Partners: Barry Callebaut Nyonkopa
Period: 2025 –
Country of operation: Ghana
Category: Child Protection and Welfare; Financial Inclusion (VSLAs)
Project Snapshot:
Participatory Development Associates (PDA), in partnership with Right to Play and Nyonkopa, is implementing the Child Labor Remediation and Referral Systems initiative to strengthen child protection structures across Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions. The project focuses on improving referral systems, strengthening case management, and providing remediation support to safeguard vulnerable children and address child labor sustainably.
Strengthening Referral and Case Management Systems
A major milestone in 2025 was the large-scale referral of 6,078 child protection cases to the Department of Social Welfare across 58 districts in seven cocoa-growing regions. This marked the first coordinated effort of its scale, ensuring that children at risk of child labor were formally linked to structured remediation services.
In Quarter 4 (October–December), efforts focused on reinforcing case management systems in line with government policies and procedures. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were strengthened, and additional cases were formally documented within the Social Welfare Information Management System (SWIMS) to ensure proper tracking, follow-up, and accountability.
Overall, the intervention has reached 8,689 beneficiaries across 68 districts in the Ashanti, Eastern, Bono East, Ahafo, Central, Western, and Western North Regions.
Building Institutional Capacity
To enhance effective case handling, PDA trained 58 case managers on SWIMS, with an additional cohort planned. This has improved documentation, case tracking, and coordinated delivery of social services to vulnerable children.
Strengthening District and Community Structures
The project is revitalizing District Child Protection Committees (DCPCs) across selected districts, bringing together key institutions such as Social Welfare, DOVVSU, CHRAJ, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, traditional authorities, and district assemblies to improve coordination and response systems.
At the community level, PDA is strengthening 30 Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs) in child labor-prone areas—18 of which were originally established by Right to Play. Through refresher training and sector coordination support, these committees are better equipped to identify, prevent, and respond to child protection concerns within their communities.
Remediation and Vocational Support
A critical component of the project is providing alternative pathways for vulnerable children. So far, 154 children have been enrolled in vocational training, with approximately 69% of identified vulnerable children transitioning into skills development programs. These interventions equip children with employable skills, reduce vulnerability to exploitation, and support their reintegration into safe and productive livelihoods.
Looking Ahead
In the upcoming quarter, the project will focus on the systematic closure of referred cases to ensure sustainable remediation outcomes and strengthened child protection systems at all levels.
