The first regional Rise Up Policy Forum + Huddle will take place in Africa, from 24-26 June 2026 in Kampala, Uganda. The Forum + Huddle will explore the contexts, strengths, challenges and solutions specific to the African region, convening African child protection expertise, promoting strong national child protection systems, and creating a regional dialogue aimed at transforming child protection into a more data-informed, collaborative, and preventive system. 

June 17-18, 2026

This study examines the critical role of Social Auxiliary Workers (SAWs) in supporting and protecting children awaiting foster care placement within under-resourced, community-based settings in South Africa. It explores the services they provide, their collaboration with other actors, and the challenges they face, addressing a key research gap to inform stronger child protection policy and practice.

The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), together with the Government of Rwanda, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, and the Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), is hosting Investing in the Early Years: A Global

At a time when the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform is calling for stronger commitment and action to ensure children grow up in safe and loving family, FAFICA is pleased to be collaborating with the Global Campaign on Children's Care Reform and would like to invite you to their upcoming webinar: Over 30 Million Reasons to Act: Advancing Family Care for Children in Africa.

This study examines the disconnect between Ghana’s child protection laws and their implementation, arguing that the gap stems from tensions between global rights-based frameworks and local, duty-oriented cultural practices rather than resource limitations. It proposes a hybrid governance approach that aligns formal legal systems with traditional kinship structures and promotes culturally responsive practice to strengthen child protection outcomes.

This article highlights the harsh realities faced by street children in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, while showcasing the efforts of local organizations working to support them. It describes how thousands of children—often driven to the streets by poverty, family breakdown, or accusations of witchcraft—survive through begging, informal work, and coping with daily violence, exploitation, and health risks.

This study explored adapting the Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) program in Zimbabwe to explicitly address both violence against children and violence against women by incorporating gender-transformative approaches and actively engaging fathers. Findings showed strong interest in the program, highlighting the need for relationship skill-building, economic support, and intentional father involvement to create safer, more resilient family environments.

This study examines child safeguarding practices in Catholic dioceses in Kenya, finding that although safeguarding policies and support systems exist, only a small proportion of church personnel have received formal training. The research highlights ongoing risks—including sexual abuse, child labour, neglect, and early marriage—and identifies resource constraints, cultural resistance, and institutional barriers as key challenges to effective safeguarding.

This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with physical violence against orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in Namibia, using data from 16,507 participants in the Reach program. Findings show that 10.9% of OVC experienced recent physical abuse, with variation across districts and age groups, highlighting the need for targeted violence‑prevention campaigns, community-level behavior change initiatives, and regular regional assessments to address localized drivers of violence.