Deadline: 24-Feb-2026
UNICEF is seeking Expressions of Interest to strengthen child protection systems in Pará, Brazil, with a focus on preventing and responding to violence against children and adolescents. The initiative promotes intersectoral coordination, adolescent participation, school-based protocols, and capacity building for sustainable protection and referral systems.
The UNICEF Child Protection Initiative in Pará is designed to enhance prevention, identification, and response to violence against children and adolescents in selected municipalities.
The program focuses on strengthening school communities, engaging families, promoting adolescent participation, and fostering coordination among education, health, social assistance, public safety, and justice sectors.
Objectives of the Initiative
The key objectives of the initiative are to:
-
Strengthen child protection systems at the municipal and school levels
-
Prevent and respond effectively to violence against children and adolescents
-
Promote adolescent participation in identifying and reporting violence
-
Enhance intersectoral coordination among public and community actors
-
Develop sustainable protocols and referral mechanisms for child protection
Key Components of the Initiative
1. School-Based Child Protection
-
Develop or adapt school protocols and referral flows for handling cases of violence
-
Ensure alignment with Guardianship Councils, health services, social assistance, and justice systems
-
Strengthen school curricula and pedagogical activities focused on prevention and early identification of violence
-
Train school multipliers to act as local child protection advocates
2. Community Engagement
-
Mobilize families and local communities to actively prevent and respond to violence
-
Produce informative materials to support families and adolescents
-
Train youth representatives, community agents, and local leaders for sustained impact
3. Intersectoral Coordination
-
Conduct meetings to improve coordination between education, health, social assistance, public safety, and justice actors
-
Strengthen referral flows, with particular focus on rural communities
-
Promote a participatory approach to ensure collaboration and system alignment
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
-
Establish an integrated monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system
-
Systematically follow up on referrals and assess changes in knowledge and practices
-
Document outcomes and generate lessons learned for continuous improvement
Who Is Eligible to Participate?
Eligible organizations are typically those with expertise in:
-
Child protection and rights
-
Education and school-based interventions
-
Community mobilization and youth engagement
-
Coordination with health, social assistance, or justice systems
Partnerships with municipal authorities and local organizations are strongly encouraged to ensure sustainable implementation.
Why This Initiative Matters
-
Addresses high rates of violence against children and adolescents in Pará
-
Strengthens institutional capacity for prevention, referral, and response
-
Promotes youth engagement and community ownership of child protection
-
Enhances coordination across multiple sectors to improve effectiveness of interventions
-
Focuses on vulnerable populations in rural and underserved areas
How to Submit an Expression of Interest
-
Identify your organization’s capacity to support child protection and school-based interventions
-
Prepare a brief EOI describing:
-
Experience in child protection and prevention initiatives
-
Proposed approach to strengthening school and community systems
-
Plans for intersectoral coordination and community engagement
-
-
Include information on partnerships, target schools, and municipalities
-
Submit via UNICEF’s designated portal before the specified deadline
Note: EOIs are intended to identify qualified organizations for potential participation in project implementation and collaboration.
Tips for a Strong EOI
-
Highlight previous experience with child protection programs
-
Emphasize approaches for adolescent participation and community mobilization
-
Include strategies for rural or hard-to-reach communities
-
Show ability to coordinate across multiple sectors
-
Describe sustainable approaches for training, protocol implementation, and referral systems
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who can submit an EOI?
Organizations with experience in child protection, education, and community engagement in Brazil, particularly Pará, are eligible.
2. Is participation limited to schools?
No. While schools are central, the initiative also engages families, local leaders, and municipal authorities.
3. What is the focus population?
Children and adolescents, particularly those in vulnerable or rural communities.
4. Are partnerships required?
Partnerships with local authorities and organizations are encouraged to strengthen implementation and sustainability.
5. What is the role of adolescents?
Adolescents participate in prevention, identification, and referral processes and contribute to school and community initiatives.
6. How will results be monitored?
Through an integrated monitoring, evaluation, and learning system, including referral tracking and assessment of changes in knowledge and practices.
7. Can rural schools participate?
Yes. The initiative prioritizes rural schools to strengthen child protection and referral flows in underserved areas.
Conclusion
UNICEF’s initiative in Pará aims to create safer school and community environments by strengthening child protection systems, promoting adolescent engagement, and enhancing intersectoral coordination. By supporting sustainable practices, effective referral mechanisms, and community involvement, the program ensures long-term protection for children and adolescents against violence.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.