The Drum Beat – Issue 600 – Children, Equity, and Development
November 14 2011
===
This issue includes:
* CHILDREN PARTICIPATING: governance.
* Please vote in an EQUITY POLL.
* Focus on GENDER and EQUITY.
* NEW LANCET SERIES on ECD and equity.
* Equity INSIGHTS from INDIA.
* Build your own SOCIAL NETWORKING SPACE.
* EQUITY ASSESSMENT tools.
===
From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
Subscribe to The Drum Beat: http://www.comminit.com/global/user/register
Access this issue online at http://www.comminit.com/drum_beat_600.html
===
Welcome to the 600th edition of The Drum Beat! The very first issue was published on September 1 1998. We hope that, over these past 13 years, you have found sustenance for your work in one or more of these 600 issues…and look forward to sharing your ideas, papers, projects, and insights in many more Drum Beat issues into the future. It has been a privilege and an honour to read, write, and edit this e-magazine, and we are grateful for the critical role that you, members of our network, have played in making 600 issues of this e-publication possible!
===
This issue of The Drum Beat highlights the latest additions to The CI’s Children, Equity, and Development theme site, a collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):http://www.comminit.com/children/ Access this site to find information about children’s equity issues in the context of communication and media development action. Below are just a few examples of the site’s rich content – with a specific focus on the concept of equity.
UNICEF defines an equity-based approach as one that focuses on the needs of the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children, and thus offering «the best hope and most cost-effective path to reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.» For more on UNICEF’s equity approach, see: «Progress for Children: Achieving the MDGs with Equity (No. 9)»http://www.comminit.com/clickthru/2981f5c03c3d481fac83af9e95607678?node=
Please participate in shaping the literature of practices, experiences, thinking, resources, and strategies on communication related to the theme of children, equity, and development. Email your submissions to drumbeat@comminit.com We look forward to hearing from you!
===
The CI’s Children, Equity, and Development theme site consists of the following categories (the 6th one – equity itself – is the focus of this Drum Beat). You can visit http://www.comminit.com/children/ or the direct URLs below at any time to pursue your specific interest(s):
CHILD SURVIVAL AND GROWTH
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3945%20tid:3926
BASIC EDUCATION FOR ALL
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3946%20tid:3926
HIV/AIDS and CHILDREN
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3947%20tid:3926
CHILD PROTECTION
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3948%20tid:3926
ADVOCACY/PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHILD RIGHTS
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3949%20tid:3926
EQUITY
http://www.comminit.com/children/search/apachesolr_search?filters=tid:3950%20tid:3926
===
CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION: GOVERNANCE
1. It’s All about Children: Seven Good Examples and Ten Steps to Meaningful Children’s Participation in Reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
by Lotte Ladegaard
Published in January 2011 by Save the Children as part of the Child Rights Governance Global Initiative, this resource is designed to illustrate and guide efforts being carried out all over the world to include children in the process of holding governments accountable by reporting to the United Nations (UN) Committee for the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As reported here, the committee encourages children to submit their own reports. «Through participation in the reporting process and the related activities children become empowered and aware of their rights.» However, «[i]nvolving children is rarely an easy process as it often entails challenging children’s traditional roles in society and transforming the relationships between adults and children.» Furthermore, «while proper documentation of methods, procedures, follow-up and challenges are excellent educative tools for other members of civil society wishing to support children’s participation, these proces!
ses are not always described as carefully as they could be…»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/its-all-about-children-seven-good-examples-and-ten-steps-meaningful-childrens-participat
2. Commitment to Children Audit (CCA)
The Global Movement for Children (GMC) is leading a project to develop an outreach and advocacy tool to measure the level of commitment governments around the world have vis-à-vis children and rate them in a world ranking. As part of this initiative, CCA has introduced an inclusive and participatory approach to developing a tool to monitor accountability on children’s rights and generate public debate on the issue. The participation of child rights organisations at all levels is understood as key to making this proposed tool truly effective in holding governments to account and having a real impact.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/commitment-children-audit-cca
3. National Children’s Forum Brings Young Voices to Niger’s Electoral Process
This video from UNICEF reports on the launch of a campaign aimed at putting children at the heart of Niger’s development agenda. It shares the voices of young participants in the National Children’s Forum held in late November 2010. Participants in the forum – 161 children from 36 districts – had the opportunity to speak out about their concerns during 3 days of meetings with political leaders, researchers, journalists, and UN staff. On November 26, the children invited members of the country’s three main political coalitions, as well as government ministries, UNICEF staff, and others, to attend a ceremony that ended with the youth delegates reading a declaration. In it, they stated: «We want to live our dream of a better tomorrow. We have some proposals to make. Do listen!» Children’s messages from the forum were broadcast on TV and radio stations on a daily basis in advance of presidential and local elections.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/national-childrens-forum-brings-young-voices-nigers-electoral-process
===
Please VOTE in Our Current Poll
Is a focus on «equity» the best approach to advancing the wellbeing and status of children?
