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CHILD PROTECTION RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN ANAMBRA STATE.

26th march 2013 REVIEW OF COORDINATION MEETING FOR GROUP ONE (1).

Subsequent upon the concluded workshop/ training on child protection in

emergencies for Anambra State child protection network partners and other actors,

the participants were divided into groups and given tasks to carry out child

protection rapid assessment in different communities with the aim of finding out

child protection issues in the communities under study. Group one (1) comprising

of 15 members were given the task to carry out a child protection rapid assessment

in a community (Atani) situated in Ogbaru LGA that was recently affected by

flood.

Prior to the group’s coordination meeting scheduled for 26th march 2013, an

advocacy letter was written to the President General of Atani Progressive Union in

Ogbaru LGA. The letter dated 23/03/2013 with Reference number-

AnsCPN/OG/RCPA/001 contained an overview of the Anambra state Child

protection Network and stated the aim and modalities of the intended assessment.

The letter was duly signed by Mrs. Onyendilefu Lovet Uju, the Chairperson,

Anambra State Child Protection Network. It was delivered by Mrs. Udenuani

Felicia.

The group’s coordination meetingheld as scheduled in VICLAF office situated in

Onitsha. Ten (10) members attended the meeting which commenced by1.00pm

with an opening prayer. The essence of the meeting was to discuss and deliberate

on the action plan as well as the modalities to carry out the intended rapid

assessment. The meeting was presided by Mrs. Onyendilefu Lovet Uju and minutes

were taken by Anumba Joseph Uche who was appointed secretary of the group.

Among the agenda of the meeting were:

- Report on the advocacy visit to the President General of Atani.

- Discussion on the intended modalities for the assessment based on the

content of the advocacy letter

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- Discussion on having broad and key objectives for the rapid assessment.

- Discussion on the tools needed for the assessment.

- Discussion and evaluation of the risks obtainable during the course of the

assessment as well as proffering ways to mediate / minimize such risks

- Code of conduct to be adhered to during the course of the assessment.

- Clarification on issues not understood by some of the team members

- Allocation of responsibilities to team members.

Report on Advocacy visit to the President General (PG) of Atani Community:

Mrs. Udenuani Felicia briefed the team members on how she went about the

advocacy visit to the PG. According to her, the letter was well received with an

assurance from the PG to make available those required to form the discussion

forum during the assessment. The fixed date for the assessment was Tuesday 2nd

April 2013. It was agreed with the PG that the team members would arrive by

11.am of the stipulated day to carry out the assessment.

Intended Modalities for the Assessment: Based on the advocacy letter, it was

stipulated that the modalities for the rapid assessment would include

1. Focal group discussion with four (4) groups in the community. The groups are:

i. Women group comprising 10 persons

ii. Men group comprising 10 persons

iii. Youth group (boys) comprising 5 persons and

iv. Youth group (girls) comprising 5 person

2. Group activities with a group of 20 children whose parent give consent to

participate.

3. An interview with 4 key informants comprising :

i. A man who can speak on behalf of the community

ii. A woman who can speak on behalf of the community

iii. A religious leader who has been working with children

iv. Another woman who has been working with children who can give us

information as it relates to children.

4. An interview with other persons from the community that could be of help in

providing information relating to child protection issues in the community.

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Broad and key objectives for the rapid assessment:discussions were made to

decide an acceptable objective as well as other monomer determinants for the

assessment so as to guide and streamline the team’s activities during the course of

the assessment. The broad objective agreed for the assessment was: “To access the

extent at which children were affected during the flood emergencies and propose preventive

measures to inform response”. They sub-objectives were:

- To raise the awareness of the community on child protection issues in emergencies

- To ensure that children are given attention during emergency situations

- To find out the existing community’s child protection system

- To enhance the community’s mechanism to child protection

- To enhance the existing child protection mechanisms.

Tools needed for the assessment: there was an indepth discussion on the necessary

tools needed to carry out the assessment. The tools were obtained from the training

manual for the workshop held in Awka. Among the tools selected and modified

were:

- Institutional care capacity map- to find out the institutions available in the

community.

- Service care provider capacity map

- tools for key informant interviews,

- tools for group discussions and group activities with children

- the rapid assessment data consolidated sheet.

