Cote d’ivoire

Save the Children is an independent international organization with no political or religious affiliation, a leader in promoting and protecting children's rights around the world, 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 five sectors with 48 local partners (national NGOs). In collaboration with its national and international partners, it delivers programs directly to more than one million children each year in the areas of EDUCATION, HEALTH/NUTRITION, CHILD PROTECTION, CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION, and CHILD RIGHTS GOVERNANCE.

The situation for children in Côte d'Ivoire shows legislative progress and protection initiatives, but challenges remain, particularly for the most vulnerable. Access to preschool education is uneven, with only 1.5% of children from the poorest households benefiting, while geographical disparities exacerbate the problem.

Violence, abuse, and exploitation continue to be widespread, with approximately 2.3 million children engaged in child labor. These hazardous working conditions are found mainly in the agricultural and domestic sectors, compromising the well-being and development of the children concerned.

Access to health services remains a major challenge, particularly in rural areas where infrastructure is limited. Infant and maternal mortality rates remain high, and socioeconomic disparities exacerbate access to care. Despite legal progress, significant efforts are needed to guarantee children's rights and provide a more equitable future for all.

Save the Children has been providing support to children through our development and humanitarian programs since 1950. In collaboration with communities, local partners, and the government, we design and implement programs tailored to the needs of the most disadvantaged children. In our RAPPORT ANNUEL 2024, we highlight the main results of our actions and advocate for increased investment of public and private resources in children.

CHILD PROTECTION: Preventing violence and responding effectively by strengthening families and caregivers, contributing to the implementation of laws, policies, and the national child protection strategy, and collaborating with governments and other partners to establish robust child protection systems. More information...

HEALTH AND NUTRITION: Improving the health and nutrition of children under 5, newborns, and their mothers by supporting health facilities with quality care and services, including community health. We also advocate for a policy environment conducive to the continuous improvement of quality health and nutrition service delivery in Côte d'Ivoire. More information...

EDUCATION: Our approach is holistic and aims to ensure quality education by integrating emotional and psychosocial protection, physical safety, teaching and learning, parent and community engagement and participation, and effective school management and leadership. More information...

REDUCING CHILD POVERTY: Empowering young people for successful integration into the workforce and vulnerable households for financial empowerment. The goal is to achieve dynamic financial inclusion in Côte d'Ivoire by equipping young people, women, and vulnerable households with skills that promote sustainable empowerment. We support Community Development and Mutual Aid Associations (formerly Village Savings and Credit Associations (AVEC)) so that they can invest in the future and create small businesses. More information...

CHILD RIGHTS GOVERNANCE: Put children and their rights at the top of the political agenda. Help all actors understand their specific role and mandate when it comes to how different actors have a direct or indirect impact on children's rights—whether they are state actors, businesses, or civil society. More information...

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE: In 2024, Save the Children's humanitarian program in Côte d'Ivoire strengthened its commitment to child protection, in line with a global strategic objective: to protect more than 100 million children affected by conflict and violence of all kinds.

Save the Children Côte d'Ivoire's country office focuses on five strategic objectives in its Plan stratégique 2025-2027. These objectives focus on education, health/nutrition, child protection, economic empowerment, and governance of children's rights.