External Evaluation Report: Access to Justice for Children Project
Viva Network Zimbabwe (VNZ), in partnership with Justice for Children Trust (JCT) and Viva Denmark, implemented the Access to Justice for Children Project from June 2019 to August 2021 in Mbare and Epworth.
The project aimed to improve access to justice for vulnerable children by addressing barriers such as lack of birth registration, limited legal support, and weak child protection systems. Key interventions included facilitating birth registration, providing litigation services, strengthening community-based child protection structures, and supporting advocacy for a more child-friendly justice system.
An independent end-of-project evaluation found that the project was highly relevant and effective, exceeding most of its targets. Significant improvements were recorded in reporting of child abuse cases, awareness of child protection systems, and access to birth registration. The project also contributed to strengthened collaboration among stakeholders and influenced policy discussions on child justice and child protection.
Despite these achievements, challenges such as high demand for services, gaps in awareness among duty bearers, and the impact of COVID-19 affected implementation. The evaluation highlighted the need for continued investment in both service delivery and advocacy, as well as strengthening institutional capacity and sustainability mechanisms.
This summary is provided for record purposes.
