Empowering Save the Children to turn data into credible advocacy
Save the Children International is the world’s largest independent children’s rights organization, reaching more than 113 million children across 113 countries in 2024 alone. In addition to life-saving programs, Save the Children advocates alongside governments and international organizations for keeping children’s rights on the political agenda. To ensure its advocacy resonates in crowded policy and media environments, the organization relies on credible, widely trusted evidence.
ACLED, as a leading provider of global conflict data, is a critical source for crafting evidence-based and compelling advocacy campaigns.
Challenge
Aid agencies often face the challenge of making sure their stories, which draw attention to crises, and advocacy messages are both heard and trusted in an environment filled with competing narratives and, at times, misinformation. To gain traction with policymakers, donors, and media, messages need to be grounded in evidence that is broadly recognized as credible. For Save the Children, this is especially important, as they represent the voices of children in conflict zones. Thus, accuracy is vital. Reliable data help ensure advocacy efforts can move beyond raising concerns to building influence and driving meaningful action.
Solution
To meet this need, Save the Children’s Global Media Team uses ACLED’s rigorously collected conflict data — a trusted and familiar source among key stakeholders, including governments, media, and humanitarian actors. Campaigns built on this foundation have had a tangible impact: In Mozambique, ACLED data helped highlight the scale of child abductions and secure donor support, while in Sudan, exposure estimates drove global media coverage of children caught in conflict, including in outlets such as Al Jazeera and the New Humanitarian.
Why does Save the Children choose ACLED data?
- ACLED’s global dataset, covering over 240 countries and territories, includes civilian-related variables, such as:
- A label for events where civilians were specifically attacked, sexually abused, or abducted, called “violence against civilians.”
- A broader civilian targeting category that indicates whether civilians were the main or only target in any event.
- Data on the number of civilians killed as a result of political violence and those exposed to political violence and protest.
- ACLED provides access to intelligent and robust data science tools, including the Conflict Exposure Calculator.
- ACLED’s extensive library of analytical content (over 300 publications annually) contextualizes and interprets the ACLED dataset, including monthly regional updates, country/thematic reports, and actor profiles.
- ACLED’s conservative methodological approach to collecting and coding data supports rigorous estimates of fatality figures.
Save the Children's press release on the millions of Sudanese children exposed to conflict was guided by ACLED’s then-new Conflict Exposure Calculator.
By combining ACLED event data with WorldPop population estimates, the tool translates conflict into tangible civilian impact, helping humanitarian teams anticipate needs, plan interventions, and highlight the urgent human toll of violence.
Impact
By grounding humanitarian storytelling and advocacy in ACLED’s trusted conflict data, organizations like Save the Children can ensure their messages resonate with policymakers, donors, and media outlets. Widely recognized and frequently cited, ACLED data empower advocacy groups to highlight urgent issues with authority, credibility, and tangible impact for affected communities.
What is your key challenge?
Speak to one of our specialists and find out how ACLED can support your data needs.
