Overview:

The SUCCESS initiative, launched by UNICEF, is a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving child development in Pakistan by uniting efforts across various domains such as child protection, social inclusion, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, health, education, and nutrition. This collaborative approach involves provincial authorities, teachers, healthcare professionals, frontline workers, social mobilizers, communities, families, and children and adolescents.

Key Achievements

Baseline Reporting and Mapping: AWF conducted extensive baseline reporting and mapping for 26 districts across Pakistan. This process included a secondary data review, mapping of service delivery platforms, and a baseline survey, combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques.

Stakeholder Engagement: The initiative successfully established collaboration and partnerships among a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring a holistic approach to child development.

Comprehensive Data Collection: Despite challenges, a comprehensive report was prepared, providing valuable insights into the current state of essential social services across the targeted districts.

Key Findings

Data Collection Challenges: The project faced challenges such as a lack of updated data sources for certain indicators, reliance on public departments for information, and household responses instead of scientific testing for components like water quality, anemia, and malnutrition.

Holistic Approach: The integration of various domains and the involvement of multiple stakeholders were crucial for addressing the complex interplay of factors influencing child development.

General Recommendations: The findings led to general recommendations for enhancing the SUCCESS strategy, ensuring more effective convergence and coverage of essential social services.

Takeaways

Importance of Collaboration: The SUCCESS initiative highlighted the significance of collaboration among different sectors and stakeholders to achieve comprehensive child development.

Data Limitations: Addressing data limitations and improving data collection methods are essential for the accurate assessment and enhancement of social services.

Sustainable Impact: Continued efforts and partnerships are vital for sustaining and scaling up the improvements in essential social services for children in Pakistan.

Conclusion

The SUCCESS initiative represents a significant step towards improving the well-being of children in Pakistan through a coordinated and collaborative approach. Despite facing challenges in data collection, the project has laid a strong foundation for future efforts aimed at scaling up essential social services and achieving sustainable impact.