research & studies

Survivor- and community-led crisis response: practical experience and learning

Published: 2021
Author: Justin Corbett, Nils Carstensen and Simone Di Vicenz for The Humanitarian Practice Network at ODI

“This Network Paper introduces and explains existing knowledge and experience with an emerging way of working in humanitarian programming. For now, we call this approach ‘survivor- and community-led crisis response’ or ‘sclr’, as it seeks to enable external aid actors to connect with, support and strengthen crisis responses identified, designed, implemented and monitored by existing or new self-help groups among crisis-affected populations.”

‘There is nothing for us without us’: Evaluation of a Multi-District Pilot Scale Up of Community-Led Child Protection in Sierra Leone

Published: 2024
Author: Drs. Kathleen Kostenly and Mike Wessells

A case study of how community-led child protection approach was scaled up in Sierra Leone.

Horizontal spread of community-owned protection: A case study from Marafa, Kenya

Published: 2023
Author: Kathleen Kostelny, Ken Ondoro, and Michael Wessells

“In an era of localization of aid and calls to share more power with communities, a valuable questions to be asked include ‘How could local people scale up a child protection intervention?’ and ‘What would a scale up effort driven by local communities look like, and could it achieve positive outcomes for children?’ “

Full Spectrum Coalition – Brief

Published: 2025
Author: Full Spectrum Coalition

“The Full Spectrum Coalition (FSC) envisions a world of thriving people and thriving places where community leaders, local collectives, and grassroots organisations lead sustained, multidimensional impact, supported by partnerships that elevate their visions, values, and potential. The FSC creates new partnership opportunities, generates innovative scientific understanding of how Holistic Community-led Development (HCLD) works, and informs better decision-making by funders, practitioners and policymakers. It thus contributes to the civil movement that seeks to uplift HCLD as a powerful, ethical, and sustainable approach to development.”

Do No Harm: Challenges in Organizing Psychosocial Support to Displaced People in Emergency Settings

Published: 2008
Author: Michael Wessells

“Psychosocial assistance in emergencies plays an important role in alleviating suffering and promoting well-being, but it is often a source of unintended harm. A prerequisite for ethically appropriate support is awareness of how psychosocial programs may cause harm. This paper underscores the importance of attending to issues of coordination, dependency, politicization of aid, assessment, short-term assistance, imposition of outsider approaches, protection, and impact evaluation. With regard to each of these issues, it suggests practical steps that may be taken to reduce harm and maximize the humanitarian value of psychosocial assistance.”

Northern NGO-centrism in localisation processes: reproducing power inequities in the aid field

Published: 2025
Author: Gijs van Selm et al.

This paper examines the process of discussing and designing actions to tackle power inequities by Northern and Southern NGOs. Drawing on53 interviews with Northern and Southern NGOs, and NNGO networks, we argue that current localisation processes produce a form of cultural capital leveraged by competing Northern NGOs rooted in signalling solidarity with SNGOs and/or communities to donors through rhetorical and symbolic practices, reinforcing their access to and authority oversocial and economic capital as intermediaries.”

The Development of a Community-Led Child Protection Approach in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Published: 2025
Author: Rinske Ellermeijer et al.

This paper describes the iterative process of the development of a community-led child protection approach, including (1) a systematic review of the literature, (2) formative work in Uganda and Lebanon, (3) a field test in Sri Lanka and (4) a feasibility study in Colombia, with a review by technical experts. This process resulted in the identification of a six-phase community-led approach aiming to (i) enhance the protection of children and (ii) increase children’s sense of protection.

Protocol for a mixed-methods effectiveness evaluation of the community-led child protection approach (Seeds) in La Guajira, Colombia

Published: 2025
Author: Rinske E.C. Ellermeijer et al.

The aim of this mixed-methods study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-led child protection approach (Seeds) in La Guajira, Colombia.

A systematic review of the literature on community-level child protection in low- and middle-income countries

Published: 2023
Author: R.E.C. Ellermeijer, M.A. Robinson, A.F. Guevara, G. O’Hare, C.I.S. Veldhuizen, M. Wessells, R. Reis & M.J.D. Jordans

“This systematic review synthesises the current state of literature on community-level child protection in LMICs. The aim of the review is to present available evidence and effective strategies that implementing agencies can use to support community-level structures, practices, resources and processes.”

