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.  Launched by Oak Foundation, GHR Foundation, and an Anonymous Donor, 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 and to achieving systemic change that improves outcomes for children and adolescents, including a focus on girls.  These active 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 and together advance a more holistic approach for U.S. funding, programming and policies affecting children, girls and adolescents globally. While the focus is initially on the U.S. Government, the scope may later expand to other major donors.

While the focus is initially on the U.S. Government, the scope may later expand to other major donors governments and institutions.

Global Context 

Children and youth around the world are experiencing increased violence, food insecurity, learning loss, sexual abuse and exploitation, and orphanhood as a direct result of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver in the first ten months of COVID-19 and that the number may have doubled in the first five months of 2021.[1]  According to UNICEF, 1.8 billion children now live in 104 countries where violence prevention and response services have been disrupted due to COVID-19; and 6,000 children under five could die a day—more than 4 per minute—due to direct impacts of COVID-19.[2] School closures have affected 1.5 billion children and at least one in three children—463 million children globally—have been unable to access remote learning after their school was shuttered.[3] Identity is a critical factor; girls, boys, LGBTQ+ face distinctive forms of abuse and exploitation, as do children and youth who have disabilities, who are from racial, religious and ethnic minorities, and who are from other frequently marginalized communities.
 
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. The pandemic remains a critical threat that has intensified violence, loss, and trauma for young people globally. Such 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.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/community/orphanhood-report.pdf
https://data.unicef.org/covid-19-and-children/
[2] https://data.unicef.org/covid-19-and-children/
[3] Ibid

Our Grants Approach 

Through grantmaking, this Initiative brings together influential advocacy leaders advancing complementary areas of work and facilitates a more holistic approach addressing the myriad needs of young people globally.  Together the lead organizations are calling on the U.S. Government to treat children and youth globally as a top priority in U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance. ​

This Initiative demonstrates that joint advocacy, 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 U.S. 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 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. 

The grantees partner with allies and champions for children and youth in the U.S. Government and Congress including many Democrats and Republicans.  The many supporters demonstrate that this is a nonpartisan issue requiring a whole-of-government approach.

Why Children and Young People

​The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on children and young people around the world and has intensified the dire risks they face. Millions of children and young people have lost a caregiver and are facing violence, sexual exploitation, food insecurity, learning loss, isolation and severe deprivation.  The impact of such trauma and abuse can last a lifetime and have ripple effects across societies, nations, and regions.  

Research shows that promoting children's and young people's well-being is a profoundly worthwhile investment.  Early investments that enable healthy development, food security, violence prevention, inclusive education, and safe and supportive environments can make the difference not only in the lives of youth but also in the security, peace, and economic prospects for societies and nations. 

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, including girls, refugees and migrants, children in conflict settings, children with disabilities, orphaned children, LGBTQ+ children, and others.  By involving them 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