Yes
No
Maybe
Not sure
Don’t understand
VOTE AND COMMENT: http://www.comminit.com/children/node/9280100
===
GIRLS’ PARTICIPATION: FOCUS ON GENDER & EQUITY
4. The Women, Girls, and Gender Equality Principle of the U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI): Assessment of the GHI Plus Country Strategies
by Jen Kates and Janet Fleischman
This June 2011 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) assesses how countries are responding to a United States Global Health Initiative (GHI) principle that addresses women, girls, and gender equality. The research found that: «Some of the country strategies went beyond viewing women and girls only as beneficiaries of health services, focusing on them as actors and decision-makers and/or on changing gender norms. These strategies addressed the broader gender issues that impact women’s and girls’ health….For example, in Ethiopia, the GHI will work to promote women’s active participation and leadership in the health arena; in Nepal, the GHI will support the Ministry of Health and Planning in executing its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Strategy, which is viewed as critical to creating greater equity in the country; and in Mali, the GHI will work with women’s groups to help strengthen literacy and economic opportunities for women and girls…»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/women-girls-and-gender-equality-principle-us-global-health-initiative-ghi-assessment-ghi
5. Videoactive Girls
«Girls and women in many parts of the world are deprived of opportunities for education and advancement, especially in the realm of technology.» Recognising this problem, the Global Fund for Children (GFC) launched an experimental programme that provided young women with training in video production. Taking part were organisations serving adolescent girls, including Mahita, Kolkata Sanved, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Girl Child Concerns, Video Volunteers, and Communicating for Change. The Videoactive Girls initiative focused on education in the art of digital storytelling, video production, and video-sharing skills, with the goal of helping the participating girls cultivate greater self-confidence and self-empowerment through the learning process. By sharing these toolkits, GFC hopes other organisations will develop programmes that teach girls and young women how to harness the power of digital media.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/videoactive-girls
6. Delaying Marriage for Girls in India: Formative Research to Design Interventions for Changing Norms
by Priya Nanda, Sonvi Kapoor, Sushmita Mukherjee, Marcy Hersh, Sharmishtha Basu, and Rashi Bhargava
This March 2011 report examines the social norms surrounding child marriage, positive role models, community engagement, and government-led efforts to prevent the practice in the Indian states of Rajasthan and Bihar. Findings from the study, undertaken by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) with the supervision of UNICEF India and the financial support of the European Commission, reveal that deeply entrenched norms are slowly changing through promising interventions to delay marriage and encourage girls’ education. The report also makes recommendations toward the development of an integrated intervention strategy to delay marriage for girls by enhancing girls’ access to education, empowerment, community mobilisation, partnership with media, and strengthening of law enforcement.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/delaying-marriage-girls-india-formative-research-design-interventions-changing-norms
===
NEW LANCET SERIES: Early Child Development and Equity http://comminit.com/clickthru/c6be81fd19613cbe68c465fc01075e2c?node=
This series «aims to identify gaps in implementation and coverage of interventions, calculate the economic costs of missed investment in early learning programmes, and present new evidence on the causes and effects of developmental inequities in early childhood.»
The two papers are:
1) Inequality in Early Childhood: Risk and Protective Factors for Early Child Development – Walker et al
Conclusion: «Inequality between and within populations has origins in adverse early experience».
Summary at: http://comminit.com/clickthru/4de4d59d73c93b86386301d90f276f55?node=
2) Strategies for Reducing Inequalities and Improving Developmental Outcomes for Young Children in Low-income and Middle-income Countries – Engle et al
Conclusion: «The evidence reviewed suggests that early child development can be improved through these interventions (parenting support and preschool enrolment) with effects greater for programmes of higher quality and for the most vulnerable children.
