Child Protection Zimbabwe Sub-Sector



centercenterDO NOT COPY00DO NOT COPY-609600285750Child Protection Zimbabwe Sub-Sector00Child Protection Zimbabwe Sub-Sector4591050-95250COVID-19 CONTIGENCY PLAN & GUIDANCE NOTEApril, 202000COVID-19 CONTIGENCY PLAN & GUIDANCE NOTEApril, 2020-609600195262500Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1.Coordination PAGEREF _Toc38352304 \h 22.Impact of COVID-19 on children and their families PAGEREF _Toc38352305 \h 23.Impact on Service Delivery PAGEREF _Toc38352306 \h 34.Continuity of critical interventions with adaptations to suit the different COVID-19 scenarios PAGEREF _Toc38352307 \h 3a)Assumptions PAGEREF _Toc38352308 \h 3b)Response Strategy PAGEREF _Toc38352309 \h 4c)Priority Actions PAGEREF _Toc38352310 \h 4d)Coordination support to DSW PAGEREF _Toc38352311 \h 55.Case management guidance related to COVID-19 PAGEREF _Toc38352312 \h 6a)Awareness raising PAGEREF _Toc38352313 \h 6b)Case management PAGEREF _Toc38352314 \h munity Childcare Workers (CCWs) home visits guidelines PAGEREF _Toc38352315 \h 6c)Family Separation and Alternative Care PAGEREF _Toc38352316 \h 7i.Children in need of alternative care solutions may fall under any of the below categories; PAGEREF _Toc38352317 \h 8ii.Examples of alternative care solutions drawing lessons from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic response in West Africa PAGEREF _Toc38352318 \h 86.Annex PAGEREF _Toc38352319 \h 9a)MoHCC COVID-19 Key Messages-COVID-19 prevention messages translated in 14 local languages of Zimbabwe. PAGEREF _Toc38352320 \h 9b)COVID-19 CP technical guidance and key websites for resources PAGEREF _Toc38352321 \h 9c)Contingency plan budget PAGEREF _Toc38352322 \h 10d)Service provision modalities PAGEREF _Toc38352323 \h 13CoordinationThe Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) works as a sub-sector under the Zimbabwe Protection Sector and is a forum through which agencies with child protection programmes in Zimbabwe coordinate interventions, seek consensus on issues, create partnerships and linkages for better prioritization of available resources and commitment to minimum standards of response with an overall goal of enhancing the protection of children at risk of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect in both regular and humanitarian situations. The CPWG is co-chaired by the Department of Social Welfare [DSW] (Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare), and UNICEF who equally share the responsibilities of leadership. The CPWG is directly contributing towards the Case Management, Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) pillars of the Zimbabwe national preparedness and response plan for COVID-19 which has 8 pillars, aligned to WHO’s global 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (Feb 2020). Impact of COVID-19 on children and their familiesInfectious disease, such as COVID-19, can have a significant impact on children’s and their caregiver’s wellbeing beyond the disease itself. Children in affected communities will be impacted when separated from their caregivers during quarantine or admission to hospitals making them vulnerable to neglect and lack of parental care, mental health and psychosocial distress and increased exposure to violence, including sexual violence, physical and emotional abuse. Children with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups including children on the move, those living on the streets and in residential care face even higher risks. 3.Impact on Service DeliveryOn Friday the 27th, the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa announced a 21-day lockdown starting on the 30th of March 2020 in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. However, partners who continue to provide critical social protection services are facing challenges related to this restrictive measure including: Reduction of capacities related to case management and specialized services for children, victims of violence and those in contact with the law. Risks in conducting family tracing and reunification using contact and a need to shift towards other non-conventional means of IDTR to ensure social distancing Halt of all capacity building workshops, inception meetings and training Risks in enrolling children at immigration reception centers particularly those repatriated from high risk countries such as South Africa Need for COVID-19 prevention measures for national residential care and reception centers to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to Connectivity challenges for staff working from home (WFH)4.Continuity of critical interventions with adaptations to suit the different COVID-19 scenariosAssumptionsResponse will be delivered with locally available resources due to international travel and border entry restrictionsThere may be a decrease or shifts in how populations access public facilities, due to quarantine and other restrictions on public space gatherings (depending on National IPC protocols – containment, delay and mitigation phases.)During lockdown, service delivery will be done mostly remotely, with only critical services able to operate face-to-face UN and INGOs remain operational to coordinate the COVID-19 responseHeavy presence of armed forces during the lockdown’s restrictions phase might impact on freedom of movement of protection service providersConnectivity challenges and power shortages affecting the country might represent an obstacle to timely delivery of interventions and coordination Response StrategyThe overall child protection strategy aims to mitigate the negative short and long-term effects on children as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children , promoting safety, mental and psychosocial well-being of children especially the most vulnerable including children living with disabilities, children on the move, those living on the streets and in residential care. This will be achieved through:Equipping child protection service provision facilities to ensure COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures are adhered to; Scaling up of child protection service provision to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on most vulnerable children in affected areas; and Enhancing the Child Protection sub-cluster coordination through the Ministry of Social Welfare, with technical support from UNICEF.Priority Actions Integration of MHPSS, child protection, PSEA messages in IEC materials and other information and awareness tools/channels targeting front line workers, children, caregivers, women and men;Amendment of service delivery contracts with implementing partners for COVID-19 proofed delivery of critical child protection services, including tracing and emergency alternative care placement of children separated and unaccompanied as a result of the humanitarian situation; post-rape care; care and protection of children with disabilities; bereavement and MHPSS services for children and caregivers;Through local radio stations (in local, Shona and Ndebele languages), TV, social media platforms, disseminate child friendly COVID-19 prevention messages as well as messages on prevention of children from violence, abuse and exploitation;Development of activity toolkit for children and caregivers in isolation to facilitate parenting and child protection learning;Development and dissemination of MHPSS toolkits for frontline workers as well as children and caregivers Facilitate rescue, access to health services, psychosocial support and referral for children survivors of sexual and gender-based violence;Training of social workers and childcare workers (CCWs) on COVID-19-sensitive Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) response, referral pathways and after care;Re-enforcement of community interventions, referral systems and outreach to manage child protection cases and prevent spread of disease as a result of service delivery;Improving quality assurance and working environment for child protection actors.Coordination support to DSWAs a co-lead of the Child Protection Sub-Sector UNICEF will continue to provide support to the Department of Social Welfare [DSW] by;Equipping DSW at national and sub-national levels with ICT tools, airtime and internet connectivity to coordinate CPiE response in COVID-19 contextClosely monitoring for any secondary impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the most vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied and separated children, children with disabilities and children living with HIV Supporting in the dissemination of COVID-19 MHPSS, CPiE and GBV guidelines, and training/refresher training to child protection sub-sector partners.Participation in COVID-19 response MHPSS coordination mechanisms supporting the enhancement of links across other pillars of the response. 5.Case management guidance related to COVID-19 Awareness raisingAwareness raising activities on child protection-related issues should continue only if they comply with government directives and if prevention and mitigation measures are put in place to protect staff, children and their families. Awareness raising activities (making use of online platforms including what sup, text, phone calls) may include information on the containment, prevention and response to COVID-19 ensuring staff are properly trained and information materials made available. