Protecting

children in
conflicts
and crises
MARCH 2018 - MAY 2019

1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Globally, one billion children aged between 2 and 17 are estimated to experience some form of violence
every year. That’s half of all children worldwide. To address this preventable crisis, in 2015 world leaders
committed to end violence against children as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Less
than a year later, the UN Secretary-General launched the Global Partnership to End Violence Against
Children, and an associated Fund, to accelerate progress towards a world in which every child can grow
up safe and secure.

In mid-2017 and early 2018, the End Violence Fund committed $24 million to support 31 organisations
working around the globe to prevent and end online child sexual exploitation and abuse. In March 2018, with
a generous contribution from the Government of Japan, it also began supporting 12 humanitarian projects
delivered by partners in Uganda and Nigeria. An estimated 5 million children are in dire need of humanitarian
assistance in north-eastern Nigeria and Uganda. Caught or escaping conflict and living in crisis, these are
some of the world’s most vulnerable children, regularly subjected to extreme violence, and physical and
psychological trauma that often carries life-long consequences. Their experiences range from involvement
in active combat and subsequent injury and death, to the loss of or separation from family, or the more
commonplace disruption and insecurity presented by war and displacement.1

In just over a year,2 these 12 humanitarian partners have reported significant progress: They have helped
strengthen existing child protection systems at sub-national and national levels; created safer and child-
centred learning environments; and provided holistic and comprehensive services, including reintegration
of children formerly associated with armed groups, psychosocial support and mental health counseling,
vocational and life skills training, income generation, case management services, and awareness-raising,
including mine risk education. Key achievements from these interventions include: 1,911 children released
from armed groups, almost 70,800 children and caregivers receiving psychosocial support and counseling,
nearly 4,800 young people and caregivers receiving vocational skills training, 2,585 of whom began their
own business, over 696,000 community members being sensitized to child rights and protection and over
42,600 children and caregivers receiving mine risk education. All interventions are informed by INSPIRE:3
Seven Strategies for Ending Violence Against Children to prevent and respond to violence against children.

While the projects have made significant advances in creating environments that are free from violence,
partners have also learned important lessons that will helpfully inform future humanitarian programming. These
include: the importance of engaging local stakeholders early to maximize support, the need for alternative
plans to cater for unexpected situations, and the localization of programming efforts, especially in training and
awareness-raising materials. The use of technology for innovative programming should also be explored in
future humanitarian projects.

In keeping with its remit to grow demand, mobilize resources and equip practitioners to collectively achieve
SDG target 16.2 by 2030, the End Violence Secretariat4 will maximize opportunities to disseminate these
findings and experiences.
1
OCHA, North-East Nigeria Humanitarian Situation Update, July 2018. UNHCR Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan, April 2018.
2
The actual implementation period is from April 2018 to May 2019; whereas the period of the grant awarded by the Government of Japan is from March 2018 to September 2019.
3
The INSPIRE strategies are a set of seven evidence-based measures that have shown results in ending violence against children and are endorsed by 10 leading organizations, namely WHO, CDC,
GPEVAC, PAHO/WHO, PEPFAR, Together for girls, UNICEF UNODC, USAID, and the World Bank. http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/inspire/en/
4
For more information about the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children: http://www.end-violence.org/

2
RESULTS FOR CHILDREN IN
UGANDA AND NIGERIA
Building on the first phase of the project, the 12 humanitarian partners enhanced their programming by
applying lessons learned. As a result, caregivers and community members were involved in interventions as
and when appropriate, and a proactive effort was made to get local buy-in to create a sense of ownership.
A multi-sectoral approach was also taken by many of the partners, looping in education or early recovery
and livelihoods, for instance, to maximize impact. More emphasis was also put on building the capacity of
volunteer community members to enable them to conduct knowledge-sharing and awareness-raising activities
to tackle violence against children in their own communities.

