The Joining Forces for Africa global project launch on 20 January 2021 focused on the critical challenges to protecting children during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and how to address them.
The Joining Forces for Africa project, which is supported by the European Union, is working to reduce the level of violence children and adolescents face across five African countries. At the global launch event, Joining Forces colleagues and children the project works with in Uganda, Senegal, Mali, Kenya and Ethiopia shared their experiences about protection needs and risks.
Important themes such as child participation, crosscutting themes of gender equality and disability inclusion, nexus programming and the added value of working in a consortium were discussed. There was also a call for European policy makers to increase support for African civil society and governments to address the “silent pandemic” of violence on the continent.
The findings of child protection needs assessments from Uganda, Mali and Kenya were revealed. Furthermore, opportunities to engage with the Joining Forces alliance and the Joining Forces for Africa project, particularly in learning and sharing events and processes were shared.
Download and read a summary of the needs assessment findings from Uganda, Mali and Kenya in English or French and the project flyer with key details of the project in English or French. A complete report with the findings from all project countries will be available soon.
Our latest blog, Economic impact of the pandemic puts pressure on Kenyan Families, provides insights on key findings from the Kenya child protection in times of Covid-19 needs assessment report. The needs assessment will be presented at the JOFA project global launch.
The project Joining Forces for Africa (JOFA) – protecting children during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond is being implemented in five countries, Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, from August 2020 to August 2023.