Co-design in preventive mental health research: Advancing evidence, equity, and engagement

Published: 2026
Author: Lakshmi Neelakantan, Pattie P Gonsalves, Elizabeth M Westrupp

“This special issue aims to extend the field by examining co-design in preventive systems, exploring its application in community, family, and systems-level approaches that aim to prevent mental ill-health before it emerges. It aligns with the evolving prevention literature exploring how co-design can inform effective and scalable universal mental health prevention initiatives, particularly for young people (Carter, 2025; Hetrick & Sharma, 2025). In this editorial, we synthesise the contributions to this issue, examining the diversity of co-design frameworks and methods employed, engagement with equity considerations, and priorities for advancing co-design in prevention research.”

The New Ecology of Early Childhood: Revisiting Bronfenbrenner’s theory in the context of contemporary challenges and opportunities

Published: February 2025
Author: Philip A. Fisher, PhD & Joan Lombardi, PhD

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological approach to human development—and early childhood in particular—remains highly influential in scholarly work, policy, and practice, but much has changed since its formulation. This paper proposes an updated version which incorporates more recent learning around neuroscience and the evolving challenges and contexts in contemporary America. The socio-ecological approach is an important framework for community-led child protection.

Localizing Child Protection at Community Level – How to Shift Power and Increase Community Ownership

Published: October 2025
Author: Mike Wessells

A Practice Brief – The era of localization presents both key challenges and opportunities in community-level child protection. This brief highlights how shifting power to communities and generating high levels of community ownership is fundamental for localizing child protection effectively and sustainably. It explores how child protection practitioners are key players in supporting a localized, evidence-based, community-led child protection approach.

Localizing Child Protection – Why Community Ownership Matters. Briefing Paper

Published: October 2025
Author: Mike Wessells

A Call to Action for Donors. This briefing paper outlines challenges to localizing child protection at community level in development and humanitarian work. It presents a Call to Action that emphasizes shifting more power to communities and supporting stronger community ownership through the use of community-led and -owned child protection approaches.

Executive Summary: Shifting Power, Localizing, and Strengthening Ownership: Three Country Learnings and Challenges in Community-Led Child Protection

Published: May 2025
Author: Wessells, M., & Kostelny, K. (2025)

Summary version of a synthesis report of research from three countries around community-led child protection with actionable learning around shifting power to communities from child protection.

Shifting Power, Localizing, and Strengthening Ownership: Three Country Learnings and Challenges in Community-Led Child Protection

Published: May 2025
Author: Wessells, M., & Kostelny, K. (2025)

A synthesis report of research from three countries around community-led child protection with actionable learning around shifting power to communities from child protection.

Building meaningful participation in reintegration among war-affected young mothers in Liberia, Sierra Leone and northern Uganda

Published: 2011
Author: Susan McKay, Angela Veale, Miranda Worthen & Michael Wessells

In this paper, the authors describe an innovative ¢eld practice ^ community-based, participatory action research (PAR) that meaningfully involved formerly associated young mothers, and other vulnerable young mothers, in their communities.

Endline Report: Community Action to Address Child Marriage and School Dropout: Findings from Action Research on Community-Led Child Protection in Jharkhand, India

Published: 2021
Author: The Inter-Agency Core Group (CINI, Chetna Vikas, Child Resilience Alliance, PLAN India, & Praxis)

Endline report of action research undertaken in Jharkhand state, India of community-led action to address child marriage and school dropout.

A journey in children’s participation

Published: 2002
Author: The Concerned for Working Children - Compiled and Edited by Nandana Reddy and Kavita Ratna

A document which shares the body of knowledge acquired by the Concerned Working for Children, India, and questons which still need answering.

CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT A FIELD SCAN

Published: No date
Author: Riva B. Kantowitz for Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network Columbia University

This paper seeks to articulate the main trends and challenges in the field of children affected by armed conflict. Its objective is to summarize lessons learned over the last decade, provoke reflection, generate questions and suggest potential strategies to improve the lives of more than one billion children affected by violence and deprivation.

Building an evidence base on mental health interventions for children affected by armed conflict

Published: 2009
Author: Theresa S. Betancourt and Timothy Williams

This paper reviews what is currently known from research about the effectiveness of interventions to address mental health problems in children and adolescents affected by armed conflict. The focus will be on interventions delivered in conflict affected countries either during active humanitarian emergencies or during the post conflict period.

