The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance) held the 2025 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action on Zoom from the 3rd - 5th of June 2025.
Contents
- An Overview of the 2025 Annual Meeting
- Explore the Annual Meeting, including the Recordings & Session Summaries!
- Review the Participant Pack
- Read the Background Paper
An Overview of the 2025 Annual Meeting
The 2025 Annual Meeting included 3 days dedicated to the meeting theme “Protection of Children from the Ground Up - Enhancing Localised Approaches in Conflict and Crises”. This year's theme emphasised locally-led child protection prevention and response actions that are informed and driven by local actors including community, local and national government and organisations, as well as communities and children themselves. It highlighted the importance of strengthening local systems and actors, and context-relevant and community-owned child protection including for quality and accountable actions. The meeting also situated this theme in the context of the current humanitarian funding and coordination reset.
The meeting was held in English with translated captions available in Arabic, French, Spanish, and a selection of other languages during the meeting to ensure accessibility for all participants. There was also dedicated sessions and networking in both Spanish and French during the meeting at favourable times for participants in those regions.
Explore Recordings from the Annual Meeting:
3rd June 2025 → Protecting Children from the Ground Up in a Changing Humanitarian Landscape
The first day of the Annual Meeting will began with a soft opening, offering participants a chance to explore the latest Alliance resources and their relevance to today’s humanitarian landscape. This was followed by a session led by the Alliance’s technical groups on how to advance learning and collaboration amid funding cuts and changes in the humanitarian sector. A dynamic speed networking session helped participants connect and get to know who is in the room. The meeting then was officially opened with contributions from children and local actors, sharing perspectives on ground-up approaches to protecting children. Participants were also be introduced to the Alliance’s newly released Strategic Brief—a one-year stopgap strategy designed to sustain critical child protection interventions amid funding shortfalls and shifts in the humanitarian architecture. The day concluded with two thematic sessions: the first focused on strengthening context-relevant, community-owned child protection, and the second, held in Spanish, on strengthening child protection systems—followed by a Spanish-language networking session.
Session 1 → Hot Off the Press with the Alliance Working Groups, Task Forces, and Initiatives
This rapid session featured presentations from seven technical groups within the Alliance, showcasing their newest tools and resources. Included are resources developed in response to current funding challenges and that enable ground-up approaches.
Facilitators and Speakers: Camilla Jones, Amanda Brydon, Eric Gisairo, Thomas Sanderson, Hani Mansourian, Wajahat Ali, Stephanie Acker, and Elena Giannini.
Session 2 → Strength in Solidarity: Advancing Learning and Collaboration Amid Crisis
This session examined the evolving landscape of humanitarian action and its implications for child protection. As complexity increases and resources decline, practitioners face significant operational and financial challenges. The session therefore highlighted key trends shaping the sector and underscore the vital role of Learning and Development (L&D) in sustaining and adapting child protection efforts. Presenters shared practical strategies—from L&D to broader programme design—for navigating funding constraints while advancing the protection agenda. The session fostered collective reflections on how to uphold quality, relevance, and impact in a resource-constrained world.
Facilitators and Speakers: Amanda Brydon, Elspeth Chapman, Elena Giannini, and Marion Mwebi.
Session 3 → Opening | Ground Up Approaches to Protect Children Affected by Humanitarian Crises
This session featured a diverse group of actors as they reflected on how this year’s meeting theme connected to their lives, work, and advocacy. The session featured:
- Keynote remarks from Najat Maalla M'jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
- A panel with child and youth leaders from Nigeria and Ethiopia working with Plan International
- A panel with local and national actors from Lebanon, Greece, and Uganda, facilitated by Sheema Sen Gupta, Director of Child Protection at UNICEF
The session also placed the theme in today’s global context and walked through the agenda for the days ahead. This session marked the official opening of the meeting!
Facilitators and Speakers: Hani Mansourian, Camilla Jones, Najat Maalla M'jid, Child and Youth Speakers, Sheema Sen Gupta, Lora Papa, and Lam.
Session 4 → The Centrality of Child Protection in a Changing Humanitarian Landscape
This session marked the official launch of the Alliance’s new 12-month Strategic Brief, which outlines how we will work to sustain essential child protection prevention and response efforts in a rapidly evolving humanitarian landscape. The session highlighted the evidence behind the Brief, its connection to the humanitarian reset, and reflections from local and international actors in Yemen and Uganda on how it can strengthen their work. Together, we explored how we can collaborate to protect children in an era defined by crisis and change.
