Dialogue Works 2.0., the Global Network on Child Participation (DW2-GNCP, 2025 – 2029) is a joint project led by Terre des Hommes Germany (TDH) and Kindernothilfe (KNH) , dedicated to contributing to improving the living conditions of children in vulnerable situations by strengthening meaningful and sustainable structures for child participation in Zambia, India and Peru, as well as in the three regions (Southeast Africa, South Asia and South America). Building on the previous projects “It’s Time to Talk“ (2016-2019) and „Dialogue Works“ (2020-2024), the GNCP aims to increase opportunities for children to express their views and to participate in dialogues with adults who have responsibilities to improve the lives of children (e.g. government officials, community leaders, teachers, parents/caregivers etc.). Additionally, on the global level, a virtual Community of Practice (CoP) for mutual learning and exchange on child participation will be established.  

Main Objective 

The DW2-GNCP aims to realize the right of children in vulnerable situations to be heard and to participate in matters that affect their lives by ensuring that decision-makers in Southeast Africa, South Asia and South America incorporate children’s right to be heard into policy-making processes – the project outlines activities for the strategic establishment of sustainable mechanisms for child participation. These activities are designed to create a structured approach to collaboration between Children’s Advisory Committees (CACs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and decision-makers in order to promote long-term engagement and institutional change.  

Although contexts differ between the three project regions, they present similar structural challenges that significantly influence children’s participation. In South America, poverty, ethnic discrimination and geographical isolation pose significant obstacles to access to education and justice, especially for indigenous children in remote areas. In Southeast Africa, children face poverty, early marriages, violence and lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. In South Asia, rigid gender norms, economic inequality and fragmented legislation negatively affect children’s ability to make their voices heard. Under Dialogue Works, CACs have been set up in the three regions, whose delegates met for the first time at the regional level in 2024 to kick off cross-border cooperation. These regional CACs have begun to develop advocacy plans based on common experiences and challenges through a participatory process. DW2-GNCP aims to implement these plans and further expand the regional network to strengthen the impact of child participation at the regional level and promote sustainable policy change. 

Globally, civil society organisations participate in a virtual Community of Practice on child participation, where they can exchange ideas and learn from each other. Capacity development and online training courses will be offered on the effective use of child participation tools, thereby improving the skills of interested partner organisations. 

Partner Organizations 

We collaborate on this new project with three organizations because of their regional influence, established networks and extensive experience in the field of child participation:  Vigyan Foundation in India, MANTHOC in Peru and JCM in Zambia.  

Project

Where do we come from: 

In the first project – Time to Talk! (2016 – 2019) – TDH and KNH consulted 1,822 working children in 36 countries using a participatory approach. The aim was to discover what working children themselves think about their work and potential measures to improve their situation. 

But even though consultation is a great start – collaboration is even better: The follow-up campaign – “Dialogue Works” (2020 – 2024) – aimed to expand and institutionalise spaces for working children to participate in local to global political debates and to express their individual experiences, perspectives and recommendations to political stakeholders. The core of the campaign were CACs that have been formed in 15 countries worldwide and that serve as a platform for working children to plan and implement advocacy dialogues with key stakeholders, thereby realizing their right to be heard (Art. 12 UNCRC). 

Main Objective 

The DW2-GNCP aims to realize the right of children in vulnerable situations to be heard and to participate in matters that affect their lifes by ensuring that decision-makers in Zambia, India and Peru incorporate children’s right to be heard into policy-making processes – the project outlines activities for the strategic establishment of sustainable mechanisms for child participation. These activities are designed to create a structured approach to collaboration between Children’s Advisory Committees (CACs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and decision-makers in order to promote long-term engagement and institutional change.  

In a planned second phase, these local structures will be expanded over the duration of the project at national and regional levels in South America (Peru), South Asia (India) and South-East Africa (Zambia), in order to ensure joint Advocacy efforts for children’s rights.  

Although contexts differ between countries, the three project regions (South America, South Asia and Southeast Africa) present similar structural challenges that significantly influence children’s participation. In South America, poverty, ethnic discrimination and geographical isolation pose significant obstacles to access to education and justice, especially for indigenous children in remote areas. In south-east Africa, children face poverty, early marriages, violence and lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. In South Asia, rigid gender norms, economic inequality and fragmented legislation negatively affect children’s ability to make their voices heard. Under Dialogue Works, CACs have been set up in the three regions, whose delegates met for the first time at the regional level in 2024 to kick off cross-border cooperation. These regional CACs have begun to develop advocacy plans based on common experiences and challenges through a participatory process. The project now planned aims to implement these plans and further expand the regional network to strengthen the impact of child participation at the regional level and promote sustainable policy change. 

Globally, civil society organisations participate in a virtual Community of Practice where they can exchange ideas and learn from each other on child participation. Capacity development and online training courses will be offered on the effective use of these tools, thereby improving the skills of interested partner organisations.