Skip to page content
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Bookmark and Share
DOL Home > ILAB > Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Education First Project (EFP)

Region/Country

AFRICA/Benin

Project Duration

August 20, 2003 – August 16, 2007

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY2003: USD 2,000,000

Problem to be Addressed

At the time of project funding, child trafficking in Benin was a serious and growing problem, and the economic situation did not provide a favorable environment for positive change. The vast majority of trafficked children in Benin did not receive an education, which meant that they were denied opportunities for self-development, as well as to contribute towards the development of their society and country. Lack of education was both a cause and an effect of child trafficking, and education was a key leverage point through which to break the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment that also leads to child trafficking.

Results

The project withdrew 1,303 children and prevented 5,844 children from trafficking. The EFP targeted nine communes in the Borgou region (Borgou and Alibori departments) and four communes in the Zou region (Zou and Collines departments).

Project Objectives

To reduce child trafficking in Benin through the following objective:

  • At the end of the project, participation in appropriate education programs for at-risk and trafficked children, especially girls, will have been increased.

Summary of Activities
  • Designed and conducted awareness-raising campaigns;
  • Identified parents associations (APEs), village committees and mothers clubs to combat child trafficking;
  • Provided technical assistance to APEs, village committees and mothers clubs;
  • Initiatives were developed by village committees to identify and recover trafficked children;
  • Provided support to victims, and provided immediate care;
  • Provided short-term, non-formal education services and reintegrated children; and
  • Conducted national fora to discuss policy gaps and recommended changes.

Grantee

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) /Benin

Implementing partners

World Education; Terre des Hommes; Caritas Benin; and local Non Governmental Organizations

Contact Information

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

(202) 693-4843