More than half the countries in West and Central Africa have completed or launched exercises to map and assess their child protection systems, allowing them to describe those systems and specify priority areas of engagement and investment. These exercises have supported the development of new policy frameworks, sub-national coordination mechanisms, and stronger linkages between different aspects of child protection systems. Recognizing that a strong social service workforce is a key element of any child protection system, some countries have carried out human resource gap analyses and ministerial audits to inform the strengthening of the workforce.

This webinar will explore a mapping exercise carried out in 13 countries of the West and Central Africa region to inform the development of a regional strategy to strengthen the social service workforce. The study documented and mapped university programs and training institutes to better understand how social workers and related professionals are trained and educated—both formally and informally—to engage in social work practice, especially as it is related to child protection. Speakers will discuss the rationale for the study, the methods and process used, and the results that provide an overview of universities and social work institutes and courses and qualifications available for social workers, paraprofessionals and NGO practitioners. Speakers will also discuss how this study is informing the development of national and regional strategies to strengthen the social welfare workforce in West and Central Africa. During the webinar, participants will have the opportunity to discuss the implications of this type of work in their countries.

Please use this link to access the webinar any time after 8:45 AM EST on December 7:http://connect77237864.adobeconnect.com/ssws_webinar21/.

More information is available from the Social Service Workforce Alliance website.