context
unicef Republic of Congo
Demographics CONTEXT IN the and development The Republic of Congo has a young population: 47% of its over 5 million REPUBLIC OF CONGO inhabitants are under the age of 18 years. Nearly 62% of the total population lives in the two largest cities, Brazzaville and The Republic of Congo is located on the issue of political governance. Between Pointe-Noire. western coast of Central Africa. It is bordered 1960 and 1992, the history of the Congo Congo ranks 154th out of 188 countries by Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, was characterized by numerous episodes globally on the Human Development Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and of violence and socio-political crises, which Index and 8th out of 48 countries in Sub- Angola, as well as the Atlantic Ocean to the led to several regime changes. The country Saharan Africa. This puts it in the medium south-west. The capital city, Brazzaville, lies on has held multi-party elections since 1992, human development category. the Congo River in the south of the country, but, following a civil war, the democratically just across the border from Kinshasa, the elected government was ousted in 1997. Some 35% of the population in Congo capital of DRC. lived in poverty in 2016 according to the Over the past decade, Congo has benefited World Bank. Evidence from Multiple and Formerly part of the French colony of from a consolidation of peace and security, Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA) Equatorial Africa, the Republic of Congo was which has led to political stability (presidential has shown that 61% of children under the established in 1958 and gained independence elections in 2009 and legislative in 2012). age of 18 years – some 1.3 million – are in from France in 1960. However, the country The results of the presidential elections of a situation of multidimensional poverty. was rapidly confronted with the complex 2016 were challenged by the opposition, Although there has been progress in resulting in political unrest and a resurgence increasing access to quality services, of tensions in the Pool Region, between the the social situation of the Congolese security forces and the former Ninja rebels, population remains worrying, and Central with the displacement of more than 80,000 children and the most vulnerable groups African people. A ceasefire was signed in December Republic bear the brunt. 2017, although challenges exist for the Cameroon displaced populations. The next presidential Wide income disparities, an expanding elections are scheduled for March 2021. peri-urban population, high rates of youth unemployment – first-time job seekers Congo has become the fourth largest oil represent 79.4% of the unemployed – and producer in the Gulf of Guinea, which has limited access to economic opportunities Republic given the country a degree of prosperity. may fuel tensions in the country. of Congo However, basic social services still need to be improved. Economic growth has slowed Congo is prone to cholera, measles and Gabon considerably since the post-2014 drop in Ebola outbreaks and natural disasters, oil prices. During 2019, there were modest including floods, and there continues to signs of growth, likely to stabilize around be a large influx of refugees from Central Democratic African Republic and DRC. Republic 2%, but this level remains too low to have an of Congo impact on poverty reduction according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Brazzaville
Atlantic ocean Angola context
unicef Republic of Congo
Key facts on health Key facts on HIV Key facts on education and nutrition • There was an increase in new HIV • Although primary education is available • Only 27% of children are fully immunized, infections in Congo between 2010 for almost all children (97% of children are 67% have received three doses of and 2017, with 28% of new infections enrolled in primary school and 92% have pentavalent vaccine and 67% are occurring in children under 14 years old. completed the cycle), the country still vaccinated against measles before their faces many problems linked to the quality • The mother-to-child transmission rate first birthday. of learning. increased from 15.9% in 2013 to 18.8% • Seeking care in institutions or from health in 2017. • Few students complete primary providers remains low: 50% of children education with the required skills in both with diarrhoea do not receive appropriate • The proportion of women who are mathematics (41%) and reading (21%). HIV-positive and pregnant and on anti- services; only 35% benefit from treatment • A total of 14% of children aged 12–17 are retroviral therapy fell from 82% per cent with oral rehydration salts and 8% with the out of school and 29% of children aged in 2014 to 33% in 2017. combination of oral rehydration salt and zinc. 12–14 are involved in economic activities. • Only 32.9% of children are exclusively • The share of infants born to mothers who breastfed, and 21% of children under five are HIV-infected receiving antiretroviral suffer from chronic malnutrition. therapy decreased from 25% in 2014 to 12% in 2017, owing to a stock-out of • Only 61% of children under five years of drugs and laboratory tests. age sleep under insecticide-treated nets, 49% of children with febrile episodes of • Only 1,663 out of 8,507 children under malaria have accessed health services and 14 years old living with HIV received only 8% have received treatment. antiretroviral treatment (21%). • The key bottlenecks to health and nutrition improvement for children under five years old include lack