As stated in JOFA’s report on child protection needs, in Ethiopia, 88% of all children live in multidimensional poverty (94% in rural areas; 42% in urban areas).
4.5 million Ethiopian children live in humanitarian need and 4 in 10 girls are married before turning 18.
Child protection needs are severe. Rape and sexual violence occur in all conflict-affected areas. Ethiopia has some of the highest rates of FGM/C and CEFM, in both refugee and host communities. Child labour, child trafficking and transactional sex are commonly reported.
The ‘Joining Forces for Africa (JOFA) – Protecting Children from Violence during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond aims to reduce the levels of physical and emotional violence against children that have risen in Ethiopia.
Plan International is the lead for the JOFA project in Ethiopia and, at the same time, is implementing the project in Benishangul-Gumuz region in the Assosa zone -Mao Komo District (Gure Shembolla refugee camp), Homosha District (Tsore refugee camp)-.
Similarly, SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is implementing this project in the Oromia region, East Hararghe Zone, -Babile, and Chinaksen districts-. The project directly benefits 52,430 children.
At national level, all 6 Joining Forces Alliance agencies are involved in joint actions, such as a national behaviour change campaign and several advocacy activities. The total budget for the JOFA project in Ethiopia is over €1.4m over 3 years.
Between the 23rd of November and the 9th of December 2020, the JOFA project conducted an initial assessment of child protection needs during the pandemic in Ethiopia.
Existing child protection services were described by the
Ethiopia needs assessment as failing to keep children adequately safe, with communities lacking awareness about strategies on this. The pandemic has compounded weaknesses in the system and caused delays in responses.
Violence was a top priority for children. In Ethiopia, children named sexual violence, and physical violence at home and school, among their top three priorities.
In light of this alarming data, the JOFA project in Ethiopia is focused on:
- Strengthened national and local protection and response systems.
- Improved protection for children in resilient families, communities and institutions in the context of COVID-19 and during recovery phase.
- Increased capacity and agency of children to prevent and respond to violence against them during COVID-19 crisis and recovery phase.
- Increased learning and sharing of knowledge and best practices related to child protection approaches.
The JOFA project in Ethiopia is implemented in the Benishangul-Gumuz region in the Assosa zone -Mao Komo District (Gure Shembolla refugee camp), Homosha District (Tsore refugee camp)- and in the Oromia region, East Hararghe Zone, -Babile, and Chinaksen districts-, benefiting more than 100,000 children.
To tackle violence against children, the JOFA project in Ethiopia is using a strategy based on positive parenting and combining different technical approaches and methodologies such as:
• Child Friendly Accountability
• TeamUp.
Parenting Without Violence is one of the approaches used in Ethiopia. Developed by Save the Children to tackle the root cause of violence against children in homes by addressing violence. It is an amalgamation of various Parenting approaches such as the Real Fathers, Youth Resilience, and Positive Parenting among others.
Core and unique to JOFA’s activities, caregivers, fathers, mothers and children, are involved in nurturing respectful, loving, and non-violent homes. JOFA in Ethiopia recognizes that each person in the family has a part to play in ending violence against children through extended research. It is a child centered framework that focuses on a child as an active citizen in the context of their family, community, and society.
JOFA’s activities in Ethiopia are providing opportunities to strengthen mothers, fathers, caregivers and the wellbeing of children.
Sileshi Zenebe, JOFA Consortium Manager in Ethiopia, explains how Team Up approach is helping children to overcome their difficult situation:
In addtition to these approaches, Ethiopia is part of the JOFA transnational campaign to advocate for positive parenting. The campaign aims to change behaviours and create awareness about the risks that children are facing.
Learn more about JOFA’s transnational campaign to advocate for positive parenting.
Our methodogies
Team up Session in Assosa
JOFA Consultative Session to end Child Marriage
LATEST UPDATES FROM ETHIOPIA
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The JOFA project is giving training in an elementary school in the Babile district, Ethiopia for 40 teachers and school management. They are learning how to provide psychosocial support. […] - Providing protection services to children in refugee camps
JOFA in Tsore refugee camp, is providing comprehensive child protection case management services to a total of 2,740 people including UASC and other vulnerable children. […]Read More… from Providing protection services to children in refugee camps
- Learning new ways to show your love
Parenting without violence common approach has provided opportunities to strengthen mothers, fathers, caregivers and the wellbeing of children […]
LATEST PUBLICATIONS FROM ETHIOPIA
- Joining Forces for Africa: Mid-term review summary
- Joining Forces for Africa: Learning series on child participation
- Needs assessment report: Protecting children during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond
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Contact JOFA Ethiopia Consortium Manager.
Contact JOFA Ethiopia Advocacy, Campaigns, and Communications Coordinator.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union.
Its contents are the sole responsibility of Joining Forces and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union