Amplifying children's voices: The power of child-led research in development programming
by Dan Mtonga, Regional Programme Quality & Impact Director, East Asia, World Vision International
As international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) strive to create lasting impact, we must prioritise the most vulnerable, but often overlooked, members of our communities: Children. We also know that it is the children who will have to live with the longer-lasting impacts of the decisions being made today. So, it is more important than ever that we find new, meaningful ways to embed their needs and voices into platforms for decision-making, both within our organisation, and beyond.
The question is: How? Child-led research is one approach that empowers children to drive change and inform the policies that affect their lives. Investing in child-led research is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic priority in the improvement of development programming.
No decisions about me, without me
Child-led research is about giving children a voice. Listening to their hopes and aspirations means that our projects and programmes must be more responsive to their needs and more impactful on their future. World Vision would not deliver projects in local communities without first talking to the people who live and work there and involving them in the decisions that affect their lives. Empowering people to take a stake in the success of development programmes increases their ownership of them and, as a result, the impact is deeper and longer-lasting. Children are no different.
Child-led research gives us a unique insight into the challenges children face and the opportunities they get. It centres them at the heart of our research design, data collection, and thinking. In doing so, we gain an authentic understanding of children’s lived experiences and unique needs. This, in turn, enables us to create context-specific solutions tailor-made to ground realities and to enhance engagement and ownership within communities.
Influencing policy decisions
Child-led research has the potential to shape policy and programming in meaningful ways. First, it enables informed advocacy. Child-led research equips INGOs with credible, child-centred data with which to advocate for policy change. Second, it allows evidence-based programming. Research findings inform effective interventions that reflect and respond to the actual situation on the ground. Third, it amplifies children’s voices. Child-led research gives children a platform to promote their perspectives and reach decision-makers, ensuring that their needs are prioritised.
Why child-led research matters to INGOs
When we advocate for children, we need to do so with their best interests at heart. Child-led research keeps us accountable: When we involve children in our programmes, we must answer to them for the work we do. Meanwhile, it also increases the effectiveness of our interventions, since projects designed with children’s input are more likely to succeed. Child-led research is also more sustainable: Empowering children today fosters a new generation of change-makers tomorrow.
Investing in child-led research
Child-led research has transformative potential. Investing in it shows our commitment to child-centred programming, fosters inclusion and participation, and drives lasting change grounded in the voices and lived experiences of children. This is a strategic choice as much as a moral imperative. Child-led research is an investment in more effective, sustainable programming. It is also about living up to our values. We cannot claim to speak for children or advocate for change on their behalf if we do not involve them in our decision-making. By championing children’s voices to inform policy and practice, we will create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Three priorities for child-led research
In conclusion, three priorities must be considered when putting children at the centre of development work. First, INGOs should integrate child-led research into their current programming. Second, INGOs need to provide capacity-building training for researchers who work with children. And last but not least, INGOs must advocate for child-centred policy change. If we can take these three steps, we can empower the next generation of leaders and create lasting change.
More about the author:
Dan Mtonga is the Regional Director of Programme Quality and Impact for World Vision East Asia. His role involves providing leadership, management, and coordination across the region and ensuring that World Vision programmes have a sustainable impact on the lives of the most vulnerable children and disadvantaged communities. Dan brings more than 15 years of experience to this role. He has led development and humanitarian programmes; design, monitoring, and evaluation; advocacy; fundraising; and faith and development initiatives. He has worked for World Vision in Malawi, New Zealand, and Viet Nam, managing large-scale projects and multicultural teams. Dan has a Master’s degree in science specialising in Strategic Management from the University of Derby, UK.
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