of qualified human Key facts on water, resources; frequent stock-out of essential sanitation and hygiene commodities; poor implementation of key interventions such as integrated • A total of 68% of the population has management of childhood illness and infant access to safe drinking water, but there and young child feeding; a persistence is a large urban–rural disparity (85% vs. Key facts on protection of social and financial barriers that limit 56%). Only a quarter of the population access to quality health care; and a lack of uses unshared improved toilets, 24% • While the national birth registration rate is access to water and sanitation services. of the population uses basic sanitation 96%, it is only 35% for children of minority services and 23% of the rural population indigenous groups. practices open defecation. • 82% of children aged 1–14 are victims • The main bottlenecks to at-scale of violent disciplinary practices in the coverage include insufficient translation community. of policies and strategies into actions; • There is limited knowledge about the limited institutional capacities at consequences of violence on children, as subnational and local levels for planning, well as a poor demand for services. monitoring, budgeting and service • In December 2018, over 16,000 refugees delivery; and insufficient investment and from DRC crossed the River Congo to funding. Plateaux Region fleeing ethnic tensions, of whom approximately 50% are children.
P.O. Box 2110, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Telephone: +242 06 652 5022 • [email protected] • www.unicef.org/congo Credits: Production: Julie Pudlowski Consulting • Photography: ©UNICEF/ Pudlowski unicef
unicef Republic of Congo
UNICEF in Congo
UNICEF has been working in Congo since the The Country Programme is also aligned with 1960s in partnership with the government and the government’s National Development Plan other development partners, by means of a (NDP) 2018–2022, which works within the proactive and sustainable approach. Over time, framework of the Sustainable Development UNICEF has become the main defender of Goals and the African Union’s Agenda children’s rights in the country. 2063. The NDP focuses on strengthening governance, human capital development The UNICEF Country Programme is based on and diversification of the economy. The main the Convention on the Rights of the Child and contribution of UNICEF is to the second aligns with the five objectives of the UNICEF of these – human capital development – in Strategic Plan 2018–2021, which are: particular with regard to the access of all 1. Every child survives and thrives children to quality social services, with a major UNICEF has also provided support 2. Every child learns focus on reducing inequality. to tackle recurrent emergencies that 3. Every child is protected from violence The United Nations Reform and its have affected an estimated 112,000 and exploitation implementation were launched in Congo, while children. Capacity and resources have 4. Every child lives in a safe and clean a new United Nations Sustainable Development environment been put in place to address issues Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2020–2024 5. Every child has an equitable chance in life related to internal displacement and was signed in March 2019. natural disasters while maintaining a focus on a humanitarian–development Progress so far towards the SDGs through the past continuum. The aim is to enable emergency preparedness and response programme of Cooperation while strengthening the system and The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation On SDG 3 on health and well-being: building national capacities to prepare with Congo has contributed to the • At national level, coverage of DTP3 and respond to the humanitarian needs acceleration of progress toward the increased from 75% to 79% between 2018 of the most vulnerable populations. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and and 2019, and for OPV3 from 74% to 78%. the realization of the rights of all children, especially the most vulnerable, in the areas • The percentage of districts with coverage of maternal and child health, nutrition, of DTP3 of at least 80% has increased HIV/AIDS, water sanitation and hygiene, from 42% to 47%. education and gender equality, child On SDG 4 on education: protection and inclusive social policies. Although children aged 3–5 have limited On SDG 2 on nutrition: access to pre-school education (36%), • The share of under-six-month-old primary education is available to all children children exclusively breastfed has gone aged 6–11 (96%). from 33% (MICS 2014–2015) to 40% in On SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation 2019. • The current rate of open defecation • A total of 771,583 children aged 6–59 is estimated at around 8%. UNICEF- months (89%) received two doses of supported Community Led Total vitamin A at national level in 2019. Sanitation interventions are underway. unicef
UNICEF Congo will strategically sustain the gains achieved in 2019 in the areas of Duty of Care and management excellence; Public Finance for Children (PF4C); data for children; violence against children; and resource leveraging and mobilization. As 2020 will be the first year of the new country programme cycle 2020–2024, the Country Office will explore new avenues such as those under PF4C, including poverty analysis and measurement, as a tool for reducing inequality and poverty in Congo. A greater focus on innovations through partnership-building will be central to strategic UNICEF-supported interventions in 2020.
