From silos to a system: Kenya’s cross-sector coordination and collaboration model on access to justice with children

Presented By:

National Council on the Administration of Justice, Govt of Kenya

Terre des Hommes Netherlands

1.Background and Context

A key global and national challenge in child protection is the fragmentation and uncoordinated efforts across the duty bearers especially the Government institutions. Kenya, has tackled this by establishing a unique model for coordinating actors in the justice sector. The goal is to ensure a coordinated, efficient, effective and collaborative approach to the administration and access to justice for children, and reforms of the child-justice system.

2.Coordination and Collaboration

This entails high-level coordination, policy formulation to enhance the administration of justice for children by NCAJ, reforms in the child justice arena, and localised forums that bring together child justice players at the community level to enhance the administration of justice.

3.Outcomes and Milestones

The overarching impact is enhanced access to justice for children.

Rise Up Session Date and Time:

June 25, 2026 11:45 am

Country or Region Focus:

Africa

Type of Session:

Interactive Learning Session

Public Health Pillar Focus:

Effective Governance and Multi-Sectoral Coordination

Speakers

Merioth Ndumu – Gazetted Secretary to the NCAJ Standing Committee on the Administration of Justice for Children and the Committee on Review of Laws and Policies on Sexual Offences and Gender Based Violence & Head of Department Vulnerable Groups, NCAJ
Caroline Parmet – Lead Programme Coordinator, Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Kenya

Session Aims

To showcase Kenya’s multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration model for both state and non-state actors in advancing administration of and access to justice for children.
To promote partnerships and learning on sustainable, accountable and integrated child protection and justice systems
To share practical lessons, challenges and best practices in institutionalizing child-centred justice reforms through a coordinated sector.

Session Format

Short Presentation on Kenya’s NCAJ multi-sectoral coordination on administration of justice for children, and by Terre des Hommes Netherlands, Kenya, followed by a plenary discussion and interactive engagement with participants. The presentations will highlight institutional structures, reforms, milestones, practical approaches/ strategies, lessons learned, and challenges to coordination across justice and child protection actors, with regard to trauma-informed justice services for child survivors.