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an essential part of Child Protection’s role and these awareness raising activities are also an opportunity for PSS actors to provide PFA to alleviate the increase of COVID-19 related stress and anxiety. Case managementCase management support should be maintained for existing caseload and also be provided to new cases, to the maximum extent of partners’ abilities. Individual MHPSS can be integrated into the case management support. If case management in person is not feasible or advisable depending on the circumstances alternative modalities may be explored to ensure continued support, such as follow up by phone. If access to beneficiaries and capacities of case management actors are further limited, high risk cases only should be prioritized for case management follow munity Childcare Workers (CCWs) home visits guidelinesThe Community Childcare Workers are important frontline community workers who support delivery of child protection services within the National Case Management System. To ensure Covid-19 prevention and mitigation measures are put in place, it is recommended that CCWs adhere to the following guidelines:As per Government of Zimbabwe’s advice on preventing and controlling the spread of Corona Virus, only conduct essential home visits- these may include post child sexual abuse care, support to separated/unaccompanied children, death or hospitalization of children’s primary caregiver. Keep up to date with government messages on preventing the spread of Corona Virus and adhere to guidelines and measures to be taken by individuals, institutions and the public. You are advised t2 subscribe to free Covid-19 official WhatsApp messages by simply typing “Hi” to +263714734593. Through this platform, you will receive up to date official information on Covid-19. Keep regular contact with your District Social Welfare Officers and Case Management Officers for information.Regularly wash/sanitize your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap before, during and after every home visit or meetings.Practice social distancing during home visits and other forms of social contact – this means be at least 1.5M apart from every individual and avoid unnecessarily going out, apart from groceries or seeking a health service. Please explain the importance of social distancing to clients, to protect the children, families and communities.During the home visits and meetings, no handshaking – ensure you explain to the children and families why one needs to refrain from touching each other in order prevent COVID – 19 transmission.For casework maintain a distance of one (1) to two (2) meters with the children and ensure the visits are performed in ventilated rooms or open and safe spaces.If you are not feeling well, please do not see clients and stay at home to self-quarantine and notify your District Social Welfare Officer. In cases you suspect a child protection violation, and the family denies a child protection home visit due to concerns related to the transmission of COVID-19, kindly notify the District Social Welfare Officer for further assistance and guidance.Family Separation and Alternative CareDue to COVID-19 caregivers may fall ill, be quarantined, be hospitalized or die. Alternative care solutions need to be identified for children starting from when a caregiver is reported sick (before hospitalization or death).Children in need of alternative care solutions may fall under any of the below categories; Children who have lost one or two parents or a primary caregiver due to COVID-19Children who are survivors of COVID-19Children in quarantine situations (home, community, care centres)Children who are living in communities heavily affected by COVID-19 Other vulnerable groups; Including children with disabilities, children on the move, those living on the streets and in residential careExamples of alternative care solutions drawing lessons from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic response in West AfricaPut in place systems to register families and facilitate families’ knowledge of infection control at the moment of concern about infection (heavily dependent on the presence of a strong linkage between health and child protection actors) which is effective in reducing the number of children placed in centres or beyond family care.Need to establish communication systems to facilitate coordination between service providers and COVID-19 affected families to avoid instances where they are not informed of the location of their children and the children are not informed of what is happening to them. Systematic initiation of family tracing at the child’s admission to the centres (for those in quarantine care), not waiting for transfer to longer term care facilities which will result in significantly reducing the length of time children spend in centres.Creating short-term foster care arrangements in communities may prove to me more socially acceptable and cost effective. This can be done by pre-positioning a network of emergency carers (ready to accept children on short notice for limited periods of time) directly linked to a functioning family tracing system6.AnnexMoHCC COVID-19 Key Messages-COVID-19 prevention messages translated in 14 local languages of Zimbabwe. COVID-19 CP technical guidance and key websites for resources Alliance Technical Note on Protecting Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: This note is available in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, and Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Turkish and will be updated regularly, so