Lessons learnt from UNICEF believes the private sector can play The new UNICEF Congo an important role in improving the lives of the previous Country Country Programme Programme children in Congo, through participating in finding solutions to the greatest 2020–2024 An analysis of the comparative advantage challenges facing this group. A broad range In 2019, UNICEF, through an inclusive of UNICEF as an impartial advocate for process, in consultation with the government, children’s rights and source of technical of partners, philanthropic organizations, expertise informed lessons learnt from the foundations, businesses and individuals the UN Country Team and development previous Country Programme and contributed can invest at the national level to catalyse partners, developed its Country Programme to the design of the new CPD: sustainable solutions and systematic Document (CPD) 2020–2024, which was approved by the board in June. The CPD, 1. Policy and legislation development should changes to create a Congo that is more guided by the UNICEF Strategic Plan (and aim to accelerate implementation by equitable for all its inhabitants. identifying and addressing bottlenecks its common chapter) and the Gender Action at subnational level so they can have a Plan, is aligned with the UNSDCF and Congo’s NDP 2018–2022. more significant impact on the situation of Going forward, the UNICEF Country Office children, especially the most vulnerable. will capitalize on emerging opportunities that The Programme Strategy Note and draft 2. A life-cycle and rights-based approach can help reach the furthest-behind children CPD were informed by recommendations is necessary to help deliver a cohesive and accelerate results at scale in collaboration from a strategic moment of reflection of and integrated set of services at the with the private sector. It will work to harness October 2018 in Brazzaville. This included community and facility levels. the power, reach and influence of business line ministries, development partners, UN 3. The collection and dissemination of real- actors on behalf of children with a view to agencies, civil society organizations, children time data using innovative approaches and supporting UNICEF’s programmatic activities and young people, academia and the private technologies, such as SMS messages to and reaching the most disadvantaged sector. remind parents of vaccination schedules, communities. is paramount to strengthen subnational response planning and analysis. In addition, UNICEF will continue to advocate for “value for money and improved budgeting 4. The imperative of progressing towards the for children”, including supporting the Health SDGs in a context of limited fiscal space Ministry to make good use of the VII platform calls for a greater emphasis on leveraging to procure vaccines and health commodities, resources and catalysing new investment thus improving efficiency and reducing costs. for child-sensitive social sectors. unicef Republic of Congo
The UNICEF Country Programme will Fundraising needs address the needs of children during their The CPD includes a proposed aggregate indicative budget of $8,385,000 from regular resources, first and second decades of life using an subject to the availability of funds, and $21,891,000 in other resources, subject to the availability integrated life-cycle approach at the heart of specific-purpose contributions, for the period 2020 to 2024. of its efforts. An equity focus across all interventions will allow girls and boys, without distinction, to progressively Programme component Regular resources Other resources Total gain access to high-quality and inclusive services. Human rights, gender and Child survival and development $3,250,000 $10,508,000 $13,758,000 disability will be mainstreamed across Education, protection and the components. In line with the UNICEF $3,135,000 $9,194,000 $12,329,000 adolescent development Gender Action Plan 2018–2021, analysis and programme design will address Programme effectiveness $2,000,000 $2,189,000 $4,189,000 discriminatory norms and practices and promote the empowerment of girls and Total $8,385,000 $21,891,000 $30,276,000 women.
