systematic monitoring: indicators and data

Element 4: Systematic Monitoring: Indicators and Data

SYSTEMATIC MONITORING: INDICATORS AND DATA

INTRODUCTION elem

ent

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NACCs have the unique role of overseeing all national efforts for implementing the CRC, and one critical part of this role is to monitor progress achieved over time. Indicators are essential here. They provide basic measurable information on progress across the CRC’s themes, when backed by systematic data collection and analysis. They can give NACCs the knowledge of the current situation of children and overall perspective they need on trends, accomplishments and areas for greater attention. With sound monitoring, indicators, and data, NACCs have an informed basis to adjust and improve efforts for children’s rights.

At the same time, the NACC Assessment Report shows that current systematic monitoring through indicators and data is a consistently weak area for NACCs in the Pacific. Across the seven Elements for fully-functioning NACCs, systematic monitoring was the only area where none of the assessed PIC NACCs had made significant progress. In many cases, local expertise existed and relevant data was collected and available, but NACCs had never taken up this aspect of their mandates. Moreover, local expertise and available data were not taken advantage of to better understand the situation, challenges, and opportunities for children’s rights implementation. This section of the Tool Kit offers first steps to harness existing capacities in this area, plus suggestions on what comprehensive data indicators might look like.

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“The Committee has frequently noted that without sufficient data collection, including disaggregated data, it is impossible to assess the extent to which the Convention has been implemented.”CRC Implementation Handbook


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The following list suggests places where information relating to children are commonly located:

• Governmentlineministries(e.g.Health, Education, Social Welfare, Justice, Finance)

• NationalOfficesofStatisticsandPlanning

• MillenniumDevelopmentGoalsactivities

• PacificRegionalStatistics(PRISM):(www. spc.int/prism/)

• NationalMinimumDevelopmentIndicator (NMDI)DatabaseforthePacific:(www. spc.int/nmdi/)

• UNICEFChildinfoandMultipleIndicator ClusterSurveys(MICS)(www.childinfo.org)

• DevInfo(www.devinfo.org)

• UNICEF/WHOJointMonitoringProgramme forwatersupplyandsanitation(www. wssinfo.org)

• HumanDevelopmentReportandPoverty Reduction Strategy Paper activities

• “WorldFitforChildren”statistics(www. unicef.org/statistics/index_countrystats. html)

Beginning with Available Data to Designate IndicatorsAll PICs already collect or have access to significant data on children, and NACCs should use such data as their starting point. As central coordinating bodies, NACCs are generally not in a position to directly conduct data collection/analysis, but instead they must draw from the work of key ministries and others and collaborate as needed. Importantly, NACCs must have clear and broad authority to access data collected by various bodies and to formally request key ministries to provide data and data analysis as needed for national policy and program development, monitoring and evaluation and CRC reporting. Prior high-level agreement and detailed logistical preparations in coordinating the timing and collation of data from various ministries are critical for seeing the whole picture of the situation of children at periodic intervals.

“Evaluation requires the development of indicators related to all rights guaranteed by the Convention.”CRC General Comment #5


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• CommonCountryAssessmentprocesses undertheUNDevelopmentAssistance Framework

• NationalandInternationalNGOsand CSOs

• WorldBankWorldDevelopment Indicators(WDI)

• FoodandagriculturestatisticsbytheUN FoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)

• Labourandemploymentstatisticsby theInternationalLabourOffice(ILO)

• Population,healthandsocio-economic databyUNFPA

• TheGlobalUrbanObservatoryby UN-Habitat

• EducationstatisticsbytheUN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)

• DataontheenvironmentbytheUN EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)

In light of the relevant child data that is already available – and that best reflects the local context – NACCs need to decide upon a limited number of comprehensible, measurable, comparable and affordable indicators that cover all major CRC areas(seeexamplesfrompage5).Thecentral,interconnected CRC thematic areas for consideration are the following:

• Generalmeasuresofimplementation • Civilrightsandfreedom • Familyenvironmentandalternativecare • Basichealthandwelfare • Education,leisureandculturalactivities • Specialprotectionmeasures

For further details, refer to the specific issues listed undereachofthesethemes(Seeinsidebackcoverof Elements 3 and 7). Importantly, the data collected around indicators must be disaggregated, when relevant,bybackgroundcharacteristics(e.g.gender,urban/rural setting, age groupings, ethnicity, region, language, country of origin, socio-economic status). Disaggregationallowsassessmentofwheretheremight be inequity amongst certain population groups, or where supplementary efforts might be required to reach vulnerable groups.


