DRAFT POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ORPHANS AND OTHER CHILDREN MADE VULNERABLE BY HIV AND AIDS

SOUTH AFRICA

July 2005

Contents

Preface

Definitions

Acronyms

Background to the Policy Framework:

Orphans and other Children made Vulnerable by HIV and AIDS

Executive Summary

• Food and food security

• Health
• Shelter and protection of property and inheritance
• Parental love, care and nurturance or appropriate alternative care
• Education
• Play and recreation
• Identity
• Protection from abuse
• Protection from child labour
• Participation by children in the decisions that affect their lives.

• Vulnerable to HIV infection, including those who are HIV exposed e.g. peri-natal exposure, sexual abuse, sexually active or engaged in transactional sex.
• In households where there are sick persons and where children due to ignorance do not practice universal precautions.
• Infected with HIV.
• Whose parent or primary caregiver is terminally ill and this affects children in a variety of ways before and after the death of their parent/s.
• With no surviving parent or alternate caregiver to care for him/her.
• Who are abandoned e.g by parent/s, other primary caregivers, or by extended family.
• In households that care for orphans and/or abandoned children and which often experience increased poverty as a result.
• Who experience high levels of mobility between households
• Who experience multiple bereavements and the trauma of death
• In households where they face significant physical, mental, social and emotional harm or neglect.
• In need of legal protection and alternative family care

• The parent or primary caregiver of the household is terminally ill or has died.
• No adult family member is available to provide care for the children in the household.
• A child has assumed the role of primary caregiver in respect of a child or children in the household in terms of providing food, clothing, and psycho-social support.

• To ensure coordinated action at national, provincial, district and local level to realise the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS, their caregivers, families and communities
• To ensure that legal, policy and institutional frameworks for the protection and promotion of the rights of affected children are implemented at all levels
• To provide an overarching framework to support stakeholders in the development of comprehensive, age appropriate, integrated and quality responses to orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

• Protect and promote human and children’s rights
• Develop coordinating structures at all levels to ensure effective and appropriate service delivery to OVC, their families and communities
• Ensure that children, as far as possible, remain and are cared for in their homes or communities of origin.
• Ensure that services are accessible, community based and differentiated along a continuum of care including psychosocial support for OVC, their primary caregivers and families.
• Ensure that communities and stakeholders, including OVC and their primary caregivers and families, are involved in the planning, decision-making, implementation and monitoring of policies and programmes.
• Develop the capacity of individuals, families and communities to realise the material and non-material rights of children.
• Adopt an inclusive approach to enable OVC to be exposed to the same challenges, activities and opportunities that promote their social participation and development as all other children.

The realisation of the rights of OVC and the advancement of the social development agenda to restore the dignity of people requires collective and coordinated effort. The requirements of OVC are wide-ranging and no single ministry, department or sector can be solely responsible for addressing the consequences of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The Department of Social Development was mandated at the Conference of 2002 to take the leading role in overseeing the establishment of coordinating mechanisms at all levels.

Coordination of the effort and expertise of many government departments and development agencies and civil society is needed to reach OVC and to ensure the optimal use of resources. A dedicated coordinating structure for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS on all levels is central to the Policy Framework. Coordination will ensure that resources available are used optimally to realise the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS and avoid duplication of efforts.

The objectives of the coordinating structure are:

• To promote coordination between all stakeholders at all levels - government, non-governmental, civil society, private sector and labour – to effect action to realize the rights of OVC.
• To share information with regard to issues and programmes for orphans and affected children.
• To promote collaboration between stakeholders to improve services and

• To ensure ethical research is conducted into relevant issues and that the findings of research inform action to improve the circumstances of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• To advocate, together with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that action to secure the rights of OVC remains a priority.
• To mobilize and disburse resources for the implementation of the Policy Framework for Orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

2. Outcomes of Coordinated Action

• Structures established at all levels, and in particular community level, to facilitate services to OVC.
• Cohesive plans of action to reach all OVC including those in farming areas and informal settlements that are resourced and whose implementation is monitored.
• Development of national guidelines, training material, standard procedures.
• Trained human resources at each level.
• Technical assistance to programmes for OVC.
• Documentation and distribution of lessons learned.

