STRENGTHENING LOCAL CAPACITY FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN NAKIVALE REFUGEE SETTLEMENT

When a Save the Children staff member was seconded to support AWYAD under the localization initiative, the experience became a powerful demonstration of partnership, trust-building, and capacity strengthening in action.

The engagement began at the national level, where AWYAD warmly welcomed the seconded staff, expressing enthusiasm for the support being provided. As the Executive Director of AWYAD shared, “The field team already knew about the secondment—they were prepared and waiting.”

However, practical questions soon emerged at the field level:
•    Would the seconded staff co-implement or support from a distance?
•    How would supervision be managed, especially with the team already funded by another donor?
•    What would be the balance between guidance and autonomy?

Instead of rushing into action, Save the Children prioritized relationship-building. A joint meeting with the child protection team was held to align expectations and clarify roles. The seconded staff introduced their objectives, grounded in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Save the Children and AWYAD, and opened a dialogue on existing implementation practices.

Listening, Learning, and Building Capacity

Shortly after the introduction, during a joint child protection coordination meeting attended by UNHCR and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), partners acknowledged some of the operational and technical challenges facing AWYAD. The Save the Children representative introduced their role and reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening local systems and not replacing them.

AWYAD’s team demonstrated openness by sharing capacity gaps even before formal assessments. Together, the teams conducted: Case file audits, field assessments and development of a tailored capacity strengthening plan.

These were followed by hands-on mentorship, coaching, and technical trainings delivered in collaboration with Save the Children’s Child Protection in Emergencies specialists. Through a respectful, non-intrusive, and collaborative approach, capacity strengthening became an embedded, ongoing process and not a one-off activity.

Adapting to the Local Partner’s Reality

Recognizing that AWYAD had competing donor priorities and a limited team, the Save the Children seconded staff adapted to their schedule and way of working. Key strategies that led to improved coordination and partner ownership included:

1. Providing constructive and professional feedback that acknowledged both strengths and areas for improvement.

2. Aligning with AWYAD’s weekly plans to ensure support was timely and relevant.

3. Facilitating linkages with other service providers, strengthening referral pathways and resource mobilization.

4. Drawing on Save the Children’s technical expertise and seeking guidance when needed and sharing best practices.

5. Maintaining approachability and flexibility, which encouraged partner staff to seek support confidently.

6. Recognizing and celebrating AWYAD’s contributions, which built the team’s confidence and sense of ownership.

Results and Impact

Despite initial challenges, the partnership has resulted in strengthened capacity within AWYAD’s child protection team. Notably:

• Case management quality has improved through ongoing coaching and documentation support.

• Coordination with other actors has become more structured.

• Partner staff are more confident in articulating and addressing their technical gaps.

• AWYAD’s role and visibility in the settlement have grown, with increased recognition from OPM and UNHCR.

The experience in Nakivale shows that localization is more than transferring responsibility. It is about building relationships, enabling learning, and walking the journey together. Save the Children’s partnership with AWYAD is a practical example of how respectful collaboration and tailored capacity strengthening can enable local actors to take the lead in delivering impactful child protection services in humanitarian contexts. 

“When you trust and support local actors to lead, you build systems that last.”
— Save the Children Staff, Nakivale