This article explores the co-design process employed by Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) in developing three thematic programmes to address child exploitation for its Listen Up! Strategy (2023–2030). It highlights the integration of diverse knowledge sources, including insights from existing research, children, staff, local partners, and experts, to create effective thematic programmes targeting sexual exploitation, child labour, and exploitation in humanitarian settings. This process begins with a situational analysis, reviewing the literature to establish a global understanding of child exploitation, its prevalence, and effective interventions. After this stage, co-creation sessions were held with 138 children across 12 countries. In these sessions, children engaged with word cloud exercises, storytelling, problem tree analysis, and intervention evaluation. These exercises were also used on co-creation sessions with 166 staff and partners in 14 countries, adding on a stakeholder and power analysis. The culmination of the information gathered was an integration workshop where draft Theories of Change were developed. The paper demonstrates how participatory methods were used to gather insights and shape interventions. This process emphasizes the value of combining academic research with the lived experiences of those directly affected by exploitation, revealing key factors that are often overlooked in conventional research. By documenting and sharing this process, TdH NL provides a framework for future initiatives, ensuring that thematic programs are relevant, comprehensive, and rooted in the realities of affected communities. The article underscores the importance of ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders to develop context-specific strategies for preventing and responding to child exploitation.