The targeted outcomes UNSDCF 2020–2024 child- for the 2020–2024 Country related outcomes Programme are as By 2024, people have equitable access to follows: quality essential health care packages and • Child survival and development. By services (including nutrition and WASH), 2024, Congolese children, boys and health security and social protection girls, aged 0–10 years enjoy significantly to enhance human capital and take full improved access to quality and equitable advantage of the demographic dividend. maternal, neonatal and child health, By 2024, children (girls and boys), youth education, child protection, Early and adults (men and women) and children Childhood Development (ECD), nutrition with disabilities in targeted areas have and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene increased access to inclusive and quality (WASH) services. education services in the formal and • Education, protection and adolescent non-formal systems, particularly qualifying development. By 2024, a greater training for better social and professional proportion of adolescent boys and girls integration. survive, learn and participate in their By 2024, the most disadvantaged development in a healthier environment, populations in the targeted areas free from violence, exploitation and implement sustainable diversified UNICEF Strategic Plan abuse. economic activities and resilience to 2018–2021 Goal Areas: Key • Programme effectiveness. By 2024, climate change and disasters, creating results for children in the rights of children and adolescents are jobs and income in the areas of West and Central Africa monitored; data and evidence are used sustainable agriculture, food security and > Immunization to inform national policy and resource ecotourism by respecting environmental allocation and communities; and standards. > Prevention of stunting adolescents participate in the promotion > Improved learning outcomes of their rights. > Protection of children from violence, including in humanitarian contexts > Ending open defecation P.O. Box 2110, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Telephone: +242 06 652 5022 • [email protected] • www.unicef.org/congo Credits: Production: Julie Pudlowski Consulting • Photography: ©UNICEF/ Pudlowski/ ©UNICEF/ Maranatha survival
unicef Republic of Congo
Child survival and development
Issue > Fertility rates are high (33.6%) and 20.5% antenatal care in 2017 and 21% of infants of pregnant women who attended antenatal born to mothers living with HIV were care in 2015 were 15–19 years old. receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). > The main causes of neonatal deaths are > While the national birth registration rate is prematurity (40%), asphyxia/respiratory 96%, it is only 35% for children of minority distress (29%) and neonatal infections indigenous groups. (27%). The three main causes of under-five > More than a fifth (21.2%) of children under deaths are malaria (54%), acute respiratory five years of age were stunted in 2015. infections (18%) and diarrhoea (17%). > The rate of exclusive breastfeeding is only > After reaching an immunization rate of 90% 32.9%, with premature complementary The Country Programme 2020–2024 in 2014, coverage in Congo fell to 69% feeding increasing the risk of nutritional will contribute to improved access to in 2017 because of the frequent stock- deficiencies and exposure to unsafe water. high-quality and equitable maternal, out of vaccines and decreased domestic neonatal and child health; nutrition; financing. > While the national birth registration rate is education; protection; ECD; and WASH 96%, it is only 35% for children of minority > Only 33% of pregnant women with HIV indigenous groups. services for children aged 0–10 years. It accessed antiretroviral therapy during will strengthen multi-sectoral service delivery systems and build national capacities to provide an essential Action package of high-impact, integrated services throughout the first decade of a UNICEF OUTCOME: By 2024, If children have improved access to quality child’s life, including the first 1,000 days. Congolese children, boys and girls, and equitable services during the first aged 0–10 years enjoy significantly decade of life, then they will be in a better improved access to quality and position to realize their rights with equity. equitable maternal, neonatal and child UNICEF will contribute towards this vision health, education, child protection, using a life-cycle approach to promote Early Childhood Development (ECD), the delivery of an integrated package of nutrition and Water, Sanitation and quality services for the survival and holistic Hygiene (WASH) services. development of children during the first decade of life. survival
To enhance water, sanitation and hygiene UNICEF will promote the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to support rural communities to achieve open-defecation-free status, by improving the management of services, increasing children’s access to safely managed water and sanitation services and expanding access to water and hygiene facilities in schools and maternal and child health centres.
