Course Details

Securing Childhoods: Child-Sensitive Social Protection Training Course

INTRODUCTION

Children experience poverty and vulnerability differently than adults, facing unique risks that can have lifelong consequences for their development and well-being. Child-Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) is an essential approach that goes beyond generic poverty reduction, intentionally designing social protection systems and programs to maximize positive impacts on children and uphold their rights. Recognizing that investing in children is investing in the future, this vital training course equips professionals with the understanding and tools needed to ensure social protection effectively addresses the multidimensional aspects of child poverty and promotes optimal child well-being. Learn how to make safety nets truly work for children through this critical training course.

This comprehensive training course delves into the core principles and practical application of Child-Sensitive Social Protection. Participants will learn how to analyze child-specific vulnerabilities, apply a child rights lens to program design, adapt targeting and transfer mechanisms to better meet children's needs, foster crucial linkages with essential services like health, nutrition, education, and child protection, and monitor outcomes specifically related to child well-being. By completing this training course, you will gain the expertise to champion, design, and implement social protection interventions that provide a stronger foundation for children to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

DURATION

10 days

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Social protection policymakers, program managers, and technical staff
• Child rights advocates and practitioners from NGOs and civil society organizations
• Staff of UN agencies (e.g., UNICEF, WFP, ILO) working on child-focused initiatives
• Government officials in ministries responsible for social welfare, children's affairs, health, education, and planning
• Monitoring and evaluation specialists focusing on child development and well-being outcomes
• Social workers, community development officers, and frontline staff working directly with families and children
• Researchers and academics specializing in child poverty, child development, social policy, and social protection

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Understand the rationale, core principles, and international frameworks underpinning Child-Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP).
• Analyze the multidimensional nature of child poverty and identify specific vulnerabilities faced by children at different life stages.
• Apply a child rights-based approach throughout the social protection program cycle.
• Identify opportunities within existing social protection programs to enhance their positive impacts on children.
• Design specific social protection program features (e.g., targeting, transfer value, conditions) to maximize benefits for child well-being.
• Develop effective strategies for linking social protection beneficiaries with key services essential for children (health, nutrition, education, child protection).
• Select appropriate indicators and design monitoring and evaluation systems to effectively measure the impact of social protection on children.
• Advocate for the integration of child-sensitive approaches into national social protection policies, strategies, and systems.

COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Foundations of Child-Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP)

• Defining CSSP and its importance for achieving child rights and well-being for this module.
• Understanding the multidimensional nature of child poverty and vulnerability for this module.
• Exploring international conventions and frameworks related to children's rights and social protection for this module.
• Examining the evidence on how social protection can impact various dimensions of child well-being for this module.
• Contrasting child-sensitive approaches with general poverty-targeted programs for this module.

Module 2: Analyzing Child Vulnerability and Needs

• Understanding key stages of child development and associated needs and risks for this module.
• Methods for assessing child poverty and vulnerability using quantitative and qualitative data for this module.
• Analyzing specific vulnerabilities faced by different groups of children (e.g., infants, adolescents, children with disabilities, orphans) for this module.
• Identifying barriers faced by children and their families in accessing essential services for this module.
• Incorporating children's voices and perspectives in needs assessments for this module.

Module 3: Applying a Child Lens to Social Protection Program Design

• Integrating child rights principles (non-discrimination, best interests of the child, participation) into program design for this module.
• Reviewing existing social protection programs through a child-sensitive lens to identify gaps and opportunities for this module.
• Considering the intra-household dynamics and how transfers impact resource allocation for children for this module.
• Ensuring program design addresses potential negative impacts on children (e.g., child labor) for this module.
• Mainstreaming child sensitivity across different types of social protection interventions for this module.

Module 4: Child-Sensitive Targeting, Transfers, and Conditions

• Designing targeting mechanisms that effectively reach households with vulnerable children for this module.
• Assessing the adequacy of transfer values to meet children's specific needs (food, health, education costs) for this module.
• Considering child grants or top-ups within broader household transfers for this module.
• Designing conditions (if used) that promote investment in children's human capital without being overly burdensome for this module.
• Ensuring payment mechanisms are accessible and safe for caregivers receiving benefits on behalf of children for this module.

Module 5: Linking Social Protection with Essential Services for Children

• Identifying key services critical for child development (health, nutrition, early childhood development, education, child protection, WASH) for this module.
• Designing effective referral pathways and coordination mechanisms between social protection and service providers for this module.
• Utilizing 'cash plus' approaches that combine transfers with information or support to access services for this module.
• Strengthening the supply side of essential services to meet increased demand generated by social protection for this module.
• Monitoring the uptake of essential services by children in beneficiary households for this module.

Module 6: Addressing Specific Child Vulnerabilities through SP

• Designing social protection responses tailored to the needs of children with disabilities and their families for this module.
• Developing adolescent-responsive social protection (linking with skills, sexual/reproductive health, preventing early marriage) for this module.
• Utilizing social protection to support orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), including kinship care for this module.
• Integrating child protection considerations and referral mechanisms for children at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation for this module.
• Addressing the needs of children affected by migration or displacement through social protection for this module.

Module 7: Monitoring and Evaluating Child Outcomes

• Selecting appropriate indicators to measure the impact of social protection on child health, nutrition, education, protection, and overall well-being for this module.
• Utilizing child-focused data collection methods within household surveys and administrative systems for this module.
• Designing evaluations (including impact evaluations) capable of assessing effects on children for this module.
• Disaggregating data by age, sex, disability, and other relevant factors to understand impacts on different groups of children for this module.
• Using M&E findings to improve the child sensitivity of social protection programs for this module.

Module 8: Policy Coherence, Coordination, and Advocacy for CSSP

• Advocating for the integration of CSSP principles into national social protection policies, strategies, and legal frameworks for this module.
• Promoting multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms involving ministries responsible for children, health, education, and social protection for this module.
• Building political will and securing adequate budgets for child-sensitive approaches for this module.
• Engaging civil society, communities, and children themselves in advocating for better social protection for children for this module.
• Aligning CSSP efforts with national development plans and commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for this module.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com