©Street Child/Nigeria
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS AT MID-TERM AND FINAL PHASES
MID TERM5 FINAL
INTERVENTIONS MALE FEMALE TOTAL MALE FEMALE TOTAL

Psychosocial support and mental

health therapy 19,070 16,185 32,255 36,963 33,820 70,783
Life skills training 6,032 6,368 12,400 13,755 13,891 27,646
Vocational training and income
generation activities 643 2,309 2,952 1,253 3,543 4,796

Positive parenting skills training 1,786 3,884 5,670 3,433 7,835 11,268

Capacity building of local actors 770 763 1,533 3,319 2,752 6,071

Case management services 7,926 6,726 14,652 17,972 19,946 37,918

Awareness raising activities on
children’s rights and protection issues 318,786 321,929 640,715 340,722 355,506 696,228

Release of children formerly

associated with armed groups 908 147 1,055 1,613 298 1,911

Mine risk education 8,586 8,610 17,196 21,323 21,342 42,665

5
Some data have been corrected after the mid-term review.

3
Terre des Hommes (TdH): Almost 4,500
children and caregivers (54% female)
were equipped with stress management
Mine Advisory Group (MAG): Mine
skills, while awareness-raising activities
Niger risk education was delivered to over
for 19,700 community members were
42,000 children, 50% girls, as well as
conducted by 50 Community-Based
565 adults, resulting in heightened
Child Protection Focal Points to promote
awareness. The Remote Contamination
a safer community environment.
Baseline Assessment methodology was
piloted to create a contamination map.
UNICEF Nigeria (UNICEF-N): 408 out
of 1,911 children formally released from Nigeria
armed groups, including 298 girls, International Rescue Committee (IRC):
received specialized services and over 2,000 children, 48% girls, received
Abuja individualized social services support
22,000 community members were
prepared for reintegration through through the use of a case management
awareness-raising sessions. A referral system, while over 6,200 community
mechanism has been established members learned children’s rights,
with ICRC, the Government of Nigeria, community-specific protection
and UN Humanitarian Air Service for Cameroon concerns, and contingency plans for
interstate/international family tracing future security threats to enhance
and reunification processes. community safety. A free telephone
line has been established for any
community feedback.
Street Child (SC): 510 caregivers (82%
female) sustained regular income after
completing vocational skills training, Lutheran World Federation (LWF):
while over 14,866 children (53% Children performed drama, music and
girls), including 50 children formerly dance linked to the topic of child abuse,
associated with armed groups, neglect and early marriage at four
received stress management and life pledging events, reaching nearly 7,800
skills training. A referral and response people. 20 schools were supported
mechanism has been established for with a child-friendly approach and
smoother interventions. referral mechanisms. A complaints
and response mechanism has been
established for anonymous reporting.

World Vision International (WVI): 750

UNHCR: Nearly 11,000 children, 49%
adolescents, including 465 teenage
girls, received Best Interest Assessments
mothers, started small businesses
South Sudan and subsequent individualized social
in mechanics, catering, tailoring,
services support through a strengthened
hairdressing and carpentry after
case management system. A new
completing training. These adolescents
reporting platform, Activity Info, has
continue to be supported with starter kits
been established for improved data
and support groups to share experiences
management.
and good practices. A free telephone
Uganda
helpline has been established for
confidential reporting. Democratic UNICEF Uganda (UNICEF-U): A
Republic
of Congo Government of Uganda child protection
coordination mechanism has been
Transcultural Psychosocial
strengthened with clear roles and
Organization (TPO): Over 16,250
responsibilities of the government and
children, 40% girls, improved their ability
Kenya service providers at sub-country, district,
to manage stress and trauma, including Kampala and national levels. This mechanism
1,800 children who received advanced
continues its efforts in unifying tools
therapeutic support. Almost 5,300
and referral mechanisms for quality
parents completed positive parenting
and timely case management service
skills training sessions to create a
provision.
positive home environment.

