UNICEF ESARO CHILD PROTECTION TEAMINTERNAL MEETING NOTES17 October 2013

REFERENCE: Teleconference of the Inter-Agency Child Protection Systems Strengthening Group for East and Southern Africa, first meeting of 2013.A recording of the call is available at: https://sc-cpi.webex.com/sc-cpi/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=5840782&rKey=b245000102d78dc8

DATE OF MEETING: December 17, 2013, 11h-12h30min (EAT)

PARTICIPANTS: Clare Feinstein (Save the Children Child Protection Initiative, based in Nairobi, chairing the call), Farida Bascha (Save the Children International, regional program manager, based in Nairobi), Cornel Ogutu (ANPPCAN Regional, based in Nairobi), Mzi Nituli (SOS Children’s Villages, based in Johannesburg), Rhoda Kasimbu (World Vision International (WVI), regional office for East Africa, based in Tanzania), Richard Wawimbi (WVI, regional office for East Africa, based in Uganda), Steve Morgan (Terre des hommes Netherlands, regional director for East Africa, based in Nairobi) and Denise Stuckenbruck (UNICEF ESARO, based in Nairobi).

1. The proposed agenda was adopted at the start of the call:

Individual introductions (all) Brief background of process (Clare) Discussion and decision about geographical coverage: should we be one or two regional

groups in ESA? (Denise) Revision of proposed Joint Agency work-plan for 2014 (current draft enclosed; Clare) ESA-specific issues to be taken into account (Denise) AOB

2. Notes:

After a round of introductions, Clare explained that this was an initial “kick-off” call to revitalize the work of the group in East and Southern Africa as we plan the work across the continent in 2014. Thereafter she provided the group with a brief overview of the process thus far, based on the presentation of the Joint Statement on Child Protection Systems Strengthening made by the Inter-Agency group to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)

in Addis Ababa last November. See presentation here:

After that, Denise proposed a discussion about the ‘geographical coverage’ of the group, given that some of the agencies involved divide Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) in two sub-regions. It was noted that while there may be some differences in the type of child protection work that is being carried in each of these regions, there is also interesting experience of working across both regions jointly, such as within RIATT-ESA. It was therefore agreed that, especially given the fact that not all of the agencies part of the group were represented in this call, this group will continue working across

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UNICEF ESARO CHILD PROTECTION TEAMINTERNAL MEETING NOTES17 October 2013

the two sub-regions for now, keeping in mind the specificities of each wherever relevant. If the group later feels the need to reopen the discussion about the geographical scope of its activities, this can be tabled once again. It was also noted that the membership of the group should be open enough to allow for inclusion of other organizations beyond the current group, but that we must also find a balance in sharing information widely and keeping the group operational. It was agreed that for now we shall move forward with existing members and that any agency that would like to recommend that other organizations join the movement, should do so via email to the whole group.

Clare then led the group in revision the current workplan for 2014, a plan that was drafted initially after the presentation of the statement to the ACERWC. Click here to see the version of the plan that

was reviewed:

Several agencies have since been contributing to the design of the workplan, which remains work in progress. It was also noted that all activities had a lead agency appointed to them, but that it is expected that all partners contribute wherever they can. During these discussions, the following issues emerged:

All agencies are called upon to support ACPF in the work with the ACERWC as a result of the commitments emanated from the November sessions;

Save the Children and UNICEF (Clare and Denise) will approach REPSSI to ask for an update on their plans regarding the presentation of the statement to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This information will be shared with the whole group;

Save the Children (Farida) will circulate information about the opportunities to influence the East Africa Community (EAC) and present the statement to them. Farida mentioned that there is a validation workshop of the EAC Child Rights Policy scheduled for January 16-18 and that she will share more information about how we can use that platform to advocate for the systems approach within the EAC. SOS Children’s Villages and UNICEF are interested in supporting these efforts;

UNICEF (Miranda and Denise) will collate a table listing all the African countries due to report to the ACERWC in 2014 and will circulate this to the group to assist in the prioritization of countries to focus advocacy on next year;

Several concerns were raised about how to ensure that country level efforts, such as existing Child Protection Working Groups, often led by governments, can be involved in this initiative. Discussions concluded that each of the agencies part of this group has a role to play in encouraging our country-level counterparts to promote this agenda, and to replicate this regional inter-agency collaboration at national level. We all have responsibility to disseminate the joint statement and to support our country colleagues in taking it forward.

As time advanced, it was concluded that there were no other issues to discuss for now and a second teleconference was scheduled to take place on February 11, 2014 at 11am EAT.

3. Summary of agreements and next steps:

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UNICEF ESARO CHILD PROTECTION TEAMINTERNAL MEETING NOTES17 October 2013

a) This group will continue working across the two sub-regions (ESA) for the time being;b) For now we shall move forward with existing members. Any agency that would like to

recommend other organizations to join the movement, should do so via email to the whole group;

c) Save the Children and UNICEF (Clare and Denise) will approach REPSSI to ask for an update on their plans regarding the presentation of the statement to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC);

d) Save the Children (Farida) will circulate information about the opportunities to influence the East Africa Community (EAC) and present the statement to them, including during a validation workshop of the EAC Child Rights Policy scheduled for January 16-18. SOS Children’s Villages and UNICEF are interested in supporting these efforts;

e) UNICEF (Miranda and Denise) will collate a table listing all the African countries due to report to the ACERWC in 2014 and will circulate this to the group;

f) We all have responsibility to disseminate the joint statement and to support our country colleagues in taking it forward.

ENDS

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