Indicators for Children’s Rights Implementation1

As discussed, NACCs should develop indicators primarily in light of already-available data and meeting local context and needs. Much work has been done to develop CRC Indicators, and in the specific areas of children’s health, nutrition and education, helpful indicators are already in use for monitoring progress towards the goals set by the 1990 World Summit for Children, the World Fit for ChildrenandtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs).Inordertheregularlymonitoroverallprogress of the CRC worldwide, there is a need for a small practical set of indicators.

The following sample indicators represent an example of how indicators may address all the major thematic CRC areas, shedding light on the extent to which different parts of the CRC have been implemented. They also provide indicators for which some data, depending on the PIC, may already be regularlycollectedandavailable.Developingacoreset of indicators would allow for both cross-country and within-country comparisons. National programs wouldalsobeencouragedtocollectandanalyzedata on supplemental or additional indicators in order to better understand their national response and to contribute to global knowledge about children’s rights.

“The Committee recommends that the State party should, as a priority, systematically collect disaggregated data incorporating all the areas covered by the Convention…. The State party should also develop indicators to effectively monitor and evaluate progress achieved in the implementation of the Convention and assess the impact of policies and programmes that affect children.”CRC Concluding Observations – Solomon Islands

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THEMATIC AREA AGE MEASUREMENT TOOL DATA SOURCE

General measures of implementation

1. National funds disbursed by governments NA Deskreviewand

Key informant interviews

MinistryofFinanceofficialbudgetrecords

2.CRCNationalPolicyandPlanningEffortIndex(measuresthe collective national efforts for CRC implementation by the government, donors, implementers of programs, and civil society)*

0-17 Key informant interviews Relevant government department, child -focused development agency

3. Population aged less than 18 years 0-17 Census BureauorDepartmentofStatistics,www.spc.int/prism/

4.Deathsamongchildren 0-17 Civil Registration systems

Civil rights and freedom

5.Birthregistration 0-4 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/ www.childinfo.org

6. Knowledge of children’s rights 12-17 Householdsurvey Eg. Solomon Island’s National Children’s Survey through Ministry of Education and DepartmentofChildren’sAffairs

7. Education on sexual and reproductive health NA Education survey MinistryorDepartmentofEducation

Family environment and alternative care

8. Percentage of children who are orphans** 0-17 Householdsurvey,targetedsurvey

RelevantMinistryorDepartment

9. Percentage of children who are vulnerable 0-17 Householdsurvey,sentinelsite surveillance

RelevantMinistryorDepartment(6PICsareundertaking Sentinel Site Surveillance)

www.childinfo.org

10. Children not living with biological parents 0-17 Householdsurvey,targetedsurvey

RelevantMinistryorDepartment

www.childinfo.org

11. External support for children 0-17 Householdsurvey RelevantMinistryorDepartment(5PICs have conducted Child Protection Baselinesurveys:www.unicef.org/pacificislands/1850_10989.html)

12.Basicmaterialneedsforpersonalcare 5-17 Householdsurvey www.childinfo.org

13. Experience of severe physical punishment 5-17 Householdsurvey,targetedsurvey

RelevantMinistryorDepartment(5PICs have conducted Child Protection Baselinesurveys:www.unicef.org/pacificislands/1850_10989.html)

www.childinfo.org

14. Children living in formal care 0-17 Targeted survey RelevantMinistryorDepartment

Basic health and welfare

15.Underfivemortalityrate 0-4 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/, www.childinfo.org

16.Childrenimmunizedagainstmeasles 0-1 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/ndmi, www.childinfo.org

17.Useofimproveddrinkingwatersources NA Householdsurvey www.wssinfo.org, www.childinfo.org

18.Useofimprovedsanitationfacilities NA Householdsurvey www.wssinfo.org, www.childinfo.org

19.Underweightprevalence 0-4 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/,

www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

www.childinfo.org, www.who.int

20. Contraceptive prevalence rate 15-19 Targeted survey www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

Sample indicators by thematic area, age of target group and measurement toolTOOL 16

NACCs could agree on a summary set of indicators such as the one shown in Tool 10 that would give a ‘snapshot’ picture of the status of children and the progress towards CRC implementation in the context of the country. NACCs should identify the measurement tools and the sources of data. Examples are provided in Tool 10 where some of this data can be sourced from in thePacificregion.NACCscanworkwithothercommitteesforCEDAWorforMDGstoidentifycommonindicators.

The following sample indicators represent an example of how indicators may address all the major thematic CRC areas, providing a comprehensive perspective for NACCs on overall CRC implementation progress. They also provide indicators for which some data, depending on the PIC, may already be regularly collected and available.

