TURNING RESEARCH INTO ACTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE - UNICEF Innocenti
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TURNING RESEARCH INTO ACTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
The Office of Research – Innocenti is UNICEF’s dedicated research arm. Its prime objectives are to improve international understanding of issues relating to children’s rights and to help facilitate full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, across the world. The Office of Research – Innocenti aims to set out a comprehensive framework for research and knowledge within the organization, in support of UNICEF’s global programmes and policies, and works with partners to make policies for children evidence-based. Publications produced by the Office are contributions to a global debate on children and child rights issues, and include a wide range of opinions. The text has not been edited to official publication standards and UNICEF accepts no responsibility for errors. Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with due acknowledgement. Requests to utilize larger portions or the full publication should be addressed to the Communications Unit at: florence@unicef.org For partnership opportunities, please contact: Ewa Zgrzywa, Partnerships Specialist ezgrzywa@unicef.org ISBN 978-88-6522-061-0 ©️ 2021 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti Via degli Alfani, 58 50121 Florence, Italy Tel: (+39) 055 20 330 Fax: (+39) 055 2033 220 florence@unicef.org www.unicef-irc.org Twitter: @UNICEFInnocenti Cover photo: © UN0382244/Singh Graphic design: based on Annual Report 2019 by Blossoming.it Photo research and production: Sarah Marchant, UNICEF Innocenti
ANNUAL REPORT 2020 TURNING RESEARCH INTO ACTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
4 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Contents
6
NOTE FROM
16
RESEARCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT
34
EXPANDING
OUR DIRECTOR RESEARCH
WORKSTREAMS
Digital and 36
8
blended learning
Data Must Speak 37
Humanitarian 38
SNAPSHOT research
Global reach 10 Gender- 39
of our research transformative
and convening approach to
Social and 18 Education and 24 violence
economic policy learning
Mental health 41
12
Innocenti Report Card 19 Time to Teach: Teacher 25
16 – Worlds of Influence: attendance and time on Behavioural 43
Understanding what task in Eastern and science research
shapes child well-being Southern Africa
in rich countries
OVERVIEW Let Us Learn 26
Supporting Families 20
and Children Beyond What Have We Learnt? 27
COVID-19: Social Overview of findings
protection comparative from a survey of
study series ministries of education
on national responses
Child Marriage and 21 to COVID-19
Ethiopia’s Productive
Safety Net Program: Child rights 28
Analysis of protective and child protection
pathways in the
Amhara region Digital 32
engagement
A Cash Plus Model 22
for Safe Transitions to Addressing violence 33
a Healthy and Productive against children online
Adulthood and offline
UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 5
44 ENHANCING RESEARCH
FACILITATION, KNOWLEDGE
MANAGEMENT AND ETHICS 52
LESSONS LEARNED
64
APPENDICES
AND GOOD
PRACTICES
54
FINANCE, PEOPLE, Appendix 1: 66
PARTNERSHIPS Research outputs
and publications
Appendix 2: 73
Evidence synthesis 46 Ethical evidence 47 Partners of UNICEF
generation Innocenti in 2020
Capacity-building 47
48
CONVENING, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
76
AND COMMUNICATIONS GLOSSARY
Financial 56
resourcing and
78
management
People 59
Partnerships 60
PHOTO CREDITS
AND CAPTIONS
6 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Note from
our Director
The COVID pandemic has dominated our lives for more Key highlights of the Rapid Research Response
than a year. What began as a health crisis has rapidly included:
evolved into a social and economic maelstrom across
the globe as the pandemic has exposed, exacerbated � Supporting Families and Children Beyond COVID-19,
and perpetuated poverty, inequities and gender a global study looking at rising child poverty due to
inequality. COVID-19 and comparing government responses on
child social protection. The study was presented to
The pandemic has become a child rights crisis, the German Presidency of the European Commission
especially for the most vulnerable children and families. in January 2021.
We have seen hard-won gains towards achieving child-
related Sustainable Development Goals interrupted, or � What Have We Learnt? Overview of findings from
even reversed. Millions of children have experienced a survey of ministries of education on national
prolonged school closures and loss of school meals; responses to COVID-19. This widely disseminated
seen unemployment and recession drastically reduce study, conducted with UNESCO and the World Bank,
their household’s income; faced increased risks of surveyed 149 ministries of education and found that
violence, child marriage or child labour; and are suffering certain government responses can widen inequalities
some form of mental distress. And these risks are being in education. Future editions of this joint report are
experienced by children in all country contexts, less and planned.
more affluent alike.
� Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child
To address this global child rights crisis, it is imperative Protection rapidly synthesized evidence from
that we have the best possible evidence on which previous global crises on child protection risks,
to base our decisions and actions. And in today’s particularly on the issue of violence against children.
environment of stress, information overload and fake
news, robust research is perhaps more critical than ever � The Evolving Epidemiological and Clinical Picture
to inform child-responsive and gender-transformative of SARS-COV-3 and COVID 19 Disease in Children
programmes and policies. and Young People examined the pandemic’s
manifestation in children in low-, middle- and
UNICEF Innocenti took on this challenge in early high-income countries, and informed the World
2020 with the launch of our COVID Rapid Research Health Organization’s (WHO) initial briefings on the
Response, an Office-wide programme of research paediatric impact of the disease.
generation, synthesis and facilitation to help UNICEF
and others examine and understand the impact of the � ‘Five Ways Governments Are Responding to
pandemic on children and adolescents. Our researchers Violence Against Women and Children During
worked incessantly to generate a wide array of products, COVID-19’ was UNICEF Innocenti’s most read
ranging from in-depth evidence reviews and research blog of the year, with more than 170,000 views.
reports to blogs and op-eds. Most of all, the Rapid It raised the alarm on the potential for increased
Research Response sought solutions to the challenges violence during the pandemic and outlined promising
that children are facing in the COVID era, drawing from government strategies to address violence against
experience of past crises and rapidly examining and women and children.
curating promising interventions.
UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 7
In late 2020 UNICEF Innocenti launched the COVID UNICEF Innocenti also continued to support
e-library, bringing its COVID research together with the and highlight much of the quality research in the
best global social science research on the pandemic and organization’s country and regional offices through
its impact and implications for children. Disseminated in its Best of UNICEF Research programme. Last year,
user-friendly formats, the COVID e-library is appreciated it joined with the organization’s Evaluation Office to
internally and externally. produce the Best of UNICEF Research and Evaluation
2020, showcasing research and evaluation that have
COVID-19 presents multiple challenges to collecting proven or promising potential to impact policies and
primary data in general, and certainly on sensitive programmes that improve children’s lives.
subjects like violence. To promote the safety and
well-being of respondents, UNICEF Innocenti produced In its emerging research work, UNICEF Innocenti
guidance to inform ethical data collection and evidence selectively ventured into youth mental health, and is
generation, focusing on violence against children during synthesizing the evidence base – with a special focus on
the COVID-19 pandemic. It also generated think pieces low- and middle-income countries – to support UNICEF
on remote data collection and innovative methodologies programming on this issue. A rapid review to study the
that use existing data to measure the levels of violence impact of COVID-19 on child and adolescent mental
in the home. health outcomes was undertaken that shed light on how
the pandemic and its associated mitigation measures
We also deployed our convening and thought leadership have exacerbated youth mental health issues globally.
function to support UNICEF’s COVID response, launching
Leading Minds Online, a digital convening space that Our digital research team continues to focus on
engages global thought leaders on critical issues for evidence generation with a view to understanding how
children, and which will complement our face-to-face children experience digital technology, and how it can
Leading Minds conferences. The pandemic was the facilitate sexual exploitation and abuse of children, firmly
overarching topic of the first series of Leading Minds situating online violence within the broader violence
Online, which comprised 10 episodes, 50 Leading against children agenda to avoid creating silos in policy
Minds thought leaders, and regularly drew hundreds of and programming contexts. It is also studying how
viewers from across the globe. children are experiencing the COVID crisis through their
online engagement, and their views on their mental,
In addition to its COVID response, UNICEF Innocenti social and emotional well-being.
continued to pursue much of its planned 2020 research
programme. A key highlight was the launch of the 16th I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our partners
edition of UNICEF’s Report Card, which took a new and donors for their unflinching and generous support,
multidimensional look at child well-being in the world’s excellent collaboration and understanding of the
richest countries, finding a mixed picture of children’s demands that COVID placed on UNICEF Innocenti.
health, skills and happiness. The Report Card generated We are delighted to continue our collaboration and co-
considerable interest – it has been downloaded over creation in exploring evidence, developing solutions,
400,000 times since its launch – and provides evidence and addressing the toughest challenges and greatest
and analysis to support UNICEF’s development of opportunities for children and young people, both in the
programming strategies in high-income countries. COVID era and beyond.
Gunilla Olsson
Director
UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
8 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Snapshot
2020 IN REVIEW
101
UNICEF Innocenti research publications,
including 19 on the impact of COVID-19
on children and adolescents
One approach
to COVID-19
UNICEF Innocenti’s Rapid Research Response generated evidence
on the current crisis and past epidemics to inform policy, advocacy
and programming
10 14 New 10
High-profile research Peer-reviewed Children and COVID-19 Leading Minds Online webinars on
reports articles in leading Research Library COVID-19 and children, bringing
academic journals together over 50 experts on key issues
affecting children during the pandemic
4
New microsites showcasing research:
Worlds of Influence:
Understanding what shapes child
well-being in rich countries
Time to Teach: Teacher attendance
and time on task in Eastern and
Southern Africa
COVID-19 & Children: Rapid
© UNICEF/UN0157638/d’Aki
Research Response
Best of UNICEF Research and
Evaluation 2020
UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 9
SELECTED IMPACT METRICS
TOP 10 POLICY SOURCES THAT CITED INNOCENTI OUTPUTS IN 2020
European Union 21
2.5M
Users of UNICEF Innocenti’s online
UK Government
United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Bank
14
14
15
content (+40.3%)
Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) 11
201
World Health Organization (WHO) 11
Institute of Development Studies 7
Food and Agriculture Organization
6
(FAO)
Citations of Innocenti research in
Northern Ireland Executive 5
policy documents (+13.4%)
Overseas Development Institute 5
SOCIAL MEDIA
21,528 Facebook followers (-1.3%)
4,286 Instagram followers (+186%)
32,462 Twitter followers (+40.5%)
6,263 YouTube subscribers (+45%)
4,186 SoundCloud plays (music and podcast streaming platform) (+19%)
28,070 SlideShare views (hosting service for content such as presentations, infographics, etc.) (+107%)
10,601 LinkedIn followers (+2,016%)
10 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Figure 1: Examples of UNICEF Innocenti’s global reach in 2020
CANADA
UNICEF Innocenti developed a
new strand of qualitative research
together with children in Canada to
explore their experiences and views
on the COVID-19 pandemic.
MEXICO, URUGUAY
UNICEF Innocenti is collaborating
with the organization’s country
offices in Mexico and Uruguay
to investigate the role of political
and economic factors in gender
considerations in social protection
systems.