Association for Volunteers in

Save the Children (SCN): Almost 4,000
International Service (AVSI): Almost
children, 45% girls, were individually
16,000 children, 57% girls, were
followed-up by case workers for their
identified for birth registration including
specific needs, while over 10,000
7,752 children who received a birth
community members actively discussed
registration card. Seven schools were
issues and solutions related to violence
supported through the implementation
against children. A free telephone line
of the internationally recognized
has been established for any complaints
Good School Toolkit for child-friendly
or feedback.
schooling.

4
MEASURING RESULTS AGAINST
THE INSPIRE STRATEGIES
Children living in conflict and crisis face multilayered risks and challenges. To address children’s complex
needs, the 12 projects adopted comprehensive and multi-sectoral approaches based on the seven INSPIRE
strategies to end violence against children, which include: Implementation and enforcement of laws,
Norms and values, Safe environments, Parent and caregiver support, Income and economic strengthening,
Response and support services, and Education and life skills.

Implementation and enforcement of laws

UNICEF Nigeria, together with the government, released 1,911 children, including 298 girls, from
armed groups as the implementation of the Nigerian Bill (2003) to protect the Rights of Nigerian
children. Enforcement of the 2016 amended Ugandan Children Act was ensured through AVSI’s
successful negotiation for the birth certificate issuance for over 7,700 children and supported
additional 8,200 children for the eligibility of their birth registration. With the leadership of UNHCR
and UNICEF Uganda, the child protection coordination mechanisms have been strengthened with
a unified tools and referral mechanism in collaboration with the Government of Uganda at district,
sub-national, and national levels.

Norms and values

Awareness raising messages reached nearly 696,000 people on the importance of protecting
children and the roles they might play in creating violence-free environments. In addition, over
18,000 children, caregivers, and community members actively participated in community dialogues
to discuss their concerns and solutions.
IRC, SC, TdH, UNICEF-N, AVSI, LWF, SCN, TPO, WVI

Safe environments
Information on the risks posed by mines reached 42,100 children and 565 adults who recently went
or returned to areas with explosive remnants of war so that they can identify unusual unexploded
devices. Over 1,600 community volunteers have been trained to form community-based Child
Protection Committees charged with identifying cases, mitigating risks of violence against children,
and facilitating access to services in collaboration with local authorities.
IRC, MAG, SC, TdH, LWF, SCN, TPO, WVI

Parent and caregiver support

More than 11,200 caregivers completed a positive discipline course which resulted in noticeable
behavioral changes beneficial to children. Over 2,330 caregivers have been identified and trained
to foster children who cannot stay with their biological parents.
IRC, SC, UNICEF-N, AVSI, LWF, SCN, TPO

Income and economic strengthening

More than 2,200 young girls and children who take care of their siblings learned employability skills
and are working in small businesses to gain a sustainable income. With existing or newly learned
skills, 2,585 young adults embarked on income generation activities and finance management to
allow for savings.
SC, UNICEF-N, LWF, TPO, WVI

5
 Response and support services
Nearly 70,800 children, adolescents, and caregivers received psychosocial support and tailored
counseling, relieving the stress of their difficult living conditions. Individual needs were assessed for
over 28,700 children who were linked with specific services, including family reunification through
the case management system.
IRC, SC, TdH, UNICEF-N, AVSI, LWF, SCN, TPO, UNHCR, WVI

Education and life skills

Over 27,500 adolescents completed life skills sessions to help them better manage their daily lives
and emotions, while over 7,600 children under 5 participated in early childhood education.
37 schools in Uganda implemented the child-friendly approach including 30 Child Rights clubs in
schools and 7 schools with the “Good School Toolkit”.
SC, TdH, AVSI, LWF, SCN, WVI

CHALLENGES AND LEARNINGS

The implementation of 12 humanitarian projects resulted in learnings and highlighted opportunities to improve
the impact of the Fund’s investments, including:

A. Early and sustained engagement with local stakeholders

Child and youth participation

All projects are designed in an age-appropriate way. However, some activities could be more creative and
engaging by involving adolescents and youth in activity design, planning, and implementation.

