Making research on violence affecting children useful: experience of policy

engagement with stakeholders in Ethiopia

Alula Pankhurst and Nathan Negussie, Young Lives Ethiopia and Emebet Mulugeta, Addis Ababa

University

Adolescence, Youth and Gender conferenceOxford, 8-9 September 2016

CONTEXT: YOUNG LIVES, OAK AND THE CRPF

In less than 7 years, one small project on OVCs has developed into a monthly forum and research centre, multiple studies and improved advocacy for children.

•2009: YL funded by Oak to look at OVCs•2010: Birth of the Child Research and Practice Forum•2013: Support to CRPF + study of child labour•2015: Support for institutionalization of CRPF to carry out research and policy engagement on Violence Against Children and Youth (VACAY)•2016: Ethio-child Research Centre underway led by EDRI; UNICEF support

YL Presentation CRPF at MoWCA

EVIDENCE IN ETHIOPIA AND FROM YOUNG LIVES

Longitudinal qualitative data are rare – the YL studies provide evidence that VACAY is common and

re-occurring through children’s lives

•Review of policy and literature on VACAY– Major gaps identified included:

• Little qualitative data• Few perspectives of children and parents• No understanding of longer term consequences

•Review of YL qualitative data with UNICEF support– Corporal punishment widespread, accepted, and

normalized• Rural & urban settings and in the home, school and

community contexts;• Variations relate to gender, age and poverty

VACAY RESEARCH AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT

Government, UN and civil society must be equally involved for real uptake and impact.

•Findings disseminated broadly after consultation with UNICEF– Child Research and Practice Forum – Ministry of Education and UNICEF workshop on School-

Related Gender-Based Violence– Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Violence affecting

Women and Children held at Ministry of Justice, chaired by Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MoWCA)

– Civil Society Child Protection Advisory group at African Child Policy Forum

– Child Research and Practice Forum held at MoWCA

RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Violence cannot be solved by one single agency or one approach.

• Government must coordinate:– Inter-sectoral coordination between health,

education, justice, social protection—violence cannot be solved by one ministry

– More coordination with alliances and networks, the UN, and International and local NGOs promoting guidelines

• UNICEF and partners must reach far from federal, to regional to district and community with multiple sector involvement

• Research networks should be developed with national and international research institutional

PLANS FOR RESEARCH AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT

Relevant research is developed for and by stakeholders—this builds ownership of the VACAY

challenges and solutions.

•2016 (current): Stakeholder interviews range of government, international agencies and NGOs •12/2016: Consultation with stakeholders and research design•2017: Qualitative fieldwork to be carried out in Young Lives sites on areas of VACAY determined through stakeholder interviews and consultations•2017-2018:

– Workshops (2) with stakeholders and with researchers working on VACAY linking institutes and sectors

– Two briefs produced for improved advocacy – Policy engagement strategy

www.younglives.org.uk @YLOxford•methodology and research papers•child profiles and photos•e-newsletter•datasets (UK Data Archive)

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