PROJECTS
CURRENT PROJECTS OUR PROJECTS
Nyonkopa Child Labour Remediation Efforts
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…
Preventing Child Forced Early Marriage in Fishing Communities
Child marriage is a fundamental violation of children’s human rights and is closely linked with child trafficking and child labour. PDA was contracted by Challenging Heights to conduct research aimed at deepening the understanding of the nature and extent of child forced early marriage (CFEM) in fishing communities that serve as either source or destination areas for child trafficking.
Qualitative Baseline Study on the Trafficking of Children into Forced Labour
PDA conducted a qualitative baseline study to investigate the trafficking of children into forced labour within Ghana’s fishing industry. The study sought to understand the mechanisms, key players, and community perceptions surrounding child trafficking and forced labour. Over 30 focus group discussions and 60 key informant interviews were carried out in 6 communities across four regions, with findings aimed at informing interventions to prevent trafficking and enhance child protection.
Roundtable on Child Labor in Ghana’s Mining Sector
PDA facilitated a high-level roundtable discussion on 11th June 2015, centered on an 82-page HRW report that highlighted the use of hazardous child labor in Ghana’s unlicensed mining sector. The discussion brought together government representatives, private sector actors, NGOs, and other stakeholders to deliberate on the report’s findings and explore actionable solutions to eliminate child labor from the gold supply chain.
National Child Protection Baseline Research
PDA managed an extensive national baseline study on child protection in Ghana, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods across all 10 regions. The research informed the development of the national child protection policy and the final baseline for the Government of Ghana/UNICEF Child Protection Programme. Key components included a literature review, training of 40 field researchers, regional consultation workshops, and a quantitative survey covering 3000 individuals across 100 enumeration areas.
Regional Consultative and Feedback Workshops for National Child Protection Study
As part of a national child protection study, PDA facilitated regional consultative and feedback workshops across all 10 regions of Ghana. These workshops were conducted immediately before and after fieldwork in selected districts, gathering qualitative and quantitative insights from a diverse range of stakeholders. The process enriched the study by integrating additional data and enabling a comprehensive analysis of child protection issues.
Promoting Children’s Rights in Informal Gold Mining Communities, Ghana
This project was part of an 18-month initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse in informal gold mining communities. It was implemented in 10 communities across three districts in the Ashanti Region: Obuasi Municipality, Adansi North, and Amansie Central. The project sought to engage community members in actively reducing child exploitation by leveraging local culture, education, and research.
Study of the Effects of the Financial, Food and Fuel Crises on Vulnerable Children in Ghana (Construction Industry Focus)
This study aimed to understand the impact of global financial, food, and fuel crises on vulnerable Ghanaians, with a particular focus on the construction industry. It examined the loss of employment and the coping strategies adopted by affected households, highlighting the vulnerability of children in terms of child protection issues such as child labor, displacement, and family separation.
“Yen Daakye” Programme with the International Cocoa Initiative
PDA serves as the Local Coordinating Agency for the “Yen Daakye” (‘Our Future’) Programme, a pilot initiative targeting the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and forced labour in cocoa production and marketing. This community-driven project is part of ICI’s broader effort to create sustainable and child-centred development in cocoa farming communities. The pilot runs in three districts—New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, and Daboase and Asankrangwa in the Western Region—through district-based NGOs acting as Implementing Partners, supported by a PDA team comprising district facilitators, a field coordinator, and a community technical consultant.