Accelerating the elimination of child labour in Africa: Key takeaways from the county stakeholders forums in Kenya

From January 21st to 27th, 2024, key stakeholders gathered in Meru and Kirinyaga for a pivotal series of forums aimed at addressing the critical issue of child labour in Kenya’s coffee and tea supply chains. The meetings were held under the umbrella of the ACCEL Africa project, which interventions were prompted by the alarming findings of the 2020 Global Estimates of Child Labour. The project seeks to confront the first increase in child labour numbers in two decades, a phenomenon primarily concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa.

The forums centered around the agricultural powerhouses of Meru and Kirinyaga, were part of a broader effort to tackle the persistent challenge of child labour in Kenya, especially within its vital tea and coffee sectors. With Kenya standing as a major player in the global tea and coffee markets, the need for innovative and sustainable interventions to eliminate child labour in these value chains has never been more urgent.
The event was structured to foster collaboration and innovation, bringing together 30 representatives from various sectors including government, civil society, and the agricultural industry. The agenda was designed to facilitate a comprehensive exchange of ideas, experiences, and strategies to combat child labour effectively.

Key objectives of the forums included the establishment of contacts with government officials and stakeholders, identification of child labour challenges specific to the coffee and tea sectors, and the development of coordinated mechanisms for implementing project work plans at the county level. The approach adopted by the ACCEL Africa project, which aims to accelerate the elimination of child labour through targeted actions in selected supply chains, was highlighted as a model for future efforts. This project's systems-approach, moving beyond traditional interventions to address the root causes of child labour, was recognized for its relevance and effectiveness.

Hellen Rintari, the National Project Coordinator for ACCEL Africa, highlighted the challenges in enforcing the robust child labour laws and regulations within the country, indicating a significant gap between policy and practice.
To address this, Rintari revealed plans to initiate the project with a comprehensive household survey across the four counties. This survey aims to delve into the root causes of child labour, setting the stage for an extensive multisectoral approach to tackle the issue.

Drawing on successful strategies from the project's initial phase in Uganda and Malawi, Rintari emphasized the importance of cross-border knowledge exchange. "We are keen on arranging visits for our tea and coffee producers to these countries, enabling them to learn and adopt best practices first hand," she stated.

Further, Rintari outlined additional strategies, including integrating affected families into social protection programs and providing youth with essential skills for securing decent employment, as critical components of the project's multifaceted approach to combating child labour.

The outcomes of the forums are expected to significantly contribute to the development of effective strategies and work plans for tackling child labour in Kenya. By fostering partnerships and leveraging the insights gained from successful practices in other regions, Kenya is poised to make significant strides towards the elimination of child labour in its tea and coffee supply chains, thereby advancing towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.