Global reach
of our research
and convening
UNICEF Innocenti conducts research around the world, working through the organization’s regional and country
offices and National Committees, and with governments, foundations, research institutions, think tanks, universities
and individual experts. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred UNICEF Innocenti to generate evidence synthesis
and state-of-the-art analyses of the crisis’s impact, in support of internal and external partner efforts to meet
children’s rights during this unprecedented global crisis.
Figure 1 shows the extent of UNICEF Innocenti’s global research and convening footprint in 2020. Below are some
of the highlights of work taking place with our country and regional partners, internally and externally.
Note: The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of the material do not imply on the part of UNICEF the expression of any opinion
whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities or the delimitations of its frontiers.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 11
ITALY GREECE NEPAL
UNICEF Innocenti hosted 10 Leading In partnership with the Akelius A study by UNICEF Innocenti
Minds Online webcasts from its Foundation and the Swedish found that a non-formal education
home base in Florence, remotely Committee for UNICEF, UNICEF programme that enables the
convening more than 50 global Innocenti published the Unlocking most marginalized adolescent
experts and leaders and gathering Learning report, which takes stock girls in Nepal to learn is impactful,
an audience of over 3,500 people of the co-creation, implementation and recommended exploring the
from across the globe to explore the and effectiveness of a digital feasibility of expanding this initiative
multiple dimensions of the impact of language learning course. to other contexts.
COVID-19 on children.
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
UNICEF Innocenti produced a
regional report, in conjunction with
the UNICEF regional office, on
national experiences of protecting
children from the negative outcomes
of the COVID-19 crisis in Southern
and Eastern Europe and Central
Asia.
MALAWI HORN OF AFRICA CAMBODIA, INDONESIA,
Research on Malawi’s social cash UNICEF Innocenti undertook MALAYSIA, THAILAND
transfer programme underscored research aimed at understanding One of the Best of UNICEF
the need for the government to children’s pathways and experiences Research and Evaluation winning
provide cash transfers responsive of migration. The study offered studies was undertaken jointly by
to the level of vulnerabilities recommendations for strengthening the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific
within beneficiary households by child protection services, especially Regional Office and the Centre
considering categorical targeting. expanding the availability of social for Justice and Crime Prevention
The study recommended that workers and other key measures. on gaps in the understanding of
specific social/demographic groups, children’s online behavioural patterns
such as the elderly and young in the region. The study focused on
ZIMBABWE
children, become a primary focus of hard-to-reach children and took on
the cash transfer programme. UNICEF Innocenti worked with a child-centred perspective, giving
health and communication-for- voice to children and providing them
development advisers in UNICEF with appropriate mechanisms to
UGANDA Zimbabwe and the Eastern and share their experiences.
Informed by the findings of UNICEF Southern Africa Regional Office
Innocenti’s study on the drivers of to apply behavioural insights and
teacher absenteeism in Eastern and human-centred design approaches INDONESIA, MALAYSIA
Southern Africa, Uganda’s Ministry for enhanced vaccination uptake. UNICEF Innocenti delivered flagship
of Education and Sports developed training on research management
a pioneering incentives framework and methods in an online format to
to support teachers in the country. UNICEF staff and partners.12 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic dominated Each of UNICEF Innocenti’s major
the landscape for UNICEF Innocenti’s research workstreams responded
work in 2020, bringing both forcefully to the challenge posed
opportunities and disruptions. The by the pandemic, managing both to
pandemic has underscored the power sustain most planned work and to
of utilizing research and evidence in undertake a broad array of unplanned
addressing crisis and uncertainty, and analysis and synthesis in support of an
in finding solutions to tough global evidence-based COVID-19 response.
challenges. Opportunities emerged In order to create space to undertake
in the shape of a Rapid Research research-related and online convening
Response to assess the pandemic’s activities on COVID-19, UNICEF
impact on children, utilizing evidence Innocenti adapted and replaced some
syntheses, rapid assessment tools long-form planned initiatives – such
and agile communication modalities as research reports and in-person
such as blogs, op-eds and social media seminars – with shorter formats such
products. as think pieces, strategy papers,
research briefs and online convening.
The pandemic, and the mobility
restrictions imposed to contain its This approach yielded strong results:
spread, brought a wave of disruption a Rapid Research Response, which
to UNICEF Innocenti’s research and generated numerous research
operations. This included delays products not only for UNICEF but
to or cancellations of primary/field as a United Nations resource; the
data collection, in-person convening Children and COVID-19 Research
and training, mission/programme Library, which curates the best social
travel, and face-to-face interaction science research on COVID-19 and
with partners and colleagues. There children; the Leading Minds Online
were also disruptions to recruitment, webcasts, which convened more than
onboarding of new staff, and work–life 50 experts to engage in dialogue on
balance. and seek solutions to the challenges
posed to children and young people
In response to the pandemic and by COVID-19; and four new microsites
the ensuing public health measures, dealing with various aspects of the
UNICEF Innocenti first prioritized staff pandemic. In turn, thousands of users
well-being. The office sought business were empowered to gain access
continuity, ensuring that its research to UNICEF Innocenti’s research,
continued unabated. In many ways, the knowledge management, ethical
office went from strength to strength advice and convening power.
during the crisis, proving its ability
to respond quickly with relevant and
timely research generation, facilitation
and convening.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 13
© UNICEF/UNI364608/Tohlala/AFP14 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Table 1: UNICEF Innocenti publications and Research Library
on COVID-19 and Children
The publications listed show the Children and COVID-19 Research
broad range of research undertaken Library, a database dedicated to
by UNICEF Innocenti in 2020 and up collecting the best research from
to the time of this report’s release. A around the world on COVID-19 and
wider selection of publications can be its impacts on children and
found in UNICEF Innocenti’s curated adolescents.
