TABLE OF CONTENTS
- CHURCH WORLD SERVICES (CWS)
- BACKGROUND
- LEADERSHIP ROLE OF LOCAL ACTORS
- STRATEGY AND PROCESS
- CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED
- SOLUTIONS
- OUTCOME AND IMPACT
- LOCALISATION AND CHILD PROTECTION LINK
- SCALE AND SUSTAINABILITY
- LESSONS LEARNED
CHURCH WORLD SERVICES (CWS)
This case study highlights the partnership between Zdorovii Gorod (Healthy City, ZG) and Church World Service (CWS) in Balti, Moldova. Launched in mid-2022 with funding from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the initiative provided humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian refugee families and socially vulnerable households in Moldova.
The project offered medical, psychosocial, vocational, and basic services while prioritising child protection outcomes. Through customised training, joint problem-solving, and strengthened coordination, ZG significantly expanded its role in the child protection system—gaining trust, building leadership capacity, and ensuring faster, safer responses for at-risk children.
BACKGROUND
The ongoing war in Ukraine forced families into displacement, many arriving in Moldova with urgent needs. Refugee children faced risks including trauma, family separation, neglect, and limited access to services.
At the outset, local organisations like ZG had strong community trust but limited systematic connections to formal child protection networks. A localisation approach was critical: by centering the voices and expertise of local actors, the initiative ensured culturally relevant interventions and sustainable improvements in child protection.
LEADERSHIP ROLE OF LOCAL ACTORS
ZG emerged as a key leader in Moldova’s child protection system through this initiative:
- Built direct relationships with UNHCR, UNICEF, and local government actors.
- Gained influence in coordination spaces, improving referral processes and accountability.
- Provided context-driven input on what worked and what failed in national referral systems.
- Led community interventions, helping families recognise risks and access services earlier.
STRATEGY AND PROCESS
The initiative was rooted in collaboration and tailored capacity building.
Key Approaches:
- Customised Trainings: CWS designed training with ZG staff based on real cases, using role plays and culturally relevant scenarios. This included referral pathways, mandated reporting, and safeguarding policies.
- Joint Case Troubleshooting: CWS and ZG worked side by side to resolve difficult child protection cases, creating space for open dialogue on frustrations with system gaps.
- Network Building: ZG leaders gained direct access to international and national protection actors, eliminating barriers caused by hierarchical communication.
CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED
- Referral systems often failed due to overwhelmed or insensitive institutions.
- Generic training not tailored to context was ineffective.
- Limited funding for staff participation in coordination spaces.
SOLUTIONS
- Honest acknowledgement of system failures to build credibility.
- Tailoring training and mentorship to ZG’s needs.
- Advocacy for donor funding to include salaries and transport for sustained engagement.
OUTCOME AND IMPACT
The project delivered measurable outcomes for children and families:
- Increased confidence and competence of ZG staff in recognising and responding to child protection cases.
- Stronger relationships between local and international actors, ensuring smoother referrals.
- Improved timeliness and effectiveness of child protection interventions, including psychosocial support, education, and legal aid for refugee and Moldovan children.
- Enhanced community trust, leading families to seek help earlier and more confidently.
- ZG established itself as a local leader in child protection advocacy and response.
LOCALISATION AND CHILD PROTECTION LINK
By empowering ZG, the initiative demonstrated how localisation strengthens child protection outcomes:
- Local ownership resulted in culturally appropriate and trusted interventions.
- Direct relationships allowed ZG to influence decisions and access resources.
- Capacity strengthening positioned ZG as a sustainable and influential actor within Moldova’s child protection system.
SCALE AND SUSTAINABILITY
The partnership model shows strong potential for scale:
- Replication of tailored training and direct mentorship for other Moldovan NGOs.
- Expansion of ZG’s model to other regions hosting refugee children.
- Advocacy for all humanitarian projects to include staff salaries and transport funding for participation in child protection systems.
LESSONS LEARNED
Local ownership drives sustainability – empowering local actors builds more trusted and lasting child protection systems.
- Tailored capacity building works – trainings must be context-driven, interactive, and rooted in local realities.
- Acknowledge system failures – honesty about gaps builds credibility with local partners.
- Relationships matter – direct connections between local actors and UN agencies eliminate barriers and accelerate responses.
- Fund participation – donors must allocate resources for local staff salaries and transport to ensure continuous engagement.
Credits:
Church World Services and the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action