Deadline: 29-Aug-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is spearheading a vital child protection initiative in West Bengal, India, focusing on strengthening family-based alternative care and community-driven preventive mechanisms.
This program targets child protection, family reunification, and the prevention and response to crime and violence affecting children across four districts.
The initiative aims to promote alternative care by building strong linkages between district authorities and community stakeholders. A key goal is to reduce the incidence of child marriage in selected areas by empowering Child Protection Committees (CPCs) and parents with the knowledge needed to identify and address child protection vulnerabilities. It also seeks to improve access to social protection services and mental health support for children and adolescents, while equipping young people with skills to offer peer support and respond to risks.
Community system strengthening is at the heart of the intervention. It includes capacitating functional CPCs at the village and block levels, training local government representatives, self-help groups, and frontline workers in community-based mental health and psychosocial support. These groups are empowered to monitor, report, and act on issues such as child marriage, mental health, missing children, trafficking, and unsafe migration. The program also mobilizes children and communities to integrate child protection priorities into local development planning and budgets.
Family strengthening and parenting support form another pillar of the project. Awareness is generated about social protection schemes through existing government initiatives, and vulnerable families are linked to these services. Parenting sessions focus on child protection, gender issues, and mental health, with special attention given to foster parents. Self-help group federations and frontline workers are trained to identify and assist children and youth in distress.
The program also emphasizes child and adolescent mental health, organizing sessions in schools to raise awareness about mental wellness, risk factors, and coping strategies. Peer networks are strengthened by building the capacity of young people and community leaders to lead mental health discussions and provide emotional support.
Lastly, the initiative promotes care reforms by mapping Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in three districts to pilot deinstitutionalization and family-based care models. CPCs and community leaders are trained to recognize vulnerabilities and advocate for alternative care options. Efforts include community-based reintegration and family strengthening programs aimed at preventing family separation and supporting children transitioning from institutional care.
Through this comprehensive approach, UNICEF aims to create a safer and more supportive environment for children in West Bengal, ensuring they grow up in nurturing families and resilient communities.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
