Endline Evaluation report for the Child Protection Systems Strengthening Project in Arua City and Arua District (Uganda, 2026)

This report presents findings from the endline evaluation of the Child Protection Systems Strengthening Project (CPSSP), implemented by Save the Children Uganda in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), Arua District Local Government, and Arua City Authority between 2023 and 2026. The evaluation assessed the project’s contribution to strengthening child protection systems across six domains: social workforce strengthening, prevention and response services, information management, coordination and governance, child justice, and child participation and advocacy.

Findings demonstrate substantial improvements in the competence and performance of Para-Social Workers and Social Welfare Officers, strengthened referral and coordination mechanisms, enhanced child participation in decision-making processes, and improved access to child-friendly justice and protection services. The evaluation further highlights the effectiveness of integrated systems-strengthening approaches that combine community-based protection structures, government leadership, workforce development, and multi-sectoral coordination.

While significant gains were achieved, sustaining these outcomes will require increased domestic financing, institutionalisation of critical workforce functions, and continued investment in coordination and information management systems. The findings provide robust evidence to inform child protection policy, programming, scale-up, and sustainability efforts in Uganda and similar contexts