Deadline: 06-Jul-2026
UNICEF Paraguay is inviting civil society organisations to implement a child protection and adolescent wellbeing programme focused on vulnerable adolescents exposed to violence, inequality, and limited access to essential services. The initiative combines psychosocial support using the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) model with evidence generation on violence-related risks in priority regions.
The programme is part of UNICEF Paraguay’s 2025–2029 Cooperation Programme and focuses on strengthening protection systems, expanding emotional wellbeing interventions, and generating actionable data on adolescent vulnerability. Implementation will take place in Concepción, Alto Paraná, and Asunción.
What Is the UNICEF Paraguay Programme?
The UNICEF Paraguay programme is a child protection and adolescent wellbeing initiative designed to strengthen support systems for vulnerable adolescents.
It integrates psychosocial interventions with applied research to improve understanding of violence, inequality, and protection gaps affecting young people.
The programme aims to improve both direct service delivery and evidence-based policymaking for adolescent protection.
Programme Objectives
The initiative is designed to strengthen protective environments and improve adolescent wellbeing.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening child protection systems
- Improving adolescent psychosocial wellbeing
- Preventing violence and exploitation of young people
- Enhancing emotional and social skills among adolescents
- Expanding access to community-based protection services
- Generating evidence on adolescent vulnerability and violence risks
- Improving access to education, health, and psychosocial services
- Strengthening safe environments for adolescents
- Supporting continuity of education and services
- Reducing exposure to recruitment and coercion risks
Core Focus Areas
Child Protection and Violence Prevention
The programme addresses:
- Exposure to violence in urban and vulnerable communities
- Sexual and gender-based violence risks
- Recruitment and coercion into illegal activities
- Exploitation and abuse of adolescents
- Weakening of protective family and community systems
Adolescent Psychosocial Wellbeing
The initiative strengthens:
- Emotional regulation skills
- Coping mechanisms for stress and trauma
- Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
- Group-based emotional learning interventions
Evidence Generation and Research
The programme includes applied research on:
- Patterns of violence affecting adolescents
- Territorial risk mapping in urban areas
- Gender- and age-specific vulnerability analysis
- Access barriers to protection and essential services
- Context-specific drivers of adolescent risk
Community-Based Protection Systems
The initiative supports:
- Local protection networks
- Safe community spaces for adolescents
- Strengthening of referral systems
- Community engagement in violence prevention
Education and Safe Mobility
The programme promotes:
- Safe access to schools and services
- Reduction of mobility-related risks
- Continuity of education in vulnerable contexts
- Protection of adolescents during daily movement
Programme Components
The intervention is structured into two integrated components.
Component 1: EASE Psychosocial Support Expansion
This component focuses on implementing and scaling the Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions (EASE) programme.
Key activities include:
- Training facilitators in EASE methodology
- Expanding group-based psychosocial support sessions
- Strengthening emotional skills of vulnerable adolescents
- Supporting adolescent mental health and resilience
- Targeting adolescents in high-risk communities
The EASE model focuses on helping adolescents manage emotions, stress, and interpersonal challenges through structured group sessions.
Component 2: Violence Risk Assessment and Evidence Generation
This component involves an exploratory assessment of adolescent vulnerability and violence exposure.
Key activities include:
- Mapping urban and territorial violence risks
- Assessing adolescent exposure to violence and exploitation
- Studying recruitment and coercion risks
- Analyzing gender- and age-based differences in vulnerability
- Examining local protection system weaknesses
- Producing evidence for policy and programming
Geographic Focus Areas
The programme will be implemented in priority territories:
- Concepción
- Alto Paraná
- San Francisco neighbourhood (Asunción)
These areas represent diverse urban and regional contexts with varying levels of vulnerability and violence-related risks.
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to deliver integrated protection and evidence outcomes:
- Improved psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents
- Strengthened emotional resilience and coping skills
- Expanded access to community-based support services
- Improved understanding of violence risks and patterns
- Better targeted child protection interventions
- Stronger evidence base for national programming
- Enhanced focus on adolescent girls and vulnerable groups
- Improved coordination of protection systems
Eligible Applicants
UNICEF Paraguay seeks civil society organisations with strong technical capacity.
Required Expertise
Applicants should have experience in:
- Community-based adolescent programming
- Child protection and safeguarding systems
- Psychosocial support methodologies (MHPSS)
- Violence prevention and response
- Applied research and evidence generation
- Territorial and social risk analysis
- Working in vulnerable or high-risk communities
Programme Approach
The initiative follows an integrated protection and research model.
Key Features
- Combination of service delivery and research
- Evidence-informed programming
- Focus on vulnerable adolescents
- Gender-sensitive and age-sensitive analysis
- Community-based implementation
- Strong emphasis on scalability and policy relevance
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is important because it:
- Addresses rising violence risks affecting adolescents
- Strengthens mental health and psychosocial support systems
- Improves understanding of urban and territorial vulnerability
- Builds evidence for child protection policy
- Enhances early intervention for at-risk adolescents
- Strengthens community resilience and protection networks
- Supports adolescent girls in high-risk environments
It links direct psychosocial support with evidence generation to improve long-term protection systems.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants can strengthen proposals by:
- Demonstrating experience with adolescent-focused programmes
- Showing strong capacity in psychosocial methodologies like EASE
- Including robust research and data collection frameworks
- Providing clear territorial analysis approaches
- Highlighting gender-sensitive and inclusive strategies
- Demonstrating strong safeguarding policies
- Linking interventions to measurable protection outcomes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Weak integration between psychosocial support and research components
- Lack of experience in adolescent protection programmes
- Poorly defined methodology for violence risk analysis
- Insufficient safeguarding frameworks
- Overly general community intervention plans
- Weak territorial targeting strategy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the UNICEF Paraguay programme?
It is a child protection and adolescent wellbeing initiative combining psychosocial support and evidence generation on violence risks.
What is the EASE model?
EASE (Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions) is a group-based psychosocial programme that helps adolescents develop emotional regulation and coping skills.
Where will the programme be implemented?
In Concepción, Alto Paraná, and the San Francisco neighbourhood of Asunción.
Who can apply?
Civil society organisations with experience in child protection, psychosocial support, and applied research.
What are the main components?
Expansion of EASE psychosocial support and research on adolescent violence risks.
What is the main goal?
To strengthen protection systems and improve wellbeing for vulnerable adolescents while generating evidence for policy and programming.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Paraguay Adolescent Protection & Evidence Generation Programme integrates psychosocial support with applied research to strengthen protection systems for vulnerable adolescents. By combining the EASE model with evidence generation on violence risks, it supports both immediate wellbeing and long-term policy improvements.
The programme enhances adolescent protection in high-risk areas while building a stronger evidence base for child protection systems in Paraguay.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.