Art-based, narrative research with unaccompanied migrant children living in Johannesburg, South Africa

Published: 2019
Author: Glynis Clacherty

Migrant children are often represented through stereotypical narratives by media, governments and even researchers. These representations range from institutional narratives that reduce their experience to “pre-flight, flight, post flight” to psychological narratives that can represent them as traumatized victims of war.

Artbooks as witness of everyday resistance: Using art with displaced children living in Johannesburg, South Africa

Published: 2021
Author: Glynis Clacherty

Artbooks, which are a combined form of picture and story book created using mixed media, can be a simple yet powerful way of supporting children affected by war and displacement to tell their stories. They allow children to work through the creative arts, which protects them from being overwhelmed by difficult memories.

Building cross-sector collaboration using participatory action research to improve community health in an urban slum in Accra, Ghana

Published: 2018
Author: Jessica Kritz

A cross sector case study. Every urban slum creates challenges too complex for governments to resolve when working alone. Old Fadama, the largest slum in in Accra, Ghana, is home to over 100 000 people. Old Fadama has virtually no water or sanitation infrastructure, contributing to diminished quality of health and frequent cholera outbreaks when the nearby river floods. Our research introduces a model for cross-sector collaboration, supporting stakeholders who wanted to improve community health by installing latrines.

The potential of a community-led approach to change harmful gender norms in low- and middle-income countries

Published: 2019
Author: Beniamino Cislaghi

Many of the programmes that achieve gender norms transformation in low- and middle-income countries are conducted at ‘community’ level. These programmes help people address existing relations of gender and power in their family and broader social networks. There are several programmatic strategies for community-level interventions that transform gender relations. This think piece looks at how community-led approaches can help transform harmful gender norms.

Child Friendly Spaces: Toward a Grounded, Community-Based Approach for Strengthening Child Protection Practice in Humanitarian Crises

Published: 2013
Author: Michael Wessells and Kathleen Kostelny

Natural helpers play a critical role in ensuring children’s safety during and in the aftermath of crises.

What are the most effective early response strategies and interventions to assess and address the immediate needs of children outside of family care?

Published: 2012
Author: Neil Boothby, Mike Wessells, John Williamson, Gillian Huebner, Kelly Canter, Eduardo Garcia Rolland , Vesna Kutlesic, Farah Bader, Lena Diaw, Maya Levine , Anita Malley, Kathleen Michels, Sonali Patel, Tanya Rasaj, Fred a Ssewamala , Vicki Walkerk

Children and Armed Conflict: Interventions for Supporting War-Affected Children

Published: 2017
Author: Michael G. Wessells

This article, which introduces the 2nd Special Issue on Children and Armed Conflict, outlines 3 pillars of systemic supports for war-affected children: comprehensiveness, sustainability, and Do No Harm. It shows how supports should be multileveled, resilience-oriented, multidisciplinary, tailored to fit different subgroups, and attentive to issues of policy and funding.

Children and Armed Conflict: Introduction and Overview

Published: 2016
Author: Michael G. Wessells

An article featuring the rise of systems thinking evident in ecological frameworks and child protection systems, it emphasises resilience approaches and the movement away from deficits frameworks that underscore disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also identifies numerous obstacles to achieving a comprehensive understanding of war-affected children. Primary among these are a weak evidence base, insufficient attention to contextual diversity, use of non-holistic approaches, and the marginalisation of children’s agency.

Children and Peace – From Research to Action

Published: 2020
Author: Nikola Balvin & Daniel J. Christie, Editors

Full publication from the Peace Psychology Book Series

Enabling Full Participation: A Community-Led Approach to Child Protection

Published: 2020
Author: Kathleen Kostelny, Michael Wessells, and Ken Ondoro

Chapter 18 from N. Balvin, D. J. Christie (eds.), Children and Peace, Peace Psychology Book. Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22176-8_18

Child friendly spaces impact across five humanitarian settings: a meta-analysis

Published: 2019
Author: Sabrina Hermosilla, Janna Metzler, Kevin Savage, Miriam Musa and Alastair Ager

Humanitarian crises present major threats to the wellbeing of children. These threats include risks of violence, abduction and abuse, emotional distress and the disruption of development. Humanitarian response efforts frequently address these threats through psychosocial programming. Systematic reviews have demonstrated the weak evidence-base regarding the impact of such interventions. This analysis assesses the impact of Child Friendly Spaces (CFS), one such commonly implemented intervention after humanitarian emergencies.

