STATE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH ASIA STATE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH ASIA © UNICEF ROSA 2018 The material in this report has been commissioned by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) regional office in South Asia. UNICEF accepts no responsibility for errors. The designations in this work do not imply an opinion on the legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities, or the delimitation of frontiers. Permission to copy, disseminate or otherwise use information from this publication is granted so long as appropriate acknowledgement is given. Suggested citation is: United Nations Children’s Fund, State of the Social Service Workforce in South Asia, UNICEF, Kathmandu, 2018. UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia P.O. Box 5815 Lekhnath Marg Kathmandu, Nepal Twitter: @unicefrosa Facebook: unicefsouthasia Instagram: @unicefsouthasia www.unicef.org/rosa Global Social Service Workforce Alliance 1875 Connecticut Ave NW 10th FL Washington, D.C., 20009 [email protected] www.socialserviceworkforce.org Twitter: @SSWAlliance Facebook: SSWAlliance Cover: Jamalpur, Bangladesh: Probation officer Jannatul Ferdous, age 36 in the village talking to women and children about the child help line and August 2018 stopping child marriage. © UNICEF/South Asia 2016/Bronstein. STATE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH ASIA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people contributed to the firstState of Bhutan: Deki Dema, UNICEF; Jangchuk Dorji, the Social Service Workforce in South Asia. The Yurung Central School; Nidup Dorji, Royal report was prepared by the Global Social Service University of Bhutan; Kezang Dukpa, Ministry of Workforce Alliance (GSSWA) and the United Education; Tashi Pelzom, Ministry of Education; Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). From GSSWA MB Ghaley, Save the Children; Aniruddha we thank the primary author of this report, Mike Kulkarni, UNICEF; Karma Rigzin, Paro Police Hayes, for his extensive efforts to gather and Station; and Dorji Thinley, Royal University synthesize the data for this report, and Amy of Bhutan. Bess for her knowledge of and commitment to India: Tannistha Datta, UNICEF; Sonykutty workforce strengthening and for her review and George, UNICEF; G. Kumaresan, UNICEF; Sayed feedback throughout the development of this Mansoor Umar Qadri, UNICEF; Paramita Neogi, report. We would also like to thank Nicole Brown UNICEF; Sanjay Nirala, UNICEF; Dr. Suresh and Natia Partskhaladze, staff of the Global Pathare, Institute of Social Work and Research, Social Service Workforce Alliance, for their edits India and GSSWA Ambassador; Gargi Saha, and feedback on the report. From the UNICEF UNICEF; and Alpa Vora, UNICEF. Regional Office for South Asia we thank Kendra Gregson, for her vision and guidance. Maldives: Shiyama Anwar, Society for Health Education; Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu, Ministry We would also like to thank Mikhael Pradhan, of Gender and Family; Aishath Ibahath, Family Arpanah Marian Rongong, Shabira Sultana and Protection Authority; Iyasha Leena, Society Deepesh Paul Thakur, World Vision International for Health Education; Mariyam Neerish, staff members who conducted the regional Maldives National University; and Mohamed Children’s Consultation Survey and provided data. Naeem, UNICEF. The report would not be possible without the Nepal: Rajan Burlakoti, UNICEF; Sushil Raj Giri, numerous contributions made by many people Child Welfare Society; Vidya Sagar Pandey, in different countries in the South Asia region. Children and Women in Social Service and Those who facilitated information channels, Human Rights; Bikki Shrestha, Children and completed questionnaires and contributed their Women in Social Service and Human Rights insights and other key information used in this Nepal; and Kapil Shrestha, Children and Women report include: in Social Service and Human Rights Nepal. Afghanistan: Billy Abimbilla, War Child UK; Dr. Pakistan: Sarah Coleman, UNICEF; Federica Wais Aria, Tabish; Ali Ahmad Arya, War Child Di Stefano, UNICEF; Lubna Jabeen, Social UK; Tatjana Colin, UNICEF; Sayed Khushal Welfare Department Government of the Punjab; Haris, MoLSAMD/UNICEF; Sean Nine, Hager Dr. Tahira Jabeen, University of the Punjab; International; Ghulam Rasoul Omari, War Child Fauzia Masoom, Social Welfare Department UK; Aarti Upadhyay, Tata Institute of Social Government of Sindh; and Farzana Yasmin, Science; Yoko Wada, UNICEF; and Florina UNICEF Khyber Pakhunkhwa. Xavier, Tabish. Sri Lanka: Ramiz Behbudov, UNICEF; SongHa Bangladesh: Jamila Akhter, Child Protection Chae, UNICEF; Champa Gunasekare, Foundation Specialist, UNICEF Bangladesh; Md. Shofiqul for Innovative Social Development; Mihira Islam, Probation Officer, Department of Social Gayashan Madushanka, Foundation for Innovative Services Office, City Metropolitan Magistrate Social Development; and Gowry Vasudevan, Court Khulna; and Atiqur Rahman, Professor, National Institute of Social Development. Dhaka University. STATE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH ASIA STATE 2 CONTENTS Acronyms . 