Baseline survey on child labour in cotton growing areas in Burkina Faso The main objective of the proposed research is to obtain a baseline understanding of the factors, causes and variables contributing towards the use of child labour in the cotton production and the socio-economic and labour market variables and conditions facing families and communities engaged in the cotton sector. To the extent possible, the research shall address the issues of use of child labour in the value chains of the cotton production. The proposed baseline survey is expected to provide information for the SOFITEX cotton zone to enable both (i) estimation of the prevalence of ‘child labour’ and ‘children in economic activity’, especially in cotton farming, cotton processing units, and other main sectors of economic activity for children living in this zone; and (ii) detailed profile of characteristics of children and their families. Objectives of the proposed data collection through a baseline survey The main objective of the proposed research is to obtain a baseline understanding of the factors, causes and variables contributing towards the use of child labour in the cotton production and the socio-economic and labour market variables and conditions facing families and communities engaged in the cotton sector. To the extent possible, the research shall address the issues of use of child labour in the value chains of the cotton production. The proposed baseline survey is expected to provide information for the SOFITEX cotton zone to enable both (i) estimation of the prevalence of ‘child labour’ and ‘children in economic activity’, especially in cotton farming, cotton processing units, and other main sectors of economic activity for children living in this zone; and (ii) detailed profile of characteristics of children and their families. The specific objectives of the baseline survey are: 1. To compile a literature review on the use of child labour in the targeted geographical area, with a particular focus on cotton farming, cotton processing units and other main sectors of economic activity for children (Collection of background information); 2. To assess and rank communities that constitute “child labour pockets” (areas with the highest concentration of target population) (Mapping exercise); 3. To provide (to the extent possible) estimates of the magnitude of ‘child labour’ and ‘children in economic activity’ in cotton farming, cotton processing units and other main sectors of economic activity for children (estimation); 4. A description of child labourers in the surveyed area, their residential characteristics, economic background and educational levels; a detailed description of the kinds of work boys and girls perform, and the conditions under which children are engaged and workplace environment (including work intensity measured by weekly hours of engagement in this work, conditions at the workplace); seasonality in the work, if any; the hazards to children’s health at the workplace (in terms of work-related illnesses, injuries and accidents); abuse, if any, encountered at workplace; the rates and patterns of remuneration; the process of recruitment of working child, among others (Profiling of child labourers and their families); 5. Assessment of the access to education, health care, and other state-provided social services for working children and their families, and identify the relationship between work and existing alternatives (Profile of services accessible by the target population);