Child- and youth-friendly participatory action research toolkit

Published: 2010
Author: ChildFund International

Simple tools and methods to research in a participatory way with children and youth, and to engage with communities from the very beginning.

A SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD! Story of a community-led Initiative against school absenteeism in Jharkhand

Published: 2021
Author: The Inter-Agency Core Group CINI, Chetna Vikas, Child Resilience Alliance, Plan India, & Praxis

A short, illustrated story of a community-led initiative against school absenteeism in Khunti, Jharkhand, India.

CHILD BRIDES NO MORE! Story of a community-led Initiative against child marriages in Dhanbad, Jharkhand

Published: 2021
Author: The Inter-Agency Core Group CINI, Chetna Vikas, Child Resilience Alliance, Plan India, & Praxis

A short, illustrated story of a community-led initiative to end child marriages in Dhanbad, Jhakahand, India.

Endline report: Community Action to Address Child Marriage and School Dropout: Findings from Action Research on Community-Led Child Protection in Jharkhand, India

Published: 2021
Author: The Inter-Agency Core Group CINI, Chetna Vikas, Child Resilience Alliance, Plan India, & Praxis

Action research for community-led child protection in Jharkhand State, India.

Summary of action research in Kenya to test community-led models of child protection

Published: March 2022
Author: Community Child Protection Exchange

This summary was developed as a background resource for the Exchange’s WhatsApp 2022 learning group. To read more about this group link here.

Community action to end ‘early sex’ in Kenya: Endline report

Published: 2020
Author: Kathleen Kostelny, Ken Ondoro, & Mike Wessells

An endline study (Oct-Nov 2019) of action research undertaken in Marafa and Bamba, Kenya. The research aimed to develop and test systematically the effectiveness of more community owned processes of child protection that link with formal, government aspects of child protection, and to use the learning from the research to strengthen practice.

The Lancet Global Health – Social innovation in global health: sparking location action

Published: May, 2020
Author: Beatrice M Halpaap † Joseph D Tucker † Don Mathanga, Noel Juban, Phyllis Awor, Nancy G Saravia, et al. for The Lancet Global Health

“Health innovation is often developed in response to local challenges, fueled from frontline health workers by unique needs and opportunities. Yet the power to scale up innovation is often vested in high-level authorities that have limited understanding of local contexts.

How can innovation in global health be sparked? A growing social innovation in health movement shows that innovation is more effective when it emerges bottom-up from low-income and middle-income countries.

Social innovation in health is a community engaged process that links social change and health improvement, drawing on the diverse strengths of local individuals and institutions. Social innovation argues that having local beneficiaries drive the development of a health programme results in more sustainable and accountable services. This commentary considers social innovation in health, including its history, tools for identifying social innovation, examples of social innovation, unanswered questions, and the next steps.”

The Lancet Global Health is an open source journal which can be read for free by registering on their site.

Community Management of Child Friendly Spaces Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda. A case study.

Published: 2018
Author: Clacherty, G. published by the Interagency Learning Intitative on Community Based Child Protection, the Community Child Protection Exchange and TPO Uganda

A case study collaboration between the Interagency Learning Initiative (ILI) on community-based child protection mechanisms, the Community Child Protection Exchange, and TPO Uganda.

Tisser la Toile: documenter l’approche au développement communautaire et protection de l’enfance à Kolwezi, RDC

Published: 2018
Author: Mark Canavera et al. avec Good Shepherd International Foundation

Le but de ce document et le processus de recherche qui le sous-tend est d’articuler le modèle que les Soeurs du Bon Pasteur (GSS) ont mis en place à Kolwezi en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). En consultant des intervenants de multiples niveaux les Soeurs du Bon Pasteur et leur personnel, les participants de leurs programmes, les membres de la communauté qui ne participent pas au programme, les partenaires gouvernementaux et non gouvernementaux et les représentants des sociétés minières, nous avons cherché à documenter ce que les Soeurs du Bon Pasteur ont réalisées à Kolwezi au cours des cinq dernières années dans le but de fournir des recommandations constructives sur l’avenir du programme, qui est actuellement en cours de révision pour une réplication possible dans les zones situées autour de Kolwezi.

