Summary
This study provides in-depth analysis of data from Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) across cocoa-growing areas of West Africa. Building on a concept developed by the ILO as part of its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), CLMRS are a means of targeting prevention, mitigation and remediation support to children involved in, or at-risk of, child labour, as well as to their families and communities. The study aims to answer two questions: a) how does the design and set-up of these systems affect their ability to identify children in child labour? and b) how effective are these systems at protecting children from hazardous work and enhancing their school participation? The analysis uses data from household monitoring visits to explore the ability to identify child labour cases, and data from follow-up visits to child labourers after they have received support to assess the effectiveness at reducing exposure to hazardous tasks and improving school participation. The rich data base, compiled from 12 CLMRS operating in the cocoa sector of West Africa, has allowed us to examine associations between various contextual factors, characteristics of the household and the child, modalities of the CLMRS, and types of support given to children, with outcomes related to child labour and schooling. The report also highlights areas where further research is needed to understand the effectiveness of CLMRS and the different forms of support given to children.