To promote early learning and stimulation UNICEF will support the government and implementing partners to scale up access to ECD centres, pre-primary and junior primary education to improve early learning and stimulation and foundational numeracy and literacy, especially for marginalized children and those with disabilities or from poor and remote rural areas. To improve maternal, neonatal To eliminate mother-to-child Critical assumptions underlying the and child health and nutrition transmission of HIV programme are that the government The Country Programme will work UNICEF will support the procurement of will invest in improving the national closely with UN partners to support the antiretroviral drugs and laboratory tests coverage of key services to children, achievement of universal health coverage. and the integration of HIV diagnosis and families and their communities and It will mobilize political leadership to: treatment into maternal and child health that communities will commit to the platforms. The agency will strengthen • Accelerate the implementation of health promotion and protection of children’s the management of immunization policies and strategies; rights. A continued slowdown in services by implementing the Reach economic growth may negatively affect • Improve emergency obstetric and Every Child approach to ensure full neonatal care; vaccination within the first 12 months the social sectors or a humanitarian of life. crisis may divert resources. In either • Scale up the strategy for the integrated case, UNICEF will strengthen advocacy management of childhood illness and to allocate resources for children and the essential nutrition package; and seek to mobilize new partners and • Promote improved infant and young innovative financing. child feeding practices, the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies and the integrated management of acute malnutrition. unicef Republic of Congo
Targeted results Fundraising needs Indicative outputs from the Country Donor support to Congo has declined Christ’s health was not good. His whole Programme 2020–2024 are as follows: since 2010, a year when the country body, feet, arms and cheeks were achieved the Heavily Indebted Poor swollen, and his hair became yellow. • Relevant high-level decision-makers Countries (HIPC) Initiative completion The president of the Ikpengele refugee and institutions allocate resources and point, which resulted in both multilateral site referred him and his mother to the ensure efficient spending on services and bilateral creditors granting substantial Intensive Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit for maternal, newborn and child health, debt relief. UNICEF will continue to based in Bétou, where they arrived by child protection, ECD, education, advocate for the increased and more boat. sanitation and nutrition. efficient use of domestic resources “My son is taken care of and already after • Service providers have increased to focus on vulnerable children and 15 days his health is gradually improving. capacity to deliver quality and adolescents and for the prioritization of Even his hair has started turning to black integrated health, HIV, nutrition, children and adolescents in development again. The nurses told me that I had misfed education, sanitation and child partners’ programmes and budget my child in the village, which is why he had protection (including birth registration) allocations. malnutrition.” services. According to the coordinator of the • Communities, parents, children and Christ, a two-year-old malnourished management of malnutrition cases at the religious and traditional leaders have refugee from Central African centre in Bétou, cases of malnutrition increased capacity to claim access Republic recovered from severe have been increasing recently. Between to quality integrated services for acute malnutrition at the Intensive 50 and 60 malnourished children have maternal, newborn and child health, Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit in Bétou been hospitalized every month since sanitation, child protection, ECD and (Likouala Region). December 2018. Before this period, only nutrition. between 20 and 30 malnourished children The programme will also make concerted were received per month. These children efforts towards the following Western come from both the refugee and the local and Central Africa Region Key Results for populations. Children (KRC), as specific contributions Poverty in families and traditional food to the child-focused Sustainable practices explain this resurgence of Development Goals: malnutrition cases. • Immunization through the Expanded The rehabilitation unit is a service set up Immunization Plus Programme; by UNHCR, managed by the NGO Terre • Prevention of stunting by scaling up the sans Frontières and supported by UNICEF. essential nutrition package (infant and “The food I used to give him,” says young child feeding, vitamin A and iron- Christ’s mother, “was not rich in vitamins. folic acid supplementation, deworming) Now I must give him rich, varied and and integrating the management of balanced food using local products such acute malnutrition; as taro, sweet potato, caterpillar, squash, • Improved learning outcomes through rice, milk or plantain. This is the advice improved teaching skills and enhanced given to me at the centre.” early learning and early stimulation; • Ending open defecation, through CLTS approaches. P.O. Box 2110, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Telephone: +242 06 652 5022 • [email protected] • www.unicef.org/congo Credits: Production: Julie Pudlowski Consulting • Photography: ©UNICEF/ Pudlowski/ ©UNICEF/ Dejongh adolescents
unicef Republic of Congo
Education, protection and adolescent development
