situation to be able to adapt programmes and approaches effectively to achieve the objectives of the 2022–2025 Strategic Plan, especially that of aiding recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNICEF Innocenti directed much of its research and foresight work in 2022 towards generating and supporting the use of quality research and analysis to inform programming for children, prioritizing focus on the most marginalized populations. The office collaborated closely with UNICEF offices and partners in countries, regions and globally, and published research and evidence regularly. The office also facilitated knowledge management on research, including ethics, capacity development and standard-setting for the organization.

Our foresight team undertook horizon-scanning, trend analysis, risk assessments and scenario analysis, making policy recommendations on major global and emerging issues. 

Besides this, the office leveraged major reports and convened top thinkers to lead global discourse and to position UNICEF as a thought leader. 
Guidance Note on Using Implementation Research in Education

Guidance Note on Using Implementation Research in Education

Published: 2023 Miscellanea
Although many interventions aiming to improve quality, inclusion, and equity in education have been tested around the world, it is not always clear from the existing research base why they work, for whom they work, and what are the defining contextual circumstances under which they work. And while there is an increasingly robust body of evidence on 'what works', taking interventions to scale through government systems often requires multiple iterations to achieve fidelity and a full understanding of the wider ecosystem. Implementation research is concerned with why and how an intervention or reform works by considering the context, stakeholders, and process of implementation. This guidance note, developed by the Building Evidence in Education (BE2) Working Group, helps education stakeholders to design and oversee implementation research in order to answer questions and learn lessons about the contextual factors impacting the implementation of an intervention or reform in a particular government or implementer’s system.
Caregivers' Guide to Inclusive Education

Caregivers' Guide to Inclusive Education

AUTHOR(S)
UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight

Published: 2022 Miscellanea

Parents or caregivers of children with disabilities play a crucial role in supporting their child’s learning. This includes navigating the education system and supporting their child’s participation in an inclusive school. They often face unique challenges and obstacles as they navigate the education system and support their child's participation in an inclusive school. Unfortunately, these challenges have been amplified in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions, such as remote learning and reduced access to support services.

The guide for caregivers aims to (1) help them understand their rights and national inclusive education laws; (2) identify challenges and barriers they are facing in supporting their child’s learning needs and (3) find solutions that can help them to overcome these challenges. It is part of a set of resources to support the marginalized caregivers of children with disabilities with inclusive education.

This shortened and easy to read version of "Caregiver's Guide to Inclusive Education" has been developed by "Building Bridges" with the aim of providing simplified guidance for caregivers. While this version includes all the tools and activities from the original guide, it has been designed to be easier to read and follow. The guide offers practical advice on how caregivers can support their child's learning at home, foster positive relationships with their child's teacher and school, and access specialist service.

Cite this publication | No. of pages: 9 | Thematic area: Disability, Education
More than a billion reasons: The urgent need to build universal social protection

More than a billion reasons: The urgent need to build universal social protection

Published: 2023 Miscellanea

Social protection is a universal human right and a precondition for a world free from poverty. It is also a vital foundation to help the world’s most vulnerable children fulfil their potential and increase their access to food, nutrition, education, and healthcare. 

But worldwide, 1.77 billion children aged 0–18 lack access to a child or family cash benefit, a fundamental pillar of a social protection system. Children are twice as likely to live in extreme poverty as adults. Approximately 800 million children are subsisting below a poverty line of US$3.20 a day, and 1 billion children are experiencing multidimensional poverty. The impact on their lives, communities, societies, and economies can be devastating. 

The second International Labour Organization (ILO) – United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) joint report on social protection for children reflects the shared commitment to strengthening social protection systems and expanding them to reach every child at risk. It explains why universal social protection should become a reality. It also documents the rapid positive changes in countries from Montenegro to Tunisia and the steps needed to accelerate progress.

Cite this publication | No. of pages: 136 | Thematic area: Social protection
Best of UNICEF Research 2022

Best of UNICEF Research 2022

AUTHOR(S)
UNICEF Innocenti

Published: 2022 Miscellanea

Best of UNICEF Research showcases the most rigorous, innovative and impactful research produced by UNICEF offices worldwide. While evidence highlights emerging issues, it also informs decisions and provides policy and programme recommendations for governments and partners, to improve children's lives.

This year, Best of UNICEF Research celebrates its 10th edition. It features 12 research projects that the selection panel concurred deserved special recognition for delivering results for children in 2022. How? By informing decision-making, shaping policy, raising public awareness, driving social change, and giving children and young people a voice on the issues that affect them most through participatory research.

These endeavours showcase both the power of innovation in the face of emergency and crisis, and the virtues of agility, endurance and scalability. They also offer solutions and ways to learn from each other. Each piece of research offers a set of adaptable tools: validated methodologies; templates for emergency response plans; methods of monitoring and measuring progress; and examples of successful collaboration between stakeholders. 

 

Return on Knowledge: How international development agencies are collaborating to deliver impact through knowledge, learning, research and evidence

Return on Knowledge: How international development agencies are collaborating to deliver impact through knowledge, learning, research and evidence

AUTHOR(S)
Piers Bocock; Chris Collison

Published: 2022 Miscellanea

Effective collaboration around knowledge management and organizational learning is a key contributor to improving the impact of international development work for the world’s most vulnerable people. But how can it be proven?

With only 10 years from the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals, nine of the world’s most influential agencies set out to show to the connection between the use of evidence, knowledge and learning and a better quality of human life. This book – a synthesis of stories, examples and insights that demonstrate where and how these practices have made a positive impact on development programming – is the result of the Multi-Donor Learning Partnership (MDLP), a collective effort to record the ways each of these organizations have leveraged intentional, systematic and resourced approaches to knowledge management and organizational learning in their work.

Gender Solutions: Capturing the impact of UNICEF’s gender equality evidence investments (2014–2021)

Gender Solutions: Capturing the impact of UNICEF’s gender equality evidence investments (2014–2021)

Published: 2022 Miscellanea

UNICEF has undertaken hundreds of gender evidence generation activities, supporting programmatic action, advocacy work and policymaking. The Gender Solutions project aims to draw together the knowledge, innovations and impacts of gender evidence work conducted by UNICEF offices since the first UNICEF Gender Action Plan was launched in 2014.

A desk review identified over 700 gender-related UNICEF research, evaluation and data evidence generation activities since 2014. Twenty-five outputs were shortlisted because of their high quality and (potential for) impact and three were selected as Gender Evidence Award winners by an external review panel. By capturing the impact of this broad body of work, Gender Solutions aims to showcase UNICEF’s evidence investments, reward excellence and inform the rollout of the UNICEF Gender Policy 2021–2030 and Action Plan 2022–2025.

The role of social protection in the elimination of child labour: Evidence review and policy implications

The role of social protection in the elimination of child labour: Evidence review and policy implications

AUTHOR(S)
Valeria Groppo; Nyasha Tirivayi; Dominic Richardson

Published: 2022 Miscellanea
This new ILO-UNICEF report provides a rigorous review of what the latest research says about the power of social protection to combat child labour. Providing families with direct assistance to help them weather crises can help reduce negative coping strategies like child labour and child marriage.
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