Empowering Young Children and Communities in the Philippines through Child-Centered Social Accountability: Fostering Collective Action and Human Rights Awareness

• In Event: Collective action towards ECD

Proposal

This presentation will explore the transformative potential of child-centered social accountability (CCSA) in early childhood development (ECD) programs as a vehicle for empowering children and communities, fostering collective action towards quality, scalability and sustainability using a child rights-led approach. It is guided by Save the Children’s Scaling Equitable Early Childhood Development (SEED) Framework and Save the Children Philippines' innovative CCSA process. Its pedagogical approach, participation of children and communities that led to their empowerment, and the broader implications of this model for the Comparative and International Education Society will be shared.

Save the Children recognizes the valuable role families, community groups, local and national civil society actors play in realizing children’s rights. The ECCD systems tend to be more focused on children’s development and parental engagement. They are neither set up to allow children, parents and other caregivers and community actors to participate meaningfully in local ECCD governance. CCSA is a powerful platform to amplify children’s voices, enabling them to become active agents of positive change. The CCSA pedagogical approach is participatory and experiential, offering hands-on engagement, reflective learning, and real-world application. Children and communities actively participate in surveys, interface meetings, and training sessions. This approach fosters their agency, communication skills, and the ability to identify community issues, reflecting a child-centered and empowering learning environment.

Through CCSA, children and communities are empowered in multiple ways. They actively engage in decision-making, develop problem-solving skills, and learn about their rights. The CCSA process fosters a sense of ownership over community issues, confidence in engaging with the government, and the belief that their contributions can drive positive change. This empowerment aligns with the following principles of human rights by promoting children's participation and agency:

• Participation in Decision-Making: The CCSA process actively involves children and communities in decision-making processes. They have the opportunity to voice their opinions, identify problems, and propose solutions. This engagement empowers them to contribute meaningfully to discussions that affect their lives.

• Awareness of Rights: Through the CCSA process, children and communities gain knowledge about their rights. This awareness empowers them to recognize their entitlements and advocate for their rights to be upheld in their communities.

• Active Engagement: Children actively engage in activities like surveys, meetings, and training sessions. This hands-on involvement gives them a sense of agency and the understanding that their contributions are valued.

• Problem-Solving Skills: Children learn practical problem-solving skills by participating in the CCSA process. They identify community issues and work collaboratively to find solutions. This equips them with skills to address challenges in various areas of their lives.

• Confidence Building: By participating in meetings, presenting findings, and engaging with community leaders, children build confidence in their abilities to express themselves and interact with adults and authorities.

• Advocacy Skills: Children and communities learn how to advocate for their needs and rights. They develop communication skills, learn how to convey their concerns and propose solutions effectively.

• Ownership and Responsibility: The CCSA process allows children and communities to take ownership of community issues. They actively contribute to addressing problems, fostering a sense of responsibility toward their community's well-being.

• Real-World Impact: The children's involvement in the CCSA process results in tangible changes, such as the identification of community issues and the implementation of solutions. Seeing the impact of their efforts reinforces their belief in their ability to effect change.

• Awareness of Their Role: Children learn that they can play a significant role in their communities. They are empowered to engage with local leaders and adults, contributing to a sense of social responsibility.

Child-centered social accountability stands as a powerful tool for fostering collective action, human rights awareness, and empowerment among children. The case story of Save the Children Philippines' CCSA process, combined with an analysis of its pedagogical elements and empowerment outcomes, demonstrates the positive impact of this approach. Through the CCSA process, children and communities were able to:

1. Monitor implementation of programs and services for children and determine areas for improving quality and access;
2. Inform the development of tools that are context-specific and age-appropriate, allowing children and communities to be change agents; and
3. Contribute to policy-making through interfaces with government agencies, carrying with them the solutions suited for their context.

The Save the Children CCSA experience has led to the formulation/revision and/or passage of policies directly affecting children and their families including those on health and nutrition, inclusion, child participation, and others. It also underscored the importance of providing holistic social support, including CCSA, for parents and caregivers that will allow them to support the early development of children further.

While CCSA offers transformative potential, challenges such as sustaining momentum and scaling up require consideration. Future interventions could focus on creating sustainable mechanisms for child participation, strengthening collaborations with local authorities, and ensuring long-term impact assessment.


By embracing CCSA principles, educators and policymakers can inspire children globally to be active contributors to positive change, enhancing the comparative and international education landscape. We invite the CIES community to engage in a dialogue about how CCSA can be adapted to diverse educational contexts. Let us collectively explore ways to integrate child-centered approaches, collective action, and human rights awareness into education systems, ensuring that children's voices are heard and their agency is respected in shaping the world they inhabit.

Authors

• Catherine Albano Manzano, Save the Children Philippines

• Mariel Joy Savella Sampang, Save the Children Philippines