CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Countries throughout the world have begun to systematically reform their child protection systems (CPS). This process has involved moving from an issue/response approach towards the creation of a protective environment and strengthening the CPS. The Federal Government of Nigeria decided in 2010 to be part of this global and regional initiative. As such Lagos State decided to be part of a pilot test to map and assess the existing components of the system. Child Frontiers was recruited to undertake the mapping and assessment of the current CPS in Lagos State. After that assessment was completed in 2013, USAID agreed to support the mapping and assessment of the CPS in an additional six states of Nigeria: Benue, Edo, FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau. USAID agreed to support CapacityPlus (part of IntraHealth International) and UNICEF to oversee the mapping/assessment in the six states. CapacityPlus coordinated logistics and administration; UNICEF oversaw programmatic issues. The Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development in each of the states and the Social Development Secretariat in FCT enthusiastically supported the initiative. UNICEF, Capacity Plus and USAID approached Maestral International to provide technical assistance to carry out the mapping and assessment in Nigeria. Maestral has mapped and assessed CPS in many countries, particularly those in east and southern Africa, using the Mapping and Assessment Toolkit and methodology it developed at the request of UNICEF.
