ACRI launches community fund for Almajiris, other vulnerable children

The Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI) has launched a Community Children Fund for Almajiris and other vulnerable children across the country and the West African region.

The launch, held at the SOAS University of London on Monday, was part of the Advancing Africa Agenda 2040 for Children series, aimed at addressing the systemic challenges faced by millions of vulnerable children in the West African region.

The CCF will, among other things, address the funding gap by providing holistic and coherent support for street-connected and vulnerable children, especially those in rural communities, as well as provide a lifeline for vulnerable children, driving progress toward achieving Africa’s Agenda 2040 and the UN SDGs.

The Team Lead of ACRI, Sabo Keana, in a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, stated that building on ACRI’s historic advocacy for Almajiri children, the CCF expands its scope to address broader vulnerabilities, ensuring no child is left behind.

He said, “The Community Children Fund represents more than just financial support; it is a call to action for all stakeholders to join hands in creating systems that ensure every child, regardless of their circumstances, is visible, valued, and supported. Vulnerable children need more than charity—they need sustainable opportunities to thrive.”

He said that the Fund will focus on expanding access to education through scholarships, inclusive programs, and advocacy for marginalised children, as well as providing healthcare support for street-connected children and those in underserved communities.

He added that the fund will also strengthen family systems with economic and emotional support to reduce the vulnerabilities that drive children into unsafe environments.

Keana said the cornerstone of the initiative is the development of a nationwide Child Rights Index, designed to improve data visibility and enhance policy development for children by shining a spotlight on the challenges faced by vulnerable children.

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He said that the index will also drive evidence-based policymaking and foster accountability among stakeholders.

The statement said the event also unveiled plans for a Five-Day Activism Campaign in June, coinciding with National Children’s Day and the Day of the African Child. The campaign will feature advocacy walks, policy dialogues, and grassroots community engagement to amplify the voices of children and mobilise support for the CCF’s mission.

The African Union Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed, in her remarks, described the CCF as a critical intervention aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2040 aspirations.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women and Child Development, Hon. Imaan Sulieman Ibrahim, hailed the initiative as a transformative step toward empowering children and building sustainable systems to address their needs.

Ms. Marina Ponti, Global Director of the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, stressed the importance of international collaboration and highlighted the CCF’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urging the global community to rally behind this cause.

Other prominent speakers included Felix Holman, CEO of the Consortium for Street Children, Frank Nweke Jnr., a renowned advocate for social development, and Ross Kate, Senior Education Adviser at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Together, they underscored the urgent need for innovative approaches to child welfare and called for collective action to support the CCF’s mission.