Children's Policy and Funding Initiative
The Children’s Policy and Funding Initiative seeks to strengthen and improve U.S. Government funding, policies, and programming to support children and young people around the world. This Initiative leverages pooled donor funds with Tides Center serving as the fiscal sponsor.
The lead foundations are committed to supporting children and young people around the world. These donors have a special interest in eliminating sexual abuse and other forms violence, improving care and development, and advancing rights and well-being. They welcome additional donors to bring complementary areas of expertise and funding in order to meet the myriad needs of children and young people globally.
This Initiative supports a breadth of coalitions and individual organizations that provide leadership in relevant sectors affecting children. Together, they represent vast and deep knowledge about what works to improve funding, programming, and policies affecting children globally.
Global Context
Children and youth around the world are experiencing increased violence, food insecurity, learning loss, sexual abuse and exploitation, and orphanhood. Research is clear. Children exposed to severe trauma, abuse, insecurity, and isolation can experience long-term disruption to their physical, psychological, and social well-being. Children remain at great risk of intensified violence, loss, and trauma. Pervasive trauma and abuse have broad health, economic, peace, and security ramifications for societies and nations at large. The consequences of inaction are grave and can have far-reaching, long-lasting effects. A robust response is critical for our future. This is a vital moment for White House global leadership. Decisive action now can have a huge impact globally.
Our Grants Approach
This Initiative demonstrates that collaborative networks and complementary grantmaking are a powerful force for change. The grantees individually and through coalitions they lead are working on a variety of inter-related topics, such as inclusive quality education, violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, care, early childhood development, mental health, nutrition, disability rights, gender equality, and youth, peace and security. The Initiative offers a mechanism for greater collaboration and facilitates a more holistic approach to ensure funding, programming and policies meet the needs of the whole child through their life cycle.
The Initiative is grounded in the belief that good policymaking and programming must engage and be informed by the affected communities. Our grantees work directly with young people and members of marginalized and affected communities to support their direct advocacy and strengthen their role in the design, decision-making and delivery of policy, programming and funding that impacts them. Grantees partner with allies and champions for children and youth in the US Government and Congress including many Democrats and Republicans. The many supporters demonstrate that this is a nonpartisan issue requiring a whole-of-government approach.
The Initiative is grounded in the belief that good policymaking and programming must engage and be informed by the affected communities. Our grantees work directly with young people and members of marginalized and affected communities to support their direct advocacy and strengthen their role in the design, decision-making and delivery of policy, programming and funding that impacts them. Grantees partner with allies and champions for children and youth in the US Government and Congress including many Democrats and Republicans. The many supporters demonstrate that this is a nonpartisan issue requiring a whole-of-government approach.
U.S. Government Approach
The U.S. Government is an important provider of assistance globally. And yet, the total U.S. funds going toward programs benefitting children and young people come to a mere 0.001% of available funding. (Source: On the Side of Children and Youth in U.S. government foreign policy and assistance)
Too often, the needs of children and youth are overlooked in policy and funding decisions. Young people from marginalized communities are even more greater risk. A government-wide approach is needed that systematically and intentionally explores the needs of children and youth as a priority in policy, programming and funding decisions.
Existing initiatives and programming tend to be narrowly focused rather than designed as a coordinated part of a larger approach that takes into account disparate needs and opportunities. What is needed is a whole child approach that recognizes how physical, social, emotional, relational, educational, intellectual and spiritual needs are interrelated. An integrated, whole child approach takes into account what is needed to improve early development, health, nutrition, education, care, protection and well-being.
Young Advocates
More and more, young people around the world are speaking out to advocate for their needs and influence better policymaking. Their perspectives and experience are valuable to improve policies, programming, and funding decisions. The participation of frequently marginalized populations is especially important. By involving young people in design and decisions, their needs will be better understood and met. Investments that support all children and young people to thrive are investments that secure a better future for societies and nations worldwide.
"If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children." Mahatma Gandhi |