Weaving the web: documenting community-based development and child protection in Kolwezi, DRC

Published: 2018
Author: Mark Canavera et al. with Good Shepherd International Foundation

The goal of this document – and the research process that underpins it – is to articulate the model that the Good Shepherd Sisters (GSS) have been implementing in Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). By consulting with stakeholders from multiple levels – the Good Shepherd Sisters and their staff, participants in their programmes, community members who are not involved in the programme, government and non-government partners, and mining company representatives – we aimed to document what the Good Shepherd Sisters have been doing in Kolwezi over the past five years with an eye to provide constructive recommendations about the future of the programme, which is currently under review for possible replication in areas around Kolwezi.

Brief: An integrated approach for a community-based child protection in artisanal mining communities in DRC

Published: 2018
Author: Bon Pasteur Kolwezi/GSIF

A short brief about research (2018) undertaken in Kolwezi in the DRC. Sustainable, low-carbon future seems unthinkable without batteries and cobalt. Yet the human and environmental costs of cobalt production are unsustainable for the communities living at the ‘upstream’ end of the supply chain. While the market price of cobalt tripled in the past 2 years, human rights conditions in the mining communities of Kolwezi (DRC), the global capital of cobalt, have not improved accordingly, and, for many, have declined.

Child Rights and Practitioner Wrongs: Lessons from Interagency Research in Sierra Leone and Kenya

Published: 2017
Author: Michael Wessells, Columbia University and Kathleen Kostelny, Columbia Group for Children in Adversity

Child rights are fundamental for ending violence and injustice against children and promoting children’s wellbeing. However, the top-down manner of introducing child rights is frequently problematic. Ethnographic research in Sierra Leone and Kenya indicates that top-down, impositional approaches to teaching child rights can lead local people to view child rights as a harm to children or to prefer traditional practices that can clash with human rights standards. To implement child rights, the use of a slow, respectful process of internally guided social change is recommended. To appear in M. Ruck, M. Peterson-Badali, and M. Freeman (Eds.) Handbook of Children’s Rights: Global and Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Taylor and Francis.

How collaboration, early engagement and collective ownership increase research impact: Strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms in Sierra Leone

Published: 2017
Author: Michael Wessells, David Lamin, Marie Manyeh, Dora King, Lindsay Stark, Sarah Lilley and Kathleen Kostelny

Chapter 5 of the publication “The Social Realities of Knowledge for Development: Sharing Lessons of Improving Development Processes with Evidence” published by the International Development Institute, 2017. Using Interagency Learning Initiative (ILI) action research in Sierra Leone, this chapter from a DfiD provides a case study on how a highly collaborative approach can enable child protection research to achieve a significant national impact. The chapter describes how the inter-agency research facilitated a community-driven approach to addressing teenage pregnancy.

Creating Community Responsibility for Child Protection: Possibilities and Challenges

Published: 2009
Author: Deborah Daro and Kenneth A Dodge

A research article which looks at five different community child abuse prevention efforts (in the USA) which focus on enhancing community capacity, including formal and informal resources, and local cultural contexts.

A Ugandan childhood: through the eyes of children and parents

Published: 2011
Author: Child Protection in Crisis Network

In 2011, 320 children from across Uganda participated in a consultation on the nature of childhood in the country. Drawn from urban and rural areas children shared their hopes as they described what they saw ‘doing well’ as a child to mean. Over 150 parents also indicated their own aspirations for their children.

“Adapting to learn, learning to adapt”: Overview of and considerations for child protection systems strengthening in emergencies

Published: 2016
Author: Child Frontiers on behalf of the Systems Strengthening and Disaster Risk Reduction Task Force - co-led by the CPC Learning Network and Plan International

This review targets actors supporting child protection responses in humanitarian settings. The document aims to provide an overview of child protection systems strengthening in emergencies practice to date, and propose certain key considerations with regards to systems for child protection practitioners.

