In December 2015, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), commissioned the Nationwide Assessment of all Child Care Facilities (CCFs). The Assessment was undertaken between April and July 2016 as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and UNICEF. This report is based on findings the Nationwide Assessment.
The aim of the Assessment was to gather evidence for the purpose of updating baseline information pertaining to the condition of all Child Care Facilities (CCFs) in Zambia; in line with the Minimum Standards of Care for Child Care Facilities (MSC), United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as well as the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. The generated evidence will inform efforts by the GRZ through the MCDSW and partners to strengthen the alternative care system in the Country. Specifically the exercise included physical inspections, assessment of processes of gatekeeping, admission, care, family tracing and reintegration as well as the identification of clear benchmarks for strengthening the capacity of each CCF in the provision of residential child care services.