Facilitators and Speakers: Elspeth Chapman, Camilla Jones, Ron Pouwels, Wafa Tayeb, Michael Byamukama, Gurvinder Singh, and Steve Miller.
Session 5 → Shifting Power to Children and Communities for Locally Owned and Led Child Protection
This session explored how community ownership can be possible across diverse humanitarian contexts and invites participants to discuss how to meaningfully shift power to communities and foster equitable partnerships. Speakers shared practical examples of community-led child protection efforts, including trauma-informed art therapy for Afghan refugee children in Pakistan and locally-led protection initiatives in Colombia.
Facilitators and Speakers: Juan José Castellanos, Michael Boampong, Atta ul Haq Khaderzai, Connolly Butterfield, and David Amé Atsu.
Session 6 → Strengthening Resilience and Child Protection Systems in Humanitarian Contexts: Voices and Actions from Latin America and the Caribbean
This session — held in both English and Spanish — offers a unique opportunity to learn from diverse actors across Latin America who are driving approaches to strengthening local child protection systems. Drawing on powerful examples from Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia — including responses to armed conflict and displacement, escalating armed violence and grave violations against children, and delivering humanitarian child protection in the absence of formal international coordination structures — the session explored how strengthening local systems and engaging a broad range of actors is not only possible but essential.
Fortaleciendo la resiliencia y los sistemas de protección de la niñez en contextos humanitarios: Voces y Acciones de América Latina y el CaribeEsta sesión — disponible en inglés y español — ofrece una oportunidad única para aprender de diversos actores de toda América Latina que están liderando enfoques para fortalecer los sistemas locales de protección infantil. A partir de ejemplos contundentes de Chile, Ecuador y Colombia —incluyendo respuestas al conflicto armado y al desplazamiento, el aumento de la violencia armada y las graves violaciones contra la niñez, y la prestación de protección infantil en contextos humanitarios sin estructuras formales de coordinación internacional—, la sesión analizará cómo fortalecer los sistemas locales y movilizar a una amplia gama de actores no solo es posible, sino esencial.
Facilitators and Speakers: Carlos Miranda, Mariana Zavala, Margarita Grijalva, Vanessa Geraldine Carrillo, and Stella Duque Cuesta.
4th June 2025 → Strengthening Local Leadership and Systems for Continued Child Protection
The second day of the Annual Meeting deepened our exploration of the meeting theme with a focus on strengthening local and national actors, child protection systems, and the financing needed to sustain this work. The day began with two sessions from the Alliance’s Case Management and CAAFAG Task Forces, highlighting how these technical areas are advancing locally-led approaches that respond to today’s humanitarian realities. A networking session on the meeting theme followed, offering participants an opportunity to share experiences and connect around common challenges. The programme then turned to the critical issue of funding, starting with a session on the localisation of financing for child protection, followed by a dedicated discussion on donor perspectives and the future of financing in the sector. The day concluded with two thematic sessions: the first explored local leadership in the prevention of recruitment and gender-based violence, and the second examined strategies to strengthen child protection systems through a range of entry points.
Session 7 → Enhancing the Role of Community Networks in Case Management
Operating at a time of shrinking humanitarian funding, are you wondering how child protection actors can ethically involve community volunteers in the case management response? Are you curious to know more about the role of community volunteers in child protection case management in emergency contexts? Are you curious to find out how an inter-agency cohort of facilitators working in West and Central Africa spent a year strengthening practice around this theme in their humanitarian responses? Watch this session, held in French and English, to find out more.
L’engagement éthique des volontaires communautaires dans la gestion de cas de protection de l’enfance : Opérant à une époque où le financement de l’action humanitaire diminue, vous vous demandez comment les acteurs de protection de l’enfance peuvent faire participer les volontaires communautaires au processus de gestion de cas d’une façon éthique? Etes-vous curieux d’en savoir plus sur le rôle des volontaires communautaires dans la gestion de cas de protection de l’enfance dans les contextes d’urgences? Etes-vous curieux de savoir comment une cohorte interagence de facilitateurs travaillant en Afrique de l’Ouest et Centrale s’est investie durant une année pour renforcer la pratique vis-a-vis de cette thématique dans leurs réponse humanitaire? Rejoignez-nous pour en savoir plus !
Facilitators and Speakers: Caroline Veldhuizen, Dakouo Sanihan Veronique Dakono, Marcel Pekoua, and Adama Rouamba.
