Plan International Sweden, Support to children in armed conflict, 2017-2022

The final report for Strengthening the resilience of at-risk children and young people in situations of protracted conflict covers the period November 2017 to March 2022. The report provides a general analysis and country-specific details on results achieved under the three outcome areas over the years. Order of outcomes and specific outputs were modified in the three countries of the project based on contextual variances in the Central African Republic, Myanmar and Tanzania. The report also provides an analysis on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus; youth, peace and security; conflict sensitivity; social cohesion; the rights perspective; gender equality and inclusion; and environment and climate change. In addition, Plan International Sweden (PLAN) has shared Lessons Learned from Program Strengthening Resilience of At-Risk Children and Youth in Situations of Protracted Conflict that captures lessons learned, documents good practices and provides recommendations for Plan International Sweden to continue working in the humanitarian-development nexus in situations of protracted conflict. The report provides a deeper assessment on topics such as youth, peace and security; prevention; social cohesion; children and armed conflict; protection; reintegration; women and gender; and the humanitarian-development nexus. Context The project was implemented in the Central African Republic (CAR), Myanmar and Tanzania (targeting Burundian refugees). Both CAR and Myanmar figure in the Secretary Generals Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict with grave violations committed against children through either killing and maiming, recruitment and use, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access to children. In CAR, the project covered the geographical areas of Berberati and Kaga-Bandoro, with the latter reporting the most wide-spread recruitment and use of children in armed groups and armed forces. Despite the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, signed 2019 between the Government and 14 armed groups, grave violations continue since the crisis started in December 2013. Following political unrest in December 2020, negotiations with armed group leaders for the release and reintegration processes of children was halted. The long socio-economic crisis has deprived a large proportion of children and youth of both education and job opportunities, making them not feel represented by political leaders and vulnerable to recruitment. Rakhine State in Myanmar has experienced uncertainty and fear with clashes between the ethnic armed organisation Arakan Army and the Myanmar armed forces Tatmadaw. In light of these tensions, there has been a significant need to strengthen peace and social cohesion at community level between Rakhine and Muslim communities and protect children and youth affected by armed conflict. In 2017, the political crisis in Burundi forced 255,322 asylum seekers to Northwest Tanzania, 56% of them being children. Since the mid-1990s, Burundis children and youth have been mobilized by political parties to perpetrate political violence. As one of the poorest countries in the world, and with low enrolment in schools and high levels of unemployment, youth are easily mobilized into youth wings of political parties. During the Civil War, estimated numbers of 2,000 14,000 children were recruited by forces, many reportedly from refugee camps outside the country. During the 2010 elections, the ruling partys armed youth militia, Imbonerakure, was active in the intimidation of opposition candidates and their supporters, something that intensified in the lead up to the 2015 elections. The project focused on the Burundian refugee camps in Nduta and Mtendeli where Plan International has provided critical prevention and response activities. Outcome 1: Children and youth are protected from risk of recruitment into armed groups Focus has been on ensuring a safe and protective environment within target communities and at household level. PLAN worked with community members through established structures, such as Child Protection Committees and youth groups. Sessions included psychosocial support, child protection in emergencies, gender-based violence, and child protection referral mechanisms. The participation of community members and the involvement of individuals directly in the activities in the various stages of implementation of the project, was essential to achieve meaningful impact under this outcome. This engagement also raised awareness on child protection risks and strategies to prevent and respond to these. During the final year of implementation, 94% of consulted target beneficiaries indicated that they now feel more protected and 85% of targeted community members demonstrated increased awareness on child protection. The outcome applied to CAR and Tanzania. In CAR, children face a significant risk of being recruited into armed forces and armed groups. Apart from training members of armed groups on the legal frameworks and the harmful effect of childrens association with armed forces and armed groups, mass awareness campaigns were conducted for parents and community members about the dangers and negative impact the recruitment of children has. This is particularly important as armed groups are movements that are mobilised from the communities themselves. Life skills provision for children to reduce any pull-factors for recruitment were combined with community and school re-integration of released children. In the refugee camps in Tanzania, unaccompanied and separated children were supported with an increased protective environment through provision of appropriate alternative care arrangements. Parents and foster parents were trained on positive