For more than a decade, UNICEF has prioritised child protection systems strengthening as a key approach to child protection programming. In response to the recommendations of the 2018 evaluation of UNICEF’s work on child protection systems strengthening, this paper outlines UNICEF’s approach to child protection systems strengthening going forward. Guided by UNICEF’s Child Protection Strategy (2021–2030), which provides the overarching strategic framework for UNICEF’s child protection programming globally, the paper discusses key considerations that have shaped this approach.

It then goes on to describe the programme – impact pathways for child protection, focusing on the intermediate outcomes of child protection systems strengthening work and the main UNICEF investments and priority actions to achieve those outcomes.

Finally, the paper proposes a four-phased approach to child protection systems strengthening based on a maturity model. It elaborates the priorities, processes, and results to be achieved in each phase of child protection systems strengthening and provides comprehensive benchmarks to effectively measure investments and results in systems strengthening.