Theme and title Link
EDUCATION
COVID-19: How prepared are global https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
education systems for future crises? tions/1138-covid-19-how-prepared-are-glob-
(Research Brief) al-education-systems-for-future-crises.html
COVID-19: A reason to double down on https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1137-
investments in pre-primary education covid-19-a-reason-to-double-down-on-in-
(Working Paper) vestments-in-pre-primary-education.html
COVID-19: How are countries preparing https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1119-
to mitigate the learning loss as schools covid-19-how-are-countries-preparing-to-miti-
reopen? Trends and emerging good practices gate-the-learning-loss-as-they-reopen.html
to support the most vulnerable children
(Research Brief)
COVID-19: Effects of school closures on https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
foundational skills and promising practices tions/1144-covid19-effects-of-school-clo-
for monitoring and mitigating learning loss sures-on-foundational-skills-and-promising-prac-
(Working Paper) tices.html
Promising Practices for Equitable Remote https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Learning: Emerging lessons from COVID-19 tions/1090-promising-practices-for-equitable-re-
education responses in 127 countries mote-learning-emerging-lessons-from-covid.
(Research Brief) html
What Have We Learnt? Overview of findings https://data.unicef.org/resources/national-edu-
from a survey of ministries of education on cation-responses-to-covid19/
national responses to COVID-19 (Interagency
Report)
CHILD PROTECTION
Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Child Protection: Lessons learned from a tions/1103-brief-impacts-of-pandemics-and-epi-
rapid review in the context of COVID-19 demics-on-child-protection-lessons-learned-re-
(Research Brief) view.html
Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Child Protection: Lessons learned from a tions/1104-working-paper-impacts-of-pandem-
rapid review in the context of COVID-19 ics-and-epidemics-on-child-protection-les-
(Working Paper) sons-learned.htmlUNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 15
HEALTH
Does COVID-19 Affect the Health of Children https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1108-
and Young People More Than We Thought? does-covid-19-affect-the-health-of-children-and-
The case for disaggregated data to inform young-people-more-than-we-thought.html
action (Research Brief)
The Evolving Epidemiologic and Clinical https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Picture of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Disease tions/1107-the-evolving-epidemiologic-and-clin-
in Children and Young People (Working Paper) ical-picture-of-sars-cov-2-and-covid-19-disease.
html
PARENTING
Childcare in a Global Crisis: The impact of https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1109-
COVID-19 on work and family life (Research childcare-in-a-global-crisis-the-impact-of-covid-
Brief) 19-on-work-and-family-life.html
Parental Engagement in Children’s Learning: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Insights for remote learning response during tions/1091-parental-engagement-in-chil-
COVID-19 (Research Brief) drens-learning.html
SOCIAL PROTECTION
Supporting Families and Children Beyond https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
COVID-19: Social protection in Southern and tions/1139-supporting-families-and-children-be-
Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Research yond-covid-19-in-eca-countries.html
Report)
A Rapid Review of Economic Policy and https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Social Protection Responses to Health tions/1095-rapid-review-economic-policy-so-
and Economic Crises and Their Effects cial-protection-responses-to-health-and-eco-
on Children: Lessons for the COVID-19 nomic-crises.html
pandemic response (Working Paper)
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT
Digital Connectivity during COVID-19: Access https://www.unicef-irc.org/pub-
to vital information for every child (Research lications/1099-digital-connectivi-
Brief) ty-during-covid-19-access-to-vital-informa-
tion-for-every-child.html
ETHICS
Ethical Considerations for Evidence https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
Generation Involving Children on the tions/1086-ethical-considerations-for-ev-
COVID-19 Pandemic (Discussion Paper) idence-generation-involving-chil-
dren-on-the-covid-19.html
Digital Contact Tracing and Surveillance https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
During COVID-19: General and child-specific tions/1096-digital-contact-tracing-surveil-
ethical issues (Working Paper) lance-covid-19-response-child-specific-is-
sues-iwp.html
Digital Contact Tracing and Surveillance https://www.unicef-irc.org/publica-
During COVID-19: General and child-specific tions/1098-digital-contact-tracing-surveil-
ethical issues (Research Brief) lance-covid-19-response-child-specific-is-
sues-irb.html
MULTIDIMENSIONAL
COVID-19 and Children, in the North and https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1087-
in the South (Discussion Paper) covid-19-and-children-in-the-north-and-the-
south.html16 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 17
Research
in the spotlight
UNICEF Innocenti conducts strategic research in collaboration with
the organization’s country and regional offices, governments and
other partners on key issues affecting children and young people.
In 2020, UNICEF Innocenti undertook research and analysis on the
COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of its four established research
workstreams: social and economic policy; education and learning;
child rights and child protection; digital engagement and protection.
This section features the key achievements of these workstreams
and the impactful research reports and papers that stirred policy and
programming action or influenced discourse and debate on children
and young people in 2020.
