Key guidance elements on OVC care

Description of the key guidance elements

Focus on the most vulnerable children and communities

Not only children orphaned by AIDS. Programmes which target only those orphaned by AIDS may increase stigma and discrimination. Care is also needed when using terms to refer to children within a particular project. People from within a particular community are best able to identify those children in greatest need.

Define community-specific problems and vulnerabilities

At the outset and pursue locally determined intervention strategies. When a new programme starts in a particular community, it should be designed particularly to meet the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children in that community. This will involve identifying orphans and other vulnerable children and analysing the local situation facing them. Community members should play a central role in all these processes.

Involve children and young people as active participants

In the response, children and young people should not be seen as a passive, powerless group who need to be given help. They need to be allowed to actively participate in all aspects of activities which affect them.

Give particular attention to the role of boys and girls, men and women

Address gender discrimination. For example, much of the burden of caring for vulnerable children and sick adults falls on women. Also, vulnerable girls are more likely to drop out of school than boys. Women are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection and are often excluded from owning or inheriting land.

Strengthen partnerships and mobilise collaborative action

Working with other organisations can be a very good way of improving the activities being carried out.

Link HIV and AIDS prevention activities with care and support

For people living with HIV and AIDS with support for vulnerable children. Such activities include home-based care for people who are ill and HIV prevention. Greater linkages with development activities in general avoid over-identification with HIV/AIDS and a risk of increasing stigma and discrimination.

Use external support to strengthen community initiative and motivation

External support should strengthen and build on existing community initiative and motivation. Great care should be taken to avoid undermining or replacing community initiatives.