Session 8 → Bridging Forces in a Changing Context: Peacekeeping and Child Protection Actors Advancing CAAFAG Prevention and Release Strategies
This session shared preliminary findings from a study on the Vancouver Principles, with a focus on collaboration between peacekeeping operations and child protection actors to prevent child recruitment, support the release of children associated with armed forces and armed groups, and ensure their reintegration. The study draws on experiences from contexts where peacekeeping operations are ongoing (South Sudan, Central African Republic), closing (Democratic Republic of the Congo), or have closed (Mali).
Facilitators and Speakers: Elspeth Chapman, Sandra Maignant, and Shelly Whitman.
Session 9 → Local Leadership in Humanitarian Action: Strengthening Child Protection Through Local Partnerships and Equitable Resource Mobilisation
This session spotlighted two initiatives that are shifting power and resources to local and national actors (LNAs) through equitable partnerships, tailored capacity strengthening, and innovative support such as help desks for resource mobilisation. Local actors involved in these initiatives shared firsthand insights on what’s working, what needs improvement, and what’s critical to enabling truly locally led child protection responses.
Facilitators and Speakers: Denis Kioko, Helena Minchew, Joyce Mutiso, Emily Jacquard, Ramya Madhavan, Neelima Akhter Chowdhary, and Raquel Kasham Daniel.
Session 10 → Keeping Child Protection on the Agenda in a Shifting Funding Environment
This session explored how child protection can remain front and centre in an evolving humanitarian funding landscape. We heard directly from donors about the factors shaping their decisions, the challenges they navigate, and the opportunities to unlock critical financing. Watch the recording to explore strategic approaches for securing vital resources and identify ways to strengthen collaboration and advocacy with key donors.
Facilitators and Speakers: Hani Mansourian, Elspeth Chapman, Matthew Wingate, Raquel Kasham Daniell, Elsa Laurin, Nuria Elkout, Andreas Ahrenfeldt Kiaby, and Elizabeth Tan.
Session 11 → Shifting Power to the Frontlines: Strengthening Local Leadership to Prevent Child Recruitment and GBV in Humanitarian Contexts
This session explored how strengthening local leadership can enhance the prevention of child protection risks in humanitarian settings. Speakers from academic institutions and refugee-led organisations shared research and programme experiences with community, local, and national actors—highlighting efforts to prevent child recruitment and Gender-Based Violence.
Facilitators and Speakers: Domenico di Nuzzo, Pasant Aly, Lana Al Houssami, Anastasiya Romanska, and Oricia Ngenyibungi.
Session 12 → Child Protection at the Crossroads: Indigenous Knowledge, Community-Level Approaches, and Cross-Sector Solutions
This session explored how indigenous knowledge, grassroots mobilisation, and community-based systems are shaping child protection in humanitarian and fragile contexts. Drawing on experiences from Zimbabwe, Brazil, and conflict-affected regions across Africa, speakers highlighted how traditional guardianship structures, localised service delivery, and community advocacy address gaps left by formal systems. The session showcased how these local innovations can inspire scalable, culturally grounded solutions that strengthen child protection in times of crisis.
Facilitators and Speakers: Mara Tissera Luna, Elena Giannini, Joao Victor da Cruz, Lilla Garay, and Iggy Saviere.
Mini Closing → Cluster Simplification: Updates and Discussion
This open-format session discussed emerging insights on the Cluster Simplification outcomes and what this means for the CPHA sector.
Facilitators and Speakers: Hani Mansourian, Camilla Jones, and Ron Pouwels.
5th June 2025 → Preventing a Rollback on Child Protection Standards and Humanitarian Principles
The final day of the Annual Meeting centred on standards and principles in child protection. The day began with an in-depth session on working with local actors to support LGBTQI+ children and their families. This was followed by a French-language session on engaging a range of local actors to strengthen systems, accountability, and local-to-global action, and a French-language networking session. The afternoon opened with a session on child and community co-creation and implementation of accountability mechanisms and tools. This was followed by contributions from the Alliance’s CPMS Working Group and UASC Task Force, highlighting key technical areas within the meeting theme. The day—and the meeting—concluded with reflections from diverse perspectives on the theme, and participant inputs on the way forward.
