Children’s Rights and Climate: 632 Child Workers Testify to the Impacts on Their Rights in Africa

Enda Youth Action and MAEJT present findings of a survey on the effects of climate change on 632 child workers in Africa
By Ch. Seck NDONG

Enda Youth Action International, in collaboration with the African Movement of Child and Youth Workers, organized a webinar on Thursday 18 June 2026 to present the results of a survey conducted among 632 children and young workers in 15 African countries. The meeting, held on Zoom from 10:00 AM Dakar time, is part of the belated celebration of the 2026 Day of the African Child and of an awareness campaign on “the effects of climate change on children’s rights in Africa”.

Multiple documented impacts
The results presented show that climate change is a growing and multidimensional threat to children, and especially to child and youth workers. The survey reveals an increase in extreme heat, reported by 74% of respondents, recurrent floods reported by 49%, as well as drought and declining agricultural production, cited by 39% and 43% of respondents respectively.

The study also highlights forced displacement and population exodus, affecting 36% of those surveyed. School dropout and interruptions are also documented, with an estimated 30% reduction in the chances of completing primary school, according to a 2025 study by the African Child Policy Forum on the links between climate and conflicts in the Sahel. The worsening health risks are confirmed: in Benin, a 1°C increase in temperature is associated with a 23.93% rise in malaria cases, according to the same source. Finally, 48% of respondents report a deterioration in the living and working conditions of child workers, who are forced to carry out more arduous and more dangerous activities.

Giving voice to children and youth
The webinar gave the floor to the children and young people concerned. Ms. Rosalie Diallo, member of AEJT in Fatick, reported the testimonies collected: “Climate change has really affected most children in Africa. 632 children and young workers answered our questions and most of them had problems. A child from Cameroon said that with the floods caused by climate change, he can no longer even dig the soil properly and they no longer live like before in their homes”. She called on authorities to help and protect the environment together in order to better preserve children’s rights.

Mr. Ibrahima Sory Barry, monitoring and evaluation intern at Enda Youth Action International, stressed the participatory approach: “Data collection was done for children and by children; it was child researchers who went to interview other children. It is an approach to child participation and one that should also exist in the implementation of recommendations, with children participating in climate decisions”.

A call to action
Mr. Aimé Yaovi Bada, Executive Director of Enda Youth Action International, recalled that while there is a lot of movement around climate disruption, few actions have so far been directed at children in vulnerable situations. “It is children who bear the brunt, even though these changes are not caused by what children do; it is much more the actions of adults that lead to this disruption,” he said. He stressed that children and youth are not passive: they organize themselves and are already carrying out awareness and reforestation initiatives. “We need to work to support their self-organization so that they can express themselves and be part of the action that promotes land revitalization and helps counter some of these effects of climate change,” he concluded.

Objectives and expected results
The webinar aimed to present the main results of the survey, highlight the impacts of climate change on children’s rights in Africa, foster dialogue between children, institutional, technical and community actors, and strengthen advocacy for the integration of children’s rights into climate policies.

The organizers expect the results to be disseminated and shared with key stakeholders, for the voices of children and youth to be valued, and for institutional actors to strengthen their commitment to children’s rights in climate adaptation and resilience policies.

The webinar brought together technical and financial partners, authorities, child protection actors, civil society organizations, children and youth workers, organizations led by children and youth, as well as the media.