check back in on site. This Technical Note has been produced based on?the?Guidance Note on Protection of Children during Infectious Disease Outbreaks.It has been adapted to COVID-19 to support frontline Child Protection workers, policy makers, and donors in designing and implementing Child Protection interventions, including cross-sectoral collaboration. Evidence from previous infectious disease outbreaks suggest that existing Child Protection risks are exacerbated, and new ones emerge as a result of the epidemic and prevention and control measures. Thus, the document outlines key risks and corresponding essential actions to mitigate such risks. Child Protection Minimum Standards, 2019 editionThe CP AoR MHPSS Coordination Specialist, in collaboration with Save the Children and UNICEF MHPSS Specialists, developed tipsheets on promoting the wellbeing of caregivers and their children along with messages for parents/caregivers. Wellbeing Tipsheets are available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Swahili currently. The Messages for Parents doc is available in English and Arabic. IASC Briefing Note on Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak Partnership to End Violence Against Children: Protecting Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak Contains several resources for children, adults, and responders. Also, includes a social media kit that will be updated often. Resources for children include communicating with children guides, protecting children’s safety online resources, distance learning resources, entertainment / activity ideas, and several other resources. Contingency plan budgetThe Child Protection Sub-Sector will need US$ $3,254,000 in response of COVID-19 LINK Excel.Sheet.12 "Book1" "Sheet1!R3C4:R48C7" \a \f 4 \h \* MERGEFORMAT Objective 1: ?Equipping child protection service provision facilities with COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures?ActivityIndicatorsTargetsCost (USD)Procurement of PPE kits for Implementing PartnersNumber of PPE items procuredFor 10 CSOs, 110 child residential care institutions and DSW child protection workforce including community cadres social protection workforce$150,000 Design and disseminate online and information kits to help equip CCWs containing key CP related COVID-19 messages, SEA booklets and referral pathways Number partners that have completed training on GBV risk mitigation and referrals for survivors, including for sexual exploitation and abuse10,000 CCWs nationwide$80,000.00 Adapt, training and (online) disseminate activity toolkits that children and caregivers can use for during isolation Number of children, parents and primary caregivers provided with community based mental health and psychosocial support100,000 PSS tool kits$60,000.00 Using available digital application for the lead CCWs (at ward levels) in assessing of impact of COVID-19 on childrenNumber of protection and PSS-related messages developed for digital dissemination by CCWCs 900 lead CCWs$10,000.00 Development and dissemination (online and print) of MHPSS & bereavement support toolkits for frontline workers and for children & adolescents affected by CV-19 MHPSS toolkit developed100,000 caregivers and 200,000 children$180,000.00 Print information kits to help equip CCWs containing key CP related COVID-19 messages, SEA booklets and referral pathways Number of partners that have completed training on GBV risk mitigation and referrals for survivors, including for sexual exploitation and abuse80,000 PSEA booklets Shona, 20,000 PSEA booklets English and 20,000 PSEA booklets Ndebele$100,000.00 Training of CCWCs on newly developed tools for CV-19 sensitive CPiE and MHPSSNumber of CCWCs trained6,000 CCWs trained$200,000.00 Printing and dissemination of family level MHPSS activity / tool kits Number of toolkits printed100,000 tool kits to reach 200,000 children$100,000.00 Dissemination of information and feedback to adolescents and frontline workers on protection risks of CV-19 through U-report Number of people sharing their concerns and asking questions/clarifications for available support services to address their needs through established feedback mechanisms. 200,000 people$50,000.00 Objective2: Scaling up of child protection service provision to respond to impact of COVID-19 on most vulnerable children in affected areasWorking with the MoHCC, DSW, CSOs to identify, refer and provide protection services including alternative care arrangements for children left without a care provider, due to the quarantine, hospitalization or death of the parent or care benefactor, including CWDNumber of children without parental or family care provided with appropriate alternative care arrangements50,000 children$290,000 Support for trauma and psychosocial distress relief for children are caregivers during CV-19 isolationNumber of children provided with community based mental health and psychosocial support.50,000 children$49,000 Parenting and child-focused support during CV-19 crisisNumber