An Expert Consultation - Hosted by the UNICEF Office of Research
This paper describes the outcomes of an expert consultation on “The Structural Determinants of Child Well-being” hosted by the UNICEF Office of Research. The two-day meeting brought
together twelve participants to discuss the underlying causes of child well-being and develop an initial framework to consider the impact of structural factors on children’s lives and the inequalities that too often shape (and limit) their futures.
Seven major conclusions emerged from the debate.
There is a large and still to be exploited potential for structural interventions to improve
the lives of children in low and middle-income countries. Some sectors, notably health,
have moved ahead in defining a structural determinants approach to programming and
have a growing evidence base to draw upon. Other sectors have begun to follow but still
have to make their case with the policy community. Until now, there has been very little
work that brings together insights from analysing structural determinants of child wellbeing across all its dimensions in a consistent and rigorous way.
UNICEF
June 2009
