UNICEF Sierra Leone commissioned a partner civil society organisation (SPW Sierra Leone) to undertake a needs assessment with young researchers. The assessment focused on out-of-school children, i.e., those who have dropped out of school, those who never attended school, or those who have participated in non-formal school programmes. The information collected was used to produce a set of guidelines for life skills programmes delivering non-formal HIV education.

Problems addressed:

• The study was designed to address a national lack of cohesion regarding efforts targeting out-of-school children in Sierra Leone.
• Out-of-school children have limited accessibility and community structures to learn about life skills. Most life skills education for the prevention of HIV/AIDS undertaken by many organisations is targeted only at young people in school.

Objectives

• To generate accurate, gender-disaggregated information on the situation and needs of out-of-school youth using recognised research methods (as three times as many girls are out of school than boys);
• To identify current strategies, opportunities (partners and structures), and challenges to reach out-of-school youth;
• To provide transferable skills and experience for the young people involved;
• To inform and generate a more unified programme approach.

Youth as partners

Twenty young people (18 to 22 years) were given the skills to directly implement research in 20 communities: focus group discussions, 64 interviews, consultative meetings, piloting and producing questionnaires.

Process:

• Agreement was discussed and made by UNICEF and SPW regarding the parameters and objectives of the project and the data to be collected. Target groups for the research included street children, child sex workers, child labourers, child-led households, school dropouts and child miners.
• Young researchers were then selected and research methods developed.
• This was followed by the training of young researchers (on methods and confidentiality).
• The research and data collection was then conducted over a period of ten days, and the study information analysed.
• Finally the report was presented to a delegation of UN agencies, NGOs and other civil society groups.

Results

• A cost-effective way to collect information and ensured a wide geographical coverage.
• UNICEF was better able to design programmes for out-of-school children.
• Young people developed skills and experiences, realising their own potential to undertake professional research.
• Out-of-school children remarked that they found it easier to talk to young people than to adults.

Lessons learned

• Adequate training and support for the youth is essential; hire experienced implementing partners and M&E personnel.
• Ensure roles, responsibilities and expectations are clearly outlined during the recruitment process.
• Personnel need time to think through and deliver how data and analysis will be disseminated after project completion to ensure influence.
• Particular costs to consider: training costs, travel to the field, and food/accommodation for the young people.

Potential challenges

• Getting young people with limited experience to undertake professional research requires intensive practical training.
• Children’s sexual and reproductive health and rights issues are highly sensitive for individuals, families and communities.

For further information contact: 

SPW Sierra Leone, http://www.spw.org