CONTEXT

According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics - National Household survey report (2019-2020), 28% of the children in Uganda are involved in child labour. It is estimated that about 51 per cent of these children work under hazardous conditions that are considered illegal, and extremely exploitative to their health and wellbeing. The district education officers reported that most children dropped out of school due to poverty and parents and guardians are unable to provide the necessary school requirements. It is estimated that over 10,000 children are involved in mining in Karamoja Sub region and 58% are girls. Lower-level administrators and grass-root CSO’s are unable to prevent child labour because they are unaware of the laws and policies that prohibit child labour. Despite lower-level administrators and grass-root CSO’s having the advantage of understanding local issues, they are unable to adequately respond to the child labour problem. This is because they have limited financial resources and lack the necessary skills to identify child protection issues, plan, and budget and manage child protection violations.

Building on previous experiences of the consortium members in the sub-region and work on similar projects, the action will focus on two main strategies; strengthening the capacity of duty bearers and grass-root Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to reduce and prevent child labour and propose alternative ways of livelihoods and education opportunities for affected children, their parents, and guardians. 

The action will also support lower-level administrators and grass-root CSOs to enforce laws, policies ordinances and by-laws prohibiting children from working in the mines and identify child protection issues and protection violations. It will liaise with the key relevant ministries and work with members of Parliament to influence the implementation of the just enacted Mining and Minerals Act 2022, address problematic issues, including violation of human rights for the artisanal miners, and children working in the mines, request for an increase in the budget allocation for the child labour response, ensure that a central coordination authority is present at district level and community level and ensure that  child labour committees are functional at village and parish level. 

Additionally, the action will link children withdrawn from labour to professional counselling and legal aid if required, set up mobile learning centres near the mines, offer alternative education, and ensure linkages to scholarship programs. The action will also establish income-generating activities targeting vulnerable parents and guardians of victims of child labour specifically single mothers, widows, women with disabilities, and the elderly. Linkages to existing livelihood programs such as the resilience program under Welthungerhilfe Uganda, Mercy Corps, and relevant government programs such as the Parish Development Model will be established and implemented. 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Oxfam in Uganda in partnership with Resource Rights Africa and the Education Advocacy Network are implementing a 3-year initiative in a bid to reduce child labour among mining communities in the Karamoja sub-region.

The European Union- funded project will adopt a human rights approach to promote gender mainstreaming through puppet theatres and the innovative GALS Methodology with the aim of addressing gender inequalities, social norms, traditions, and cultures that promote children, especially girls working in the mines to provide for their families.   

PROJECT AIM

  • To reduce and prevent the worst forms of child labour in the mining communities of the disadvantaged districts of Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Amudat in the Karamoja sub-region.

EXPECTED RESULTS

  • Strengthened capacity of duty bearers to respond to the prevention and reduction of worst forms of child labour in the mining communities of Moroto, Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts in Karamoja sub-region.
  • Improved institutional, legal and policy environment to address child labour in the targeted mining districts.
  • Enhanced access to alternative means of livelihoods of vulnerable parents, guardians and children working in the mining communities of Moroto, Amudat and Nakapiripirit districts in Karamoja sub-region.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • Lower-Level District Administrators
  • Parents and Guardians of Child labour victims: 
  • Children aged 12-17 who are victims of child labour. 
  • Grassroot CSOs focusing on prevention and reduction of child labour in the Karamoja region 
  • Members of Parliament (MP)

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

  • Education Advocacy Network (EAN)
  • Resource Rights Africa (RRA)

PROJECT DURATION

  • 3 years (2024-2027)

TOTAL BUDGET, 

  • €526,316 

FUNDED BY.

  • European Union