Our achievements
A glance at our achievements
We begin by looking back at our achievements to date. Over the past 20 years, ACPF has established itself as a reputable, credible, and independent Pan-African child-rights organisation. We have made a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on children in Africa through extensive research and policy-influencing.
ACPF has undertaken pioneering work in child protection, documenting a comprehensive analysis of violence against children in Africa and drawing attention to neglected policy and programme areas such as the rights of children with disabilities and the protection of children from witchcraft accusations and ritual killings.
ACPF consistently advocates for child law reform, for countries to align their laws to international and regional standards and has undertaken ground-breaking work in child justice.
ACPF has made a significant contribution to enhancing accountability for children, notably through analysing government performance using the Child Friendliness Index and the publication of The African Report on Child Wellbeing series.
ACPF has well-established relationships with strategic Pan-African institutions such as the African Union Commission (AUC) and its organs – specifically, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) – Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). We leverage these connections to push for policy development and law reform, in addition to making contributions in terms of expertise and research.
ACPF has enhanced child-rights networks and collective action, for instance by supporting the work of the Africa Wide Movement for Children (AMC) and the African Partnership to End Violence against Children.
Through the International Policy Conferences (IPC) and other platforms, ACPF has established mechanisms for building consensus, facilitating policy dialogue on child rights, and drawing attention to emerging issues affecting children, which it has done to influence the awareness, attitudes and actions of policymakers and practitioners.
ACPF’s contribution to global and continental knowledge and agenda-setting processes is further reflected in its membership of global and Pan-African technical and advocacy groups. To name but a few, ACPF represents African CSOs in the Executive Committee of the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children, and is an active member of the Steering Committee of the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty. ACPF is also a member of the International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), a global think tank on indicators and measurement methodologies relating to children.
The Federal Supreme Court Child Justice Project Office of Ethiopia has recognized African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) for its long-standing partnership with the Court’s Child Justice Project Directorate (CJPD), including its role in establishing the Children’s Legal Protection Center (CLPC) in 2005. Now operated by the CJPD, the CLPC continues to provide free legal and psychosocial support to thousands of vulnerable children. ACPF remains committed to strengthening child‑friendly justice systems across Africa in close collaboration with key stakeholders.