© UNICEF/UN0414295/Franco18 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Social
and economic
policy
Despite constraints, UNICEF Innocenti It examines the mental well-being,
increased engagement on social physical health and skills of children
and economic policy research, both and young people in Organisation
internally and externally, and developed for Economic Co-operation and
a joint COVID-19 research plan with Development (OECD) and European
other UNICEF offices that continues Union (EU) countries. Building on the
in 2021. Some of the fieldwork related success of its 2019 report on family-
to social protection research, such as friendly policies in OECD countries,
the Transfer Project and the Gender- UNICEF Innocenti launched in 2020
Responsive and Age-Sensitive Social further policy reports on families
Protection (GRASSP) programme, and households, including studies
was disrupted by the pandemic, and on childcare in the global COVID-19
several components were postponed crisis, and on remittances, COVID-19
after consultation with the resource and children. UNICEF Innocenti also
partners. This postponement provided commenced work on forthcoming
the space and resources for the Social studies that will generate reports
and Economic Policy team to focus on on family-friendly policies in South
COVID-related desk-based research Asia, and COVID-19 studies on
and analytical pieces, papers and social protection in high-income
briefs. Nonetheless, even with the countries, Europe and Central Asia,
delays, UNICEF Innocenti managed to and West and Central Africa. UNICEF
generate key knowledge products for Innocenti has also developed a
cash transfer evaluations in Burkina new strand of qualitative research
Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique with children in Italy and Canada to
and Tanzania as part of the Transfer explore their experiences and views
Project. on the COVID-19 pandemic and
is undertaking a review on social
In the area of child poverty and well- protection responses to the crisis
being, UNICEF Innocenti launched its in the Eastern and Southern Africa
16th flagship Innocenti Report Card region.
on child well-being in rich countries.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 19 Innocenti Report Card 16 – Worlds of Influence: Understanding what shapes child well-being in rich countries OVERVIEW IMPACT Innocenti Report Card 16 examines The Report Card received substantial child well-being in 41 high-income media coverage and generated countries that are either part of the strong interest, with more than EU or the OECD. The report employs 100,000 downloads and evidence of a new multidimensional framework of engagement of national governments child well-being, identifying pathways in New Zealand and Ireland. and responsibilities of different stakeholders. This builds on previous Innocenti Report Cards and is an important step forward in identifying policy and practical messages for children in high-income countries. FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS The report provides a league table of outcomes in terms of physical health, mental well-being and skills. The Netherlands is ranked highest overall, but all countries have room for improvement. For example, even in the best-performing countries, more than one in five children aged 15 did not have basic literacy and numeracy skills. The report also presents a league table of the underlying national conditions for child well-being, covering social, education and health policies, as Innocenti Report Card 16 well as the economic, social and environmental context. Norway is Worlds of Influence ranked highest. The report highlights Understanding What Shapes Child the potential impacts of the COVID-19 Well-being in Rich Countries pandemic on child well-being. It identifies areas for policy improvement and opportunities for advocacy for children in each country. Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1140-worlds-of-influence-understanding-what-sha- pes-child-well-being-in-rich-countries.html
20 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Supporting Families and Children
Beyond COVID-19: Social protection
comparative study series
OVERVIEW IMPACT
The Supporting Families and Children As of January 2021, a month after
Beyond COVID-19 comparative its launch, Supporting Families and
study series looks at the potential Children Beyond COVID-19 was
effects of COVID-19 on children and presented as part of the German
families, based on a global review. Presidency of the European
The series undertakes trends analysis Commission, and the authors received
in comparative groups of countries, an invitation to speak to the Irish
compares government responses, Government in February 2021.
and recommends good practices.
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS
The series summarizes global research
evidence on government social
protection and other fiscal stimulus Covid-19 & Children
responses and presents the findings
of trends analysis. It reveals that child
income poverty is likely to increase and
remain higher than pre-COVID levels
for up to five years in those countries
worst hit by the crisis. The analysis
in the reports also indicates high
spending by high-income countries in
their COVID-19 response, equivalent
to about 8 per cent of global GDP
(stretching from February 2020 to
the end of July 2020), and finds that,
of this sum, only 2 per cent was
earmarked for child-specific social Supporting Families and Children
protection policies.
Beyond COVID-19
Social protection in Southern and Eastern Europe
and Central Asia
Dominic Richardson
Victor Cebotari
Alessandro Carraro
Kaku Attah Damoah
August 2020
Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1139-supporting-families-and-children-beyond-co-
vid-19-in-eca-countries.htmlUNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 21
Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s
Productive Safety Net Program:
Analysis of protective pathways
in the Amhara region
OVERVIEW the deep-rooted social and gender
norms and attitudes that perpetuate
Recognizing that child marriage
the harmful practice of child marriage.
remains a key development and
The findings were presented to
human rights issue in Ethiopia, this
researchers in January 2020 and an
study examines the potential role
in-country dissemination event is
of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net
planned in Ethiopia for 2021.
Program (PSNP) in delaying child
marriage for girls and explores possible
pathways of impact. Although the
IMPACT
PSNP was not specifically designed to
prevent child marriage, an earlier study The study was positively received by
found that it delayed the outmigration key government partners in Ethiopia
of adolescent girls from PSNP and initiated a dialogue with the
households, with potential spillover government on the design of the next
effects on delaying their marriage. The phase of the PSNP to more
study draws on descriptive quantitative strategically address child marriage
and qualitative data from an ongoing risks and support gender
impact evaluation of the Integrated transformative actions.
Safety Net Program pilot in the
Amhara region of Ethiopia to explore
whether and how the PSNP reduces
child marriage.
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS
Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s
The study finds that the PSNP, by Productive Safety Net Program:
providing household income support, Analysis of protective pathways
in the Amhara region
is effective in reducing financial Final Report
pressures on families to marry off
girls and in improving girls’ education Maja Gavrilovic, Tia Palermo, Elsa Valli, Francesca Viola,
Vincenzo Vinci, Karin Heissler, Mathilde Renault,
Ana Gabriela Guerrero Serdan and Essa Chanie Mussa
opportunities. Once in school, girls
have critical access to knowledge, December 2020
information and social networks
essential to empower them to exercise
their choices and resist marriage.
