Assignment Name: Endline Evaluation of the Project Titled “Strengthen the Child Protection Prevention and Response Mechanisms for Children at Risk of or Survivors of Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in Rohingya Camps of Cox’s Bazar”

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: Plan International Bangladesh

The “Endline Evaluation of the Child Protection Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Rohingya Camps, Cox’s Bazar” was conducted to assess the achievements and effectiveness of a Plan International Bangladesh project funded by UNICEF. The project aimed to strengthen child protection systems for at-risk and survivor children in the Rohingya refugee camps, addressing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

The initiative targeted 14,000 adolescent boys aged 1–18 years in Camps 17 and 20, while also engaging the host community in Ukhiya. It worked with a wide array of stakeholders, including local leaders, religious figures, and government service providers, to build sustainable child protection mechanisms. Key components included mobile and static safe spaces, life-skills training, peer group initiatives, and community-based child protection committees. Unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) also benefited from tailored case management services.

This endline evaluation was commissioned to measure outcome-level changes, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and provide evidence-based recommendations for future programming. The study incorporated quantitative and qualitative methodologies to capture the perspectives of children, caregivers, and stakeholders.

The specific objectives of the study included:

• To assess the change in knowledge and understanding of children and adolescents in camps and host community on key issues related to protection and prevention from violence, abuse, negligence and exploitation in the Rohingya camps and host communities.
• To examine the performance of mobile safe spaces and static safe spaces in terms of improving the wellbeing of children and adolescents through participation in the designed activities.
• To understand adolescents’ ability who were targeted in this project to demonstrate positive coping mechanisms based on their participation in the life-skills program and peer groups.
• To assess the functioning, contribution and impact of community based child protection committees on the protective environment
• To assess the satisfaction of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) who received case management services.
• To provide project objectives specific recommendations.

The following services were provided by the DM WATCH team:

Project Inception and Planning:

• Conducted an inception meeting with Plan International Bangladesh to finalize objectives, methodologies, and data collection tools.
• Delivered a comprehensive inception report, including a detailed work plan, sampling framework, and ethical guidelines.

Desk Review and Methodology Development:

• Reviewed relevant project documents, baseline data, and global child protection frameworks to ensure alignment with study objectives.
• Designed mixed-method research tools, including structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guides, Child friendly participatory assessment workshop (CFPAW) guide, Key Informant Interview (KII), and case study guide protocols.

Training and Capacity Building:

• Trained a team of data collectors on ethical data collection practices, engaging with vulnerable children, and ensuring cultural sensitivity.
• Conducted mock interviews and pre-tests to refine tools and ensure readiness for fieldwork.

Data Collection:

• Administered 640 household surveys to capture quantitative data on child protection outcomes in camps and host communities.
• Facilitated 16 FGDs with children, adolescents, caregivers, and community-based child protection committees to gather qualitative insights.
• Conducted 12 KIIs with camp leaders, government officials, and service providers to evaluate institutional contributions and challenges.

Analysis and Reporting:

• Performed statistical analysis of quantitative data to measure changes in outcome indicators, such as improvements in child well-being and satisfaction with safe spaces.
• Conducted thematic analysis of qualitative data to capture nuanced insights into project effectiveness and sustainability.
• Triangulated findings to ensure reliability and robustness.

Deliverables:

• Submitted a draft report presenting findings aligned with project objectives, including changes in knowledge, coping mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.
• Delivered the final report with actionable recommendations for improving child protection interventions and sustainability.

Stakeholder Engagement and Dissemination:

• Presented findings in a validation workshop with Plan International, UNICEF, and local stakeholders to gather feedback and refine recommendations.
• Highlighted key insights in a PowerPoint presentation for use in policy advocacy and donor engagement.

Key Deliverables:

• Inception Report: Outlining methodology, tools, and ethical considerations.
• Data Collection Tools: Finalized and pre-tested questionnaires, FGD, and KII guides.
• Draft Report: Detailed analysis of findings with initial recommendations.
• Final Report: Comprehensive assessment, including discussion, conclusions, and actionable recommendations.
• Presentation Materials: Slide decks summarizing key findings for stakeholder engagement.
• Data Set: Cleaned and validated quantitative and qualitative data.

This evaluation provided critical insights into the effectiveness of the child protection mechanisms in Rohingya camps, ensuring that future interventions are informed by evidence and aligned with the needs of children and communities.