Grant: Project Grant

Around the world, millions of children grow up without the care of their parents. Some have lost their parents, while others are separated from them because of poverty, discrimination, violence, neglect, conflict, disaster, climate change, or migration. These children face greater risk of poor health, interrupted schooling, and reduced well-being. Yet despite their unique vulnerability, they are rarely the focus of health research or policy. In 2019, the United Nations highlighted the urgent need for new evidence to guide action. UNICEF has now begun collecting the first consistent global data that makes it possible to identify these children and better understand their situations. This project will be the first to use these data to study the health, development, and well-being of children and adolescents (ages 0 to 17) who are orphans or who grow up without parental care, across more than 80 low- and middle-income countries. We will combine large-scale statistical analysis with in-depth studies led by researchers in affected countries. By listening directly to children and caregivers, we will capture their experiences in their own words. We will also study the ethical, legal, and policy issues involved, and work closely with global partners to ensure that results lead to action. Our team brings together experts in child health, statistics, social sciences, human rights, and policy, working with international agencies and local partners. By producing the first comprehensive global evidence base on this overlooked group, our research will help improve policies and services that protect these children, promote their health and development, and uphold their rights. The findings will support governments, international organisations, and community groups to take practical steps that improve the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable children.