Gabriel Rivera, Advisor for Child Protection in Central America

Photo: Frania Salmerón, Rosa Espinoza, Gabriel Rivera, Yolanda Rossman

• The advisory assignment focuses on strengthening child protection policies within civil society organizations in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The advisor supports partner organizations in formulating and updating child protection policies, implementing monitoring systems, and developing user-friendly versions of these policies. Additionally, the advisory produces a training manual on popular education techniques to facilitate the dissemination of policies among staff and target groups.
• The deployment ensures that 38 organizations now have child protection policies aligned with international standards, with 32 of them also having child-friendly versions. These organizations actively implement protection measures, conduct monitoring, and respond effectively to incidents. In each country, a team consisting of two child protection officers per organization has been established. These officers participate in virtual and in-person workshops and lead the formulation, updating, and implementation of policies within their respective organizations.
• Regular tasks include organizing and conducting workshops and one-on-one consultations with child protection officers to support policy implementation. The advisor develops guidance documents, manuals, and instructional materials to assist organizations in the process. Close accompaniment of partner organizations during their first monitoring phase ensures effective implementation and adaptation of child protection measures, fostering a safer environment for children and youth across all supported projects.
• DAC Purpose Code: 16010Social protection##sdgtargets## 16.2;4.7;5.2

Directly involved are 38 people (26 female and 12 male).

Gabriel Rivera. Lawyer, with a master's degree in Social Policies and Rights of Children and Adolescents. Expert in children's rights, with experience as a consultant and advisor in public institutions, non-governmental organisations, co-operation agencies and universities.