This was a research initiative implemented between 2018-2021 with funding from the U.S. State Department and implemented in partnership with University of Georgia and University of Liverpool in collaboration with our in-country partners – Conflict Management & Development Associates in Sierra Leone (CMDA-SL) and STAT-View International based in Guinea. The study sought to explore the complex child trafficking networks in Sierra Leone and Guinea, the root causes, and local context while also building capacity for prevention, protection, and prosecution.

RAN conducted the baseline evaluation as part of the monitoring and evaluation services for this project. We employed mixed methods to understand the burden of child trafficking. The study also deployed the network scale up methods to map and quantify the extent of child trafficking. We also investigated the internal child trafficking manifestations in source, transit, and destination hotspot communities documenting lived experiences of trafficking survivors and those at risk. The study conducted a policy analysis examining legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and regional and international cooperation arrangements as well as policy gaps that have hindered adherence to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) minimum standards.

The research documented several child trafficking typologies prevalent in West Africa including child labor trafficking in artisanal mining, agriculture, and domestic servitude; sex trafficking; street vending and begging; and ritual trafficking for traditional practices. The research documented how trafficking intersected with other vulnerabilities including poverty, conflict, climate change, gender inequality, and weak governance.

The subsequent programming components were informed by research findings and included: prevention initiatives addressing root causes through livelihood alternatives, education access, and community awareness; protection mechanisms strengthening identification of trafficking victims, referral pathways, and survivor support services; capacity building for law enforcement and judiciary in investigation, prosecution, and victim-centered approaches; and policy advocacy for strengthened legal frameworks and cross-border cooperation. Click here and here to read more.