The impact of protection interventions on unaccompanied and separated children in humanitarian crises – Evidence brief

Published: 2017
Author: Williamson, K., Gupta, P., Gillespie, L.A., Shannon, H. and Landis, D. for Oxfam GB

The evidence brief of an independent systematic review, commissioned by the Humanitarian Evidence Programme which identifies, synthesizes and evaluates existing evidence of the impact of protection interventions.

The impact of protection interventions on unaccompanied and separated children in humanitarian crises – Full report

Published: 2017
Author: Williamson, K., Gupta, P., Gillespie, L.A., Shannon, H. and Landis, D. for Oxfam GB

The full report of an independent systematic review, commissioned by the Humanitarian Evidence Programme which identifies, synthesizes and evaluates existing evidence of the impact of protection interventions on unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in humanitarian crises since 1983.

Psychology, Health and Medicine – special edition on Violence Against Children

Published: 2017
Author: Guest Editors: A. K. Shiva Kumar, Lorraine Sherr, Vivien Stern and Ramya Subrahmanian

A Special Issue of Know Violence in Childhood: A Global Learning Initiative.Some community focused article are included.

Community Action and the Test of Time: Learning from Community Experiences and Perceptions

Published: 2006
Author: Jill Donahue and Louis Mwewa

Case studies of mobilisation and capacity building to benefit vulnerable children in Malawi and Zambia.

The impact of protection interventions on unaccompanied and separated children in humanitarian crises – Executive summary

Published: 2017
Author: Williamson, K., Gupta, P., Gillespie, L.A., Shannon, H. and Landis, D. for Oxfam GB.

The executive summary of an independent systematic review, commissioned by the Humanitarian Evidence Programme which identifies, synthesizes and evaluates existing evidence of the impact of protection interventions on unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in humanitarian crises since 1983.

Getting off on the wrong foot? How community groups in Zimbabwe position themselves for partnerships with external agencies in the HIV response

Published: 2017
Author: Morten Skovdal, Sitholubuhle Magutshwa-Zitha, Catherine Campbell, Constance Nyamukapa,and Simon Gregson

A research article on how local organisations position themselves to be able to work with larger agencies on HIV issues in Zimbabwe. From the journal: Globalization and Health

Agencies, Communities and Children: a report of the Interagency Learning Initiative: Engaging Communities for Children’s WellBeing

Published: 2008
Author: Nicole Benham for the Interagency Learning Initiative

A report which aims to identify key issues, as a step toward the development of a broad consensus on good practice in engaging with communities to promote children’s safety and wellbeing.

In Pursuit of Safe Havens – a study of harms faced by children in Jharkhand state of India

Published: 2016
Author: Columbia Group for Children in Adversity Inc., CINI, Chetna Vikas, Plan India, Praxis – Institute for Participatory Practices.

Reflections from an inter-agency action research initiative aimed at learning from communities in Jharkhand state of India about harms faced by children and protections available to them.

Qualitative research for development – A guide for practitioners

Published: 2017
Author: Morten Skovdal and Flora Cornish, Save the Children Fund

A useful guide showing how practitioners can use qualitative research to improve practical programming.

Free download until 28 February 2017! http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/9781780448534 Thereafter contact [email protected]

 

A foot in the door – a report on the Child Community Care study evaluating the effect of CBO support on child wellbeing in HIV affected communities

Published: 2016
Author: UCL and Stellenbosch University

A 2016 review which builds on our knowledge and previous reviews (2009) of the effects of interventions, specifically psychosocial wellbeing, targeting children affected by HIV.

Community engagement to strengthen social cohesion and child protection in Chad and Burundi – “Bottom Up” participatory monitoring, planning and action

Published: 2016
Author: International Institute for Child Rights and Development (IICRD), Dr. Philip Cook, Michele Cook, Natasha Blanchet Cohen, Armel Oguniyi & Jean Sewanou

A final report on action research which looked at how communities can help drive monitoring, planning and action around social cohesion strengthening and child protection in Chad and Burundi.

What are the most effective early response strategies and interventions to assess and address the immediate needs of children outside of family care?

Published: 2012
Author: Neil Boothby, Mike Wessells, John Williamson,, Gillian Huebner, Kelly Canter, Eduardo Garcia Rolland, Vesna Kutlesic, Farah Bader, Lena Diaw, Maya Levine, Anita Malley, Kathleen Michels, Sonali Patel, Tanya Rasa, Fred Ssewamala, Vicki Walker

A systematic review of evidence of effective early response strategies for children outside of family care.