Summary at: http://comminit.com/clickthru/0fa4765de616625645613df9336593ac?node=
===
EQUITY INSIGHTS FROM INDIA
7. India Polio Communication Update, July 2011
This July 2011 update, which is one of a series produced monthly by UNICEF India in consultation with polio partners, focuses on reaching migrant populations with the polio vaccine. Amongst the efforts: The Social Mobilization Network (SMNet) in Uttar Pradesh sought permission of the State Forest Department to carry out polio vaccination during the congregation this year. Banners endorsed by the Dargah Sela Baba Committee were put up to create awareness. SMNet organised 14 group meetings, attended by 246 Banjara pilgrims, to discuss the importance of routine immunisation (RI), including polio. In addition, «with increased focus on migrants, UNICEF initiated efforts to generate awareness on polio among brick kiln workers. One way was through getting polio messages painted on brick kiln chimneys. The message was clear and simple – Polio-free India, two drops of protection, every child every time.»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/india-polio-communication-update-july-2011
8. Building Linkages and Referrals: A Step towards Sustainability: Alliance India’s Experience
by Tanu Chhabra
Published in January 2010, this report from India HIV/AIDS Alliance discusses linkages between service providers and clients in providing health care to people living with HIV (PLHIV). It describes the work of the CHAHA programme in its attempts to reach the most-in-need children of HIV-affected families in a care and support programme for children in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, and Maharashtra. The CHAHA programme framework involves, amongst other activities, multiple visits to all the families and children covered in the programme. «While we may reach out to the most-in-need children there are many who may get left behind, owing to the fact that we are working in states most affected by the epidemic. This is where linkages lead to inclusivity and an alternative to direct provision of services which only addresses the immediate needs and has a shelf-life.»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/building-linkages-and-referrals-step-towards-sustainability-alliance-india%E2%80%99s-experience
===
BUILD YOUR OWN SOCIAL NETWORKING SPACE
Looking to network within your organisation? Needing to link together colleagues from different organisations under one project? Contract The CI to build you a branded social networking space using core CI functionality. You can see a customised example athttp://groups.comminit.com/ict4education/en (you will have to join and log in to see all functionality.) For more information, contact wfeek@comminit.com
===
EQUITY ASSESSMENT RESOURCES
9. Communicating with Children: Principles and Practices to Nurture, Inspire, Excite, Educate and Heal
by Barbara Kolucki and Dafna Lemish
Consisting of a book and a website made available in October 2011, this resource pack is designed to facilitate the process of learning about the importance of age-appropriate and child-friendly communication. It centres around 4 central principles for producing communication for children, one of which is: Communication for children should address the needs of all, including those who are most disadvantaged. The Communicating with Children website shares a number of strategies. For example, instead of you and a small group of adults deciding the content of communication on a given topic, it is better to spend time with children prior to production. Ask them simple questions about their interests, find out what they know and would like to learn on that particular topic.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/communicating-children-principles-and-practices-nurture-inspire-excite-educate-and-heal
10. CFC DevInfo Assessment and Monitoring Toolkit
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has partnered with DevInfo in the development of an assessment and monitoring toolkit. Published in January 2011, this resource comprises: (a) community assessment indicators (derived from the CFC community assessment tools) and (b) CFC objective indicators (derived from other administrative surveys).
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/cfc-devinfo-assessment-and-monitoring-toolkit
11. Researching, Monitoring and Evaluating Communication for Development: Trends, Challenges and Approaches
by June Lennie and Jo Tacchi
This February 2011 report highlights a number of trends, challenges, and approaches associated with researching, monitoring, and evaluating (R, M&E) communicating for development (C4D) within the United Nations (UN) context. It was prepared for the United Nations Inter-agency Group on Communication for Development as part of the United Nations Inter-agency Resource Pack on Research, Monitoring and Evaluation in Communication for Development. One principle for effective, appropriate, and sustainable R, M&E of C4D is: «Recognising that people (including children) have a right to participate in decisions that affect them, facilitates active participation of stakeholders in all stages of the evaluation and ownership of the initiative and its evaluation and is as inclusive as possible of a diversity of groups – addressing issues of gender, class, race, and unequal power and voice. Enables participants to effectively engage in initial discussions about the meaning of fundamental C!
4D and R, M&E concepts (including participation, ownership, sustainability, equality, and equity).»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/researching-monitoring-and-evaluating-communication-development-trends-challenges-and-ap
===
For MORE on children, equity, and development, see:
The Children, Equity, and Development theme site
http://www.comminit.com/children/
Please also see these previous Drum Beat issues focused on children, equity, and development:
The Drum Beat 589 – Children, Equity, and Development
http://www.comminit.com/global/drum_beat_589.html
The Drum Beat 517 – Child Rights Communication
http://www.comminit.com/global/drum_beat_517.html
===
This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.
===
The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC Consortium, CIDA, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano, Ford Foundation, Healthlink Worldwide, Inter-American Development Bank, International Institute for Communication and Development, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za
Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com
===
The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
Please send additional project, evaluation, strategic thinking, and materials information on communication for development at any time. Send to drumbeat@comminit.com
The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
To reproduce any portion of The Drum Beat, see http://www.comminit.com/global/content/editorial-policy-ci-global for our policy.
To subscribe, see http://www.comminit.com/global/user/register
To unsubscribe, reply to this message with «unsubscribe» as the subject.
Blog de Octavio Islas 