• Develop national framework for the advancement and coordination of children’s rights delivery.
• Mainstream a child-centred approach to policy, planning, programming, communication and funding process in government.
• Facilitate mainstreaming capacity building for children’s rights focal points in government.
• Advocate for children’s rights delivery in government.
• Monitoring and evaluation of children’s rights delivery in government.
• Coordinate integrated children’s rights policy implementation in government.

• Provide psychosocial support and material assistance to vulnerable children and their families
• Mobilise communities to protect, care and support children
• Mobilise and distribute resource
• Establish of childcare forums at community level
• Provide alternative care options

• Establish and support poverty alleviation programmes
• Registration of Non-Profit Organisation (NPOs)
• Establish and maintain partnership with key stakeholders
• Establish and strengthen home community-based care and support programmes
• Capacity building for families, caregivers, community members, volunteers and other service providers
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Develop legislation, policies and programmes for the protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Establish and strengthen early childhood development programmes that cater for the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Provide Social Assistance to vulnerable groups
• Implement policy framework for the prevention and management of child abuse, neglect and exploitation

• Educate learners about HIV and AIDS to reduce stigma and discrimination
• Develop mechanisms for school based support system
• Provide academic support for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Develop capacity-building programmes for educators to enable them to respond holistically to the needs of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Provide education for all as a priority and key coordinating mechanisms for protecting orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS while promoting opportunities for these children
• Develop and ensure that referral system to other relevant service-providers e.g. social workers, nurses are in place
• Develop and implement appropriate life skills programmes for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Provide Primary School Nutrition Programme and Food fortification
• Develop and implement early childhood development programmes

• Ensure that the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS are protected through the judiciary system
• Ensure uniform interpretation and implementation of the Child Care Act based on the child’s rights approach and the best interests of the child.
• Training commissioners on the integrated approach to effectively address the plight of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Provide legal representation.
• Enforcing parental responsibility through Maintenance Laws.
• Protect the inheritance rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS

• Provide a comprehensive treatment, care and support programme for the management of HIV and AIDS
• Provide a comprehensive Primary Health Care Service Package
• Implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) protocol
• Implementation of the Protein Energy Malnutrition Programme (PEM), which provides food supplement to children who are malnourished.
• Implementation of the Expanded Programme for Immunisation, which provides routine administration of vaccines against measles, TB, diphtheria, and influenza.
• Implementation of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programmes aimed at administration of anti-retroviral therapy to HIV infected mothers before, during and after labour and to the newborn baby.
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Coordinate and facilitate access of all communities to all health services

• Promote, facilitate and provide birth, death, marriage and identity documents
• Provide mobile units in communities for registration purposes to ensure that services are more accessible to the community members

• Promote and facilitate food security
• Provide grants for farming to the poor communities
• Provide training to child headed households and community members on food production.
• Ensure sustainability through strengthening community co-operatives

• Ensure that the housing needs of households affected by HIV and AIDS are addressed through low cost housing schemes
• Support initiatives of other government departments.

• Provide infrastructure e.g. early childhood development centres, the provision of land, sport and recreation facilities etc.
• Support the initiatives of NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, civil society and traditional leaders
• Provide free basic services to the poorest households (means tested)

• To provide and maintain infrastructure

• Protect the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS awaiting trial
• Build the capacity of personnel regarding HIV and AIDS

• Develop entrepreneurship skills of child headed households

• Protect the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS through the enforcement of legislation related to children e.g. child labour

• Skills development of youth

14. South African Police Services

• Investigate crime against children;
• Prevent the commission of crime against children;
• Refer children "in need of care" to the Department of Social Development to places of safety or, where possible, to refer children "in conflict with the law" to secure care facilities;
• Ensure that a child who is detained by the police, is detained under conditions that are consistent with human dignity (adequate accommodation, nutrition, reading material and exercise- in accordance with section 35(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996(Act No. 108 of 1996));
• Ensure that injured or sick persons in the custody of the South African Police Service receive medical treatment, including hospitalization, where necessary.

14. Department of Sport and Recreation

• Provide safe recreational facilities for communities

• Provide safe, affordable and adequate transport

• Provide safe water to households

14. Department of Foreign Affairs

• Ensure good relations with other countries regarding issues of children and HIV and AIDS

• Participate in nation-wide campaigns such as HIV and AIDS
• Work in partnership with the Department of Social Development and other government departments
• Support municipalities and local government structures in the identification of community needs
• Play an oversight role on rural development and the promotion of well-being and stability in rural communities.

