Nearly 49% of Children in Botswana Live in Multidimensional Poverty
417 million children in low- and middle-income countries are severely deprived in at least two vital areas critical for their health, development, and wellbeing, according to UNICEF’s flagship report issued on World Children’s Day today.
In Botswana, the situation is particularly concerning, with only 43% of children accessing reception class and many missing out on crucial early learning foundations. Children who miss out on early learning opportunities face significant disadvantages, including poor school readiness, lower literacy and numeracy skills, and a higher likelihood of repeating grades or dropping out of school. This lack of foundational education leads to long-term impacts such as reduced employment prospects, lower lifetime earnings, and increased vulnerability to poverty. Social assistance programmes also face challenges, with only 14% of the VGFP ration reaching intended recipients in 2019. Most notably, sanitation is the most widespread deprivation, with seven in ten children lacking access to improved facilities
“Countries like Botswana have made great investments in children and there is strong political will to address children’s issues. However, there are children who still face devastating consequences for their health, education and development,” said UNICEF Representative a.i to Botswana, Kimanzi Muthengi.
These deprivations compound one another, leaving children at a significant disadvantage even when their families are not classified as poor by monetary standards. This finding underscores the urgent need for integrated policies and programs that address the full spectrum of child well-being, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
The State of the World’s Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty – Our Shared Imperative shows that globally, 118 million children experience three or more deprivations, and 17 million face four or more deprivations. Sanitation is the most widespread severe deprivation, with 65 per cent of children lacking access to a toilet in low-income countries, 26 per cent in lower-middle income countries, and 11 per cent in upper-middle income countries. A lack of adequate sanitation can increase children’s exposure to diseases. Conflict, climate and environmental crises, demographic shifts, mounting national debt and widening technological divides are compounding poverty. At the same time, unprecedented cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) risk deepening child deprivation across low- and middle-income countries.
Poverty undermines children’s health, development, and learning – leading to weaker job prospects, shorter lifespans, and increased rates of depression and anxiety. The report highlights that the youngest children, those with disabilities, and those living in crises are particularly vulnerable.
The State of the World’s Children 2025 highlights that ending child poverty is achievable, and underscores the importance of centering child rights, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in all government strategies, policies and actions aimed at poverty reduction, by:
• Making ending child poverty a national priority.
Integrating children’s needs into economic policies and budgets.
• Providing social protection programmes, including cash support to families.
• Expanding access to essential public services, such as education, healthcare, water, sanitation, nutrition, and housing.
• Promoting decent work for parents and caregivers to strengthen their economic security, which is closely linked to children’s progress.
The report comes at a time when many governments around the world are scaling back foreign assistance. Cuts in development aid could result in the deaths of 4.5 million children under the age of 5 by 2030, according to The Lancet. At the same time, recent UNICEF estimates show the cuts could leave six million more children out of school by next year.
