Inter-Agency First Phase Child Welfare Assessment in the Gambella Region, Ethiopia
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Inter-Agency First Phase Child Welfare Assessment Gambella Region, Ethiopia Rebecca Horn, Columbia University Group 18 November, 2009 1 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 4 CONTEXT ...................................................................................................................................... 7 • RISKS & VULNERABILITIES...................................................................................... 9 • OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT ........................................................................ 13 • ORGANISATION OF ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................... 13 METHODOLOGY ...........................................................................................................................15 • INTER-AGENCY FIRST PHASE CHILD PROTECTION ASSESSMENT RESOURCE KIT .... 15 • METHODS AND TOOLS .......................................................................................... 15 • SELECTION AND TRAINING OF ASSESSMENT TEAM ................................................ 17 • SELECTION OF ASSESSMENT LOCATIONS .............................................................. 17 • DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE ............................................................................ 18 • DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................... 20 DESCRIPTION OF WOREDAS ........................................................................................................22 PRIORITY CHILD WELFARE CONCERNS .........................................................................................27 CONTEXTUAL ISSUES ...................................................................................................................27 • FOOD ................................................................................................................... 27 • HEALTH ................................................................................................................ 28 • WATER AND SANITATION ..................................................................................... 29 • CONFLICT ............................................................................................................. 30 • ACCESSIBILITY ..................................................................................................... 30 • MATERIAL NEEDS ................................................................................................. 31 CHILD-SPECIFIC ISSUES ...............................................................................................................32 • EDUCATION .......................................................................................................... 33 • SEPARATION FROM PARENTS ................................................................................ 35 • CHILD LABOUR ..................................................................................................... 39 • MURLE ATTACKS/ ABDUCTIONS ............................................................................ 42 • HARMFUL BEHAVIOUR & STREET CHILDREN .......................................................... 44 • PHYSICAL ABUSE .................................................................................................. 46 • OTHER ................................................................................................................. 47 PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE GROUPS ..........................................................................................48 • EDUCATION .......................................................................................................... 48 • SEPARATION FROM PARENTS ................................................................................ 48 • SEXUAL ISSUES/ CHILD LABOUR/ HARMFUL BEHAVIOUR ........................................ 49 2 • MURLE ATTACKS/ ABDUCTIONS ............................................................................ 49 • PHYSICAL ABUSE .................................................................................................. 49 • OTHER VULNERABILITIES ..................................................................................... 50 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE CONCERNS ...............................................................51 • ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN IN RURAL AREAS .................................................... 51 • ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN IN URBAN CENTRES ............................................... 53 • IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERVENTION ...................................................................... 54 CURRENT RESPONSES TO CHILD WELFARE ISSUES .......................................................................55 • COMMUNITY RESPONSES ...................................................................................... 55 • ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSES .............................................................................. 58 LIMITATIONS ...............................................................................................................................62 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS .........................................................................................64 • CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................... 64 • AREAS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION .................................................................. 66 • RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 67 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................72 • Appendix 1. ASSESSMENT TIMETABLE ................................................................... 73 • Appendix 2. SUMMARY OF CONTENTS OF ADAPTED TOOLKIT ................................ 74 • Appendix 3. KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW .............................................................. 76 • Appendix 4. MATRIX OF ISSUES AFFECTING WOREDAS IN GAMBELLA REGION ........ 81 • Appendix 5. RECRUITMENT ADVERT FOR ASSESSMENT TEAM ................................. 83 • Appendix 6. TRAINING WORKSHOP OUTLINE (21-25 Sept., 2009) ........................... 85 • Appendix 7. LIST OF KEY INFORMANTS ................................................................. 86 • Appendix 8. RESULTS OF CONSENSUS EXERCISE .................................................... 88 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Gambella National Regional State is a small region of western Ethiopia. The main ethnic groups in the area are Nuer, Anuak and Mejenger, with a large minority of Ethiopians from the highland areas, plus Opo, Surma and Komo. Although the area has many natural resources, including very fertile land, the drought which is affecting much of East Africa has contributed to food shortages in the region, and regular flooding hinders cultivation. There is a lack of basic services in Gambella, including health, clean water and sanitation facilities, all of which contribute to disease. Conflict affects many communities in this area, including conflict within ethnic groups (particularly the Nuer), between ethnic groups, and attacks from outside the region (Murle and Lou-Nuer). This context of under- development, environmental challenges and conflict has a significant impact on the welfare of children in the area. The main objective of this assessment is to document key child welfare concerns in Gambella region, to support better child protection programming, emergency preparedness and response, with an emphasis on child protection systems in emergencies. The assessment took place between 5th September and 31st October 2009. It was conducted in seven of the 12 woredas in Gambella region, and made use of three main methodologies: group discussions with men, women, girls and boys in each community; key informant interviews; mapping capacity. A number of key child welfare concerns were identified. • Food shortages affect not only the health of children, but also their physical safety as they engage in potentially hazardous activities in order to obtain food. Families are sometimes forced to move to a new area in search of food; such displacement has a negative impact on children. • Inadequate health facilities, and risks to health resulting from a lack of clean water and sanitation facilities, result not only in disease amongst children, but the sickness and death of parents. • Conflict causes abduction, death and injury of children, and the injury and death of parents. In addition, it causes displacement, loss of services and loss of livelihoods. • Children in Gambella have difficulty in accessing education, especially the higher grades. Children who are particularly affected are those living in rural areas, girls, children who lack family support, displaced children and disabled children. • Common coping strategies for children who lack family support (either orphans or children whose families are on very low incomes) include child labour and early sexual activity. There are two pathways into these activities: o Young people engage in paid work or in sexual activity (transactional/ commercial sex) as an escape route from poverty and lack of opportunities. o Young people are pushed by their families into work or early marriage as a way of helping the family survive • Harmful or criminal behaviour (including drug and alcohol use) is also engaged