Bridging the Knowledge Triad: Integrating Data, Practice-Based Expertise, and Lived Experience to Strengthen Child Protection
Executive Summary
The knowledge triad — comprising scientific data, practice-based expertise, and lived experience — is a foundational model for strengthening child protection systems. Together, these complementary knowledge streams ensure that prevention and response efforts are evidence-based, contextually grounded, and accountable to those most affected.
The Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) demonstrate how robust data can drive legislative reform and national action plans. Yet, without practice-based learning and survivor-led insights, policy responses risk being incomplete or disconnected from community realities.
This policy brief presents strategies and tools identified during the ISPCAN Rise Up Policy Forum session Bridging the Knowledge Triad co-hosted by Together for Girls, the Brave Movement, and the Safe Futures Hub. Drawing on experiences from Kenya, Northern Ireland, and globally, it outlines how integrating the triad into national frameworks can transform child protection governance, ensuring responsive, inclusive, and sustainable systems.
This policy brief draws on insights from the blog Toward Inclusive Knowledge: Bridging Science, Practice, and Lived Experience, by Dr. Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls and Founder of the Brave Movement.
The Questions We Sought To Answer:
Data Driven and Evidence Based Solutions
Additional Information
Contributing Partners:
About ISPCAN Rise Up Policy Forum
The ISPCAN Rise Up Policy Forum is a global initiative to catalyze progress in child protection through a public health and system strengthening approach. It brings together governments, researchers and practitioners in a community of practice and learning, to build on and translate into action the pledges made during the 2024 Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.
Supported by:
