The PPIC Work project applies a gender-sensitive, rights-based approach to improve the working conditions and learning opportunities of girls and boys who work in micro and small enterprises in Egypt. By working with and through micro finance institutions, the PPIC-Work project seeks to establish self financing programs that build on micro finance best practice principles and will be able to serve the interests of large numbers of working children over the long term.

In collaboration with working children themselves, their families and business owners PPIC-Work has developed a series of intervention tools that improve the working conditions and learning opportunities of working children. Initial experience that was first developed by EACID in Aswan is now being extended to CEOSS in Cairo and other areas of Egypt in collaboration with ESMA, the lead networking agency in micro finance in Egypt.

The Population Council is investigating the gender aspects of hazards related to children’s work and will assist the PPIC-Work project in ensuring that the gender differences related to the work of girls and boys are adequately addressed through PPIC-Work. In addition, a series of surveys and studies are also being carried out with the Egyptian government (the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the Ministry of International Cooperation) to collect and analyze data for policy development related to children’s work and to engage in national and international discussions concerning children and work issues.