Two national household surveys, the Demographic and Health Surveys and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, drive assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals, Poverty Reduction Strategies and other major international platforms in low- and middle-income countries. However, little attention has been given to the fact that household surveys are limited to people living in households, therefore excluding some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, including the homeless, people living in institutions, and migrant laborers. These children lack the most fundamental protections provided by a permanently engaged and/or minimally resourced parent or caregiver, with grave consequences for their physical, intellectual and emotional growth.

Recognizing the measurement gap for this population, the CPC Learning Network has partnered with the National Institute of Statistics in Cambodia to develop a set of methods and tools for establishing a nationally representative estimate of the number, distribution and basic characteristics of children outside of households. Enumeration is focused on two key sub-groups of children in Cambodia: children living in residential care institutions and homeless urban children. The objective of the research, which is supported by USAID and JSI, is to generate inclusive data to guide policy makers and service providers in recognizing and protecting these children. Follow-up enumerations in Cambodia will be used to assess progress towards the national goal of reducing the number of children outside of households.

Guidelines for Enumerating Children Outside of Family Care

Although we know that optimal support for children’s health, nutrition, and cognitive and social development comes from a caring and protective family, preventing and responding to the needs of children outside of family care presents many challenges. Yet without an accurate understanding of the magnitude and distribution of this population, success towards meeting these challenges cannot be measured. Dr. Lindsay Stark, Director of the CPC Learning Network, is working with USAID’s Center of Excellence on Children in Adversity to develop a strategy for governments in low and middle-income countries to enumerate children outside of family care and monitor trends in this population over time. The need for this strategy is explicated in the new U.S. Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity, which emphasizes the reduction of numbers of children outside of family care in select priority countries over the next five years. The guidelines will initially be piloted in Cambodia. The CPC Learning Network will also participate in the development of tools to enumerate children outside of family care during emergencies. The Guidelines for Implementing a National Strategy to Determine the Magnitute and Distribution of Children Outside of Family Care can be found below.

To read the Columbia University press release 'Children on Their Own in Cambodia', please click here.