Benefits and Risk Assessment / Evaluation: the overall benefits and likely risks

that could arise in the course of the assessment were analysed. Among the benefits

highlighted by the group was that it would:

- give an insight to the child care activities obtainable during the flood

emergency

- help garner data/ information necessary to enable us plan for response to

child protection issues in emergencies

- help us ascertain the predominant child protection issues in the communities

and identify those in need of protection.

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- give us an idea on the incidence rate of child protection issues in

emergencies.

Among the risks highlighted were:

- Movement risks; while commuting to and fro the assessment sites/

community

- Communication risks; between the team and people of the community

- Risk of attack when misinterpreted and not accepted

- Health risk ; should in case there is any epidemic / outbreak in the

community

- Risk of mis identification.

Some of the precautionary measures agreed upon to avert some of the risks

identified were:

Avoid high heeled foot wears, avoid wearing tight clothes, dress decently, chatter a

sound vehicle, carry along multiple mobile network lines etc.

Code of Conduct:in order to ensure smooth sail of the intended assessment, the

team members agreed on a common code of conduct. They include:

- No exchange of words between team members or members of the forum on

or off d the field

- Phones should be switched off or put on vibration during the assessment on

the field

- Team members should be united and flexible

- Everyone should be tolerant and be careful not to put down another person’s

opinion.

- Everyone should dress modestly and decently. Et.c

Clarifications: some of the team members inquired if the procedure for the

interview with different groups will take same pattern? In response to this, it was

agreed that the interview and probing sessions will be dependent on the skills of

each team member but emphasis should be on issues that affects the children

with reference to the tools and manual for the rapid assessment. It was also

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agreed that questions to be asked during the group discussion forum and

interview should include the following among others:

- Do you know anything about child protection issues (like abuse, violence,

exploitation rape etc.)?

- Are you aware of any agency(cies) or organisations that carry out activities

relating to child protection?

- Have they been of help to the community; what have they done thus far

especially during the flood emergency

- What are the predominant child protection issues in the community? Probing

should make them open up to issues like rape, trafficking, sexual violence,

kidnap etc. if obtainable in the community

- Tell us your experience about the major ill events that happened during the

flood emergency

- What is the community’s definition of a child?

- If a child gets missing, who does the community contact?

- Are there orphan children in the community, how many are they and how

are the catered for/ handled?

- How does the community tackle child issues before outside organisation

become involved?

- Which organisations intervene in child protection issues in the community,

how do they go about their activities?

Allocation of Responsibilities to Team members:the members present were

allocated responsibilities that would aid in the smooth conduct and analysis of the

rapid assessment. Their tasks were based on carrying out the interview/ discussions

among various groups in the field. Those appointed to work with children group

were: Sabina Izuoza, Udeh Crescent, Nwalusi Ifeoma and Okpala Kasie.

Others were appointed to work with the adults and youths in the different group

discussions and key informant interview. We were paired accordingly so that each

group will have an interviewer and a note taker. The pairing were as follows:

- Anumba Joseph U. & Udenuani Felicia O.

- Ibekwe Angela & Nzekwe Victoria

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- Onyendilefu Lovet Uju & Okafor Roseline

- Efobi Obianuju & Chukwudolue Ifeoma

- Igboaruzu Millicent was appointed as the MOV personel in charge of taking

photographs and other details of every group during the field work.

Group members were told to come along with toys and other children gadgets that

will encourage their participation during children group activities.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that all team members will converge at

VICLAF office by 10 am before proceeding to the site (community) for the child

protection rapid assessment.

The meeting ended with a closing prayer said by Okafor Roseline by 4.50pm after

which there was light refreshment courtesy VICLAF, host of the meeting.

Attendance List For Group One (1) Members During The Coordination Meeting

Held At VICLAF On 26th March 2013

S/no Name Organisation/ Agency

1 Chukwudolue Ifeoma CWSO Onitsha North

2 Okafor Roseline CSWO Oyi LGA

3 Nekwu Victoria N. P.S.W.O, Nnewi South LGA

4 Igboamazu Millicent I. ACSWO Abagana, Njikoka LGA

5 Nwalusi Ifeoma Director, Onitsha South

6 Okpala Kasie MWASD

7 Udeh Cresent M. MWASD

8 Anumba Joseph Uche MWASD

9 Emeka Ejide MWASD