Protection of Children in emergency affected areas of West Guji Zone, Oromia regional state SUMMARY
This CPiE project is implemented by Plan International Ethiopia in both sides of the Gedeo-Guji border, West Guji Zone of Oromia Regional State since March 22nd 2019 to respond to the increasing needs of children displaced by the intercommunal conflict between Guji Oromo and Gedeo ethnic groups and forcibly returning to Gedeo zone. It intends to provide access to life-saving (child) protection services, including psychosocial support, for vulnerable children such as unaccompanied and separated children,  children with disability and other children at risk and to prevent child abuse. GBV is mainstreamed. The approach is community-based with capacity building of community members, including children and adolescents, to prevent violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation – including GBV, protect and care for unaccompanied, separated and other vulnerable children at-risk of violations/survivors of violence. Inter communal conflict erupted between Guji Oromo and Gedeo ethnic groups in April 2018. Communities/household's assets were damaged, massive displacement occurred and death and physical injuries were recorded. The overall security situation has improved but multiple protection concerns remain/were exacerbated, discriminations and tensions between IDP and host communities are apparent. Main child protection concerns and needs identified are presence of unaccompanied and separated children, trauma and psychological distress among children and high risk of gender based violence, especially for women and girls. Insufficient quantities of water and firewood prompt girls and women to walk long distances outside IDP sites, which exposes them at heightened risk of GBV. It was reported that, when they fled their homes, women were raped, including experiencing gang rape. After the government decided that IDPs should return to their place of origin in September 2018, there has been a massive relocation of people within Gedeo Zone, from Gedeo to West Guji zone and from West Guji to Gedeo Zone, adding forced returnees to the IDP population in the sites. The returnees lack NFIs and shelter and require both material and psychosocial support. Parents decided often to return without their children, wanting to check the security situation before. The return program is spearheaded by officials from the political offices, hampering the work from the Woreda Child Affairs. Large number of IDPs do not want to return and move to the host community, making it more difficult to follow-up on UASCs and other vulnerable children who were already identified. Child Protection: The project builds on the socio-ecological model of Child Protection and aligns with Plan’s Global Child Protection Strategy and logframe, composed of 3 overarching CPiE Objectives : 1. Strengthen the protective environment: children, caregivers and communities recognize risks and prevent and respond to them; 2. Promote access to age and gender appropriate services: children and families can access quality services to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation appropriate to the best interest of the child and in line with minimum standards. 3. Child protection monitoring, coordination, policy and advocacy: Plan International is part of inter-agency efforts to improve (sub) state level advocacy and policy change to improve the lives of children affected by violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation before, during and after emergencies. The project is funded by UNICEF and will be implemented in close collaboration with Bureau of women and Children Affairs and Agency of Labour and Social Affairs (BoWCA & ALSA). 
The project will closely work with  other clusters such as CPGBV sub cluster, Education Cluster, Nutrition Cluster  and community groups. The project will also be focusing on strengthening the government system and establish/strengthen effective community based child protection mechanism. The project will also work very closely with child protection partners in Gedeo Zone and Ethiopian Red Cross Society, to follow up cases of cross border reunification of children. 

More specifically, Plan International will work together with Zonal Women and Children Affairs Office on the day to day project implementation. Furthermore, Plan International  will coordinate the implementation with other partner who will provide different service in the IDPs sites and host community and enhance referral mechanisms.  In addition, Plan International  will promote community based program and closely work with the elders, community representatives, religious leaders and parents. Most vulnerable and at risk children as well as adults. Main target : Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), child GBV survivors and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) PCA Output 1 : Children (boys and girls) accessed age, gender and culturally appropriate psychosocial support services (through access to child-friendly spaces, and inter sectoral programme interventions
Activity 1.1: Establish and strengthen temporary child friendly spaces
Activity 1.2 Equip CFS with age and gender appropriate psychosocial support activity and recreational materials
Activity 1.3: Provision of four days psychological first aid and focused PSS training for social workers and child protection officers  (two times-for refreshment) 
Activity 1.4: Provision of two days training on CFS management and disability friendly CFS activities to the CFS facilitators 
Activity 1.5: Provide on job coaching on possible integration of psychosocial support in the CFSs. 

PCA output 2 : Community based mechanisms strengthened to mitigate risks and vulnerability of women, boys and girls to violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation – including GBV. 
Activity 2.1  Establish and support child protection committees 
Activity 2.2. Provide one day capacity building training to the Child Protection Committee members on basics of child protection, including GBV
Activity 2.3 : Provide two days capacity building training to the CPC members on basics psychosocial support and referral pathways 
Activity 2.4 : Establish and/or strengthen adolescent and children clubs in the /kebele, train them on child protection
Activity 2.5 : Organize community awareness and sensitization event on child protection and related issues
Activity 2.6 : Conduct risk mapping exercise with the CPC members, community representatives and adolescent girls & boys club. 
Activity 2.7 : Develop key messages on child protection ,PSEA and GBV  in Amharic and local languages and use for community messaging
Activity 2.8 : Visibility materials like T-shirt & Vest to the CPC members and CFS animators
Activity 2.9 : Purchase of different community awareness raising materials like Mega Phone
Activity 2.10: Provide training for adolescent girls and boys on basic child protection concept, identification & referral.
Activity 2.11 : Transportation cost for referral of survivors of GBV, including Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), cases to access integrated care and support. 
Activity 2.12 : Dignity kit support for women and girls. 

PCA Output 3 : Unaccompanied, separated and other vulnerable children at-risk of violations/survivors of violence received timely community-based response services; including referral, care and support (through strengthened and organized case management system)
Activity 2.1: Customize the case management tools and SOPs.
Activity 2.2: Purchase Suspension files and file cabinet to file the case of UAMSC, Orphaned and OVC children Activity 2.3: Purchase and provision of  non-food items (NFIs) and direct support for critical cases 
Activity 2.4: Provision of five days training for the 60 case workers on the basic of case managements and referral mechanisms (two times for refreshment )
Activity 2.5 :Recruit and provide monthly incentive for 60 Social workers
Activity 2.6: Conduct service mapping, establish referral pathways and create awareness raising 
Activity 2.7: Provision of training to  foster parents on positive parenting and disciplining 
Activity 2.8 : Providing two days training for Woreda and zonal BOWCA, BOLSA staffs and site management committees on basic child protection concept and PFA (Includes refresher training)
Activity 2.9 : Establish and support mobile help lines for focal person from each IDP site (i.e. provision of mobile cell phone and airtime).
Activity 2.10 : Support BoWCA to rollout the case management SOP and ISP
Activity 2.11 : Support family tracing and reunification of 500 UAMSC