Ensuring the protection of children in the MENA region
The regional protection focus concerns mainly the establishment of national child protection (NCP) systems in the three countries of operation.
The overall goal of the programme is to ensure the protection of all children in the MENA region from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence in all settings and conditions, including emergencies.
More specifically, it seeks to ensure that NCP systems are in place and functional, accessible and applicable to all children in Yemen, Lebanon and oPt in all situations and, on the longer-run, that such systems are initiated in one to two more countries of the region. The different components of such a system will be developed in close coordination with relevant actors, ensuring the participation of children and including measures that will target marginalised and disadvantaged children.
SCS will work on establishing bridges between the countries targeted in order to facilitate exchanges and best practices in this area. The opportunities for such exchanges and synergies are many and include a common language, similar issues, in particular regarding children living in vulnerable situations, and the relationships that SCS has established and developed with both, government and civil society actors in the three countries, with exchanges already initiated between these countries.
Save the Children Sweden added value
The added value components include CRP mainstreaming, activities seeking to strengthen the capacities of partners in technical knowledge, tools and approaches on child protection and ensuring the adoption of child protection policies and protocols. In addition, in the countries of operation and during emergencies, community-based protection networks will be developed. These networks will then serve either as an inspiration for national protection systems or be integrated therein. SCS also seeks to strengthen coordination, including sharing of experiences and best practices, with both, partner organisations and Alliance members.
Approaches
There will be an increased focus on strengthening the capacities of partners and other relevant stakeholders to build a critical mass of competence that will enable SCS and its partners, as a strong network for the rights of the child in the MENA region and globally, to advocate more efficiently for and with children.
Research will be ensured through building the capacity of partner organisations in sound research methods and the collection and analysis of disaggregated data, and advocating for governments to collect and disseminate reliable data on the situation of children.
All of the regional components will focus on coordination and supporting the establishment and/or fostering networks for the rights of the child. These forums will be used to exchange lessons learned and best practices, but also to initiate and further develop cross-country programmes and projects.
The focus on advocacy is a main element. This concerns building the capacities of partner organisations in different advocacy methodologies and developing advocacy plans in coordination with various actors, of which partners, networks and Alliance members.