CHILD ENDOWMENT FUND (CEF) Using cash transfers to address child labour and other child protection issues of orphan children in Nepal Mukesh Lath, Advisor, Social Protection and Child Rights Governance, Save the Children, 11 March

What is the Child Endowment Fund (CEF)? The CEF is a fund created at the village development committee (VDC) level, with a matching capital investment from Save the Children and the VDC. The total value of the capital fund is Nepali Rupees 300,000/- or appx USD. This fund is invested in safe bank deposits and the interest earned there from is used for making cash transfers to orphan children through their families. 2 VDC is the lowest rung of the governance structure in Nepal.

What is the Child Endowment Fund (CEF)? (Cont...) The Child Endowment Fund (CEF) was established in 12 VDCs of Sindhupalchowk district in Nepal in 2011; Expanded to 39 VDCs of Sindhupalchowk district in 2013, and Currently being implemented in 88 VDCs of Sindhupalnchowk and Karvepalanchowk districts of Nepal. 3

Project Location 4

Specific Objective(s) of the CEF ensure these orphan children regularly attend school do not fall or slip back into labour improved parenting practices among parents/ caregivers* 5

Who can be a beneficiary? orphan children aged 6-14 (priority given to full orphans and if the orphan is a girl) already in child labour out of school/ irregular to school child headed households 6

Beneficiary selection process Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) forms a selection committee comprising: i.A representative from Citizenship Awareness Forum (mostly formed in disadvantaged community) ii.Two members from village child protection committee(1-Male,1-Female) iii.A representative from the organizations which are working for children iv.A representative from women groups v.A girl and a boy (2) from child clubs network 7

Beneficiary selection process (cont…) The selection committee announces the application publicly - through posters at schools and other prominent locations in the VDC; by word of mouth through the VCPC and the VDC office. After selection of the final beneficiaries, the selection committee publicly announces the name list – using the platform of community meetings/ gatherings! Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) facilitates all eligible families to submit their applications based on Childhood Poverty and Vulnerability Mapping (CPVM) 8

The Benefit Size USD 3-4 (per child per month) transferred on a quarterly basis for a maximum of 2 children per family. BUT it is important to remember that, CASH isn’t the silver bullet! The “Child Sensitivity Sessions” which are undertaken on a fortnightly basis play a very critical role in keeping these orphan children in school and away from labour. 9

CEF: Addresses child protection issues as follows A combination of cash transfer and child sensitivity sessions, helps wean children out of child labour and bring them back to school. Prevents them from getting into/slipping back to labour encourages and sensitizes caregivers to start thinking positively towards their children’s needs and rights, which reduces violence and abuse of children at home prioritizes girls in the selection procedure thereby reducing gender based violence within the family 10

CEF: Addresses child protection issues as follows (cont….) helps caregivers/ single parent to raise children themselves instead of pushing them into institutional care prevents children from sexual exploitation as the cash transfer helps children to be with their families(s) and in school as well A set of modules have been developed and are being used to impart knowledge and input on enhancing child sensitivity of parents/ caregivers 11

CEF: outcomes till date 663 orphan children (girls:334, boys:329) are currently receiving regular cash transfers and regular child sensitivity sessions along with their parents/ caregivers. All these children were potential child labourers; at risk of trafficking or dying. 360 children were brought back from labour into school (between ) and 352 of them are still attending school regularly. The data is collected/ tracked on a quarterly basis by social mobilizers of partner NGOs 12

Implementation Challenges -There is large number of orphan children in community (25 to 30 children in one VDC) – through the CEF we are able to cater to only about 8-9 children per VDCs. -This is an endowment fund so only interest earned from the fund is used as cash transfers. -Difficult to cater to all orphan children in the project location through CEF

Summing Up The CEF intervention has successfully demonstrated that even humble cash transfers, when coupled with a strong child sensitivity component, can bring significant positive impact in the lives of orphan children. The intervention has clearly shown that it is “scalable and replicable” Eventually, the idea is to build on the experiences of the CEF to undertake evidence based advocacy for a national level social protection scheme for orphan children in Nepal.

15 Nisha Pahari and her caregivers