Community co-design and participation

Humanitarian projects are often perceived as foreign or an added burden on communities which can lead
to a lack of interest and participation in interventions. It is crucial to involve community leaders in needs
assessment, gap analysis, project design, and planning prior to implementation. Communities’ active
involvement in planning can also help to set realistic targets and avoid unnecessary delays in project
implementation due to seasonal farming and schooling schedules. Meaningful engagement can also build
a sense of ownership and sustainability.

Government co-design and engagement

Government officials are usually in agreement with projects in principle. However, partners witness more
proactive cooperation when they are involved in the design and planning stages of the projects. This
increases their understanding of projects and helps them advocate for accelerated internal administrative
processes and legal intervention when needed.

B. Contingency planning for unexpected situations

In conflict and crisis, security situations can change rapidly, and people may move from place to place
unexpectedly. Several partners faced implementation difficulties due to inaccessible roads caused by
insecurity or extremely heavy rain. However, in some cases, children could continue participating in
project activities because trained community members conducted them with remote technical support
from partners. This reinforces the importance of contingency plans in unpredictable contexts.

6
C. Localized training and materials
When communities are learning about new concepts and unfamiliar norms, extra time and effort is
required. When working with different cultures, and traditional practices, extra attention is needed to
ensure learning materials are culturally and linguistically adapted to suit the community in question.
It is standard practice to contextualize materials, but real success is seen when contextualization is
increasingly localized to the community, especially in refugee settlements in Uganda where host and
refugee communities merge.

PEER-TO-PEER PROVIDING SAFETY FOR

APPROACH UNACCOMPANIED
Since the 2016 insurgency in South Sudan, CHILDREN
children continue to face serious protection
At just 16 years of age, James – like thousands
issues, including child neglect, sexual
of other child refugees – arrived in Matanda
exploitation, and early or forced marriage, to
Transit Camp alone. Months passed, but James
name but a few. A lack of community awareness
continued to remain in isolation. He refused to
and engagement within the refugee settlement
speak, and distanced himself from everyone
and wider host communities also means child-
around him, often hiding out in places no one
headed families, child mothers, rape and school
could find him.
drop-outs are all too common.
A case worker tried for three days to get James
To ensure these grave issues are prevented or
to open up. Finally, he told his story: rebel
responded to, LWF has trained and supported
groups had come to his village to recruit him
180 out-of-school adolescents to develop peer-
and other young boys, forcing them to join their
to-peer mentoring and counselling, arming
ranks in whatever way they saw fit. Children
them with the skills and knowledge to assist
captured and recruited by armed groups are
fellow youths within their communities.
often turned into soldiers, domestic servants or
After the training, these adolescents represent sex slaves, all of which cause immense physical
their fellow youth in community dialogue. They and psychological harm. Terrified, James
also conduct community outreach where they jumped on a bus to Uganda.
learn of the issues their fellow youth are facing.
The case worker helped James recover from
In both instances, they ensure that cases of
his experiences and reassured him of his safety
abuse and exploitation within the communities
– and protection – in the refugee camp. He
are identified and reported to the authorities,
gave James warm clothes and clean shoes, and
drawing on the existing child protection
gradually, helped him feel comfortable enough
reporting pathways or the free reporting
to speak with his peers. James was recently
helplines available.
relocated to another camp to be reunited with
Nancy,* age 15, is one of many who benefitted his mother – but before he left, he was spotted
from this programme. Nancy fled her home playing with new friends in a child-friendly
when violence broke out in her community. space.
She resettled in a Ugandan refugee camp,
and soon after, was targeted by a shopkeeper
who lived down the road. The shopkeeper
sexually exploited Nancy until she met a peer
educator, who connected her with counselling
and psychosocial support services, helping her * names have been changed for privacy
rebuild her life.

