Donald Charwe, Assistant Commissioner of Social Welfare Department of Social Welfare

Outline 1. Definition 2. Extent of OVC/ MVC problem 3. MVC needs 4. Partners 5. What has been done so far 6. Challenges 7. Recommendations

. Children O V MVC Who are MVC

How big is the Problem – 12% of children < 18yr are vulnerable (i.e 2.5 million) (2002 Census) 2. 5% of these are MVC (btn 950,000 – 1,500,000 children) 3. 42% of vulnerable children as a result of HIV and AIDS 4. 53% of MVC are cared for elderly caretakers (60+) (RAAAP, 2004) 5. 12% of MVC live in child-headed households 6. Only 1% of these vulnerable children get support from relatives

What are the needs of MVC 1. Food and nutrition 2. Education and vocational training 3. Health Services 4. Shelter and care 5. Clean and safe water; and environment 6. Psychosocial support 7. Security, child protection and participation All these can be interpreted as TENDER LOVING CARE

Partners 1. PMORALG 2. Line ministries 3. TACAIDS 4. TASAF 5. SATF 6. Communities 7. Development partners (UNICEF, ILO, GF, USAID/PEPFAR, Abbott Fund, and others) 8. IPG (iNGO, local NGO, FBO, CBO)

What has been done so far 1. National strategy for care, support and protection of MVC 2. National Costed Plan of Action for MVC launched, being rolled out 3. National guidelines for Identification of MVC 4. Service provision 5. Data Management System rolled out to 44 councils 6. National framework for quality standards of care 7. Coordination structures (NSC, NTC, MVCC)

Total MVC Identified = 450,000 42% of these receive services

. Grant authority Direct reporting TACAIDS PMO-RALG MOHSW-DSW Council CMAC/MVCC WARD WMVCC VILLAGE MVCC IPG REGION NSC NT C DEVELOPMEN T PARTNERS NGOs FBOs, CBOs copy Liaison Feedback Sharing MVC Line Ministries MVC data flow chart

Challenges 1. Inadequate resources to reach more MVC with quality services 1. Financial and human resources 2. E.g. the NCPA requires an average of $35,000,000/yr 2. Providing service to all identified MVC 3. Ensuring the DMS is functional all levels 4. Capacity of the community to care for MVC 5. The capacities of MVCC are weak 6. Child protection systems are inadequate 7. Abject poverty

Way Forward Roll out the NCPA Expand the identification of Most Vulnerable Children and their needs Strengthen supporting systems Strengthen the capacities of the families and communities. Ensure that all councils recruit social welfare officers

End Thank you very much for your attention