Worse than the war’: An ethnographic study of the impact of the Ebola crisis on life, sex, teenage pregnancy, and a community-driven Intervention in rural Sierra Leone

Published: 2016
Author: Kostelny, K., Lamin, D., Manyeh, M., Ondoro, K., Stark, L., Lilley, S., & Wessells, M.

The Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone disrupted the Interagency Learning Initiative’s action research on strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms. In response, ethnographic research was conducted to investigate the wider effects of the Ebola crisis as well as the specific effects on the community led intervention and problems related to teenage pregnancy.

Presentation by James Kaboggoza – Child Protection Systems in Uganda

Published: 2016
Author: James Kobogozza

An overview of a recent mapping of child protection systems in Uganda.

Bottom-up approaches to strengthening child protection systems: Placing children, families, and communities at the center

Published: 2015
Author: Mike Wessells

This article examines an alternative approach of community-driven, bottom-up work that enables non formal–formal collaboration and alignment, greater use of formal services, internally driven social change, and high levels of community ownership. From the journal: Child Abuse & Neglect

Mbinu za kuimarisha mifumo ya ulinzi wa mtoto kuanzia chini kwenda juu mbinu na: Kuangazia watoto, familia na jamii

Published: 2015
Author: Mike Wessells

KiSwahili version of “Bottom-up approaches to strengthening child protection systems: Placing children, families, and communities at the center.” This article examines an alternative approach of community-driven, bottom-up work that enables non formal–formal collaboration and alignment, greater use of formal services, internally driven social change, and high levels of community ownership. From the journal: Child Abuse & Neglect

Presentation by Patrick Onyango – Kampala workshop, 17-18 August, 2016

Published: 2016
Author: Patrick Onyango

A presentation on girl mothers in armed forces and groups and their children in Northern Uganda, Liberia and Sierra Leone – Participatory Action Research to assess and improve their situations.

Presentation by Eddy Walakira – Kampala workshop, 17-18 August, 2016

Published: 2016
Author: Eddy Walakira

This presentation looks at the results of a War Child Holland initiative in Northern Uganda around prevention of violence against children in a post war setting.

Presentation by Mike Wessells – Kampala workshop, 17-18 August 2016

Published: 2016
Author: Mike Wessells

Mike Wessells’ presentation at the Kampala workshop 17-18 August 2016 where he discusses questions about community driven child protection which keep him awake at night.

Summary of studies undertaken on community based child protection mechanisms 2009-2014

Published: 2014
Author: Community Child Protection Exchange

A short round up of studies undertaken since the publication of the 2009 review “What are we learning about community based child protection mechanisms?” All the studies are hyperlinked.

An Overview of the Community Driven Intervention To Reduce Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone

Published: 2014
Author: Mike Wessells, David Lamin, & Marie Manyeh

An overview of the Interagency Learning Initiative process of supporting community-driven action that addresses needs of vulnerable children in Bombali and Moyamba Districts of Sierra Leone.

Summary: Learning about children in urban slums

Published: 2012
Author: Principal Investigator, Mike Wessells, Columbia Group for Children in Adversity

A rapid ethnographic study in two urban slums in Mombasa, Kenya, of community-based child protection mechanisms and their links with the national child protection systems. This is a four-page overview of the results of this study.

Full Report: Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms in Kilifi, Kenya: A Rapid Ethnographic Study in Two Rural Sites

Published: 2014
Author: Kostelny, K., Wessells, M., & Ondoro, K.

This research report is an output of the Interagency Learning Initiative on Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems. The technical leadership for the Initiative is provided by the Columbia Group for Children in Adversity.

Summary and Integrated Analysis: A grounded view of community-based child protection mechanisms and their linkages with the wider child protection system in three rural and urban areas in Kenya

Published: 2014
Author: Wessells, M., Kostelny, K., and Ondoro, K. For the Interagency Learning Initiative on Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems

Summary and Integrated Analysis: A grounded view of community-based child protection mechanisms and their linkages with the wider child protection system in three rural and urban areas in Kenya

Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms in Kisii/Nyamira Area: A Rapid Ethnographic Study in Two Rural Sites in Kenya

Published: 2014
Author: Kostelny, K., Wessells, M., & Ondoro, K.