4 I. Overview . 5 II. Systems-based Approaches: Framing a New, Achievable Vision for Children . 7 III. The Social Service Workforce . 9 IV. Vision for Strengthening the Social Service Workforce . 11 V. Overview of the Workforce In South Asia . 12 A . Country Data at a Glance . 12 B . Education and Training . 21 C . Government and non-governmental workforce . 26 D . Professional Associations . 37 E . Policies and Legislation . 40 VI. Children’s Voices . 44 A . Overview and Purpose . 44 B . Methodology . 44 C . Children’s Perceptions of Availability and Accessibility of the Social Service Workforce and Services Provided . 44 D . Children’s Suggestions to Improve Services and the Social Service Workforce . 46 VII. Emerging issues and Implications for Comprehensive Social service Workforce Strengthening . 47 A . Challenges Countries Face in Strengthening the Social Service Workforce . 47 B . Opportunities FOR Country-based Approaches to Workforce Strengthening . 48 Endnotes . 50 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Number of Degrees by Type and Country . 22 Table 2: Percentage of Degree Programmes that Require a Field Placement (Based on Available Information) . 22 Table 3: Number of SSW Degree Programmes Established by Decade in South Asia . 23 Table 4: Diploma Numbers by Country . 25 Table 5: Maldives: Key Ministries, Functions, Roles, SSW Positions and Numbers . 29 Table 6: Nepal: Key Ministries, Functions, Roles, SSW Positions and Numbers . 31 Table 7: Number of Countries Reporting Government SSW by the Type of Ministry . 31 Table 8: Number of Governmental Social Service Workers with Responsibility for Child Protection per 100,000 Children . 33 Table 9: Vacancy Rates of Government SSW Positions by Cadre . 34 Table 10: Professional Associations by Country . 38 Table 11: Top Challenges Countries in South Asia Face in Strengthening the Social Service Workforce . 47 3 ACRONYMS BATSW Bombay Association of Trained Social Workers (India) CBCPC Community Based Child Protection Committee CPAN Child Protection Action Network (Afghanistan) FGD focus group discussion GBV gender-based violence MoLSAMD Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (Afghanistan) MSW Masters of Social Work NAPSWI National Association of Professional Social Workers of India NCWC National Commission for Women and Children (Bhutan) NISD National Institute of Social Development (Sri Lanka) NGN Next Generation Nepal (Nepal) NGO non-governmental organization NHRC National Human Rights Council (India) PEPFAR/USAID President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (USA) PO Probation officer SSW social service workforce SWAN Social Workers Association Nepal TISS Tata Institute of Social Science (India) UGC University Grants Commission (India) UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund VAC violence against children WHO World Health Organization STATE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKFORCE IN SOUTH ASIA STATE 4 India, Dungepur, Ghada Arandia village: Social workers go door to door to register children for a community level child tracking system that was set up by UNICEF and its partner Vaagdhara. © UNICEF/South Asia 2016/Bronstein I . OVERVIEW To protect children from violence, abuse and protected from violence and exploitation. The exploitation, as well as support their access plan recognizes that in order to achieve this, it to justice and quality care, it is imperative to is necessary to strengthen the social service have an effective child protection system. One workforce as an integral component of a child critical element of that system is a strong social protection system. An important first step is service workforce with a clear mandate. This to analyse and understand the complexity of workforce can be found within the government, workforce issues in a given country. private sector and non-governmental sector; The UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia in child protection, education, health and other aims to generate evidence-based knowledge, services; and be part of the paid labour force to accelerate progress in advocacy, policy or not. The social service workforce – paid and development, strategy design, programme unpaid, governmental and non-governmental scale-up and research to better protect children professionals and para-professionals – provides in South Asia. It seeks to increase availability social supports to children and families in of information on the social service workforce communities in a myriad ways and plays a key across the region, in order to have a baseline role in preventing