IRC and War Child Announce Five-Year Strategic Partnership to Protect Children Affected by Conflict and Crises

As growing numbers of children are born into and live through war, displacement, and prolonged emergencies, the partnership aims to strengthen systems that protect children and ensure access to protection, mental health support, and education for children and their caregivers.

Children affected by conflict face heightened risks, including violence, family separation, recruitment by armed actors, trauma, and disruptions to education. Conflict-related stress also strains caregivers, increasing the risk of harmful coping strategies that impact children’s safety and mental health. By combining the IRC’s global operational reach and technical expertise with War Child’s specialization in child protection, education, and mental health, the partnership will accelerate progress toward safer, healthier outcomes for children affected by crises.

Through the partnership, the IRC and War Child will jointly design and scale protection and prevention programs, generate evidence to strengthen policy and practice, and advance research on child and caregiver mental health, prevention of child recruitment, and playful learning approaches in crisis-affected education systems. The collaboration also includes shared learning from field implementation, support to local and national partners, and a strong commitment to localization.

The organizations will pursue joint advocacy to elevate the rights and needs of children affected by armed conflict at national, regional, and global levels, and will coordinate communications to highlight learning and impact from the partnership.

The IRC and War Child have a long history of collaboration through joint projects, research, and inter-agency initiatives. Leveraging the new Strategic Partnership, the organizations jointly participated in a panel during the Global Caregiver Forum, held in Madrid from 15-16 January, bringing forward innovative, evidence‑driven approaches to protect children and support parents in crisis settings. Formalizing this Strategic Partnership reinforces their shared commitment to ensuring that children not only survive conflict, but have the opportunity to heal, learn, and thrive.

About the IRC

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC works in more than 40 countries and in 28 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Learn more at www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and Bluesky.