Around the world, children’s well-being is in crisis. Decades of advancements in children’s health, education, nutrition, and protection are stalling and, in some cases, regressing.
Alarmingly, 333 million children are still living in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. Every day, World Vision staff in nearly 100 countries witness the devastating impact of conflict, extreme weather, and other disasters, and rising costs on children — as well as the lack of political will to address issues that affect their health and lives.
In my role as chief field operations officer, I have seen conflict and climate shocks push whole families into poverty, exposing children to grave risks and keeping them from getting the education they need.
I’ve been to places where lack of clean water and sanitation facilities fuel the spread of disease, and I’ve seen the desperation and hunger created by these situations.
As part of World Vision’s global hunger response and our ENOUGH campaign, we spoke to communities in six countries about the impact of recent shortfalls in emergency food and cash assistance on vulnerable families and children.
Our report, “Ration Cuts: Taking from the Hungry to Feed the Starving,” revealed that ration cuts caused sharp increases in malnutrition, violence, child marriage, child labor, and sexual exploitation. For instance, 1 in 3 community members — 33% — felt that both girls and boys were subjected to increased violence, neglect, or abuse at home as a result of ration cuts. The findings paint an alarming picture of the realities faced by children in some of the world’s most fragile contexts.
Nevertheless, when I visited Haiti this summer — a deeply fragile place where children lack access to clean water and nutritious food, and where an estimated 1.2 million children are in urgent need of quality education — hope appeared in the face of a 15-year-old boy, whom I nicknamed Mr. Agronomist.
Mr. Agronomist earned this nickname not only for the regular watering, pruning, and weeding of his garden but also because he devised an effective irrigation system that speeds up the process. His passion for gardening helps put food on his family’s table. And the ripening fruits and veggies are a testament not only to Mr. Agronomist’s cleverness but also to the potential of all children to participate in solutions for their communities.
The findings of the World Vision and E&Y report “Putting Children First for Sustainable Development” show the massive returns on investment in child development and the importance of children as critical agents of change in their communities. The research, published in April 2024, shows that a total social value of $10 is generated for every dollar invested in children.
These benefits are paid across generations, with huge returns for societies including higher lifetime income levels and reduced expenses for health care, protection, and welfare services.
Despite this huge potential, and the fact that children make up 46% of the populations of aid-receiving countries, only a fraction, or 12%, of official development assistance targets children. This failure to prioritize children and their well-being needs to be urgently addressed by policymakers and donors.
Given the significant challenges being faced by the next generation, world leaders must put children at the center of the global development agenda. Children should also have a voice at the table and be consulted on decisions affecting their futures. Before 2024 concludes, world leaders will have three important opportunities to act on behalf of children by ensuring ambitious policy commitments and investments.
1 in 4 young children deprived of nutritious food, UNICEF says
Some 181 million children under age 5 worldwide are experiencing severe food poverty — which can have lifelong consequences for their health and development.
1. In September 2024, the United Nations Summit of the Future will convene — at a time when a new international consensus is critically needed — to address today’s challenges, and most importantly to turbocharge the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. This summit aims to adopt the action-oriented Pact for the Future. With two-thirds of child-focused SDGs off track and the 2030 deadline approaching, this pact could significantly bolster children’s future well-being. Ultimately, the success or failure of the pact will be measured by its capacity to accelerate and turbocharge the SDGs.
2. In mid-November, Brazil will host the G20 Summit, and President Lula has been building consensus for an ambitious “Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty” among the G20 and other countries. This is a hopeful sign, but the alliance will only be successful in addressing the desperate needs of millions of vulnerable children if leaders come to the table with real policy and financial commitments.
3. This year will witness the 21st replenishment of the World Bank’s International Development Association, or IDA21. This represents a crucial opportunity for the World Bank to work on fulfilling its new mission of creating “a world free of poverty on a liveable planet.” IDA21 requires ambitious, larger-than-ever donor replenishments and strong political commitments. Yet, what is missing is bold and ambitious commitments to children. The World Bank should consider a specific lens focused on children as part of the IDA21 package.
These global moments have the potential to turn the tide for children. The stakes are incredibly high. The future of our world hinges on the well-being of its children. By investing in children today, we are securing a brighter, more prosperous future for all.
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