UNICEF mission in Libya announced a US$800,000 contribution from the Government of Switzerland for the programme “Support Vulnerable Children in Libya through Child-Sensitive Social Protection, Education, and Protection Services”.
According to UNICEF, The two-year project aims to improve access to inclusive social protection services and to strengthen child protection systems.
“By strengthening both systems through better data, enhanced targeting and capacity building, UNICEF aims to create an inclusive and protective environment for children, especially the most vulnerable,” the UN agency said in a statement.
The funding from Switzerland will enable UNICEF Libya to further cooperate closely with the long-standing partners within the Libyan institutions, including the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), Ministry of Social Affairs and the Social Solidarity Fund. UNICEF will also collaborate with sister United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and communities.
Michele Servadei, UNICEF Representative in Libya, stated, “We are deeply grateful to the Government of Switzerland for their generous contribution and above all for their constant interest in protective services for children and women. This support is an important step towards creating an inclusive and protective environment for all children, especially those most at risk. We look forward to working closely with our partners and the Libyan government to achieve tangible and sustainable results for children and adolescents in the country.”
The education component of the project will focus on addressing the barriers to quality education, ensuring that vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and non-Libyans, have improved access to learning opportunities.
Furthermore, the project will work towards enhancing child protection systems to protect children from violence, abuse, and exploitation, including gender-based violence. It will provide capacity building of Government social workers and psychosocial counsellors on community outreach, parenting programmes, structured psychosocial support, and case management, as well as directly provide services to vulnerable children through UNICEF’s Baity Centres.
“Over the past years, Switzerland has worked closely with partners in Libya in addressing the needs of vulnerable children, youth and families. This support to UNICEF demonstrates our continued assistance to children most in need of protection, including education, as well as social protection, which provides a critical safety net for the most vulnerable populations”, said Josef Renggli, Ambassador of Switzerland to Libya.