Project profile — Strengthening the Child Protection System in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• Congo, Democratic Republic (100.00%)

• Legal and judicial development:
Legal and judicial development (15130) (25.00%)
Human rights (15160) (55.00%)
• Conflict Prevention And Resolution, Peace And Security: Security system management and reform (15210) (5.00%)
• Other Social Infrastructure And Services: Social/welfare services (16010) (15.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (principal objective)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project aims to improve respect for the rights of girls and boys, especially those in situations of deprived freedoms and at risk or victims of economic or sexual exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project contributes to the structural improvement of the child protection system in the DRC through the promotion, mobilization and strengthening of competencies in crucial sectors that are often overlooked: labour inspection, detention centres and the tourism sector. The project also aims to increase children's participation in the mechanisms of protection, prevention and action against the sexual violence in which they are victims. Project activities include: (1) organization of a series of workshops with children and civil society on their roles within the protection system; (2) development, validation, testing and integration of a child rights training kit intended for staff working with children deprived of their liberty; and (3) promoting consultation and coordination spaces for the implementation of the project and to better convey the voice of traditionally overlooked sectors in child protection. The project aims to develop the skills and capacities of over 6,692 people directly (446 girls, 446 boys, 1,320 women and 4,480 men); 36,500 people indirectly; and ultimately, aims for better protection and respect for the rights of 427,460 children in the DRC.

The expected outcomes of this project include : (1) Increased contribution of girls to decision making and to the implementation of initiatives aimed at improving their status as gender and human rights holders within the child protection system in the DRC ; (2) Improved child friendly practices, including respect for gender-specific rights, and the integration of traditionally overlooked state and private sectors within the child protection system in the DRC ; and (3) Improved multi-sector coordination within the child protection system in the DRC.

Results achieved as of May 2024 include: (1) strengthened the skills of 72 civil society organizations (21 in Kinshasa, 30 in Lubumbashi, and 21 in Matadi) in child protection and participation; (2) established 3 child advisory committees (12 girls and 8 boys in each) of the project's 3 intervention zones (Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Matadi); (3) recruited 6 civil society organisation that support children with various vulnerability factors; and (4) finalized the operating procedures for receiving children in state care and educational institutions. These procedures clarify the various human resources roles and responsibilities of the staff involved in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s child detention centers when children are admitted and provide them with practical working tools. This project activities reached 509 direct beneficiaries (187 women, 181 men, 74 girls, 67 boys) and directly affected 649 people (267 women, 241 men, 74 girls and 67 boys) in the first year. Over the 2 years implementation period, the project indirectly reached 147,820 people (5,5009 women, 7,371 men, 9,720 girls and 9,720 boys), 16% of the end-of-project target.

• Proactive disclosure