Report | An Overview of the 2026 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

From the 9th to the 11th of June, 975 participants from across the globe came together for the 2026 Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, hosted by the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. 

Through 13 sessions and an ‘Open Space’ forum, practitioners, donors, academics, policymakers, children and youth, community leaders, and advocates explored how the sector can respond to escalating needs amid shrinking resources. With speakers representing 32 organisations (40% local and national organisations) and contributions from children and young people throughout the meeting, discussions highlighted both the challenges facing the sector and the opportunities to transform how child protection is understood, financed, and delivered.

Across the meeting, several key messages emerged: 

• The need to apply a systems lens to child protection in humanitarian contexts, recognising the importance of strengthening resilient systems that can protect children before, during, and after crises.
• The importance of advancing locally led child protection, with a shift from seeing local actors primarily as implementers towards recognising them as leaders and decision-makers, with greater influence and ownership over priorities, resources, and approaches.
• The importance of meaningful child and youth participation, moving beyond consultation to ensure children and young people are recognised as partners, decision-makers, and agenda setters.
• The need for greater collaboration across sectors, breaking down silos to strengthen collective action for children’s protection and well-being.

Participants also emphasised that, while funding cuts are having profound impacts on children and services, they also present an opportunity to rethink current approaches and strengthen the way the sector works together. The Annual Meeting closed with a shared commitment to build on the discussions and collective learning of the past decade to meet evolving challenges and continue advancing child protection in humanitarian action.