Right To Play/IICRD Baseline Jam Suka Early Qualitative Findings Research Orientation and Initial Results October, 2016 Dr. Philip Cook, Michele Cook IICRD

Research Goal of Mali Jam Suka Mission The research aims of the September 18th – October 4th Mali visit were to: Finalize list of indicators from Jam Suka PMF and tie these indicators to appropriate quantitative and qualitative research tools Conduct baseline training with RTP staff and baseline enumerators Begin and oversee Household survey process Gather baseline qualitative data in all three regions Begin data analysis

Research Goal of Mali Jam Suka Mission

Context Need for baseline research to initiate Jam Suka project (submit report to GAC) Inform Jam Suka programming in strengthening local protection mechanisms in mitigating risks Strengthen links between monitoring, evaluation and learning Team of 4 IICRD staff visited Mali from Sep. 18th – Oct. 4th Bamako enumerator HH training (Sep. 23 – 26) Qual. Research in Yanfolila (Sekasso), Kenieba (Kayes), and Badiagara (Mopti) (Sep. 27 – Oct. 4)

An Ecological Approach of Childhood Development, Risk and Protection

Risk factors can pile up

Protective factors can mitigate risks

Research Methods Household (HH) Survey (Quant) (1680T/560R) Ethnography (Qual) Participant Action Research (Qual) That draws on: IICRD and other global experience in CP M&E New child and youth centred approaches to CP M&E (IICRD CAPE) Community engagement in CP M&E (Wessells)

Household Surveys (Quant) Adolescent (1200T/400R) Caregiver (400T/100R) Vulnerable adolescent (180T/60R) Practitioners (45T/15R) Tablet based/POIMAPPER Each survey approx. 1 hour/practitioner 20min Informed consent Resources available upon request Completion: Oct. 18 (Adol 10, VA 13, CG 16, Pr 17)

Qualitative data per region Focus groups with vulnerable children (approx. 20 boys/girls) Key informant interviews with vulnerable children (4 boys/girls) Walking tour using POIMAPPER to map risk and protective factors Focus group with caregivers (20 men and women) KII with CG (2-4) Focus group with practitioners and local leaders (20 men and women) Spidergram on issues of accessibility and barriers with children, caregivers and practitioners (45) KII with practitioners (2-4) (Summary Data Analysis)

Initial Findings High levels of risk for boys and girls (FGM, early marriage, child labour) Emphasis on poverty and entrenched social norms Week government protective systems Generally week civil society protection (stronger in Yanfolila than Kenieba) Need for RTP and Jam Suka child protection program Need for creative partnership with local community, CBO’s and government (formal/non-formal systems)

Findings (cont’d) Need to examine interventions to increase protective factors while mitigating risk factors Focus on unique needs and situation of MVC In many cases FGM now happens in infancy, implications for work with adolescents Sensitization with economic strengthening Need to work closely with Social Opinion Leaders for issues like early marriage and FGM Deep engagement with children, especially

Findings: The subjective understanding and experience of psychosocial support Key role of family in buffering children from risk Role of non-formal supports (e.g. women’s groups, religious organizations, sports clubs etc) in providing psychosocial Important role of gender and peer relations as risk and protection factor Children’s unique strategies to mitigate social isolation and desire to return home

Findings: The subjective understanding and experience of psychosocial support Lack of opportunity and social and physical space for protection and formal and non-formal education Importance of secondary risk factors experienced in Lebanon equal to, or greater than, psychosocial stressors from war in Syria Importance of education and play in recovery and resilience

Findings: The role of play in psychosocial recovery, resilience and social justice Important of discriminating between diverse forms of play (sport, creative arts, theatre and role play, imagination, See Hughes, 2002) Spectrum of psychosocial positive outcomes from healing, recovery, resilience, social justice Adapting interventions considering relation between physical space and play (refugee centre, community space, football pitches) Emergence of local games and child lead games (e.g. math games)

Findings: The role of play in psychosocial recovery, resilience and social justice Virtuous circle from play, to learning, to resilience, to play Spectrum of communication skills from experience, reflect, connect, apply healing, recovery, resilience, social justice Role of children’s rights in broadening role of play to include systemic issues of social justice Importance of competition in play and recovery Fertile, untilled ground of culture in Lebanese and Syrian contexts Role of play in strengthening protection (reducing symptoms) and promotional (enhancing well-being) factors

Next steps Focus for next visit (one on one interviews with children and care providers, interviews with coaches, interviews with key experts) Process for pilot testing of new tools Reinforcing and articulating child rights contribution to child and family recovery Explore and enhance local cultural values (e.g. modesty, bravery, compassion) Partner with local academic institutions RTP’s contribution to global learning on play, psychosocial support, protection – link programming, policy, advocacy EIE/CP

Thank You/Shukraan