Children in Crisis Seeking Child-Sensitive Policy Responses

Experts from the global North and South analyze the implications of economic crises on children, with a particular focus on the emerging evidence from the recent global economic crisis and food and fuel price volatility of 2008-2010. They point out key policy responses deployed by governments and international agencies.

Caroline Harper is Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute in London, UK. Nicola Jones is Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute in London, UK. Ronald U. Mendoza is Associate Professor of Economics at the Asian Institute of Management, Philippines. David Stewart is Chief of Social Policy and Evaluation at UNICEF Uganda. Erika Strand is Chief of Social Policy and Evaluation at UNICEF Mexico.

"Must economic crises always end up hitting children and women with cuts and setbacks? In this volume, UNICEF shows that alternatives exist and analyzes what it takes put to them into action, with examples of where, when and how this has been done. A book to ponder for bankers, economists, and all who believe in TINA - that there is no alternative. There are!" – Sir Richard Jolly, Honorary Professor and Research Associate, Institute of Development Studies, UK

"At last! A book featuring hard evidence detailing the severe impact of financial crises on children! Debunking long-standing economic orthodoxies as often worsening rather than improving poor families' lives, the authors propose innovative macro- and micro-oriented policies that will enable anthropologists, sociologists and human rights activists to collaborate more effectively with economists in making a positive difference for children." – Mary Racelis, Professor of Social Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines

"This is a path-breaking book that documents the acute vulnerability of children to economic downturns. The authors challenge the presumption that poor children are sheltered because they are not much integrated into formal financial systems and they propose specially tailored remedies to prevent these crises from turning into what they call 'inequality machines'. A required read for anyone who cares about poverty alleviation and social development." – Dani Rodrik, Professor of International Political Economy, Harvard University, USA

"This book provides a rich repertoire of policy instruments that can be used to protect the poor and the vulnerable from the almost inevitable consequences of market-driven forces and the pursuit of conventional policy interventions. This is a book with hard facts, brainy analyses and a big and soft heart." – Assefa Bequele, Former Executive Director of African Child Policy Forum, Ethiopia