The study finds that, to be fully
effective, cash transfers require
complementary efforts, such as
community awareness raising and
broader legal measures, to transform
Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1177-child-marriage-and-ethiopias-productive-sa-
fety-net-program-analysis-of-protective-pathways-in-the-amhara-region.html22 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
A Cash Plus Model
for Safe Transitions to a Healthy
and Productive Adulthood
OVERVIEW improvements in self-esteem,
entrepreneurial and gender
This study is the first to examine the
equitable attitudes
impacts of a cash plus intervention
on youth well-being and transitions enhancement in mental health.
to adulthood within an existing
government-run social protection However, the study also finds
programme in sub-Saharan Africa – a decrease in secondary school
the Productive Social Safety Net of the attendance by adolescent girls, who
Government of Tanzania. were comparatively more likely to be
in school before the intervention began.
The cash plus supplemental
programme, layered on top of the Recommendations for improving
existing government cash transfer future programme design include
programme, addresses multiple the need to revise the training focus,
dimensions of adolescent to emphasize the importance of
development, including education, education, vocational training and
health and economic empowerment. apprenticeship opportunities. There
is also a need for enhancing young
The programme includes training on people’s understanding of HIV risks
livelihoods and sexual and reproductive and strengthening linkages to HIV
health and rights, mentoring, and sexual and reproductive health
productive grants to implement services for adolescents.
economic initiatives, schooling/
vocational training and health services.
IMPACT
Using a cluster randomized controlled
trial design, the study explores the Piloted in four districts within the
impacts of the programme on Mbeya and Iringa regions, the
economic initiatives and vocational programme is being progressively
training, as well as on knowledge/ scaled up to new districts in Kigoma,
access to sexual and reproductive a region outside of the pilot area
health, and HIV prevention and considered in the impact evaluation.
treatment services. Based on the study findings that the
intervention had an unintended
adverse impact on school attendance
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS of adolescent girls, the scale-up
currently targets out-of-school youth.
The findings of the Round 3 data
collection (conducted 26–28 months
after baseline, 1 year after in-person
training, and 1–2 months after the
productive grants disbursement) show
the following results:
an increase in HIV testing and visits
to health facilities
delayed sexual debut; reduction in
experiences and perpetration of
violence
Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1100-cash-plus-model-for-safe-transitions-to-heal-
thy-and-productive-adulthood-midline.htmlUNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 23
© UNICEF/UNI162007/Holt24 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Education
and learning
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused The fruit of this collaboration is
unprecedented disruption to education What Have We Learnt?, a joint report
systems globally, affecting the lives undertaken by UNICEF Innocenti,
of more than 1.5 billion students and the World Bank and UNESCO, and
their families in 2020. Forced to close generated through a joint survey
schools, governments have put in of 149 ministries of education on
place immediate policy responses national responses to COVID-19
through a range of remote learning school closures from pre-primary
modalities, including online, TV/radio, to secondary education.
paper-based take-home materials and
other approaches. But these measures In response to COVID-19, UNICEF
have only been partially effective: Innocenti completed research working
globally, fewer than 75 per cent of papers and briefs on the following
children were able to benefit from topics in education:
online learning during school closures
impact of school closures on
due to the pervasive digital divide and
learning and nutrition
other factors. Both the crisis and the
presumed solution to the disruption parental engagement
in education have exacerbated
equitable remote learning
existing disparities pre-COVID, and
put children’s learning, nutrition and school reopening
development at risk. remote learning in early childhood
education.
But COVID-19 has brought new
opportunities for education – throwing New evidence shed light on the
the global learning crisis that pre- cost-effectiveness of pre-primary
dated the pandemic into sharp relief education and the related need for
– and for education research. Due increased spending. UNICEF Innocenti
to the urgency to restart children’s also undertook research on the
learning, this unparalleled crisis led implementation gaps between policies
to a collaboration between UNICEF and service delivery at school level
Innocenti and other UNICEF offices and found these gaps to be massive,
and several other international underscoring the urgent need for
organizations. implementation and scaling research.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 25
Time to Teach: Teacher attendance
and time on task in Eastern and
Southern Africa
OVERVIEW IMPACT
This study provides insights into the The launch of the Eastern and
drivers of primary school teacher Southern Africa regional report in
absenteeism in nine countries/ November 2020 resonated with
territories in Eastern and Southern ministries of education, national
Africa (Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, policymakers and practitioners.
Puntland (State of Somalia), Rwanda, The initiative has prompted UNICEF
South Sudan, Tanzania (Mainland regional and country offices to actively
and Zanzibar) and Uganda). In 2020, use this research to improve and
UNICEF Innocenti launched a regional expand policies and programming
synthesis report along with nine targeting teachers. For example,
country/state-level reports. Uganda’s Ministry of Education and
Sports has developed a pioneering
incentives framework to support
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS teachers in the country informed by
the findings of the research.
The mixed-methods research that
forms the basis of the study focuses
on the factors affecting teacher
attendance and on promising practices
for improving time on task by mobilizing
policymakers to improve teacher
working conditions, accountability
and motivation, and thereby improve
learning outcomes. The study found
that between 15.5 per cent and
17.8 per cent of surveyed teachers
reported being frequently absent
from school. Absenteeism is highest
in rural areas, in public schools, and
among more educated teachers and
volunteer teachers. Despite high levels
of absenteeism, the evidence shows
that teachers are generally committed
to their job: education system
strengthening is the pressing need.
The promising practices for improving Time to Teach
time on task include: ensuring Teacher attendance and time on task
effective teacher monitoring and in Eastern and Southern Africa
oversight by head teachers; boosting Despina Karamperidou, Mathieu Brossard,
Silvia Peirolo and Dominic Richardson
parental and community involvement; March 2020
removing obstacles to delivery of
teacher salaries; improving teacher
training and work–life balance;
enhancing teacher allocation across
schools; reducing class size in early I
years; and strengthening inter-sectoral
collaboration.
Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1148-time-to-teach-teacher-attendance-and-ti-
me-on-task-in-eastern-and-southern-africa.html26 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Let Us Learn
OVERVIEW programme aims to bring the most
marginalized adolescent girls in Nepal
Let Us Learn is an initiative that
into school. The mixed-methods
supports learning for vulnerable
analysis found that GATE has been
children, especially girls, in five
highly effective, seeing completion
countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
rates of 95 per cent for girls enrolled in
Liberia, Madagascar and Nepal).
the programme, and with 89 per cent
Research within the programme
of girls making the transition to formal
focuses on how to improve education
school. However, retention of girls in
outcomes for the most marginalized
formal school remains a challenge.
and is co-designed and built into the
country programme of each of the
five implementing UNICEF country
IMPACT
offices, as well as the UNICEF South
Asia Regional Office and the UNICEF A key recommendation stemming
Global Education Team in New York. from this research is to explore
the feasibility of expanding GATE
approaches to other contexts, as
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS the research demonstrated that the
programme has been a cost-effective
The report Bringing Education to
way of improving learning outcomes
the Most Marginalized Girls in Nepal
and bringing the most vulnerable girls
provides a snapshot of the non-formal
into formal schooling in the context
education programme entitled Girls’
of Nepal.
Access to Education (GATE). This
© UNICEF/UN0384831/Paul
Publication available at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/1117-bringing-education-to-the-most-marginalized-gir-
ls-in-nepal-evidence-from-the-girls.htmlUNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 27
What Have We Learnt?
Overview of findings from a survey
of ministries of education on
national responses to COVID-19
OVERVIEW launched a white paper with
recommendations on education after
UNESCO, UNICEF and the World Bank
COVID-19.
conducted a survey of ministries of
education on their national education
responses to COVID-19 school IMPACT
closures. The survey results are This survey is to become a regular
summarized in the What Have We endeavour supported by UNESCO,
Learnt? joint report. UNICEF Innocenti and the World Bank.
Its next iterations will benefit countries
by continuing to allow them to share
FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS experiences that will better inform
The survey shows how certain local and national responses and
government responses to COVID-19 prepare for school reopening.
can widen inequalities between and
within countries. The report notes that
most low-income countries do not find O CTOBER 2020
that remote learning is an effective
substitute for in-person teaching, but
also do not have enough resources to
reopen schools.
Key areas identified for further
research include monitoring student
dropout and disengagement, the WHAT HAVE
continued role of remote learning, WE LEARNT?
learning assessments, localizing Overview of findings from a survey of
ministries of education on national
decisions on reopening schools, health responses to COVID-19
and safety measures, teacher support
and well-being, and mental health
support. More in-depth research,
including implementation research,
is needed to capture the impacts
of policy responses and support
educational planning and programming
going forward.
The survey findings were disseminated
through a joint webinar for key policy-
makers and the wider development
community. Additionally, UNICEF took
part in the Education Commission-led for every child
Save Our Future campaign, which
Publication available at: https://data.unicef.org/resources/national-education-responses-to-covid19/28 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Child rights and
child protection
The COVID-19 crisis unveiled the UNICEF Innocenti responded rapidly
abuse faced by women and children to the risk of increased domestic
around the world, providing an violence against children and women
unexpected opportunity to advocate during the pandemic by synthesizing
for commensurate action to prevent existing evidence about the nature of
it, including within the pandemic violence, its prevalence in previous
response. Approximately one in three crises and effective responses. This
women around the world experience enabled the office to recommend
physical and/or sexual intimate potential measures to prevent violence
partner violence in their lifetimes, and and ensure that victims have access to
upwards of 50 per cent of children compassionate care. UNICEF Innocenti
experience violence, often in settings generated short-form pieces, including
presumed to be safe: the home and briefs, blogs and op-eds, which: called
the community. for a gender-sensitive and life-course
approach to these issues; emphasized
And while schools can also be arenas the gendered nature of caregiving, and
in which children experience violence, the increased burden that lockdowns
they often offer safe spaces for and other measures entail for girls
reporting violence or seeking support. and women; and articulated the
With school closures enforced impacts that the pandemic is having
globally, children’s access to safe on both women and children’s well-
spaces has been further restricted. being. Ongoing attention was paid
Factors related to the pandemic, to anti-violence measures taken by
such as confinement, social isolation, governments – for example, expanding
household financial stress and weak helplines and innovating solutions
institutional responses, can increase to promote reporting in safe ways –
or intensify levels of violence and although these were mostly reported
disrupt victims’ access to protection from high-income countries.
services.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 29
In parallel, UNICEF Innocenti respondents’ safety and well-being
undertook a rapid evidence review and complying with the best standards
of the Impacts of Pandemics and of quality and ethics.
Epidemics on Child Protection. This
study is enabling UNICEF to learn from Looking ahead, UNICEF Innocenti
previous global crises, anticipate the will keep a spotlight on promising
child protection challenges for children and effective solutions that need to
in the COVID-19 era and in future be resourced across the board, both
crises, and build appropriate strategies. for pandemic preparedness and to
improve the overall efforts to prevent
UNICEF Innocenti sought to generate and respond to violence across
new evidence and guidance on the life course. Ongoing work with
collecting data related to violence migrant children and young people
during COVID-19 in ethical ways. led to a situational brief focused on
Guidance on ethical data collection on underlying vulnerabilities likely to
violence helped to steer actions by get exacerbated in the context of
UNICEF and partners, while ensuring COVID-19.
