Analytical Report | Review of Child Protection Case Management Data

This Analytical Report presents the findings of child protection case management data extracted from the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS+) in six humanitarian settings: Bangladesh, Kenya, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Ukraine. Conducted by UNICEF with support from the US Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the study sought to better understand the profiles, vulnerabilities, and service trajectories of children receiving case management support, and to inform improvements in data systems and program delivery. 

The research analysed quantitative case-level data on over 91,000 children registered in CPIMS+ between 2020 and 2023. Findings were statistically significant and offer the first multi-country snapshot of who is being supported by child protection case management in humanitarian contexts, including key trends around age, sex, risk level, displacement status, care arrangements, protection threats, service provision, and case duration.

Key Findings Include:

• Age and Sex: The average age of children receiving support was 11.5 years, with minimal variation across countries. Male children made up 56% of the caseload, though this varied by country, and 19% of children were identified as unaccompanied or separated.
• Displacement: In some contexts (e.g., Kenya, Bangladesh), case management exclusively served refugee children, while others supported mixed populations including internally displaced and host-community children.
• Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC): UASC represented 19% of the sample, with boys slightly overrepresented and an average age of 12. Their specific vulnerabilities during crises underline the need for tailored case management responses and cross-sectoral coordination.
• Incidents: The most common protection concerns were neglect (43%), child labour (18%), and violence (physical and psychological). Sex of the child and age-specific trends were identified—for instance, boys were more frequently exposed to child labour and recruitment risks, while girls faced greater exposure to sexual violence.
• Services: The most frequently accessed services were mental health and psychosocial support (25%), education (14%), and health services (12%). Variations existed in service availability and documentation across countries.
• Care Arrangements: Most children (72%) remained in the care of their families.
• Case Trajectory: On average, cases 5.5 months, though durations varied widely by country. Most closed cases cited positive outcomes, though data gaps and inconsistencies in closure documentation remain.

This analysis contributes to the broader evidence base for child protection case management work in humanitarian action and reinforces the critical role of digital systems in strengthening services for vulnerable children globally. The report underscores areas for improvement, including data consistency and standardization as well system interoperability. These insights have directly informed ongoing initiatives such as the Inter-agency Child Protection Case Management Data Categorisation Guidance, the recently revised Inter-agency Child Protection Case Management Forms, and the CPIMS+ dashboard development. It also highlights the utility of CPIMS+ in supporting evidence-based case management and sector-wide accountability.