Sharing the Learning

A number of opportunities have arisen for sharing the learning from the HIF funded research in Kyaka II and for discussing further any innovation in the refugee protection process in relation to children.  This process of information dissemination and joint reflection and review is essential to draw out with key stakeholders what might be possible, practical and implementable in terms of change.

UNHCR The Researcher has written a paper for UNHCR on the first month of the field research (funded by a UNHCR Small Grant) as part of its ‘New Issues in Refugee Research’ series.  A copy of this paper is provided on this profile.  The ‘New Issues’ series is accessible internally for UNHCR staff as well as externally for practitioners and academics.  The paper connects up the field research with current policy directives on child protection within UNHCR.

A UNHCR funded visit to UNHCR offices in Geneva to share the learning from the research this month has enabled meetings with senior staff in Registration, Refugee Status Determination, Resettlement and Child Protection as well as the presentation of key findings for discussion.  Opportunities are being explored for contributing to UNHCR guidance documents on child friendly procedures.  Feedback from UNHCR staff on the research and its practical application has been extremely useful.

Child Protection Working Group The visit to Geneva has also coincided with the annual meeting of the global, multi-agency Child Protection Working Group.  The Researcher was able to meet a number of the members of this Group, discuss the research and also to present on the research as part of the annual meeting.  Again, feedback was very useful re: implementation of ideas for change.  Members have shown interest in the circulation of any tools or good practice documents that come out of the research.

CMPR Workshop A more academic event is planned for sharing the learning from the research at the end of November as part of the Centre for Migration Policy Research at Swansea University.  Academics working at a range of levels in the fields of child participation, child rights and refugee children have been invited to attend.

Anna Skeels, PhD Student, CMPR – Swansea University