© UNICEF/UNI377889/Bongyereirwe30 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Co-creating research on important policy issues
UNICEF has estimated that, in 2019, Innocenti’s unique advantages of
33 million international migrants close partnership and collaboration
were under 18. Seeking safety and with national stakeholders, including
better opportunities, many children governments, civil society and
and young people feel compelled to research institutions. From co-design
leave their families and communities. of the research terms of reference
Together with UNICEF country offices (ToR) at the outset to validation of the
and regional offices, UNICEF Innocenti findings, with numerous presentations
embarked on a series of studies on and discussions in between, the
children’s pathways and experiences research has already been presented
of migration in the Horn of Africa. several times to stakeholders in all
This research aims to understand three countries where data were
why children move and what risks collected – Ethiopia, Somalia and
and harms they face, and will be Sudan – ensuring that research uptake
published in April 2021. Drawing on is part of the process of research
data collected in 2019–2020, the implementation and publication (see
research approach exemplifies UNICEF Figure 2).
The evaluation report from the UNICEF in Togowajale. In Sudan, findings
Evaluation Office on protecting were used in conjunction with
children on the move (COTM) in other research to strengthen the
the Horn of Africa indicates that the argument for improving the protective
UNICEF Innocenti research undertaken environment at cross-border areas
during the COTM programme adds (for example Sudan/Egypt and
value to what is already known about along migratory routes to provide a
the programme. The plan for the continuum of care). In addition, the
research component of COTM was to evaluation team was also able to
produce quantitative and qualitative use the research findings, which is
data to enhance knowledge and particularly significant given that the
inform programming on COTM. Most team was unable to interview children
interviewees felt that the research directly.
was an important contribution to
child protection and brought some With regard to the research
new insights. Many other studies component of the programme, the
examine the causes of migration, researchers introduced the project at
but this research was unique in that many interagency gatherings and with
it highlighted children’s voices with governments and engaged with many
regard to their view of services, other stakeholders (NGOs, academics).
revealing a huge mistrust of authority.
In Somaliland and Puntland, UNICEF
In Ethiopia, case studies emerging Innocenti worked collaboratively with
from the research were helpful government partners in the planning
in developing awareness-raising and implementation of the research,
activities, as well as highlighting and this was critical in getting
protection issues in specific areas, government support and information,
which led to programme interventions which enriched the findings.UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020 31
Figure 2: Approach to co-creation of research design and
implementation
Research co-creation
between UNICEF Innocenti,
country offices, national
governments, researchers
and other partners
Co-design Co-implementation with Joint research deliberations
country-level partners
■ Revision of the research ToR ■ Active engagement in the
■ Facilitation of access to validation workshop with
■ Review and clearance of
target groups in identified stakeholders – e.g. Somalia
ethical protocols
research sites (through 17 Sep, Sudan 19 Oct,
■ Selection of national supporting letters and Ethiopia 26 Oct
research partners contact with authorities
■ Support in the dissemination
on the ground)
■ Internal cross-UNICEF of findings
planning meetings – ■ Review of research reports
■ Key role in concrete research
e.g. Addis Ababa Jan 2019, and discussions of interim
uptake through the
Amman Dec 2020, findings – e.g. presentation
development of joint
Florence Feb 2020 to MoWCY, Ethiopia, 18 Aug
(UNICEF/gov) technical
implementation plans –
e.g. COTM End Term
Review, 3 Nov
Government partners National research partners
■ Ethiopia: Ministry of Women, ■ Organization for Social Science
Children and Youth (MoWCY) Research in Eastern and
Southern Africa (OSSREA) at
■ Sudan: National Council for
the University of Addis Ababa,
Child Welfare (NCCW)
Ethiopia
■ Somalia: Ministry of ■ Peace Research Institute at the
Employment, Social Affairs
University of Khartoum, Sudan
and Family (MESAF); in
Puntland, the main partner ■ University of Gedaref – Faculty
was the Ministry of Women of Law, Sudan
Development and Family
■ University of Hargeisa, Somalia
Affairs (MOWDAFA)
■ Puntland and Development
Research Centre32 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2020
Digital
engagement
In 2020, UNICEF Innocenti’s digital during the COVID-19 pandemic,
research programme continued its part of a 15-country collaboration in
focus on evidence generation by Europe (Austria, Belgium, Croatia,
implementing nationally representative Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
household surveys. Under the Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal,
Disrupting Harm project, such surveys Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland)
are undertaken with children and led by the European Commission’s
parents in 14 countries in East Asia and Joint Research Centre. The first report
Eastern and Southern Africa (Cambodia, focused on remote learning in Italy,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, with the aim of influencing remote
Thailand, Viet Nam; Ethiopia, Kenya, learning policy development in that
Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South country.
Africa, Uganda, the United Republic
of Tanzania) to understand how Following the increased focus of
digital technology can facilitate sexual UNICEF on digital technology as
exploitation and abuse of children. a means for programme delivery,
UNICEF Innocenti implements the UNICEF Innocenti has developed
project, alongside UNICEF country and a joint project with the LEGO Group
regional offices and with the support to explore what child-responsive and
of national governments. The project rights-respecting digital design looks
continued during the pandemic by like for children. The purpose is to
introducing a range of precautions understand how digital experiences
to safeguard participating families, contribute positively or negatively
including outdoor interviewing, to children’s well-being and identify
quarantines where necessary, and design features that can be leveraged
enhanced sanitary practices for to improve child well-being in various
fieldwork staff. ways. This will contribute to successful
programme delivery by UNICEF
In parallel, UNICEF Innocenti joined through digital technologies and help
a new research project to understand the digital industry to deliver better
how children used digital technology experiences for children.You can also read