Issue > Few students complete primary > Bottlenecks include a shortage of education with the required skills in both qualified teachers, lack of books in The Country Programme will contribute mathematics (41%) and reading (21%). schools, limited training curricula, a high to creating an environment in which student to classroom ratio and a lack of > 14% of children aged 12–17 are out of children and adolescents, aged 10–18 teaching materials. school and 29% of children aged 12–14 are years, are learning, healthy, developing involved in economic activities. Boys have > According to the Multiple Indicator and protected and free from violence, higher dropout and repetition rates than Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014–2015, 83% exploitation and abuse. It will advocate girls. of children under 15 years in Congo for the accelerated implementation of have undergone violent physical or the Education Sector Strategy 2015– > In remote rural areas, fewer than 24% psychological discipline. of children entering Grade 1 complete 2025 and the National Policy for Social secondary education, in part because of > Persistent challenges related to Action and its Action Plan 2018–2022, increasing rates of teenage pregnancy and violence against children include limited with a view to creating an enabling early economic activity. capacity of health officers, educators environment for education and the and communities; weak coordination protection of children and adolescents, > Repetition rates in Congo are among the between the relevant stakeholders highest in the region (23% at primary level especially the most vulnerable. and ministries; and cultural barriers to and 18% at lower secondary level). accessing services. > Access to education for children living with > In December 2018, over 16,000 disabilities remains a challenge owing to refugees from DRC crossed the River lack of early identification and referral for Congo to Plateaux Region fleeing ethnic support as well as inadequately skilled tensions, of whom approximately 50% teachers. are children. adolescents
including life skills acquisition. It will also expand adolescent HIV testing services to increase early identification and linkage to treatment among adolescents living with HIV. UNICEF will promote positive health and hygiene interventions to increase adolescent girls’ access to menstrual hygiene supplies and appropriate facilities. To enable acquisition of life skills, including communication, assertiveness, decision-making and coping with emotions, UNICEF will also assist in addressing violence, particularly gender-based violence.
On combatting violence against children and adolescents Within the framework of the regional key results for children (KRC) on violence prevention and the global #ENDviolence campaign, UNICEF the educational cycle. The Country Action will build evidence and promote Programme will provide technical high-level political engagement on UNICEF OUTCOME: By 2024, a support to the Ministry of Primary greater proportion of adolescent violence against children, including and Secondary Education to improve in humanitarian contexts. boys and girls survive, learn and gender-responsive, equitable spending participate in their development in on education, promote a more effective The Country Programme will a healthier environment, free from use of data for planning and strengthen strengthen national capacities to violence, exploitation and abuse. systems to increase the quality of service legislate, plan and budget for scaling up interventions that prevent and respond If children survive, learn and participate in delivery and educational outcomes to to violence, abuse, exploitation and the a healthier environment free from violence, reduce repetition and dropout rates. neglect of children and adolescents, exploitation and abuse during their second including online protection. decade of life, then they will be in a better On participation and position to realize their rights with equity. empowerment of children UNICEF will also support the implementation of a case management UNICEF will contribute towards this and adolescents system, including developing tools, vision using a life-cycle approach to the Through encouraging their involvement protocols and procedures to improve education and protection of adolescents. in school boards/clubs and peer the tracking and referral of cases. A education groups, UNICEF will promote multi-sectoral approach will be applied On better learning outcomes the participation of adolescents in to strengthening the education and for children and adolescents holding schools accountable for health systems to enable them to improving learning outcomes. prevent and respond to violence while UNICEF will support analysis of the enhancing children’s capacities to efficiency and effectiveness of budgetary The Country Programme will accelerate protect themselves from violence. allocations and spending for improved the provision of integrated adolescent- learning outcomes and transition in friendly health and nutrition services, unicef Republic of Congo
To address children’s right to Fundraising needs to read or write, and my grades were protection from violence, UNICEF very low. I was ashamed of myself with Donor support to Congo has declined since classmates. Then, the teacher directed will support the generation and 2010, a year when the country achieved those of us with bad grades to attend use of data and analysis on the the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) catch-up classes in the afternoons. The sociocultural drivers of violence; Initiative completion point, which resulted teacher followed us individually and scale up the training of social in both multilateral and bilateral creditors taught me how to read syllables, write granting substantial debt relief. UNICEF will workers and law enforcement and calculate easily. The catch-up courses continue to advocate for the increased and allowed me to gradually have good grades in agents, such as police, magistrates more efficient use of domestic resources to subjects such as dictation and calculations. and