Cote d’ivoire

Save the Children is an independent international organisation with no political or religious affiliations. It is a leader in the promotion and protection of children's rights worldwide, founded by Eglantyne Jebb in 1919 in the United Kingdom. Present in Côte d'Ivoire since 1991, it has 12 offices and sub-offices and works in 05 sectors of activity with 48 local partners (national NGOs). In collaboration with its national and international partners, it directly delivers programmes in the fields of Education, Health/Nutrition, Child Protection, Child Poverty Reduction and Governance of Children's Rights to more than one million children every year.

In recent years, Côte d'Ivoire has made progress in protecting children's rights, thanks in particular to legislative reforms and social initiatives. However, inequalities persist, particularly for the most vulnerable. Access to pre-school education remains unequal, with only 1.5% of children from the poorest households attending school, compared with 51.4% of the wealthiest.

Despite increased efforts, 31.3% of children aged between 5 and 17 are engaged in child labour, mainly in agriculture and domestic work. Access to healthcare remains a challenge, with an infant mortality rate of 58 deaths per 1,000 births and major regional disparities.

Côte d'Ivoire has ratified several international conventions, clarifying the legal definition of the child, but implementation remains a challenge. Too many children are still deprived of education and exposed to violence. There is an urgent need to strengthen public policies and the involvement of national and international players in order to build a fairer future and protect children's rights in the long term.