Child Protection (CP) focuses on the identification of children with protection concerns especially those in need of family tracing and reunification. Once identified, the vulnerable children are referred to the CP sub-cluster coordinating agency, who shares the list with other partners for tracing after which reunification of the children with their parents is done. The programme also has a psychosocial support component whereby children are engaged in activities that promote their social, cognitive, learning and ability to cope with impacts of disaster or conflict. The activities are done in Child-Friendly Spaces or in school-based child help desks.
The program has been operational in Jiech-Ayod county of Jonglei State and Mandeng- Nasir County of Upper Nile State from 2015 up to date.
Program achievements
The project has managed to do temporary care monitoring of the wellbeing of unaccompanied and separated children; psychosocial activities for children at child help desks; training of staff, foster parents, and community-based child protection networks, adolescents and teachers.
Rationale
The children in all locations that ADA is working are prone to numerous forms of abuse including recruitment into armed groups, gender-based violence, neglect, early marriage, abduction, child labour, violence and exploitation among others. Many children are reported to be out of school due to conflict, they lack safe environment for play/socialization; learning; adequate parental care; and are particularly vulnerable to different forms of violence and psychological traumatic disorders, which can often have lifelong effects. They are in need of protection, care, education, urgent family tracing & reunification, and psychosocial support services.
Strategic Objectives
- To protect children from IDPs, returnees and host community from all forms of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation through case management, family tracing and reunification, and psychosocial support services in all project locations
- To respond to critical educational needs of IDPs, returnees and host community children through provision of safe and quality learning environment in all project locations.
- To mainstream cross-cutting initiatives applicable as to address the root causes and reinforce behaviour change.
