“We must enhance supply chain transparency and accountability, maintaining ethical standards at every stage. Educating employers and workers about their rights empowers them to fight exploitation.” Jacqueline Mugo Secretary General BUSINESSAfrica remarks during her speech at the launch of ACCEL Africa Project in Nairobi, Kenya. Ms Mugo In her statements urged governments to implement comprehensive policies to eradicate child labour.

The event which was held on April 11 brought senior government officials from Kenya and across the world. Present during the launch was Amb. Maarten Brouwer, Kingdom of Netherlands to Kenya, Hon. Florence Bore, Kenyas’ Cabinet Secretary Labour & Social Protection, Ms. Caroline Mugalla, ILO Country Office Director, Governors of the republic of Kenya and other special guests.

Amb. Maarten Brouwer noted, “the Netherlands is happy to be supporting ACCEL Project. Agriculture and tea are very important to our countries and no one wants to take tea or coffee that is produced through child labour.”

The objective of the project. "Accelerate the elimination of child labor in Africa" is to accelerate the elimination of child labour in supply chains across Africa particularly in countries such as ivory coast, Egypt, Uganda, Malawi, Mali, and Nigeria.  The project, which has an overarching goal to speed up the elimination of child labour in Africa targets various value chains such as Cocoa, Tea, Gold, Coffee, and Cotton.

According to estimates from ILO, globally nearly 152 million children are engaged in child labour and half of them are in the worst form of child labour handling hazardous work that places their health, safety, and normal development as children at risk.

Global policy measures, raising awareness and government efforts are paying off, but the progress has slowed over the last years and the challenge is still huge especially in Africa.

The project will work closely with governments, employers and workers’ organizations, civil society organizations, African union, UN agencies, supply chain stakeholders, and research institutes.