parenting, community-based child protection and the risk of recruitment and use of children and how to mitigate these risks. Similar training and awareness raising was held for social workers, volunteers and partners. Outcome 2: Adolescents and youth are empowered to contribute actively to building a more inclusive, equitable, cohesive, and peaceful society With the aim to foster social cohesion, the goal included provision of safe spaces for adolescents and youth to engage, speak freely and interact; training on peacebuilding and community engagement; and meaningful interaction with local authorities. In CAR, this outcome focused on wellbeing through engagement in youth projects, youth clubs and Reseau Communautaire Protection Enfants (RECOPE). Beneficiaries included children formerly associated with armed groups as well as adolescents from all religious confessions and ethnic backgrounds. Exchange and capacity building workshops focusing on peace dialogue and reconciliation, the notions of citizenship, conflict resolution and sensitization techniques on peaceful transformation at community level, were accompanied by debates, peer to peer activities between Muslim and non-Muslim youth, soccer games, conferences, theatre productions, storytelling, radio programmes etc. A total of 7077 children and adolescents have had access to these child and youth friendly spaces. Sessions were also provided to 1565 adolescents on strengthening psychological and social skills. Leaders and neighbourhood chiefs expressed that these efforts have enabled a more cooperative sense within communities and a common understanding on challenges related to social cohesion. Local support towards the initiative was also expressed through the allocation of space at a high school for the Youth clubs meetings and exchanges within the framework of peace promotion and child protection activities. Through advocacy with authorities, Youth clubs also drafted memoranda on the celebration of the International Day of Peace in 2021 and on the validation ceremony of the legal texts of the youth clubs. They were also integrated into local initiatives for peaceful transformation through affiliations with prefectural and local youth councils. In Myanmar, focus was on working closely with community members and youth on peaceful co-existence. This was mainly achieved by providing spaces through 13 youth centres for youth to openly discuss matters of peace, dialogue between barriers of ethnicity, gender etc. By the end of the project, 76% of the adolescents and youth were actively engaged in activities related to conflict transformation and peace promotion, and participants from both Muslim and Rakhine communities shared a common understanding of peaceful coexistence. Community awareness was raised on the role of adolescence and recreational activities conducted with the Rakhine and Muslim youth facilitators in the 16 targeted areas in Minbya Township to foster social cohesion between different communities. Apart from community members, the project involved representatives from the Township Education Department, Township General Administration Department, State level Education Department, State level Coordination and Communication Department as well as various service providers. In addition, the Ministry of Education expressed interest in incorporating parts of the education module into the national curriculum. In Tanzania, support was provided to peer support groups and peace promoters in the camps to empower adolescents and youth to actively build a more inclusive, equitable, cohesive and peaceful society. Through the different platforms for youth, challenges in their communities regarding peace promotion and conflicts were discussed and shared. Youth committee members and peace promoters cooperated with other community members on solving problems facing youth and adolescents in the camps. Outcome 3: Conflict affected adolescents, youth and families have increased resilience and protective capacities To foster resilience and reduce the risk of young people from resorting to harmful or dangerous behaviours, adolescents and youth were provided with life skills and vocational training. Through the sessions, conducive living conditions and positive dynamics were fostered. Topics included: my support network; understanding our emotions; helping ourselves in stressful times; relating to peers; relating to adults; and health and safety in relationships. In CAR, capacities were strengthened through 12 community child protection structures including 6 youth clubs and 6 RECOPE with 145 members (25 men, 24 women, 48 girls and 48 boys). Awareness sessions on child rights reached 36,200 (19,114 female and 17,086 male) community members, armed group leaders, local authorities and child protection actors. This also resulted in 1548 children receiving follow-up and support through protection systems, including school kits to help the children remain in school and prevent them from joining armed groups. Two national legislative/policy amendments to improve child protection were also supported through the Child Protection Working Group on the adoption of the Child Protection Code, promulgated in June 2020. Life skills to reduce the risks of abuse and exploitation and to increase coping mechanisms was provided to adolescents in the camps in Tanzania. Vocational training was also provided to help the 1,126 graduates (704 female) when they repatriate back to Burundi. However, several restrictions and bans imposed by the government in Tanzania regarding income generating activities in the camps, meant that start-up kits to apply the newly gained skills in carpentry, hair cutting, tailoring, batik making and food production were not provided. The main reason behind this was the governments push for voluntary repatriation which they believed would be hindered were the adolescents to initiate income generating activities. In Myanmar, sensitization training sessions delivered by youth leaders enhanced life skills for community members to support psychosocial wellness and harmonious coexistence between ethnic groups and communities. Through the youth centres, skills were strengthened through non-formal education (literacy, numeracy, life skills, peace curriculum, and child protection). In addition, non-formal education committees were established and trained on data collection to assist in monitoring and evaluation of project activities. Based on market assessments, adolescent girls and boys were also provided with vocational training sessions in sewing and motorbike repair to support livelihood opportunities. Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus As mentioned at the onset of this project, PLAN commits to enact on opportunities for bridging the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN). Protracted conflicts require interventions that respond to immediate basic needs, build capacities to enhance opportunities over the long term, and contribute to peace. The project provided an opportunity to break away from the traditional humanitarian, development and peace silos. It applied the required flexibility in terms of programming to ensure that immediate needs were attended to while also addressing root causes of conflicts and tensions, building capacities for sustainable protection, promoting gender equality of children, adolescents and youth, and fostering social cohesion and resilience. The Lessons Learned from Program Strengthening Resilience of At-Risk Children and Youth in Situations of Protracted Conflict raised important aspects that PLAN considered, such as the need for a thorough understanding of the context through regular risk-assessments, and flexibility to address changes and priorities as they occur. It was also noted that initiatives to meet immediate needs can reinforce capacity development efforts. Non-food items to integrate children into families, school kits to integrate into schools and hygiene supplies for young women to participate in activities for instance support long-term programming and capacity development. Youth, Peace and Security While initially supporting the Children and Armed Conflict agenda, the project developed over the years also in support of the Youth, Peace and Security agendas pillars. Focus on Protection was mainly through awareness-raising on the negative effects of recruiting young people to armed forces and armed groups combined with referral mechanisms and reintegration for released children and adolescents. In Myanmar, awareness raising on the potential dangers facing young people who migrate to neighbouring countries was included, where particularly the risks of human trafficking and exploitation at workplaces were highlighted. Youth in the camps in Tanzania were also trained on GBV and PSEA. Participation was fostered among others through the different youth clubs that strengthened adolescents and youth leadership skills and provided opportunities for them to engage with local decision-makers and contribute to policy-documents. In Myanmar, this among others led to youth being included in the national youth council and attending the national youth peacebuilding conference in Yangon in 2018. Prevention was mainly addressed through activities focusing on empowerment and economic opportunities, not the least through provision of education, life skills and vocational training. The established or rehabilitated youth centres/committees/councils also provided space for young women and men to discuss social cohesion, build bonds and foster teamwork, even beyond the scope of the project. In CAR, specific focus was also given to Disengagement and reintegration of those who had been associated with armed forces and armed groups. This pillar is closely linked to the Children and Armed Conflict Agenda on the reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups.

The overall objective of the intervention Strengthening resilience of at-risk children and youth in situations of protracted conflict is to protect children, adolescents and youth in situations of protracted conflict. More specifically, the project has three outcome areas: - To protect children and youth from risks of recruitment into armed groups; - To empower adolescents and youth to contribute more actively to the building of a more inclusive, equitable, cohesive and peaceful society; and - To increase resilience and protective capacities of conflict-affected adolescents, youth and families. In line with Plan International's programming model, the project takes a child-centred community development approach and thus works with children and youth but also their families, communities, organizations and local/national governments to bring about change. By doing so the aim is to build a common understanding and engagement towards the same objectives among multiple actors in an integrated fashion. The project is furthermore building on the federation's commitment to enact on opportunities for bridging the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. It does so by putting the building of resilience at the centre of the attention and engaging in interventions foreseen to have longer-term and sustainable impact at both individual and community levels. Whilst having a common overarching goal of strengthening resilience among at risk children and youth, the three interventions that the project is composed of in the Central African Republic, Tanzania and Myanmar, were developed based on a careful context analysis and the specific needs at hand among children and youth in different locations, which in the three cases are protracted crisis with internally displaced people or refugee contexts.