Evaluation results of a pilot program tackling exploitative child domestic work in Nigeria
The exploitation of child domestic workers (CDWs) has long been under-recognised as a child protection concern in Nigeria, shaped by social norms, limited awareness of children’s rights, and gaps in legal and regulatory protections. An evaluation conducted as part of the Tackling Exploitative Child Domestic Work in West Africa initiative examined how locally grounded interventions can help reduce the exploitation of CDWs in Nigeria. Led by NORC at the University of Chicago in partnership with the Freedom Fund and The Khana Group, the evaluation assessed three intervention prototypes implemented by grassroots civil society organisations between November 2023 and October 2024. The findings draw on qualitative research, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 30 child domestic workers, employers and caregivers, community members, religious leaders and implementing partner staff.
Findings from the evaluation revealed that:
- Awareness-raising–driven by community dialogues, media campaigns and mobilisation of local influencers–helped shift knowledge and attitudes among employers/caregivers, local leaders and community members.
- Leveraging existing social infrastructure, including places of worship, schools and marketplaces, proved especially effective for gaining trust and encouraging participation.
- Implementing partners built relationships with child protection authorities and contributed to policy dialogues and advocacy efforts focused on legislative and regulatory reform.
- While further time and sustained investment are essential to fully embed protections for CDWs within national policy frameworks, these initial efforts established a crucial foundation for future system-level change.
Based on these findings, the evaluation highlights several priority actions for strengthening future efforts to address exploitative child domestic work. For service providers working directly with communities, the study recommends investing in mass awareness through trusted platforms, alongside crafting participatory, culturally sensitive messaging rooted in local realities.
It also recommends integrating CDW–specific content into existing child protection programmes, complementing awareness efforts with creative, community-based and emergency support mechanisms and investing early in trust-building approaches that prioritise constructive engagement over enforcement in initial phases. At the policy and systems level, the evaluation recommends that policymakers strengthen legal and budgetary frameworks, expand training for frontline actors and increase funding for protection and psychosocial support services for CDWs experiencing severe abuse.
Finally, the study recommends that future pilots and research initiatives allow for longer implementation timeframes, set realistic expectations for short-term change, align programme design with system capacity and plan early for sustainability and responsible exit.