Session 13 → What now? Supporting LGBTQI+ Children and their families in CPHA Programming
National actors, LGBTQI+ organisations, and informal networks often lead support for LGBTQI+ children, frequently with limited funding and support from international organisations. This session therefore uplifted strong examples from youth- and LGBTQI+-led organisations and partnerships in crisis contexts, while encouraging participants to share their own experiences of locally-led, impactful partnerships—especially those engaging the LGBTQI+ community.
Facilitators and Speakers: Susanna Davies, Yana Paniflova, Audrey Taylor, and Warangkana ‘Yui’ Mutumol
Session 14 → Session en français | De la base au sommet: innovations communautaire pour la protection de l’enfance
Cette session met en lumière la manière dont les systèmes ancrés localement et les acteurs non traditionnels peuvent transformer la protection de l’enfance en contexte humanitaire. Qu’il s’agisse d’utiliser des dispositifs communautaires d’observation en Afrique de l’Ouest, ou de renforcer la résilience face aux conflits prolongés, ces initiatives démontrent que les savoirs locaux, la participation active et les partenariats équitables comblent les lacunes laissées par les systèmes formels. La session plaide pour un soutien renforcé aux innovations locales et à la collaboration intersectorielle en faveur d’une protection des enfants plus adaptée, durable et efficace.
Facilitateurs et intervenants : Sandrine Lerenard, Elena Giannini, Corneille Muhindu Kambere, Walid Jeblii, and Kalulu Maisha Shelly.
Session 16 → Outcomes of Accountability Mechanisms Co-Created with Children and Communities
This session explored how accountability mechanisms can be co-created with children and communities in humanitarian settings. Speakers shared examples from South Sudan on designing safe, survivor-centred Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) reporting systems in partnership with women-led organizations, and from Burkina Faso on co-developing an innovative, child-friendly consultation tool—game jams—with children themselves.
Facilitators and Speakers: Domenico di Nuzzo, Matildah Musumba, Yika Marina Mogga, Sophie Mareschal, and Capucine Tibit.
Session 17 → Do the standards still matter? Adapting to Deliver Quality and Accountability for Unaccompanied and Separated Children
This session, held in both English and Spanish, focused on the day’s theme by examining the importance of maintaining safe, ethical programming guided by the Minimum Standards for Child Protection. Case studies from Peru and Panama will highlight quality programming aligned with key standards, including support for unaccompanied and separated children (Standard 13) and alternative care (Standard 19).
¿Siguen siendo importantes las normas? Adaptación para ofrecer Calidad y Responsabilidad a los Niños no acompañados y separados de sus familias: Esta sesión, tanto en inglés como en español, se centra en el tema del día examinando la importancia de mantener una programación segura y ética guiada por las Normas Mínimas de Protección de la Niñez. Estudios de caso de Perú y Panamá destacarán la calidad de la programación en consonancia con las normas clave, incluido el apoyo a los niños no acompañados y separados (Norma 13) y el cuidado alternativo (Norma 19).
Facilitators and Speakers: Susanna Davies, Lauren Murray, Nery Roldan, Giovanna Cavero Mogollon, and Bladimir Romero.
Session 18 → Closing and Way Forward
The closing session invited participants alongside speakers from civil society (South Sudan and Syria) and donors (ECHO) to reflect on the week’s discussions. A brief group activity also helped shape the Alliance’s position on protecting children from the ground up through localised approaches in conflict and crises, while energising Alliance members to take meaningful action in this critical area.
Facilitators and Speakers: Hani Mansourian, Camilla Jones, Faiza Hassan, Yvonne Agengo, Kamila Partyka, Alaa Zaza, Riing Garwech Kuol, James Grey and Child and Youth Speakers.
Review the Participant Pack
Please review the Participant Pack for the 2025 Annual Meeting, available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. It is important that participants familiarise themselves with this pack before the meeting.
The Participant Pack gives you all the information you need to successfully participate in the meeting, including Important Messages, Must Reads, and the Code of Engagement for interacting with child and adult speakers and participants - take a look as soon as you can!
Read the Background Paper on Protection of Children from the Ground Up
To give participants a deeper understanding of the meeting theme, we are pleased to share the Background Paper for the 2025 Annual Meeting.
This paper provides valuable insights and context to guide discussions and priorities of the meeting. It begins with briefly introducing the focus of this year’s theme, providing key definitions and concepts, and defining three focus areas. It then explores the three areas of focus in more depth - outlining challenges, opportunities and enabling factors, and case studies. Each section ends with questions for further exploration and discussion.
Access the Background Paper in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
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