• Mobilise and disburse resources
• Advocate and lobby for the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Capacity building of CBOs, FBOs and other organizations and development of training materials
• Develop and manage community based care and support programmes for OVC, including child-headed households
• Develop and implement prevention programmes and campaigns
• Facilitate coordination of service delivery to orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Ensure quality assurance.

• Identify orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Strengthen family and community coping systems
• Empower families and communities economically
• Support communities to take collective action.
• Mobilise resources
• Provide psychosocial support, spiritual guidance and material assistance
• Develop and implement community based care and support programmes for OVC including child headed households.
• Provide alternate care options
• Capacity building for families, caregivers, community members, volunteers and other service providers.
• Implement prevention programmes and campaigns.
• Establish early childhood development programmes
• Assist with succession planning

2. Universities and Research Institutions

• Research pertinent issues linked to orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Advocate and lobby for the rights of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Influence legislation and policy development

• Provide sustainable and responsible support
• Assist with Monitoring and Evaluation
• Promote research agenda

• Raise awareness regarding issues of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
• Mobilise and distribute resources

• Mobilise and distribute resources
• Support structures for employees and their families
• Promote social entrepreneurship through corporate social responsibility programmes

The Policy Framework for Orphans and other Children made Vulnerable by HIV and AIDS is set within the following legal and policy frameworks.

• A name and nationality from birth.
• Family care, parental care, or to appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment.
• A range of socio-economic rights including the right to basic nutrition, shelter, and basic health care services and social services.
• Protection from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
• Not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that –

• are inappropriate to the child’s age, or
• place at risk the child’s well being, education, physical or mental health or spiritual, moral or social development.

• To be detained only as a measure of last resort and then only for the shortest and appropriate period of time. Detained children have the right to be kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years, treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take into account their age; to have a legal practitioner assigned to them in civil proceedings that affect the child, if substantial injustice would otherwise result; not to be used directly in armed conflict; and to be protected in times of armed conflict.
• The principle of the best interest of the child as the most important consideration in all matters that concern them.
• Children have the right to equal treatment and non-discrimination, education and to social security amongst others.

• If the parents of the child are married then both have equal guardianship over the child and the right to make decisions about the well being of the child.
• In the case of divorce guardianship the Court may be awarded to only one parent In the case of the death of that parent guardianship normally reverts to the other parent.
• A parent may nominate a guardian for his or her minor child in a will.
• If someone contests the wishes of that parent, the High Court can overrule the intention.
• A woman is the guardian of her minor child born out of a marriage unless a High Court, as upper guardian, directs otherwise.

7. The National Health Act No. 61 of 2003

The National Health Act recognises children as a group who require special attention and provides for free primary health care for children under the age of 6 years who are not members or beneficiaries of medical aid schemes.

8. Medical Schemes Act No. 131 of 1998

• The removal of the alleged perpetrator of family violence rather than the victim.
• The issuing of protection orders against perpetrators.
• Allows the child to approach the court for a protection order without adult assistance.

14. Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 2000.

• Gives effect to the letter and spirit of the Constitution, especially to the founding values of equality, human dignity and freedom of expression.
• Prevents, prohibits and provides redress for unfair discrimination, and gives effect to the South Africa’s international treaty obligations relating to human rights.
• Provides for the progressive eradication of current systematic discrimination which is a legacy of previously legalised discrimination, thereby transforming South Africa into a country based on respect for the dignity and equal worth of all human beings.

• Developmental social welfare policies and programmes are guided by – the securing of basic welfare rights, equity, non-discrimination, democracy, improved quality of life, human rights, people centred, sustainability, partnership, inter-sectoral collaboration, quality of services, accessibility, appropriateness and ubuntu. These principles are incorporated in the Policy Framework for Orphans and other Children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
• Vulnerable groups and groups at risk include - young people, women, migrants, single parents, orphans, children of parents who are ill and dependants in a household who are particular vulnerable.
• Services to support PLHAs, and those affected such as children are prioritised.

