Final Evaluation | Supporting the Socio-Economic Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups including the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Northeast Nigeria Project. UNICEF – 1st November 2019 to 31st May 2021.
The use of children as soldiers has had significant emotional, psychological, and physical challenges for the children that have been involved in the conflict. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), while living among armed actors, children experience unconscionable forms of violence. They may be required to participate in harrowing training or initiation ceremonies, to undergo hazardous labour or to engage in combat – with great risk of death, chronic injury, and disability. They may also witness, suffer, or be forced to take part in torture and killings. Girls, especially, can be subjected to violence. Amid the ongoing conflict, UNICEF and its partners including Search for Common Ground have been working on identifying and supporting the release and reintegration of children from armed groups. Thus, this report is based on one of the projects of UNICEF and its partners to support the release and reintegration of children associated with armed groups in Borno State.
The use of an integrated community-based approach is a good practice that promotes local ownership, buy-in and leadership of reintegration programmes. The use of this practice has played a critical role in ensuring its success. It is important for the model alongside the common-ground approach to always be embedded in the projects and programmes of Search. The project’s quarterly M&E Reflection meetings is a good practice that helps the project to critically reflect on the progress made and the challenges that should be addressed. Such meetings provide a platform for corrective measures to be adopted to address challenges immediately after they are identified. Search should continue the use of such an approach to programming as it is effective and produces the desired results.
