AfriChild is a multi-disciplinary child-focused research institution that works to improve children’s lives in Africa by building the evidence and knowledge base through rigorous research on children’s protection and well-being. The Centre was established in 2013 by Makerere University, the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development in Uganda (MGLSD), ChildFund International Uganda Country Office, Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) Uganda, the Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network at Columbia University in New York, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Uganda Office.
Vision:
We Strive for an Africa where children's well-being is realized for sustainable development.
Mission:
The AfriChild Centre exists to generate research that informs policy and practice for the well-being of children.
Generating Research Evidence:
AfriChild leverages existing technical expertise in child-focused research, policy, and practice relevant to local, national, and regional development priorities. Our team has extensive experience conducting multi-year, complex qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies at national and sub-national levels in Uganda and the rest of Africa. We have also become an evaluation partner for non-profit social service agencies with interventions focused on children's well-being and have demonstrated experience in managing research undertakings. Additionally, we provide world-class training to support the generation and use of research and innovation for development. Our training and mentorship opportunities aim to equip interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners with the skills to effectively produce and translate research evidence and innovation to address child well-being and development challenges. Our capacity-strengthening approach recognizes that service providers, researchers, government representatives, and policymakers should train each other in their respective approaches. The practice should be evidence-based, while evidence should also be practice-based. We also run Interuniversity Child Focused Research Methods Training. In this program, we work with seven universities including Makerere, Kyambogo, Gulu, Muni, Uganda Martyrs, Uganda Christian, and Nsamizi Institute for Social Development to strengthen child-focused research capacity. Watch the video here.
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Increased Uptake and Use of Research Evidence in Policy Making and Practice:
At the AfriChild Centre, we ensure that developed research evidence and innovation are integrated into development programs, policies, and/or practices. We recognize that the highest quality research and innovative solutions cannot improve lives if not successfully implemented into programs, policies, or practices. The Centre is uniquely positioned to address significant conceptual, methodological, cultural, and logistical gaps in the uptake of research to policy and practice in the child protection and care community from a multi-institutional dimension. We also have rich experience effectively disseminating research findings to inform policy and programming. We also run a capacity strengthening program PPURE which aims to strengthen the capacity of policymakers (both technical administrators and legislators) in the use of research evidence to inform child-focused policymaking and programming for the improved well-being of children in Uganda and Africa. AfriChild has so far run two cohorts in which over 60 participants drawn from government ministries and civil society organizations have been part. Watch the video here.
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a) A study on the functional status of refugee children with developmental disabilities and their access to early interventions in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement
b) A randomised Control Trial of Early Childhood Care and Education, Teacher Training, and Mentorship in Uganda (Playful Futures) in partnership with Plan International.
c) Strengthening Research and Evaluation Capacity for Evidence-driven Policies and Programmes to Improve Refugee Child well-being in Ethiopia and Uganda
d) Kulea Watoto - meaning “nurturing children” in Swahili - aims to improve access to quality early childhood care and development for children aged five and under in refugee and host communities in Uganda across West Nile, Kyegegwa, and Kampala.
e) An exploratory pilot research on the potential of traditional cultural institutions to reform social norms on violence against girls and children in post-conflict regions of northern Uganda
f) An exploratory study on school-based social work and community partnerships for good education and child protection outcomes in post-conflict Northern Uganda
g) A multi-country study to map Child Protection and Honour in Uganda, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine using innovative youth participatory approaches to enhance children’s meaningful participation in research.
h) Good School Toolkit- Secondary Schools Pilot Trial is Randomized control study being collaboratively implemented by AfriChild, Raising Voices, and funded through the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Read details here.
Contact Us:
Timothy Opobo
Executive Director,
Plot 196 Kigobe Road (Old Kira Road) - Ntinda, Kampala, Uganda.
P.O Box: 72427 - Clock Tower Post Office
Tel: +256414532482
Email: info@africhild.or.ug
Website: www.africhild.or.ug