prosecutors, on the procedures focus on vulnerable children and adolescents I now know how to tell stories because for handling cases involving children; and for the prioritization of children and I remember citations more easily.” adolescents in development partners’ raise community awareness; and Since the launch of this UNICEF-supported programmes and budget allocations. foster close links between the initiative, 1,200 students have benefited from refresher courses in the primary school health and education sectors to Jack Kennedy is a student in CM2 district of Bétou and 60 teachers have prevent, detect and refer cases. (Primary Grade 6) at François Andovy been trained as part of the school support de Bétou Elementary School who programme. Of all students attending the attended catch-up classes after refresher courses, 54% have managed to Targeted results school hours. “When I am not the raise their level in reading and mathematics. first, I am the second in my class, Indicative outputs from the Country my parents are proud of me and the Jack is today in Primary Grade 6. Programme 2020–2024 are as follows: teacher quotes me as an example.” “When I am not the first, I am the • Strengthened systems create enabling second in class. It is always like that. conditions for learning, skills acquisition, “I started the refresher courses when My parents are proud of me and the child protection and participation, in Grade 2 because I did not know how teacher quotes me as an example.” health-related interventions and the prevention of violence; • Communities and adolescents have increased capacity to claim quality integrated services for health, HIV, nutrition, education, sanitation and child protection and to adopt positive behaviours and practices. The programme will also make concerted efforts towards the following regional KRC in West and Central Africa, as specific contributions to the child-focused Sustainable Development Goals: • Improved learning outcomes through improved teaching skills and enhanced early learning and early stimulation; • The protection of children from violence, including in humanitarian contexts, through multi-sectoral services to prevent and respond to violence against children. P.O. Box 2110, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Telephone: +242 06 652 5022 • [email protected] • www.unicef.org/congo Credits: Production: Julie Pudlowski Consulting • Photography: ©UNICEF/ Pudlowski; ©UNICEF/ Maranatha programme
unicef Republic of Congo
Programme effectiveness
Issue > A major constraint to the effective oil prices, may lead to the structural planning, monitoring and evaluation of adjustment of programmes affecting the development programmes and national social sectors and a reduction in resource policies is lack of an accurate picture of mobilization for those sectors. children’s vulnerability status and access > Natural disasters and epidemics continue to their rights, owing to the shortage of to emerge, making it imperative for recent and reliable data. UNICEF to work closely with other funds The Country Programme will be > The continued slowdown in growth and and programmes and development coordinated within the UNSDCF the deterioration of the economic outlook, partners to strengthen early warning and largely because of low and volatile disaster risk management systems. 2020–2024 and implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning, in collaboration with line ministries, Action development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, UNICEF OUTCOME: By 2024, the This component will provide quality research institutions and universities rights of children and adolescents assurance and cross-sectoral and UN agencies. The UNSDCF are monitored, data and evidence are coordination and support to the steering committee and thematic used to inform national policy and programme. Joint planning and regular results groups, each co-chaired by a resource allocation and communities, reviews will foster the alignment and senior official of the government and and adolescents participate in the coherence of interventions across the two a UN representative, will oversee and promotion of their rights. other programme components and with the government’s coordination structures. give impetus to operationalization of UNICEF will contribute towards its vision in the planned results. UNICEF will lead the first two programme outcomes using UNICEF will evaluate approaches on the Education and WASH results a life-cycle approach to the education and to assessing programme relevance, groups. protection of adolescents. effectiveness, efficiency and impact, prioritizing periodic household surveys, The drive for strengthened programme such as MICS, to provide updated data on effectiveness, including through the the situation of children and adolescents generation of data and evidence, will and to monitor progress towards the inform programming choices and advocacy Sustainable Development Goals. The data with partners to focus efforts on closing will inform evidence-based advocacy, equity gaps by reaching first the children policy dialogue and planning. furthest behind. programme
