Call for EOIs: Strengthen Child Safeguarding Systems in the Maldives

UNICEF Maldives is inviting civil society organizations (CSOs) to partner on strengthening child safeguarding systems in organized sports and supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan on Violence Against Children (NAPVAC). The initiative focuses on developing safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms, institutional capacity, accountability systems, and scalable protection models for sports associations in Maldives.

Overview of the UNICEF Maldives Child Safeguarding Partnership

UNICEF Maldives is seeking applications from eligible civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen child protection and safeguarding systems within organized sports.

The partnership aims to transform existing child safeguarding policies into practical systems that protect children participating in sports activities.

The initiative supports the implementation of:

• National Action Plan on Violence Against Children (NAPVAC)
• Child Safeguarding Policy in Sports
• Athlete Safeguarding Policy

The programme will work with sports organizations, government stakeholders, and civil society partners to create safer environments for children involved in sports.

Objectives of the Programme

The UNICEF Maldives partnership aims to:

• Strengthen child safeguarding systems in organized sports
• Improve prevention and response mechanisms for child protection risks
• Support sports associations in applying safeguarding standards
• Establish reporting and referral pathways
• Improve accountability and institutional governance
• Generate evidence on child safeguarding challenges
• Develop a scalable safeguarding model for wider adoption

Key Focus Areas

Child Protection in Organized Sports

The programme focuses on ensuring that children participating in sports have access to safe, inclusive, and protective environments.

Key actions include:

• Implementing child safeguarding policies
• Identifying risks within sports settings
• Establishing prevention measures
• Strengthening protection systems

Strengthening Safeguarding Policies

The initiative will support sports organizations to operationalize existing safeguarding policies by developing:

• Practical guidelines
• Governance frameworks
• Implementation tools
• Monitoring systems

Reporting and Referral Mechanisms

The programme will establish systems that allow children and stakeholders to safely report concerns.

This includes:

• Clear reporting procedures
• Referral pathways for protection services
• Accountability mechanisms
• Response protocols

Institutional Capacity Building

Sports associations will receive support to improve their ability to:

• Apply safeguarding standards
• Train staff and volunteers
• Manage child protection concerns
• Create safer sporting environments

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the programme, UNICEF Maldives expects the following results:

Evidence Generation

The initiative will conduct:

• National landscape analysis on child safeguarding in sports
• Pilot implementation activities
• Evidence collection to guide future interventions

Development of Safeguarding Systems

The programme will create:

• Child safeguarding tools
• Governance resources
• Implementation guidance
• Operational frameworks

Stronger Coordination

A multi-sectoral coordination mechanism will be established to:

• Provide strategic leadership
• Support implementation
• Coordinate stakeholders
• Guide future expansion

Improved Capacity of Sports Associations

Sports organizations will be strengthened to:

• Implement safeguarding standards
• Establish reporting mechanisms
• Improve accountability systems

Scalable Safeguarding Model

The programme will develop a model that can be adapted and expanded across additional sports associations in Maldives.

Who Is Eligible?

The opportunity is open to eligible civil society organizations working in Maldives.

Eligible organizations should have relevant experience in areas such as:

• Child protection
• Safeguarding systems
• Violence prevention
• Community engagement
• Sports development
• Institutional capacity building

Organizations should demonstrate the ability to work with multiple stakeholders and support long-term systems strengthening.

Why This Partnership Matters

Children involved in organized sports may face risks related to abuse, exploitation, neglect, or unsafe environments. Strong safeguarding systems help ensure that sports activities become safe spaces where children can participate, learn, and develop.

This initiative is important because it:

• Protects children from violence and harm
• Strengthens institutional responsibility
• Improves reporting and response systems
• Builds safer sports environments
• Supports national child protection priorities

How the Programme Will Work

The partnership will follow a systems-strengthening approach.

Step 1: Assess Current Safeguarding Systems

The programme will conduct:

• National assessments
• Landscape analysis
• Identification of existing gaps and challenges

Step 2: Develop Practical Safeguarding Tools

Partners will support the creation of:

• Guidelines
• Reporting mechanisms
• Governance tools
• Implementation resources

Step 3: Strengthen Sports Associations

Sports organizations will receive:

• Training
• Technical support
• Safeguarding capacity development

Step 4: Establish Coordination Mechanisms

Stakeholders will work together through a multi-sectoral platform to improve leadership and coordination.

Step 5: Develop a Scalable Model

Lessons from pilot activities will be used to create a model that can be expanded to other sports organizations.

Application Tips for Organizations

Applicants should highlight:

• Previous experience in child protection or safeguarding
• Experience working with communities or institutions
• Ability to develop practical systems and tools
• Partnerships with relevant stakeholders
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation
• Capacity for long-term implementation

Strong proposals should clearly explain:

• The organization’s technical expertise
• Proposed approach
• Expected outcomes
• Sustainability plan

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting proposals without clear safeguarding experience
• Focusing only on activities instead of systems change
• Ignoring reporting and accountability mechanisms
• Providing unclear implementation plans
• Failing to demonstrate stakeholder coordination capacity

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the UNICEF Maldives Child Safeguarding Partnership?

It is an initiative supporting civil society organizations to strengthen child protection systems in organized sports and implement safeguarding policies in Maldives.

2. Who can apply for this partnership?

Civil society organizations with relevant experience in child protection, safeguarding, sports development, or institutional strengthening can apply.

3. What are the main focus areas of the programme?

The programme focuses on child safeguarding policies, reporting mechanisms, institutional governance, capacity building, evidence generation, and scalable protection models.

4. What policies does the initiative support?

The programme supports the Child Safeguarding Policy in Sports, Athlete Safeguarding Policy, and the National Action Plan on Violence Against Children (NAPVAC).

5. What will selected organizations help develop?

Partners will help develop safeguarding tools, reporting systems, governance frameworks, training resources, and coordination mechanisms.

6. Why is safeguarding important in sports?

Safeguarding ensures that children can participate in sports environments that are safe, inclusive, and free from violence, abuse, and exploitation.

7. What is the long-term goal of the initiative?

The long-term goal is to establish a sustainable child safeguarding model that can be adopted across sports associations throughout Maldives.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Maldives Child Safeguarding Partnership provides an opportunity for civil society organizations to strengthen child protection systems within organized sports. By developing practical safeguarding tools, improving institutional capacity, and creating coordinated protection mechanisms, the initiative aims to build safer sporting environments where every child can participate and thrive.