Humanitarian emergencies are increasing in both frequency and duration. It is evident that children bear the brunt of these situations and that these experiences have long-lasting effects on their development and future. Given the pressing need for humanitarian and development assistance, it is vital to have a clear understanding of what interventions have the greatest impact. Save the Children released a research brief of a systematic review on the child outcomes of cash transfer programming with evidence gap maps, a list of studies included, and a summary of findings. The brief includes evidence from both humanitarian and non-humanitarian contexts. 

Access research brief here. 

This article in BMJ Global Health highlights the Parenting for Lifelong Health Sinovuyo Caring Families Program, supported by the World Health Organization and the South African government, which is a culturally-relevant, evidence-informed, low-cost intervention for parents of 10- to 18-year-old adolescents to reduce child behavior problems, reduce harsh parenting, and increase positive parenting. The cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with 1100 participants across 40 townships and villages in South Africa. Families taking part in the program had lower rates of violence against teenagers, better family relationships, better planning by families to protect teenagers from abuse in the community, and less alcohol and drug use by both caregivers and teenagers. Caregivers who had taken part in the program were less depressed and less stressed by parenting and had more social support. Families who had taken part in the program were less likely to run out of money and food at the end of the month and had better budgeting and more savings. This parenting program shows promise for reducing violence and improving parenting and family functioning in low-resource settings.

Read the article here.

In this op-ed, researcher Jacinta Muteshi-Strachan argues for the importance of reliable data to help in having more candid and targeted discussions about female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and what needs to be done.  She demonstrates how Population Council is addressing important technical challenges in measuring trends in FGM/C and providing real-time evidence to inform interventions and policies to abandon the practice. New studies are shedding light on medicalization and shifting practices.  

 Read the op-ed here. 

This new report from UNICEF, part of their Countdown to 2030 campaign, includes profiles on 81 countries which together account for 95% of maternal deaths and 90% of deaths among children under 5 worldwide. A dashboard developed by UNICEF and partners provides an interactive visualization of the data along the continuum of care. The report synthesizes data on the current situation and trends, and takes a critical look at how far the Countdown countries are from universal coverage for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, and nutrition.  

Access the report here.

Access the country profiles here. 

Violence against children is known to have adverse health outcomes and to be a risk factor for unhealthy behavior and subsequent violence toward others. This article published in BMJ Global Health makes use of available statistics on violence against children in South Africa to model the cost of inaction. The costing exercise gives some useful economic arguments about all forms of violence against children and, more importantly, some concrete suggestions for how this problem should be addressed. While the article refers specifically to South Africa, the key issues should be of interest to those engaging on child protection and other related issues more broadly.

Read the article here.

Ahead of the End Violence Solutions Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, on 14-15 February 2018, the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children prepared a special report tracking progress on ending corporal punishment of children in Pathfinding countries. These countries have committed to three to five years of accelerated action towards target 16.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children". 

Read the report here.

Child statelessness continues to be a global problem that evades easy solutions and demands better legal solutions. Historically, most authorities were reluctant to find that norms existed under customary international law governing child statelessness. However, as practice on child statelessness has developed, so too has practice on customary international law. This article by William Worster of the Hague University of Applied Sciences, published on the Social Science Research Network, undertakes a preliminary case study on customary international law rules governing child statelessness, specifically considering whether there is a presumption in favor of rules on point. 

Read the article here.

In response to the societal impacts and costs of violence, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop on December 1-2, 2016, with the aim of illuminating the ways in which violence prevention practitioners can effectively share their evidence-based research findings with policy makers in order to positively affect and amplify violence prevention efforts. The workshop explored this topic through three lenses: (1) economics and costing, (2) research and evidence, and (3) effective communications and messaging. This approach underscored the fact that violence prevention is a complex and multi-faceted issue that requires an "all hands on deck" interdisciplinary approach. This two-day workshop brought together a diverse group of experts from various domains and backgrounds to foster multi-sectors dialogues on the topic. The workshop rapporteurs have prepared this proceedings in brief as a factual summation of the session discussions. 

Read the brief here.

Child Trends: Research Analyst - Child Welfare

Child Trends invites applications for a Research Analyst position for quantitative aspects of research projects involving vulnerable families, including families with experience in the child welfare and criminal justice systems. The analyst will: take part in the creation and development of new projects; prepare research designs and protocols; oversee and participate in data collection activities; and take a lead role in analysis and writing. The analyst will join the Child Welfare area, which focuses on issues such as prevention of maltreatment, reunification, child protection, court oversight, foster care, kinship care, adoption, and youth leaving foster care. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis!

Learn more about the position and apply here.  

War Child Holland is seeking a strategic thinker with a strong track record in program design and grant writing to lead their programs in occupied Palestinian territory. Head of Programs is responsible for developing War Child's strategic program for the occupied Palestinian Territory, in alignment with the War child Global Strategy and close consultation with the Country Director. Responsibilities of this position include program designing, proposal writing and fundraising, monitoring and guiding overall program progress, and co-creating learning and development trajectories with War Child and partners. The position is based in East Jerusalem with frequent travel and the contract is for at least 1 year with the possibility of extension. 

Learn more about the position and apply here.  

ActionAid International is seeking a qualified Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research Coordinator. The position will have overall responsibility to lead on the coordination of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Research components of a Norad-funded, multi-country project which aims to ensure increased financing of quality, inclusive public education for girls and other marginalized children in Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Malawi. Working in close collaboration with the International Project Coordinator, the Campaigns Assistant, and key project staff in each of the focus countries. The deadline for applications has been extended to March 4, 2018.  

Learn more about the position and apply here.