2. The National HIV/AIDS/STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000/2005

• Prevention
• Treatment and care and support
• Research, monitoring and surveillance
• Human and legal rights

• To develop alternate models of care and design marketing strategies to promote acceptance from communities around new forms of care.
• To de-stigmatise those suffering from HIV/AIDS
• To investigate legislation to ensure legal recognition or status for child

• To encourage/subsidise private fostering of children.

3. The National Integrated Plan for Children and Youth Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS 2000 (NIP)

• Immediate issues of poverty as this relates to basic needs
• Sustainable development and income generating activities
• The needs of the most vulnerable e.g. the disabled, older persons, and children
• The capacity development of community based organisations.

• To provide information on establishing and implementing special programmes, including home/community based care and support.
• To provide clarity on the development of community-based structures to:

• Establish and strengthen poverty alleviation programmes in affected areas.
• Develop training programmes for professionals, community workers, child and youth care workers, community leaders, families, NPOs and CBOs.
• Establish integrated institutional arrangements at local and community levels for the implementation and monitoring of programmes.
• Make information available on welfare services and grants.
• Provide a framework for the costing of the essential financial implications of implementing the strategy.

• The impact of HIV/AIDS on families and children is understood within the context of the community, taking into consideration specific socio-economic conditions, felt needs, constraints and possibilities.
• Activities are planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated with the community.
• The identification of the most vulnerable is facilitated by the fact that members of the community are in the best position to know which households are most affected and the sort of help appropriate.
• Family and community integration is encouraged to prevent children from being removed from their families or community environment.
• Volunteers from communities are more likely to visit many households regularly, they are trusted and known to the community and their help is likely to be more practical and culturally appropriate.
• Relevant indigenous practices are reclaimed and strengthened which empowers the community to take care of its vulnerable children

• Ensuring the integrity of the social grants administration and payment system, while consolidating the work done on the establishment of a comprehensive social security system for the country
• Ensuring that the newly established Social Security Agency is fully capacitated to carry-out its mandate and the Department to adequately perform its oversight role of the Agency
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive and integrated service delivery model for developmental services. This includes a retention strategy for social services professionals
• The implementation of a new policy on financial awards to non-governmental organisations and other civil society organisations that provide welfare services to the needy and vulnerable
• The roll-out of the Expanded Public Works Programme, with a primary emphasis on Early Childhood Development and Home/community-based care and support
• A concerted response to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on poor communities; and
• The development and implementation of a comprehensive policy on the social relief of distress

7. The Transformation of the Child and Youth Care System in South Africa: Interim Policy Recommendations

8. The Ten Point Plan of the Department of Social Development, 1999

• Developed to facilitate the Department of Social Development’s mandate towards early childhood development in South Africa.
• Refers to core aspects important to the early childhood phase of life such as nutrition, health care, environmental safety and early education and learning.
• The Guidelines deal with a continuum of early child development services and contain interventions and programmes aimed at parents and/or primary caregivers; community based services and early childhood development centres.
• The most important facets of service delivery are explained in simple clear terms for easy understanding and referencing by all service providers.
• Elaborative explanations and resource materials are included in the Guidelines to use in training situations.
• Guidelines for family care pertaining to the young child are included as the family provides the context in which the majority children function.
• The Departments of Health and Education also contribute towards young children through their policies and guidelines.

14. The Integrated Food Security Strategy for South Africa, 2002

• Increase household food production and trading.
• Improve income generation and job creation opportunities.
• Improve nutrition and food safety.
• Increase safety nets and food emergency management systems.
• Improve analysis and information management system.
• Provide capacity building.
• Hold stakeholder dialogue.

.

1. Strengthen and support the capacity of families to protect and care.
2. Mobilise and strengthen community-based responses for the care, support and protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
3. Ensure that legislation, policy, strategies and programmes are in place to protect the most vulnerable children.
4. Assure access for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS to essential services.
5. Raise awareness and advocacy to create a supportive environment for OVC.
6. Engage the business community in playing an active role to support the plight of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS

Within these strategies, programming for OVC is guided by:

• The rights based approach and which addresses prevention, care, treatment, protection, recovery and impact mitigation
• Coordinated action at all levels to ensure effective and appropriate responses.
• The inclusion of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in programme design.
• The design of sustainable programmes that respond to the individual needs of children and caregivers.
• Priority interventions that focus on the most vulnerable.
• The need to strengthen the caring and economic capacities of families through community-based mechanisms, with particular attention to primary caregiver support.
• The value for children of strategies that improve or maintain a reasonable quality of life for primary caregivers living with AIDS.
• The need for individual and age appropriate development programmes for children.
• Skills transfer to older OVC and primary caregivers in relation to income-generation.
• Gender equality in programmes.
• The active participation of children and young people in responses to the epidemic.
• Community participation, empowerment and ownership of OVC programmes.

