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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Supporting the TimeBound Program on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor in El Salvador (Phase I) and Combating Child Labor through Education in the Timebound program of El Salvador (EI)

Region/Country

THE AMERICAS/El Salvador

Project Duration

January 2001 – September 2006 (TBP Phase I)
January 2002 – June 2007 (EI)

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2001: USD 4,034,351 (Timebound Project Phase I)
FY 2002: USD 3,930,141 (Education Initiative)

Problem to be Addressed

Widespread poverty is a major cause of child labor in El Salvador, where almost a quarter of children aged 10 to 17 years are not enrolled in school. Most children work in agriculture, fishing or mining. Working children in the informal sector usually participate in the same economic activity as their parents. Girls are often engaged in services and domestic work.

Results

The TBP and EI projects withdrew 9,531 children and prevented 26,175 children from the worst forms of child labor, particularly in sugar cane plantations, garbage dump scavenging, fishing, and commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC).

Project Objectives

Development Objective:
To contribute to the elimination of the worst forms of child labor in El Salvador and create an enabling environment for mainstreaming child laborers and at-risk children into education.

Intermediate Objectives:

  • Coordinate actions of government agencies, organizations and businesses for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor within a coherent legal and institutional framework;
  • Reduce the incidence of selected WFCL in selected districts;
  • Enhance the national capacity to address the WFCL through education; and
  • Successfully integrate targeted children into the educational system.

Summary of Activities

  • Raised awareness about exploitive child labor, with 692 articles and broadcasts produced;
  • Gained collaboration and support for combating WFCL through involvement of 37 government agencies, local actors and NGOs;
  • Strengthened legislation and policies on exploitive child labor;
  • Enhanced educational programs through the development of Social Studies materials for grades 1 through 6, and training for 669 teachers;
  • Established systems for reliable data collection and collected critical data on child labor; and
  • Provided select families with skills training and technical assistance.

Grantee

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Implementing Partners

OEF, FUSAL, FUNDAZUCAR, ISNA, PNC, COMUS, CONAMUS, PADECOMSM, Fundación Nehemias.

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843