Plan is present in Africa and Europe in the following countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Albania is organisationally grouped with this region.
Situation in the region
In recent years, conflict, HIV/Aids, hunger crises and poverty in the African continent have been grabbing global attention.
Last year, most attention was given to the HIV/Aids pandemic and the conflict zones of Darfur, Chad, Congo, North-Uganda and Ivory Coast. In spite of some positive developments, such as the stabilisation of the situation in Liberia, the peace talks in North-Uganda and improved access to affordable medication in some African countries, the overall picture of the continent’s situation deteriorated last year. Noteworthy is the Zimbabwean economy and the bleak forecast of not meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially the eradication of hunger as 1/3 of the children up to five years old show signs of stunted growth. Progress on others MDGs, notably education and child survival are insufficient, with vast areas of the continent with under-five mortality rate exceeding 200 or even 250 per 1,000 live births.
The growing number of orphaned and other vulnerable children is alarming – 60% of all HIV/Aids victims and 90% of all infected children live in Sub-Sahara Africa. Africa houses 80% of all HIV/Aids orphans, with 12 million children in Sub Sahara Africa.
In addition to conflict, HIV, difficult economic and political conditions and the failure to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, migration to urban areas in search of work often leaves rural communities without the support of their extended families. Young Africans tend to concentrate on their own nuclear family, weakening their ties with and responsibilities for their relatives in rural areas. Economic migration is also affecting the care given to children, increasing their vulnerability to be abused or trafficked.
Plan’s work in the region
Plan works with children, families, communities, governments and civil society to improve the lives of children.
The issues affecting children in the region, with differing degrees of importance in the countries include:
- poverty
- vulnerability to the weather
- poor public services
- bad governance
- debt
- trade obstacles
- HIV/AIDS
- cultural attitudes towards change
- child trafficking
- and, in some countries, conflict.
Plan is assisting families to:
- improve their livelihood and reduce poverty
- providing access to safe drinking water
- helping those affected by HIV/AIDS, disasters and unrest
- and improving education in the region.