Results-oriented programming will rights of children and adolescents and that generate data disaggregated by promote the generation, analysis and use that perpetuate gender disparities. age, gender and disability. Advocacy for of evidence for improved equity-focused UNICEF will nurture strategic partnerships the prioritization of the most vulnerable planning, monitoring and evaluation. to enable stakeholders to collectively in preparedness, resilience-building UNICEF will support the capacities of the promote the rights of adolescents; and response activities will be key. Congo National Statistics Agency, higher advocate to institutionalize child institutions of learning and local research UNICEF will strengthen management participation in Parliament and with organizations to generate research, of the harmonized approach to cash local authorities; and engage with youth data and reports that are timely, high transfers to mitigate risks associated parliamentarians and organizations to in quality, disaggregated, child-focused with programme implementation. and gender- and disability-sensitive. enable them to participate in programming for children and adolescents. UNICEF will advocate with the government To ensure the humanitarian– for gender-responsive and child-friendly South-South and triangular cooperation development continuum and the budgeting, to increase the effectiveness networks will promote mutual learning sustainability of interventions, UNICEF has supported the creation and efficiency of public finance for children. and the exchange of good practices. New shared-value partnerships will of a coordination mechanism that be formed with the private sector provides an integrated response for Communication for development, in technology for development and refugees in the Likouala Region. This including the use of RapidPro and innovation, health, water and sanitation. has enabled effective monitoring U-Report, will create and sustain of actions, systematic collection of demand for and improve the quality To promote recovery and increase resilience complaints and recommendations and of social services; provide a platform to humanitarian emergencies, the effects greater ownership of interventions for children’s voices; and overcome of climate change, natural disasters and by affected populations and local social norms and practices that are disease outbreaks, UNICEF will support communities, thus reinforcing longer- not conducive to the realization of the child-sensitive humanitarian assessments term response capacity and resilience. unicef Republic of Congo
Targeted results Adèle Tombet Tourissa: “Raising awareness, educating people Indicative outputs from the Country through radio is a vocation for me.” Programme 2020–2024 are as follows: Adèle Tombet Tourissa joined Congolese the different administrations and other • The National Statistics Development Rural Radio back in 1992 and sensitized structures concerned, which also facilitates Framework is validated by the population on Ebola virus disease the gathering of information.” government for child rights (EVD) during the epidemics that Congo Adèle has also used this training to teach her monitoring and reporting. experienced in 2002–2005. She resumed family about EVD. Her husband, children and this when the threat of an epidemic was • The Country Office has guidance, grandchildren are now aware of the correct announced again in May 2018, following the tools and resources to effectively way of washing their hands with clean water outbreak that occurred in neighbouring DRC. design, plan, coordinate, implement, and soap. “I never had the zeal to talk about monitor and evaluate results of At the beginning, without real knowledge health issues because of my basic training the Country Programme. and reliable information, things were not so in agricultural production. But, fortunately, • UNICEF is recognized by easy for her. these trainings are organized, and I thank UNICEF and its partners who finance this partners as a trusted advocate “I searched for information from kind of training.” for children and influences among experts but they were not often resource allocation for children. available and it was difficult to meet However, the work is not easy, owing to • The Government of the Congo, them and work with them.” a lack of technical resources. “We need financial and material support to allow us UNICEF and key partners have Adèle is one of 400 actors trained to come out of the studio often to talk to the knowledge and support to in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and nine people in our communities. My wish is that effectively implement cross-sectoral other localities in Congo to give quality this kind of initiative does not stop, because approaches, such as those related information and to lead populations towards the threat is still there, so the education of to gender, disability, innovation and the adoption of essential family practices, in the population must be continuous.” communication for development. particular concerning hygiene. It was at the trainings organized by UNICEF Fundraising needs that Adèle obtained a better understanding of EVD, its manifestations, the modes of Donor support to Congo has declined contamination and prevention measures. since 2010, a year when the country “We also realized”, she says, “that some achieved the Heavily Indebted social or customary practices are very Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative dangerous in a context of an epidemic or completion point, which resulted in threat of epidemic.” both multilateral and bilateral creditors Adèle also learnt communication skills that granting substantial debt relief. facilitated the preparation of messages UNICEF will continue to advocate for and their communication, but also how to the increased and more efficient use approach populations in villages, to discuss of domestic resources to focus on issues related to EVD. “Successfully vulnerable children and adolescents informing and educating people without and for the prioritization of children and creating panic is not easy. But with these adolescents in development partners’ trainings we managed to make it happen.” programmes and budget allocations. Community mobilizers and media professionals were among the people trained who received contextualized documentation to prepare media programs. “These trainings have also allowed us to establish contacts with the people of P.O. Box 2110, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo • Telephone: +242 06 652 5022 • [email protected] • www.unicef.org/congo Credits: Production: Julie Pudlowski Consulting • Photography: ©UNICEF/ Pudlowski/ ©UNICEF/ Maranatha / ©UNICEF/ Dejongh