Strengthening an effective Child Protection System to improve the Rights and Well- being of Children Without Appropriate Care - the Ethiopian case Ibrahim Sesay UNICEF Ethiopia 4 th Forum on the ACRWC March 18, 2011

The structure of this presentation What is a child protection system? Why a child protection system approach to improve Rights and Well-being of Children without appropriate care ? Practical approaches to establishing and strengthening an effective child protection system to improve Rights and Well-being of Children without appropriate care - the Ethiopian Case

Global shift to systems approach UNICEF World Bank Save the Children (new concept paper) U.S. Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (2011) Social Welfare Workforce Strengthening Alliance (2010/2011) Bilateral aid agencies/foundations

The problem in a nutshell Lack of visibility of children in need of protection Poor coordination and human resource capacity Very limited resources allocated to child protection Vertical programming/separate silos ▫ Street and working children, abused children, trafficked children on the move, child headed families, child marriage, children in institutions, ICA, abandoned children, displaced children, CCWL, CIE, etc.

Data management for evidence-based policy and programming Legal frameworks, regulations and CP policies and enforcement mechanisms/weak Lack of sustainability/aid dependence Participation of children and families The problem in a nutshell

STRENGTHENING NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEMS Where are we coming from…..  Projects – focus a collection activities  Focus on categories of children – vertical approached - rescue- charity and thumb-suck criteria  Short term planning – 1-2 year project cycles  Large investment in NGOs, little investment in state structures – poor coordination between actors-fragmented programming Where are we going…  Programmes – focus on systems building  Focus on all vulnerable children – not just categories – move toward horizontal programming and value based  Long term planning – 5 to 10 year vision  Increased investment in building GOE’s capacity to fulfill their role as duty bearers

What is a child protection system? A child protection system is a series of components (e.g. laws, policies, regulations, services) organised around the goal of preventing and responding to protection risks Child protection system is a comprehensive approach to the protection of children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence and to the fulfillment of children’s rights to protection.

CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM

Systems approach: the benefits  Holistic approach Links and promotes integration with other systems  Increased visibility of child protection Within development agenda As a system in its own right  Improved coordination, performance, efficiency National/sub-national and community… Government, partners, civil society/NGOs…  Sustainable programmes that are nationally owned

 Better use of limited resources  To ensure universal and equitable protection for all children, especially the most vulnerable  To promote and enforce good practice standards in the care and protection of children and give children reliable access to care and protection when needed Systems approach: the benefits

Some elements of a Child Protection System FunctionsStructuresCapacitiesProcesses GovernanceMinistry/agenciesHuman ResourcePromotion FinancingNGOsInfrastructurePrevention Rights to careCommunitiesFinancialResponse StandardsSocialServicesFollow up care Legal and policy framework incl. (customary) ResearchData collection and management Enforcement

CP Systems Mapping Toolkit - Moving Forward  Map what exists  Review (assess) the system to see what needs to be improved  Identify priority changes that are needed  Determine their costs  Build consensus around the most important changes needed  Find the funding needed to implement change  Implement, monitor and evaluate

 Improve system organization and coordination, with clearly defined roles, responsibilities and accountabilities;  coordination mechanisms across government with civil society and between sectors at different levels with a framework for reporting and referral CP issues  Improve CP data and information for decision-making;  A national child protection data collection system developed (work in progress) to ensure regular information on both preventive and noteworthy practices  Adequate resource allocation, well coordinated, and efficiently utilized to support child protection – a sustainable community based continuum of care Key current Actions and What we Envision in Ethiopia……a CP systems approach.

 Develop mechanisms for the training of a skilled and committed social work force Work in progress to have a defined 8,000 social work/social welfare work force which addresses population ratio in selected woredas and sub-woreda level  Improve public awareness and engagement to prevent harm to children and respond to CP issues  Alternative care services and responses are effective regulated, including through accreditation of care providers, enforce minimum standards of care Key current Actions and What we Envision in Ethiopia……a CP systems approach.

 Support and strengthen the role of families and communities in the area of (social welfare and) protection of all vulnerable children Key current Actions and What we Envision in Ethiopia……a CP systems approach.

▫ EVERY CHILD ▫ MUST ALWAYS WEAR A SM ! LE

Thank You