This synthesis of six case studies studies the impact of the “landscape approach” and offers recommendations for its design and setup, as this approach – in theory – has the potential to support effective and sustainable action to prevent and address child labour.

Based on an operational definition of a “landscape approach” – an approach that aims to resolve issues by taking into account the interconnectivity and interaction of all stakeholders and layers within a certain geographical area, beyond the timeframe of the programme itself – the review identified six case studies that met most of these criteria in the context of small-holder farming in sub-Saharan Africa. The report provides a detailed overview of each of the six case studies, describing the set-up and management structure, funding, timeframe, objectives and results. 

Overall, the review found a lack of evidence on the impact of landscape approaches on child labour, making it difficult to determine their effectiveness in preventing and addressing child labour. Yet, despite the lack of evidence, in theory, landscape approaches may have the potential to support effective and sustainable action to prevent and address child labour and are likely to be increasingly used in the coming years as a means of coordinating the efforts of multiple stakeholders at a meaningful scale.  The report offers six recommendations for improving future landscape approaches when it comes to the design and setup of such programmes, including those to address child labour.