Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) are used by humanitarian agencies to support and protect children in emergencies. Children are the most vulnerable group during conflict and in the aftermath of a disaster, both emotionally and physically.

CFS provide young people with a safe place to play, participate in activities, learn about their rights to health and protection, and experience healing from trauma they’ve experienced. They also allow children to return to healthy routines and experience a sense of normalcy again.

However, until recently there had been little research or evidence of the impact of CFS. World Vision and Columbia University are in the process of conducting a series of structured evaluations of CFS programmes. These are being conducted in various contexts, to document evidence of protective and restorative effectiveness of CFS, to identify good practice in their design and implementation, and to contribute to the development of better monitoring and evaluation tools for this type of programming.

Since the initial studies, the project has evolved into a multi-agency collaboration to further ensure research findings and implications will benefit the broader humanitarian community, notably through the Child Protection Working Group of the Global Protection Cluster. The initial project partners have been joined by several implementing and supporting agencies: UNICEF, Save the Children, Mercy Corps and AVSI.

Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Research Report

World Vision and Columbia University, working with Save the Children, UNICEF and others, engaged in a three year collaborative project to document the outcomes and impacts of CFS and develop capacity for rigorous evaluation. This report presents a summary of those findings. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Research Report.

Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Summary of Findings

World Vision and Columbia University, working with Save the Children, UNICEF and others, engaged in a three year collaborative project to document the outcomes and impacts of CFS and develop capacity for rigorous evaluation. This report presents a summary of those findings. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Summary of Findings.

Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Tools and Guidance

This document draws on the learning and experience of the project to provide practical guidance and tools to child protection practitioners for monitoring and evaluating CFS. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Tools and Guidance.

Video resources from Nepal

Focusing on Nepal, this series of videos provide a summary of the inter-agency research into CFS. They are a helpful companion to the tools and guidance for monitoring and evaluating CFS, with short video clips created for each of the chapters in the guidance document. Access the videos from the video resources page.

Review of Evidence

The first piece of research produced by World Vision and Columbia University presents a structured review of the current evidence-base for CFS, including published and ‘grey’ literature. Read Child Friendly Spaces: A Structured Review of the Evidence Base. 

Ethiopia Field Study

The second study reports findings from an evaluation of a CFS implementation for Somali refugees in Buramino Camp in southern Ethiopia. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Ethiopia Field Study Report.

Uganda Field Study 

This report presents findings from an evaluation of a CFS implementation for Congolese refugees in Rwamwanja Camp in western Uganda. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Uganda Field Study Summary Report.

Iraq Field Study I

Findings from an evaluation of a CFS implementation for Syrian refugees in Domiz Camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Iraq Field Study Report.

Democratic Republic of Congo Field Study

Findings from an evaluation of a CFS implementation for internally displaced people in Goma, Eastern DRC. Read Evaluating the Effectiveness of Child Friendly Spaces in IDP Camps in Goma: Field Study Report.

Iraq Field Study II

Findings from an evaluation of a CFS implemented by Save the Children for Syrian refugees in Domiz Camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Iraq Field Study Report of a Save the Children Implemented CFS.

Jordan Field Study

Findings from an evaluation of a CFS implementation for Syrian refugees by World Vision and partners in Zarqa, Jordan. Read Evaluation of Child Friendly Spaces: Jordan Field Study Report: A CFS Implemented by World Vision and partners in Zarqa, Jordan.