This research report is an output of the Interagency Learning Initiative on Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems. The technical leadership for the Initiative is provided by the Columbia Group for Children in Adversity.

Executive Summary: Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms in Kisii/Nyamira Area: A Rapid Ethnographic Study in Two Rural Sites in Kenya

Published: 2014
Author: Kostelny, K., Wessells, M., & Ondoro, K.

In diverse contexts, community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPMs) are front line efforts to protect children from exploitation, abuse, violence, and neglect and to promote children’s well-being.

Webinar presentation 28th Aug 2013 – Kenya, urban slums

Published: 2013
Author: Ken Ondoro, Kathleen Kostelny, Mike Wessells

Webinar presentation 28th Aug 2013 – Kenya, urban slums

Research Brief: Learning about children in urban slums

Published: 2010
Author: Interagency Learning Initiative on Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems

A rapid ethnographic study in two urban slums in Mombasa, Kenya, of community-based child protection mechanisms and their links with the national child protection system.

Lessons learned: conducting research on community based child protection mechanisms

Published: 2012
Author: CPC Learning Network and the Interagency Learning Initiative

Lessons learned on conducting research drawn from a collective body of research undertaken by the CPC Learning Network and the Interagency Learning Initiative.

Community based child protection mechanisms amongst urban refugees in Kampala, Uganda: an ethnographic study

Published: 2013
Author: CPC Learning Network

This study looks at how people living in protracted refugee settings in Uganda protect their children.

Full Report: Learning about Children in Urban Slums

Published: 2013
Author: Kostelny, K., Wessells, M., Chabeda-Barthe, J, & Ondoro, K

A rapid ethnographic study in two urban slums in Mombasa, Kenya, of community-based child protection mechanisms and their links with the national child protection system

Comparative analysis of community based child protection mechanisms supported by Plan in Asia – child friendly summary report

Published: 2012
Author: Plan International

This report provides a child-friendly summary of Plan’s comparative analysis of community based child protection mechanisms.

Research Brief: An Ethnographic Study of Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and their Linkages with the National Child Protection System of Sierra Leone

Published: 2012
Author: Inter-Agency Learning Initiative on Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems

This document serves as a seven-page summary of the longer report included among these research documents, “An Ethnographic Study of Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and their Linkages with the National Child Protection System of Sierra Leone.”

Mapping community-based child protection mechanisms in Uganda

Published: 2012
Author: Child Protection in Crisis Network

The goal of this research is to take a bottom-up approach in examining existing CBCPMs in Arua and Nebbi districts in Uganda. By understanding how communities currently define, prevent, and respond to child protection violations and how local systems connect (or do not connect) to formal protection systems, these mechanisms may then be supported, and enhanced, rather than ignored or undermined.

With appropriate support, CBCPMs may be able to increase coverage and efficacy and even improve the implementation of locally appropriate strategies.

What are we learning about protection children in the community?

Published: 2009
Author: Mike Wessells, lead consultant, on behalf of an Inter-Agency Working Group

This 2009 inter-agency studied examined 160 documents about working with community-based groups for child protection.  While finding that the evidence base concerning the child protection outcomes achieved by such work, the report identified sets of factors that seemed to contribute to more effective community-based work and outlined promising practices.

Qu’apprenons-nous sur la protection des enfants dans la communauté?

Published:
Author: Mike Wessells on behalf of an Inter-Agency Reference Group

Cette synthèse exécutive résume en français les résultats d’une étude inter-agence des éléments recuillies sur les mécanismes de protection de l’enfance au sein de la communauté.

Executive Summary: What are we learning about protecting children in the community?

Published: 2009
Author: Mike Wessells, lead consultant, on behalf of an Inter-Agency Working Group

This 20-page executive summary presents an overview of the key findings from a 2009 inter-agency review of the evidence on community-based child protection mechanisms. The full report is also available in this research section.

A Common Responsibility: The role of community-based groups in protection children from sexual abuse and exploitation – a discussion paper

Published: 2008
Author: Sarah Lilley for Save the Children UK

This 2008 discussion paper shares Save the Children’s experience in working with community-based groups; the paper is an effort to stimulate dialogue by highlighting the successes and challenges of such work.