• The early identification of families, orphans and other vulnerable children to ensure access to appropriate services
• Enhance the capacity of families and primary caregivers to provide protection, psychosocial support and counseling to OVC, including very young children and those with special needs.
• The early identification of child-headed households and interventions to address their needs.
• Support for family succession planning and security of inheritance for children.
• Access to treatment, care and support for caregivers who live with AIDS, for their sense of well being and to live their lives with dignity.
• Support the competence of young peoples’ life and survival skills.
• Strengthen household economic capacity through social security safety nets and food security.

• The support of local leadership in responding to the needs of community members who are vulnerable.
• The mobilisation of communities for the early identification of needy children and families.
• Expanding and improving community services for children and families, including those to child-headed households and households managed by older persons
• Facilities for children in communities that provide added support e.g. safe parks.

• Facilitate activities that enable community members to talk more openly about HIV and AIDS and the impact of the disease on children, families and communities, and to in this way work towards reducing stigma and discrimination.
• Recruit prospective foster care parents.
• Facilitate community income-generating projects to help vulnerable households
• Facilitate processes that build the capacity of primary caregivers, community members and volunteers to respond effectively to the different needs of children.
• Facilitate after-school care and holiday programmes.
• Promote and strengthen linkages between community-based responses to orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS with prevention, treatment and care programmes, including strengthening linkages with PMTCT interventions
• Establish and promote the use of community-based day care facilities for young children to provide respite for their care givers

• Reviewing and developing national policies and frameworks, strategies and action plans and enhancing the capacity of government to integrate and coordinate these to protect the rights of children.
• Enhancing state and civil society capacity to deliver quality services, and monitor implementation of policy and programmes.
• Mobilise and ensure equitable distribution of resources to communities
• Ensure implementation of a supportive legislative framework
• Provide protection and alternative care options for children in the absence of families to care
• Create linkages between programmes and poverty alleviation strategies in the context of broader development.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of HIV and AIDS on children
• Ensure that orphans and other vulnerable children have access to basic services

• Birth registration for all children
• Strengthen and increase access to early childhood development services.
• Strengthen service delivery agencies and community structures that work with OVC to provide appropriate services
• Motivate and secure access to learning and education for OVC.
• Ensure access to health, nutrition services, palliative care, and comprehensive treatment for HIV and AIDS, TB and STDs.
• Ensure access to information and services on prevention, including voluntary counseling and testing
• Ensure access to safe water and sanitation
• Ensure adequate housing for primary caregivers and child headed households
• Empower children through life skills programmes
• Facilitate peer support at school

• Facilitate and support activities to enable community members to talk more openly about HIV and AIDS.
• Raise awareness and encourage a community response for the care and support of orphans and other vulnerable children.
• Facilitate clear referral protocols, communication channels and other action links between service providers
• Facilitate campaigns and interventions that use the media, high profile and other influential role models who demonstrate positive practices and attitudes in addressing, and/or living with HIV and AIDS.

6. Engage the business community to play an active role in care and support of OVC

• Provide business expertise and professional advice in the management of OVC projects
• Second skilled personnel as "volunteers" to mentor and act as a catalyst in achieving project objectives.
• Provide training to communities, NGO's and the government
• Mentor and coach community leaders in management skills.
• Provide project management skills on a part time basis.
• Assist in the development of systems and a data base
• Provide the use of company facilities for community meetings and training.
• Provide legal advice on matters that affect children.
• Provide career and educational advice for OVC entering the labour market.
• Assist OVC in gaining a better understanding of the business environment.
• Deploy funding and financial grants to ensure sustainability of projects

• The UNGASS Declaration of Commitment requires South Africa to submit an annual report to the UN Secretary-General on progress made towards implementation of the Declaration.
• South Africa, together with all other member states, submits a bi-annual country report on the progressive realisation of children’s rights to the United Nations Children’s Rights Committee.
• Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

• At country level, government departments with responsibility for the implementation of policy are obligated to report to Parliament on progress towards implementation of policies adopted, programmes implemented and resources spent
• The monitoring of the rights of OVC also takes place within, and complements, the monitoring framework of government.

