'While the world agrees on the priority of achieving the SDGs, there is much too little known on the practicalities of how to do so, especially in challenging situations. This immensely valuable and rich collection is grounded in perspectives and experiences in a range of African countries. By exploring what has worked for children and what has not in education, nutrition and health, it is an invaluable guide to policies to improve children's lives and help them realize their potential.'Professor Frances Stewart, Development Economics, University of Oxford'Recent advances in the analysis of poverty highlight its complex and multidimensional nature. This insightful book applies innovative thinking and cutting-edge methodologies to the challenge of understanding and tackling child poverty in Africa. Contributions from countries across the continent shed fresh light on the precarious situation of African children, on violations of their rights, and on new approaches to addressing their unmet needs. This book is both sobering and uplifting. The contributors show us what needs to be done, but also what can be done, and how to do it.

'Stephen Devereux, Co-Director, Centre for Social Protection, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton, UK'Lawson's thirty years of experience and dedication in understanding and providing appropriate policy advice for extreme poverty and vulnerability in SSA, result in yet another enlightening volume of what works for Africa's poorest.'Susanna Gable, Chief Economist, SIDA'Reducing child poverty requires a broad variety of policies, based on a thorough analysis of the origins and causes of many different situations. Protection of children, addressing violations of their rights, meeting their basic needs and carving paths towards sustainable living conditions in a caring society demand multidisciplinary and comprehensive policies. General approaches which do not take into consideration the specific circumstances of children in different countries and regions and their different religious, cultural or ethnic backgrounds will not be effective. Family backgrounds matter. So do power relations within communities as well as different rural and urban living experiences. In this book wisdom gained in different African countries has been brought together. The volume combines new thinking with lessons learned in different fields, such as nutrition, health, sanitation and education.

It is a must read, both for students of poverty and development and as well as for politicians, policy makers, experts and field practitioners.'Jan Pronk, former Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation.