Humanitarian Academy

Child protection

Child protection in emergencies: preventing, identifying and supporting

Separated children, case management, psychosocial support and safeguarding: protecting children when everything around them collapses.

  • 4 days · 24 hours
  • 3 levels · 3 certificates
  • 3 scenarios
  • Verifiable certificate
Start the course
  • Free, unlimited access
  • 4 one-day modules
  • 3 scenarios and 12 quiz questions
  • 3 graded case studies and 3 exams
  • Certificate in your name, verifiable online

What you will learn

  • Identify the protection risks specific to children in emergencies and the framework that protects them.
  • Respond correctly to an unaccompanied, separated or at-risk child, and refer safely.
  • Apply the steps of case management and mainstream child protection across all sectors.

Course information

Level
Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced (one certificate per level)
Study time
24 hours over 4 days (lessons, case studies, exercises)
Format
Online, at your own pace, free and unlimited access
Assessment
Per level: graded case study + 20-question exam (30 to 40 min, pass marks 70%, 75% and 80%)
Credential
Named, numbered certificate of achievement, verifiable online (QR code)
Reference frameworks
The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action · Case Management Task Force, Global Child Protection Working Group · ICRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children, IRC, World Vision

💼 Protection jobs

Put this course into practice: the latest jobs in this field.

See all 134 Protection jobs →

Prepare for the written test and interviewA model written test in this field, interview questions with sample answers and the STAR method.See the model test →

A 3-level certification pathway

Progress from Beginner to Advanced. Each level ends with a graded case study and a timed exam, and leads to its own verifiable certificate.

Level 1Beginner

Exam: 20 questions · 30 min · 70% to pass

Beginner certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Identify protection risks for children in crises.
  • Apply the principles of do no harm, confidentiality and safeguarding.
  • Respond correctly to a disclosure of abuse and refer.
  1. Day1Children facing crisesRisks for children in crises · The framework: children's rights and the Minimum Standards · Principles of action: do no harm and participation · Child safeguarding within organisations · Analysing the child protection situation step by step · Using the CPMS as a working tool · Worked example: the rapid situation analysis in Kéran · Involving children: methods, consent and ethics · Setting up an operational safeguarding system · Common mistakes, contextual variations, interview questions and references Scenario: The child at the water point
  2. Graded case study : A disclosure during the activity Child-friendly space in a camp · 20 questions including a case study · 70% to pass
Level 2Intermediate

Exam: 20 questions · 30 min · 75% to pass

Intermediate certificate · Opens after the Beginner certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Care for an unaccompanied or separated child.
  • Carry out the steps of case management.
  • Organise psychosocial support activities.
  1. Day2Separated children and case managementUnaccompanied and separated children · Alternative care · The steps of case management · Best interests and data protection · Responding to unaccompanied and separated children: the complete method · Organising case management: procedures, timeframes and caseloads · Worked example: case file KSV-0217, from first contact to closure · Assessing and determining the best interests of the child · Managing case management information safely · Common mistakes, contextual variations, interview questions and references Scenario: The plan with Amina
  2. Day3Psychosocial support, prevention and coordinationPsychosocial support and child-friendly spaces · Preventing the worst risks · Referring safely · Coordination and mainstreaming in other sectors · Designing and running group activities and child-friendly spaces · Focused support: psychological first aid, identification and support to parents · Preventing child labour, child marriage and recruitment: operational methods · Worked example: referral pathway and cash for protection in Nordavi · Coordinating child protection and mainstreaming it in other sectors · Common mistakes, contextual variations, interview questions and references Scenario: The photo for the report
  3. Graded case study : The children of the convoy Transit point after mass displacement · 20 questions including a case study · 75% to pass
Level 3Advanced

Exam: 20 questions · 40 min · 80% to pass

Advanced certificate · Opens after the Intermediate certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Design a child protection programme in line with the CPMS.
  • Manage complex cases and best interests decisions.
  • Coordinate, mainstream protection in other sectors and advocate.
  1. Day4Advanced module Child protection programmes: complex cases, quality and coordinationDesigning a programme in line with the CPMS · Complex cases and supervision · Measuring quality and reporting · Coordination and advocacy · Designing a child protection programme: from analysis to logframe · Worked example: the programme proposal for Malenga district · Complex cases: specific procedures and clinical supervision · Measuring quality and being accountable to children · Advocacy and the monitoring and reporting mechanism on grave violations · Common mistakes, contextual variations, interview questions and references
  2. Graded case study : Programme and advocacy in a conflict zone Conflict zone, three districts · 20 questions including a case study · 80% to pass

Who is it for?

Social workers and caseworkers, child-friendly space facilitators, protection, education and health teams, project managers, members of the Child Protection Area of Responsibility and any humanitarian worker in contact with children.

The certificate

With at least 70% correct answers in the final assessment, you receive a certificate in your name, with a unique code that recruiters can verify on Humanitaires Jobs. A free Humanitarian Network account is required.

Key concepts

The vocabulary you need to master for this course and the exam.

CPMS
Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.
Separated child
A child separated from their parents, but not necessarily from other relatives.
Unaccompanied child
A child separated from their parents and family, with no responsible adult.
FTR
Family tracing and reunification.
Case management
Structured support for a child at risk or a child survivor and their family.
Best interests
Principle whereby every decision aims at the child's well-being.
Child-friendly space
A safe place offering structured activities for children.
Safeguarding
Measures that protect children from abuse by staff and partners.
CPIMS+
Secure information management system for child protection cases.
MRM
UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on grave violations against children in armed conflict.

References and recommended reading

The official texts and sector reference works on which the course is based.

  1. The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (2019). Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS). alliancecpha.org/fr/cpms
  2. Case Management Task Force, Global Child Protection Working Group (2014). Interagency Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection. alliancecpha.org
  3. ICRC, UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children, IRC, World Vision (2004). Inter-agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied and Separated Children. www.icrc.org
  4. UNICEF (2007). The Paris Principles: Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups. www.unicef.org
  5. United Nations (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. www.ohchr.org/fr/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child