The Uganda PLG’s inaugural learning forum in March 2012 focused on Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms (CBCPMs) and their linkages with the National Child Protection Systems. The two-day conference brought together over 70 participants from government, academic institutions, community based organizations, and international agencies along with national child protection actors and researchers. Participants discussed the process of identifying and utilizing community based child protection systems, lessons to be learned from informal child protection systems, sector-wide approaches to systems, lessons to be learned from informal child protection systems,  sector wide approaches to systems strengthening, institutionalizing child protection and setting the Ugandan learning agenda for 2012-2015.

March 6th, 2012

Opening Session
– Child Protection Learning: A Global Perspective, Neil Boothby, Columbia University
– Child Protection Systems Mapping in East and Southern Africa Region, Ghazal Keshavarzian, Maestral International

Session 1: Community Based Child Protection Systems: What are they? How do they work? What do we need to learn and do?
Chair: Mr. Mondo Kyateka
– Report on Community-base Child Protection Systems Mapping: A Case of Lira and Dokolo in Northern – Uganda, Timothy Opobo, CPC Network Uganda PLG
– Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms: A review of indigenous community oriented mechanisms used by TPO Uganda in Northern Uganda and Somalia, Patrick Onyango- Mangen, TPO
– A Ugandan Childhood Through the Eyes of Children and Parents, Vincent Adude, Child Fund
– Developing Locally Meaningful Indicators for Child-Centered Psychosocial Programming in Uganda, Emmanuel Ngabirano, TPO
– Livelihoods, Economic Strengthening, and Children Protection in Western Uganda, Inbal Alon, Bantwana Initiative & Kabarole Research Institute

Session 2: Informal Systems: What do we need to learn?
Chair: Patrick Onyango Mangen
– From Projects to Systems – a Macro-level Overview of the Child Protection System in Uganda, Deogratias Yiga, ANPPCAN- Uganda
– Community mapping and Capacity-Building Initiative – Identifying and Strengthening Community Systems, Simba, Machingaidze, Child Fund

Session 3: A Sector Wide Approach to Child Protection Systems Strengthening
Chair: Stella Ayo
– Child Sexual Abuse Prevalence in Uganda, Kaboggoza- Ssembatya, Assistant Commissioner, Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development
– Child Protection Systems and Child Labour: An Integrated Monitoring and Area Based Approach, Akky de Kort, ILO
– Justice for Children: “Protecting children against all forms abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence”, A Project of the Justice, Law and Order Sector & UNICEF Uganda, Lydia Namuli, Center for Justice Studies and Innovations (CJSI)
– A Systems Approach to Child Protection: Lessons from World Vision, Francis Eswap, World Vision

March 7th, 2012

Session IV: National Child Protection Systems Strengthening in Uganda – How can we Make the System Function Effectively?
Chair: Deogratias Yiga
– An Overview of National Child Protection System for Uganda: The Planned Countrywide Child Protection Systems Mapping, James Kabogozza, MOGLSD
– Social Welfare Workforce Strengthening: A Key Component of Systems Building, Wilbroad Ngambi, UNICEF
– Social Welfare Systems Strengthening within the Local Government – Experiences from SUNRISE OVC Project, Grace Mayanja

Session V: Institutionalizing Child Protection Capacity Building in Uganda
Chair: Peter Nkhonjera
– Engaging Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning to Integrate Child Protection Course Units in Their Programs: Learning from the Makerere Experience, Dr. Eddy Walakira
– Building an Evidence Base in Child Protection: Linking Research, Practice and Knowledge Development – The Proposed Center of Excellence, Dr. Eddy Walakira
– Are the Children and Young People Effectively Protected from Violence in Uganda?, James Kaboggoza Ssembatya (MOGSLD)
– Integrating Child Wellbeing Indicators into the Uganda Bureau of Statistics National Household Survey Instruments – The Proposed National Survey on Child Sexual Abuse, James Kaboggoza Ssembatya (MOGLSD) and Hellen Nviiri (UBOS)

Session VI: Setting the Uganda Learning Agenda for 2012- 2015
Chair: Mr. Mondo Kyateka
– Presentation of National Child Protection Training Manual and Plans to roll it out nationally, Francis Alumai
– Uganda Program Learning Group – 3 Year Strategic Plan & Priorities, Patrick Onyango Mangeni, TPO

Final Session: Launch of the Uganda National Child Protection Training Curriculum by Minister of State for Youth and Children