of parents and primary caregivers provided with community based mental health and psychosocial support.50,000 children$200,000 Airtime credit for CCWs and LCCWs to support virtual case management in districtsNumber of people engaged on COVID-19 through RCCE actions6,000 CCWCs$180,000 Online counselling and referral of children affected by CV-19 through GBV/child Helplines# of survivors of GBV provided with a comprehensive response 200,000$100,000.00 Build (online) capacity of frontline workers on handling disclosure of GBV and PSEA referral pathways# of survivors of GBV provided with a comprehensive response 500 frontline workers $50,000 Strengthen DSW HR capacity for case management for separated and unaccompanied children Number of children without parental or family care provided with appropriate alternative care arrangements25 case management officers $50,000 Initializing the National Case Management in 10 underserved hotspot districts Provision of training to the frontline workers in quarantine sites, on essential psychosocial care principles, psychological first aid and how to make referrals when needed.# of districts with a case management system in place10 districts$1,000,000 Provide services in response to neglect, abuse and sexual exploitation for children left without a care provider.# of survivors of GBV provided with a comprehensive response 150,000 children $200,000 Provision of training to the frontline workers in quarantine sites, on essential psychosocial care principles, psychological first aid and how to make referrals when needed.Number of frontline workers trained100 frontline workers $70,000 Develop and disseminate CV-19 sensitive case management checklist for community cadresNumber of CCWs reached6,000 CCWs$20,000.00 Objective 3: Enhancing Child Protection Sub-Sector Coordination Support minimum district level coordination and provincial oversight and monitoring of child protection work: virtual meetings between DCPC members: internet connectivity using prepaid dongles, and airtime credit Number of districts supported23 districts$25,000 National TA on for CV-19 child protection coordination (6 months) Coordinator recruited6 months CP sub-sector coordinator in place$40,000 ICT upgrade to line Ministries to enable sub-sector emergency coordination through WFH modality for 3 months# of Government departments upgradedCoordinators of social welfare and justice line Ministries able to coordinate sub-sector response at-a-distance during lockdown$50,000 TOTAL$3,254,000 Service provision modalities FOCUS AREAContingency ACTIONResponsible AgenciesChild Protection Provision of critical services for the most vulnerable (Child survivors of sexual and physical abuse, separated and unaccompanied minors and children affected by COVID-19 including children with special needs) at the height of the PandemicAmend /develop active (Humanitarian and Development) Programme Documents and sign agreements for COVID-19 with Civil Society IPsProvide Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to affected children, parents/ guardians and caregivers including health workersAdapt mode of operation for the 3 phases – during lock down, 3 months post lock down and recovery period.Equip key line Ministries and frontline workers with the tools (ICT equipment, airtime, power back up, WFH Apps) to work remotely with clients or on coordination and oversightEquip 6,000 community cadres and about 300 professional social work force in COVID-19 CP service delivery Procure essential supplies for proofing COVID 19 (PPE)Adapt CP case management referral pathway to suit protocols for prevention of the spread COVID-19All Child Protection ActorsInitializing Child Protection Case Management in 10 hot spot areasEquip and resource the Department of Social Welfare to rollout Case Management in worst affected areas. Support additional staffing, internet connectivity, transport and other logistical supportSupport development of CP case management referral pathway and strengthen community surveillance All CP Actors MoPSLSW, MoJPA, andother key stake holdersStrengthening Coordination Provide TA for weekly Child protection subsector meetings.Participate in protection Subsector and Interagency meetings and activities. Timely provision of inputs for COVID-19 Humanitarian responseSupport regular CP coordination structures at subnational levelAll CP ActorsCommunity engagementEngage consultancies and small service agreements for training of frontline workers and development of tool kits containing key CP related COVID-19 messages, CP minimum standards and referral pathways Adapt, training and (online) dissemination of activity toolkits that children and caregivers can use during isolationDevelop and disseminate MHPSS toolkit for frontline workers providing PSS to children and caregiversUsing available digital application for the lead CCWs (at ward levels) in accessing of impact of COVID-19 on children ................
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