Learning about children in urban slums: A rapid ethnographic study in two urban slums in Mombasa of community based child protection mechanisms and their linkage with the Kenyan National Child Protection System

This 2013 report presents findings from a rapid ethnographic study about community-based child protection processes and mechanisms in two urban slums in Mombasa. It is the first in a series of reports from Kenya by the Inter-Agency Learning Initiative on Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms and Child Protection Systems.

Life in urban slums is frequently characterized by lack of access to basic necessities, weak infrastructure and inadequate services, insecurity, overcrowding, low levels of social cohesion, and exposure to multiple, interacting risks such as family separation, living and working on the streets, sexual exploitation and abuse, HIV and AIDS, and violence. Despite these risks, relatively little is known about child protection in urban slums. The aim of this ethnographic study is to learn about the functioning of existing community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPMs) and their linkage with the national child protection system in Kenya, with special focus on two slum areas in Mombasa.  It reviews the effectiveness of CBCPMs and aims to strengthen the link between CBCPMs and the national child protection system.

This report was produced by The Columbia Group for Children in Adversity as part of a wider inter-agency learning initiative, funded by the Oak Foundation, USAID, UNICEF, World Vision and Save the Children. 

A separate document containing the Annexes to this report is available through the link provided under “Related documents”, bottom right of this page.