The African members of SOS Children's Villages in West, Central, and North Africa have adopted the "Tunis Declaration" to enhance governance and increase impact. This declaration was adopted during the annual meeting of regional management area heads, which took place on the sidelines of the International SOS Children's Villages conference in Hammamet, Tunisia, from September 26 to 29. The conference brought together 28 associations from five continents.
The Tunis Declaration serves as a reference framework for the strategic orientations of West, Central, and North Africa over the coming years. It focuses on six priority areas. These areas include enhancing institutions by accelerating the establishment of management boards in 18 associations by 2028 and creating a guidance and twinning mechanism between countries.
Another priority area is strengthening financial independence through diversifying funding sources and setting up a regional task force for resource mobilization. Additionally, the declaration emphasizes working towards programmatic effectiveness by harmonizing monitoring and evaluation indicators and promoting integrated approaches in mental health and youth participation.
The declaration also highlights regional coordination through establishing an annual coordination and alignment meeting. It aims to enhance the role of regional representatives in the International Council and develop follow-up mechanisms. A regional coordination group for West, Central, and North Africa will be established to lead the implementation of commitments and prepare annual reports.
The Tunis Declaration was signed by representatives of SOS Children's Villages in the region. They emphasized that it reflects their shared commitment to enhancing governance and increasing the impact of their work on children in African countries and communities. The declaration also highlights the importance of speaking with one voice within the international union.
According to estimates, 35 million children in Africa are deprived of family care, and over 70% of African countries lack comprehensive policy and legislative frameworks for alternative care. The West, Central, and North Africa region comprises 28 member associations, with only 10 having a functioning management board.
The Tunis Declaration is set to be officially presented during the next General Assembly of SOS Children's Villages International, scheduled for October 2026. The adoption of this declaration marks a significant step towards improving the governance and protection of vulnerable children in the region.
Key points
- The Tunis Declaration aims to enhance governance and increase the impact of SOS Children's Villages in Africa.
- The declaration focuses on six priority areas, including institutional strengthening and financial independence.
- The adoption of the Tunis Declaration reflects the shared commitment of SOS Children's Villages to protecting vulnerable children in Africa.
