Abstract #295  -  Enhancing child protection through Community Child Protection Workers
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Ms Malla Mabona - Malawi Ministry
Additional Authors:
Aim: 1. Background Community Child Protection Workers (CCPWs) were introduced in 2005 as volunteers in Community Child Protection. Since then, the Ministry of Women and Child development has been negotiating with the Department of Human Resources and Management Development for the establishment of posts for these volunteers for integration into normal government system under a new establishment as “Community Child Protection Workers”. 2. How Are CCPWs Recruited? CCPWs are holders of a minimum of Malawi Junior Certificate. Recruitment is done by District Assemblies through the District Social Welfare Office (DSWO). Communities identify them and encourage them to apply through the DSWO.
Method / Issue: 3. Training of the CCPWs To ensure high quality of services, CCPWs undergo an intensive 5 week training course. The training is conducted by well qualified trainers (DSWOs, and recognized trainers from the civil society). This training is based on a well developed curriculum whose modules include: 1. Introduction to Child Protection 2. Challenges to Child protection 3. Child Protection Issues 4. Early Childhood Development 5. Social work 6. Roles and Responsibilities of Duty Bearers 7. Community capacity Development Training was introduced to:- * Equip participants with basic knowledge and skills in child protection * Increase understanding of the situational factors that pose challenges to child protection * Provide an opportunity for learning more topical issues, examining duties and responsibilities of duty bearers * Provide a channel for networking and advocacy by stakeholders * Understand available services to address the child related problems in the Community
Results / Comments: 4. Deployment of CCPWs CCPWs are deployed into their communities after training and each get approximately US$10 per month. It is proposed that once integrated into the normal government system, their positions should be established at the level of Health surveillance Assistants who receive US$52 per month. Currently, CCPWs cover wide areas with some covering up to 75 sq km. The Ministry’s plan is to reduce this coverage to a 10km radius. Over time, CCPWs are forming an extensive network of ground staff bringing the formal social welfare services to the Community. CCPWs have contributed greatly to the delivery of social services in rural areas of Malawi and are crucial for the implementation of child protection programmes. Children are prevented from getting into a state of vulnerability and orphans’ rights are promoted, claimed and used by many Malawian children. Currently, Malawi has a total of 780 CCPWs. However, the plan is to have an average ratio of 250 households per CCPW. 5. Roles and Responsibilities of CCPWs * Advocate for children’s rights and responsibilities * Monitor and supervise Community Based Organizations, CBCCs and children’s corners * Plan and conduct community meetings and home visits * Maintain community based data through the use of Community Village Registers and Household Listing books * Aggregates and submit monthly and quarterly reporting forms to (DSWO) * Supervises village volunteers and children’s committees at community level * Maintain a Village Registers and filling in the Community Monitoring Tool
Discussion: Lessons learnt The presence of the CCPWs has contributed to an increase in number of reported cases of child abuse and increased accessibility of children services by the community. They are closer to the people as they are based right in the community. Use of CCPW is cost effective hence more savings on the government. It is therefore more efficient to provide community services because; o It is less expensive therefore cost effective o There is increased utilization of the services as service is within their reach
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