7
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE
HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMMING
Taking account of programme successes, the following considerations are recommended for the future:

A. Multi-sectoral programming
Ten out of 12 projects provided education and/or livelihood services in addition to traditional child
protection in emergencies services, such as psychosocial support and case management services. It is
vital to address the complex needs of children through a joined-up approach. Overall, children are better
protected from violence when caregivers can meet their basic needs for food, shelter, medical care and
education. Considering a child as a whole means addressing their various needs, including protection,
health, hygiene, education, self-reliance and employability, and personal development. Establishing
normalcy in a child’s wider environment such as at home, school, in their community, as well as having
supportive social welfare and justice systems when needed, can enhance the impact of an intervention.
Humanitarian projects that are designed with a multi-sectoral approach are more effective, close and
strong coordination and collaboration among relevant actors is key.

B. Sustainability through building local capacities

In line with the importance of local stakeholders’ involvement, their capacity building should be one of the
main focuses of any humanitarian project. This focus can allow local actors to continue efforts initiated by
projects when communities are dispersed by unforeseen insurgencies or natural disasters. Local capacity
building can involve changing minds and traditional belief systems and can therefore take time. Having a
mid-term roadmap can serve as one of the risk mitigation measures for future emergency situations. This
should include capacity building opportunities and a link between sub-national and national level efforts in
strengthening nationwide child protection systems from the beginning of the project. A one-off training or
awareness raising session is neither sufficient nor effective for behavior change. As building local capacity
requires some time to make a sustainable impact, It is strongly recommended that humanitarian projects
last longer than one year, which is the norm.

C. Technology and innovation

Although all 12 projects contributed to the strengthening of an existing child protection systems in both
Uganda and Nigeria, further improvements can be made through the use of technology. For example, a
free open-source application, called Kobo Toolbox, is used for accurate and systematic data collection
and analysis in remote areas with smartphones and tablets. When the data is linked with government-
led child protection interventions, response and prevention can be much more timely and effective.
Collecting this data can also help generate evidence on what works. In addition, humanitarian projects
need to be innovative in implementing specific activities, in encouraging the power of young people,
and in using computers and smartphones, especially in locations facing prolonged displacement.
Older children can be creative in developing simple computer games which help younger children gain
awareness, such as on the dangers of landmines. These older children can also be mentors to younger
children in creating artistic materials and lead awareness raising activities, for example. It could also be
beneficial to explore the use of existing and new technologies, such as virtual reality to address trauma
among children, adolescents and communities.

8
CONCLUSION
While the projects discussed in this report focused on the conflict and crisis context, children face violence
everywhere, including in schools and in digital and online environments. During project implemention, it
became clear that prevention and response efforts to end violence against children in different thematic
contexts often overlap, and good practice examples can be identified and shared among implementing
partners. Recognizing this, the Fund supports partners to strengthen the child protection system in Uganda
through its interventions in humanitarian and online contexts. Meanwhile, most of the humanitarian projects
were implemented in or near schools to bolster safer learning environments in Uganda. Through its
investments to prevent violence against children in humanitarian, online and school contexts, End Violence is
in a unique position to identify commonalities and best practices across these distinct fields.

© TPO/Uganda

End Violence is grateful to all partners who have contributed to

our work towards ending violence against children. End Violence
extends particular thanks to the Government of Japan for enabling
the Fund to launch projects in conflict and crisis contexts.
The Government of Japan is also a valued member of the End
Violence Board and a Pathfinding country, committed to creating
a safer world through ending all forms of violence against children.

For more information, please contact

Sally Burnheim, Deputy Director sally.burnheim@end-violence.org
Ayako Kaino, Partnerships ayako.kaino@end-violence.org

Website: www.end-violence.org/fund
Twitter: @GPtoEndViolence

9
info@end-violence.org @GPtoEndViolence
fund@end-violence.org @GPtoEndViolence
secretariat@end-violence.org @GPtoEndViolence

www.end-violence.org Cover image: ©AVSI/Uganda

10