Evidence brief |Strengthening disability-inclusive child protection in Sierra Leone
Evidence, Gaps and Priorities for Building More Inclusive Child Protection Systems
Highlights
Approximately 23 per cent of children aged 5–17 in Sierra Leone experience at least one functional difficulty, yet children with disabilities and functional difficulties can face barriers that make them less visible to child protection systems. To help address this, the Government of Sierra Leone and UNICEF have integrated the Child Functioning Module into Primero CPIMS+, the country’s digital Child Protection Information Management System.
The module enables social workers to better identify children’s functioning, barriers and support needs, strengthening assessment, case planning, referrals and follow-up. Its integration builds on the expansion of CPIMS+ from eight to 16 districts, making the system nationwide, and positions Sierra Leone as the second UNICEF office globally to implement the Child Functioning Module in Primero CPIMS+.
This evidence brief highlights how better data and structured information can support more inclusive case management, strengthen child protection services, and help ensure that children with disabilities and functional difficulties are seen, supported and included in national protection responses.
