Executive summary
This paper presents the findings and insights generated through the mapping and assessment of national child protection systems in five West African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone. 1 The research process began in July 2009 and was completed in January 2011. The goal of the country research was to provide national actors with a profile of their existing system and an initial assessment of its contextual appropriateness and relevance to the populations being served. The need to undertake this research was prompted by the recognition that African perspectives – and the prominent role of communities – have not been fully integrated into the global dialogue that is evolving around national child protection systems.
In examining the state of child protection systems in the five West African countries, the research explored the following questions:
- What formal and informal child protection system components are currently in place and how do they function?
- How do children and families experience the child protection system?
- Is the current child protection system appropriate to the local context and is it relevant and sustainable?
