AFRICHILD MONTHLY MONITOR - OCTOBER

OUR RESEARCH WORK

The AfriChild Centre is partnering with The Freedom Fund and six dedicated grantee partners to address child trafficking and exploitation in Karamoja, Uganda. A three-day workshop, facilitated by The Freedom Fund between October 28 to 31, brought together local government representatives, civil society, community stakeholders, and AfriChild as a research partner to strengthen partnerships, align on strategies, and put impactful interventions into action. Thematic sessions throughout the workshop ensured a comprehensive understanding of the local context, laying the foundation for a coordinated plan to protect and uplift Karamoja’s children.

The AfriChild Centre has been commissioned by UNICEF Uganda to conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment across Karamoja’s 9 districts, focusing on the prevalence and response to school-based violence against children. UNICEF’s school-based programs in the region support the implementation of the Reporting, Tracking, Referral, and Response (RTRR) guidelines, aiming to prevent violence in schools, enhance reporting mechanisms, and strengthen school structures for timely referral and response to cases. This baseline survey will evaluate the current landscape, establishing data on the incidence of violence, existing response systems, and the effectiveness of the RTRR processes. Through this study, AfriChild and UNICEF will track the impact of these interventions, providing critical insights for ongoing efforts to reduce school-based violence and ensure children’s safety.

UNICEF and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) are implementing the STRYIDE initiative, with AfriChild as the research and learning partner. The STRYIDE project—Skills and Transform Resilient Youth to Invest in the Development of Early Childhood—tackles youth unemployment and gaps in Early Childhood Development (ECD) services by equipping youth, especially women, with technical and entrepreneurial skills. These trained individuals will establish and support ECD centres, enhancing access to quality early childhood services. STRYIDE aims to serve as a model for national scaling, with assessments to identify opportunities and challenges in early childhood education. Our research team has completed baseline data collection activities, including parent surveys, ECD mapping, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and youth surveys across Kampala, Isingiro, Terego, and Madi Okollo districts conducting over 991 interviews in the 4 districts.

In a joint monitoring activity under the Kulea Watoto project conducted alongside partner organisations in Kyaka II Refugee settlement, we observed significant progress in enterprise support and Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres, with clients sharing inspiring stories of transformation. These interventions are shaping lives and improving outcomes for families, especially young children. By engaging directly with community members, we were able to gather valuable insights into how well the interventions are being integrated into daily life. From tracking household improvement plans to reviewing group savings and Early Recovery and Development (ERD) training, we identified both successes and areas for improvement. The feedback received will help inform the next phase of project implementation and ensure that our efforts continue to make a meaningful impact in the community.

We have made great strides in the ongoing operational research with the Remnant Generation, where we are generating evidence on preventing and responding to childhood sexual violence in low-resource settings in Uganda. Earlier this month, we conducted key informant interviews with The Remnant Generation staff and participatory activities with the girl survivors. These activities have enabled us to appreciate the richness of the Remnant generation's work, community involvement, and girls' agency in the response and prevention of child sexual violence. The participatory activities we had with the girls through different methods such as body mapping, flower maps and vignettes also enabled us to gather nuanced data on childhood sexual violence prevention and response. These methods have left girls happy and empowered i.e. they were transformed from vulnerable subjects to empowered agents of change, shaping solutions to combat childhood sexual violence.

Our team initiated the inception and dissemination of baseline study findings in Nakivale, starting with interactive sessions in Kabahinda B and Juru sub-base camp. The findings were shared through a well-received play that highlighted actionable insights for community members, particularly on addressing everyday challenges independently. Parents gained valuable lessons in forming savings groups and developing local solutions to support children, reducing reliance on external assistance. Following these sessions, feedback was gathered from the community to assess the intervention's impact. Discussions were also held with the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and community leaders, emphasising the importance of local ownership in driving the project's goals. Ensuring the CAB’s active participation and clearly defined roles emerged as priorities to strengthen their support.

STAKEHOLDER AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS

CAPACITY BUILDING

The AfriChild staff recently underwent training on Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems with an evaluation specialist. Key takeaways included understanding MEAL frameworks, data analysis, and department-specific roles. Program teams will handle data collection and evaluation, M&E teams will focus on analysis and reporting, and Management will oversee implementation. This training enhanced the staff's capacity to effectively utilize MEAL systems, boosting program effectiveness and impact.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Uganda participated in the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogotá, Colombia, from November 7-8, 2024. This significant gathering brought together ministers, policymakers, experts, and civil society leaders to advance strategies to prevent violence against children. Uganda’s delegation was led by Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD). He was accompanied by Mr. Aggrey Kibenge, Permanent Secretary of MGLSD; Ms. Lydia Najjemba Wasula, Principal Probation Officer at MGLSD; Ms. Stella Ayo-Odongo; AfriChild Board Member, Mr. Timothy Opobo AfriChild Executive Director; and representatives from the Ministries of Education and Sports and Health, along with various civil society organisations. These included Population Council, Raising Voices, Child Health and Development Centre Makerere University (CHDC), Impact Innovations and Development Centre (IIDC), Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda Chapter, Bantwana Initiative, REPSSI Uganda, Good Schools Coalition, and Tribulizers Foundation. This collective effort showcased Uganda’s commitment to ending violence against children through multi-sectoral collaboration and shared expertise.

Thank you for joining our previous webinar on Interventions to Address Stigma and Mental Health Challenges Among Children and Families in Low Resource Settings. We are grateful for your engagement and incase you missed it, here is the recording link for you to revisit or share, HERE. 

AFRICHILD STAFF HIGHLIGHT