Introduction

Children are among the most vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises including conflicts, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and displacement. Child Protection in Emergencies (CPIE) seeks to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children in emergency contexts.

This training equips humanitarian practitioners with the knowledge and practical skills to design, implement, and monitor child protection interventions that are rights-based, culturally appropriate, and compliant with international humanitarian, child protection, and donor frameworks.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

1. Understand key child protection risks and vulnerabilities in emergencies
2. Apply international child protection standards and principles
3. Identify, prevent, and respond to child protection violations
4. Design and implement CPIE interventions
5. Integrate child protection into humanitarian response programming
6. Apply safeguarding, data protection, and ethical principles
7. Coordinate effectively with child protection actors and systems
8. Monitor, report, and improve child protection outcomes

Important Dates
Classroom Training Calendar

Online Training Calendar

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Child Protection in Emergencies

• Overview of child protection concepts and definitions
• Impact of emergencies on children
• Types of child protection risks: Violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, Family separation, Child labor and trafficking
• Child rights and legal frameworks: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), International humanitarian law
• Principles of CPIE: Best interests of the child, Do No Harm, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)

Day 2: Child Protection Risks, Assessment & Context Analysis

• Child protection risk identification and analysis
• Child protection rapid assessments
• Participatory approaches with children and communities
• Gender, age, and disability considerations
• Protection mainstreaming in emergencies
• Ethical data collection and child safeguarding
• Practical exercise: child protection risk analysis

Day 3: CPIE Programming & Case Management

• Designing child protection interventions
• Case management principles and steps
• Psychosocial support (PSS)
• Family tracing and reunification (FTR)
• Child-friendly spaces (CFS)
• Referral pathways and service mapping
• Practical exercise: developing a CPIE intervention plan

Day 4: Coordination, Safeguarding & Data Protection

• Child protection coordination mechanisms (CP AoR, clusters)
• Working with governments, NGOs, and UN agencies
• Child safeguarding policies and procedures
• Managing sensitive child protection data
• Data protection frameworks: GDPR (overview), UN Data Protection Principles
• Reporting and information sharing protocols
• Managing disclosures and incident reporting

Day 5: Monitoring, Reporting & Donor Compliance

• Monitoring child protection interventions
• CPIE indicators and results frameworks
• Reporting to donors and stakeholders
• Quality assurance and accountability mechanisms
• Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
• Staff care and wellbeing
• Course review, lessons learned, and action planning

Key Frameworks & Standards Covered

• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
• Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS)
• Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines
• Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR)
• Sphere Handbook
• Do No Harm & AAP Principles
• Donor Safeguarding and Compliance Requirements

Targeted Participants

This training is ideal for:

• Child Protection Officers and Case Workers
• Humanitarian Program Staff
• Social Workers and Community Mobilizers
• NGO and UN Agency Staff
• Government Child Protection and Social Welfare Officers
• Protection Cluster Members
• Project Managers and M&E Officers

Key Benefits to Participants and Organizations

• Improved quality and effectiveness of CPIE interventions
• Enhanced compliance with donor and safeguarding requirements
• Stronger coordination and referral systems
• Reduced risk of harm to children
• Improved accountability and ethical practice