A crucial component of the CPC Learning Network is the development of several global-level technical groups to change practice and policy in the field of child protection in crisis-settings. Bringing together leading practitioners and academics, these groups leverage existing knowledge to identify proven and promising practice in the field of child protection and collaborate with network members to implement evidence-supported programs and policies. As the secretariat of the Learning Network, the Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health seeks to ensure communication across the technical groups and the Learning Network, through the secretariat’s role as an arbiter of best practice and convener of the Child Protection Action Summit.

The goal of the global-level technical groups is to change practice and policy in order to better protect children in crisis settings. Related objectives include: developing the capacity for evidence-based decision-making and focusing on outcomes to benefit children.

To date, partnerships have formed in six areas:

• Economic Strengthening, Livelihoods & Child Protection
• Early Childhood Care and Development in Emergencies
• Frameworks, Systems, and Assessments
• Methods; including counting/ incidence rates for human rights and protection concerns (i.e. GBV, separated children, children associated with fighting forces)
• Psychosocial Well-Being
• Youth & Violence

It is possible that technical groups may evolve in other areas.

Along with the knowledge gained in each technical area, important themes also cut across groups. The Child Protection Action Summit and quarterly GTG Conveners meetings provide a formal opportunity to encourage learning across technical groups; joint trainings, workshops and policy briefings will also create opportunities to integrate learning into the larger network.

To help ensure coherency and quality, there are some minimal criteria for technical groups to be affiliated with the CPC Learning Network.

• Working to change practice and policy. Each technical group is encouraged to develop a three year work plan to improve practice and policy in their focus area. A key responsibility of the convening agency, in partnership with the secretariat, is the development of a concrete plan to leverage existing resources and mobilize additional ones. The convening agencies of the six technical groups are part of a steering group that can be called upon to respond to technical assistance requests from Program Learning Groups (PLGs) and for synthesizing and disseminating program learning and promising practice.
• Partnering to building capacity. Technical groups should support north-south and south-south partnerships; in addition, whenever possible, the execution of training, evaluations, and programs should include working with Program Learning Groups. Within each technical group, as with the Learning Network’s overall membership, the mix of north- south partners should consist of at least 50% of partners from the global south.
• Supporting / promoting the Learning Network. Technical groups should keep the secretariat informed of on-going developments and attend the Child Protection Action Summit and future annual meetings. Each group should also have a presence on the Learning Network website and work with secretariat to keep information accurate and up-to-date.
• Gender- perspective. Boys and girls should be attended to equally.
• Identification of proven and promising practice. The secretariat and technical groups will finalize criteria for the Learning Network endorsed determination of ‘proven’ or ‘promising’ practice. For example, randomized sampling and the use of comparison groups might be two important criteria for a ‘promising’ program evaluation. In addition, for an evaluation method to be determined ‘promising practice’ demonstrated success in one country might be sufficient, but to be deemed ‘proven practice’ successful implementation might be required in several countries.
• Fundraising coordination. Technical groups and other entities of the Learning Network should approach donors in a coordinated way; keeping the secretariat informed of funding requests is important to ensure coordination. In the case that a donor has provided funds for Learning Network activities, then it is important for appropriate discussions to occur before approaching the donor for additional funds.