In Côte d’Ivoire, the percentage of children aged 5-17 years who carry out activities classified as child labour is 31.3%. Data show that all geographical areas of Côte d’Ivoire are affected by child labour. However, the prevalence of child labour remains highest in the north and west of the country.

Nearly 50% of the population lives below the national poverty line and in rural, agriculture based communities. The country ranks low in the Human Development Index: 171 out of 188 countries. The retention, completion and quality of education poses challenges. Access to pre-school education is extremely limited.

Work: No Child’s Business works in 100 geographic areas in selected villages in three regions: San Pedro, Soubre, Meagui (in the South West) Korhogo (in the North) and Abidjan (in the South). The geographic areas have been selected based on child labour prevalence, population density, and the presence of cocoa and mining. In these sectors there is a high prevalence of child labour, as well as children working in domestic work.

The teachers’ union SYNADEEPCI trains teachers in these regions on issues of children’s rights, child labor, and the role teachers can play in the fight against child labor. Teachers from pre-school, primary and continuous education are trained, and will share the content of their training with teachers from other schools.

Also, community focal points were trained to conduct awareness sessions in communities on Covid-19 and related health measures, child protection and child labour. These these stakeholders involved at community level are a key part of combatting child labour in the communities.