Contribution to the improved protection of children and families in Salah al-Din TGH and Justice Centre have been implementing Child Protection and Legal Assistance programs in Balad, Yathrib, Aziz Balad amp Samarra, Al Mutassim since February 2019, under IHF 1st Allocation 2019.  TGH continues to be the only INGO providing child protection services in this southern region of Salah al-Din, and this project is a continuation on and an expansion of those services, to cement protection response in the region.

TGH has extensive experience in Child Protection  interventions in rural, urban and camp settings. TGH will continue partnership with Iraqi partner NGO Justice Center (JC), continuing implementation of their expertise in legal assistance. The project aims at providing timely, culturally appropriate and gender sensitive child protection, and legal services to conflict affected children and their families, while strengthening community based mechanisms of risks prevention and response. As such, both immediate responses and long term solutions will be implemented, notably by building on the systems and service delivery already implemented, and continuing to build capacities. 

Based on the MCNA data and needs severity districts, as well as other secondary data and TGH/JC own needs assessments, TGH and JC propose to focus on Balad District, and Samarra District (Dijla), in Salah Al Din Governorate. A mix of mobile and static approaches will allow TGH, and JC to be flexible and to maximize its population coverage in this underserved area.  Experience in working in the region has demonstrated to TGH and JC the ongoing need for support to address significant protection concerns.  

Psychosocial activities for teens, youth and children. PSS activities adapted to age, gender and specific needs will be provided by taking into each group’s specificities at all stages of the intervention. Mobile PSS with PSS bus will commence within first 6 weeks of project (allowing for procurement/contract signing with supplier amp recruitment). In the first 3 months of the project TGH, and JC will also seek suitable locations to use as community based centres in Balad and Samarra by which community members can attend for support services, and PSS. Both activities will run in parallel.  

Notably, and thanks to teams composed of skilled Child protection staff, and Lawyers, the intervention will tackle various risks that affect children and women’s access to their rights, development, resilience and well-being, and provide a comprehensive response. This project directly targets children, adolescents, families and to a larger extent the community. 

TGH will continue to expand and develop activities in schools and learning spaces (such as PSS, trainings of teachers and social workers, awareness events, and whenever possible support and linkage between members CPCs and PTAs). JC will continue awareness raising on Legal Rights and processes. 

The intervention will also target relevant stake-holders (teachers, social authorities, local authorities) to build their knowledge and capacity and improve on the long run children’s protective living and learning environment.

The final month of implementation will focus on community feedback and assessments, providing evidenced based recommendations for ongoing humanitarian needs.  TGH teams will conduct satisfaction surveys and needs assessments, recorded on KOBO Collect, ensuring consistency and clarity in data collection.  Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews will also be conducted, with summaries provided annexed to final report.