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21. Adolescent child bearing 15-19 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

22.ComprehensivecorrectknowledgeaboutAIDS 15-19 Householdsurvey,targetedsurvey www.unicef.org/pacificislands/1850_10992.htmlforBaselineSurveysonHIV&AIDSfor3 PICs

23. Condom use in higher risk sex 15-19 Householdsurvey www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

Education, leisure and cultural activities

24. Primary school enrollment approx.

6-12

Administrative records

Householdsurveys

www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

25.Educationontherightsofthechild NA Education survey MinistryorDepartmentofEducation

26.Orphanschoolattendanceratio 10-14 Householdsurvey MinistryorDepartmentofEducation,www.spc.int/prism/ndmi

27. Participation in sports or recreation activities 12-17 Householdsurvey MinistryorDepartmentofEducation,www.childinfo.org

28. Support for learning and recreation NA Householdsurvey MinistryorDepartmentofEducation,www.childinfo.org

Special protection measures

29. Child labour 5-14 Householdsurvey www.childinfo.org

30. Children in refugee camps 0-17 Targeted survey RelevantMinistryorDepartment

31. Children in conflict areas attending primary school 6-12 Targeted survey RelevantMinistryorDepartment

32. Children in detention 0-17 Targeted survey RelevantMinistryorDepartment

33. Contact with parents and family while in detention 0-17 Targeted survey RelevantMinistryorDepartment

34.Sexbeforeage15years 15-19 FamilyHealthandSafetySurvey RelevantMinistryorDepartment,www.spc.int/prism/reports for 3PICs

35.Experienceofforcedsex 15-19 DemographicandHealthsurvey www.spc.int/prism/reportsfor5PICs

36.Prevalenceoffemalegenitalcutting(FGC) 15-19 FamilyHealthandSafetySurvey RelevantMinistryorDepartment,www.spc.int/prism/reports for 3PICs

37. Marriage before age 18 years 15-19 Householdsurvey Legislation

ChildRightsIndicators:

• NationalStrategymustincludeindicators–coveringeveryCRCareasothatprogresscanbemonitored–ongeneralmeasuresofimplementation;civilrightsandfreedom;familyenvironmentandalternativecare;basichealthandwelfare;education,leisureandculturalactivities;specialprotectionmeasures

• Datamustbesystematicallycollectedaroundeachindicator

• DatainformsNACConCRCimplementationandforchangesinNationalStrategy

*Resourcescanbepurchasedon-linetocalculatethisindexfrom:www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17450120601133791Alternatively,anassessmentofthekeycomponents(situationanalysis,consultativeprocess,coordinatingmechanism,nationalaction plans etc.) could be undertaken.

** In the Pacific, it is useful to understand how many children live away from their parents and are hosted by extended families.

Indicators marked with arerelevantindicatorsforCEDAWreports.

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Mapping Inequity2 In addition to tracking the situation of children and examining the progress made towards development goals in any one country, it is equally as important to map sub-national patterns of deprivation and disparity for children and women. Progress measured by national aggregates often conceals large and even widening disparities in children’sdevelopment and access to essential services among sub-national social and economic groups, so that apparentstatistical successes mask profound needs. WiththeMDGdeadlineonlyafewyearsaway,itisbecoming ever clearer that reaching the poorest and mostmarginalizedcommunitieswithincountriesispivotaltotherealizationofthegoals.

In applying the CRC principle, ‘Non-discrimination’, UNICEFissupportingthecompilationofEquityAtlases in the Pacific to support the strengthening of services for all children and the removal of barriers that prevent the poorest from using services. The Equity Atlases present analyses of data by a range of disaggregation such as gender andgeographic location.

The map below shows an example of how the prevalence of poverty differs by province in Fiji.3


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Links to further information

On developing indicators:

• UNDP,IndicatorsforHumanRights BasedApproachestoDevelopmentinUNDP Programming:AUsers’Guide,2006: http://web.undp.org/oslocentre/docs06/ HRBA%20indicators%20guide.pdf

• HumanRightsIndicatorsresourcepage:www. gsdrc.org/go/topic-guides/human-rights/ rights-monitoring-and-indicators#rba

• IndicatorsonChildrenasCitizens,http://www. crin.org/docs/JT-active-citizens.pdf

On Mapping Equity:

• AchievingtheMDGswithEquity:www.unicef. org/publications/files/Progress_for_Children- No.9_EN_081710.pdf

• TrainingManualontheEquityFocusin Programmes:www.bigyellowtaxi.org/ public-byt/UNICEF/EquityManual_v3.pdf

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systematic monitoring: indicators and data

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