• The development by NACCA of a five year monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the impact of support to OVC’s at national, provincial, district and local levels and which provides indicators for all three tiers of government.
• The submission of an annual report to Cabinet, through the Department of Social Development, on the performance and impact of activities and programmes for the care and support of OVC’s at all levels.
• A report on co-ordination, implementation and monitoring of the Policy Framework to the South African National AIDS Council twice a year.

• Indicators for programming for affected children that conform to international and national standards.
• Defined intervals for evaluation from time of agreement in principle to the Policy Framework.
• A plan of action to integrate OVC indicators into the strategic plans of government departments.
• Research into activities to strengthen the capacity of state and the civil society sector with respect to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, and budget analysis.
• Guidelines for stakeholders on the preparation and submission of annual reports to relevant structures with regard to the implementation and impact of the Policy Framework.
• A plan of action to secure resources and capacity for the process of monitoring and evaluation at all levels.
• A strategy for the co-ordination of policy formulation, programme/strategy development and implementation at all levels.
• Investigation into an information system for reporting and tracking of OVC’s from a local to a national level.

1. At the national level, each government department, organisation and institution will be a full member of NACCA and the Coordinator shall provide a progress report on activities in relation to the implementation of the strategies and future action regarding the Policy Framework twice a year.
2. At the provincial level, each Provincial Action Committee for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (PACCA) will similarly furnish the Secretariat of NACCA with a consolidated progress report reflecting provincial activities related to OVC twice a year.
3. The national secretariat shall synchronise all reports into one national consolidated report twice a year and which will indicate performance, impact and the participation of all sectors.

The effective implementation of the strategies in the Policy Framework, and subsequent action plans, depends on adequate resources - financial and human - and effective utilisation of the same.

1. Financial Resources

• Financial resources should be raised from the international and national donor communities and business sector by organisations rendering community based care and support services to OVC.
• Line departments should pro-actively engage with the National and Provincial Treasuries and co-ordinate activities toward the mobilisation of financial resources, the primary objective being to ensure that mechanisms, services and concrete support are in place at provincial and local levels for the benefit of orphans and other vulnerable children.
• Spending across all sectors shall be monitored by NACCA and the National Treasury.

1. Human Resources

7.3. Training of Personnel

• Each department/organisation shall ensure that human resources employed and involved with orphans and other vulnerable children are sufficiently trained and appropriately skilled for their role/task.
• This requires a human resource development and support strategy within the context of national norms, legislation and procedures.
• The NACCA shall form an inter-sectoral sub-committee to assess and advise government departments on the specific, and sometimes unique, needs of personnel working on issues related to OVC’s.
• This would include aspects such as in-service training, career paths, field support services, care of caregiver programmes.
• Each employer shall ensure that employees and volunteers are aware of these and commit to the same.
• Each employer shall have a protocol for the monitoring and enforcing of the Code of Conduct and which is compiled in a format that protects children and their families.
• Each employer and employee shall be held accountable to the Code of Conduct as well as the provisions of domestic and international law.
• Where no Code of Conduct exists, an employer has the obligation to develop the same.

1. Training of Community Volunteers

• A large component of human resources who render services to OVC’s are drawn from community volunteers with a commitment to children and who require recognition and support.
• Volunteers who are members of Child Care Forums should be trained in accordance with the 12-day training curriculum developed by NACCA.
• The training and coordination of Child Care Forums is also essential as members of forums liaise closely with home/community based care groups and schools to identify orphans and vulnerable children, and with the local social worker; CBOs, NPOs, and local leadership.
• Government Departments and civil society organisations will need to ensure that sufficient guidance and guidelines are provided to community level volunteers to enable them to facilitate service delivery.
• All categories of workers in the field of OVC should be bound by internal or professional codes of conduct that have as their basis the best interest of children/ families being served.