Consultative Workshop for Finalization of Referral Strategy

On November 20, the ICBC project organized a follow-up Conusltative workshop for finalization of a referral strategy for cross sectoral and interagency integrated childcare and protection support, which Synergos drafted based on rigorous input from a cohort of government and non-government stakeholders during an earlier workshop on June 5. A Referral Strategy is a crucial document for the ICBC project and will help to explore the full scope of opportunities related to childcare, protection and development services or policy options that exist or have potential for integration mainly across the government system and provide reference to some non-state opportunities gathered through Ecosystem Analysis. Considering the broad nature of the service delivery design of the ICBC project, all services for children can’t be delivered from one location, so the potential for ICBC service delivery extends beyond project functionaries to other government agencies and non-project organizations, platforms, and committees. Therefore, together with a wide range of participants from various government ministries and departments, as well as local and international NGOs, and project technical partners, this workshop was held to finalize the effective referral system for service integration that responds to the requirements of the nurturing care framework. The formulation of a cross-sector referral strategy for ICBC project and its effective operationalization will solidify the government’s commitment to ECCD. The workshop managed to garner the commitments of various champions within the different ministries and departments to follow through with the services referred by ICBC project that their agencies can provide.