Reaching every child: The promise of equity >> Meeting the equity imperative child mortality. it argues that to meet the 2030 child survival target, we must urgently address persistent disparities in maternal health, the availability of skilled birth attendants, adequate nutrition and access to basic services, as well as other factors such as discrimination, exclusion and a lack of knowledge about child feeding and the role of safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene in preventing childhood disease. The discussion continues with a look at one of the most effective drivers of Child PoVerTY iS aBoUT More development and the greatest equalizer of opportunity: education. Without Than inCoMe. quality education, disadvantaged children are far more likely to be trapped as adults in low-skilled, poorly paid and insecure employment, preventing them from breaking intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. But a greater focus on early childhood development, on increasing education access and quality, and on providing education in emergencies will yield cascading benefits for both this generation and the next. having discussed two of the most glaring deprivations children face, this report then examines child poverty in all its dimensions – and the role social protection programmes play in reducing it. arguing that child poverty is about more than income, it presents a case for combining measures to reduce income poverty with integrated solutions to the many deprivations experienced by children living in poverty. finally, as a call to action, the report concludes with a set of principles to guide more equity-focused policy, planning and public spending. These broad principles include expanding information about who is being left behind and why; improving integration to tackle the multiple dimensions of deprivation; fostering and fuelling innovation to reach the hardest-to-reach children; increasing investment in equity-focused programmes; and driving involvement by communities and citizens around the world. Lunchtime at Kotingli Basic School, Northern Region, These principles are a guide more than a blueprint, but they can help shape Ghana. policy, frame priorities and inform the debate about the best way to deliver on the promise of the 2030 goals and secure a better future not only for the most © UNICEF/UN04350/Logan disadvantaged children, but for us all. The STaTe of The World’S Children 2016 6