Accelerate the elimination of child labour, improving working conditions and empowering families in jasmine supply chain in Egypt (ACCEL Egypt)

Project background

This project aims to reduce and eliminate child labour in jasmine picking by implementing child protection measures and improving working conditions within the jasmine supply chain in Egypt. By enhancing the economic resilience of adult workers and small farmers to earn living wages and increasing access to education for at-risk children, the project safeguards children from exploitation and supports their right to education.

In addition, the project promotes adherence to fundamental principles and rights at work across the jasmine supply chain while fostering effective advocacy and stakeholder engagement to combat child labour and protect workers' rights.

Implemented in Gharbia governorate, the project employs both an area-based approach and a supply chain approach to ensure tangible, sustainable impact. It also ensures children withdrawn from jasmine picking are not engaged in other hazardous supply chains.

Objectives

• Eliminate child labour: Withdraw and prevent children from engaging in hazardous work while increasing their access to education.
• Empower families: Enhance the economic resilience of farmers and adult workers, enabling them to earn living wages and reduce dependency on child labour.
• Improve working conditions: Promote adherence to fundamental principles and rights at work and ensure safer, fairer working environments in the jasmine supply chain.
• Foster advocacy and engagement: Strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to address child labour and protect workers' rights.
• Document and scale good practices: Identify, document, and promote effective practices for broader adoption and integration into national programmes.

Target groups

• Farmers (Parents): 1,200 individuals
• Children: Approximately 2,500 children at risk or already engaged in child labour

Key Outcomes

1. Improved economic resilience among adult workers and small farmers, ensuring living wages and reducing reliance on child labour.
2. Increased access to education for at-risk children, safeguarding them from exploitation.
3. Strengthened adherence to FPRW, improving working conditions across the jasmine supply chain.
4. Scaled adoption of innovative and effective child labour reduction mechanisms through collaboration with government programmes.

Implementation approach

The project blends:

• Area-based approach: Focused interventions in targeted districts and villages to directly address child labour.
• Supply chain approach: Ensuring sustainable impact within the jasmine supply chain while preventing re-engagement of children in other hazardous supply chains.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth