International projects: Malawi

Project: Assessment to identify entry points to the strengthen child protection within early childcare development in Malawi.

CCLC’s international department conducted a study on the strengths and weaknesses of child protection systems for children aged 0-8 in Malawi. The study will help to identify the most important changes that must be made in order to strengthen child protection within early childcare development in Malawi.

Funding sources: UNICEF Malawi. 

In 2012, UNICEF Malawi asked CCLC’s international department to conduct a study on child protection systems for children ages 0-8 in Malawi. The study was designed to identify key areas for reform in developing a more effective system. In particular the study sought to understand what child protection issues arise for children aged 0-8 in Malawi from the perspective of parents, guardians and children. The study particularly focused on exploring the situation of children in vulnerable circumstances, such as children affected by HIV and AIDS, and children living with disabilities; recognising that such children are particularly vulnerable to violence and neglect, and are likely to have relatively fewer opportunities to access services.  

The study also examined the capacity of the early childhood development (ECD) sector to prevent violation of children's rights, what services it included, how many children were involved in these services, what training, knowledge and skills professionals working in the sector received, and the structure, process and practice for dealing with suspected abuse. Through this analysis, the study was also able to determine how government, development partners and civil society could provide support to improve child protection in ECD and how more vulnerable children could be included in ECD interventions. Finally, the study sought to identify strategies that would ensure that the National Child Protection System covers younger children (children in ECD).  

CCLC’s international department conducted research through interviews and meetings with children, parents, guardians, childcare professionals, caregivers and ECD professionals in Malawi. Our results, presented in a comprehensive report, provide an in depth overview of our findings, and recommendations (based on those findings) for strengthening child protection in early childhood development in Malawi

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