Life-saving integrated Child Protection interventions for the most vulnerable and at-risk children and their caregivers in Unity State (Panyijiar County) International Rescue Committee (IRC) will implement a package of integrated child protection services in 3 Payams of Panyijiar County (Ganyiel, Thornoum, and Tiap). It will build on and benefit from existing work being undertaken by Nutrition, Health and Livelihood programmes. The project will target a total of 4,174 affected community members (1,034 men, 1,031 women, 1,106 boys, 1,003 girls).  

Through this project, comprehensive case management services will be provided to vulnerable children identified through a) Child Protection Help desks established at schools and IRC-supported medical and nutrition facilities, b) SHLS/CFS, where children will access structured and non-structured PSS activities, c) Child Protection Community-Based Structures, d) Other Humanitarian Organizations, e) Payam administration, f) Self-referral, and g) Case Workers, while conducting community and home visits. Case management services will be implemented using the recently developed national SOP and will target children at high protection risk including UASC, CAAFAG, children at risk of child marriage, recruitment or child labor, and children who are at risk of or have experienced abuse or GBV. Approximately 100 children will benefit from case management services. 

Safe Healing and Learning Spaces/Child-Friendly Spaces (SHLS/CFS) will be established and staffed by community volunteers, following the development of community-driven selection criteria for their recruitment. Volunteers will receive 4 days of training in SHLS/CFS management, PSS/SEL and PFA, in line with IRC’s Safe Healing and Learning Space (SHLS) manual and standards. Additionally, IRC will support children’s play areas in four schools, where SHLS/CFS are not established, by providing recreational and sports materials. Approximately 1000 children (550 boys, 450 girls) are expected to benefit from SHLS/CFS (200) and play areas in school (800).. 

Finally, Child Protection Community Based Structures will be identified and supported to better protect children through prevention, awareness raising and referral of complex cases. They will be supported by IRC’s trained Case Workers and Community Child Protection Volunteers to develop and implement child protection community action plans, including awareness campaigns. It is expected that these campaigns will reach approximately 3,000 people (2,000 adults, 1,000 children). 

In all interventions, efforts will be made to ensure the most marginalized and at-risk children are actively supported to attend (e.g. unaccompanied amp separated, children that experience abuse, CAAFAG, children with disabilities, children out of school, and children living without appropriate care, etc.). 

The project will be monitored through existing beneficiary feedback and complaints’ mechanisms so that the views of men, women, boys, and girls can be captured and appropriate action is taken if necessary. 

The project will be coordinated by IRC at Juba and field levels, and with other humanitarian actors through the National CPSC and field level working groups. 

At all times the project will be guided by IRC Way and Code of Conduct, and humanitarian principles including do no harm, child participation, and best interests of the child.