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PLAN OF ACTION
ORPHANSAND
VULNERABLE CHILDREN
VO
LU
ME
1
Coordinated by
MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITYAND CHILD WELFARE
Directorate of Child Welfare
Director: Helena Andjamba
Juvenis Building, 380 Independence Avenue, WindhoekPrivate Bag 13359, Windhoek, Namibia
Telephone 061-2833111Fax 061-229569 / 238941
Email genderequality@mgecw.gov.na
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION
FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Volume 1
Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareGOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
WindhoekOctober 2007
ii NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Acronyms
ART Anti-Retroviral TreatmentMGECW Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMTP III Third National Strategic Medium Term Plan for HIV and AIDS 2004-2009OVC Orphans and Vulnerable ChildrenPMTCT Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIVRAAAP Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action PlanningRACOC Regional AIDS Coordinating CommitteeUNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDSUNDP United Nations Development ProgrammeUNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural OrganisationUNICEF United Nations Children’s FundUSAID United States Agency for International DevelopmentWFP World Food Programme
Contents
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................iv
Foreword ......................................................................................................................................v
Commitment from Ministries ................................................................................................vi
1. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Who are Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)? .............................................. 3
2.2 National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children .......................................... 5
2.3 The broader policy environment............................................................................ 5
2.4 The development of the Plan of Action................................................................ 7
2.5 Listening to children’s voices.................................................................................. 8
3. Overview of the situation of OVC ........................................................................10
4. Multi-sectoral responses to the OVC crisis ......................................................14
4.1 The OVC Permanent Task Force............................................................................14
4.2 Government initiatives ..........................................................................................15
4.3 Time frame ..............................................................................................................16
4.4 Costing .....................................................................................................................16
5. The National Plan of Action ...................................................................................17
(1) RIGHTS AND PROTECTION ........................................................................................ 18Plan of Action.......................................................................................................... 20
(2) EDUCATION ............................................................................................................... 24Plan of Action.......................................................................................................... 27
(3) CARE AND SUPPORT ................................................................................................. 31Plan of Action.......................................................................................................... 34
(4) HEALTH AND NUTRITION .......................................................................................... 37Plan of Action.......................................................................................................... 41
(5) MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING .......................................................................... 44Plan of Action.......................................................................................................... 46
6. Summary of activities and indicators of progress.......................................49
Agency contact details .......................................................................................................... 60
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN iii
iv NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Acknowledgements
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare would like to thank the following people for theircontribution to the National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children:
The members of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Permanent Task Force, for their continuedsupport and interest in ensuring a multi-sectoral response.The government line ministries and civil society partners who participated in a series of meetingsand workshops between 2004 and 2007 to finalise the Rapid Assessment, Analysis and ActionPlanning (RAAAP), and to develop a costed plan and a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.UNICEF, WFP, UNAIDS, UNESCO and FYI/USAID, for supporting the RAAAP process.UNICEF, for financial assistance to finalise the National Plan of Action.UNAIDS and USAID, for extensive technical support in finalising the Monitoring and EvaluationPlan for the Plan of Action.
Foreword
The Namibian Constitution enshrines the rights of childrento life, health, education and a decent standard of living.
The Namibian Government is signatory to a number of inter-national conventions (such as the Convention on the Rightsof the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare ofthe Chilld and the Convention on the Prohibition and Imme-diate Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour) whichshow the seriousness of our commitment to safeguarding ournation’s future leaders and citizens. However, the efforts of theGovernment to realise these rights has been hampered by thespread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Just a few years ago, it was almost impossible to imagine the tragedy of children grieving for dying ordead parents, stigmatised by society through association with HIV and AIDS and then plunged intoeconomic crisis and insecurity by their parents’ deaths. The limited services and support systems inimpoverished communities only add to the difficulties faced by so many of our children. As the numberof orphans and vulnerable children rises, the risk increases that these children will not be able to realisetheir rights and be supported – economically and emotionally – through their trauma.
I would like to congratulate the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Orphans andVulnerable Children Permanent Task Force for their tireless work to improve the lives of so many childrento date, and I pledge my support to their continuing efforts.
Addressing the needs of children involves action at national, regional and local levels. The issue is anurgent one. Our nation already has far too many children who are being forced to shoulder too muchresponsibility too early in life. If we do not act quickly, many will lose their chance to experience childhoodaltogether, and thus may grow up ill-equipped to act as responsible citizens. We must provide them withthe support that they need now, before it is too late.
This document provides a road map for achieving protection, education, health and emotional supportfor our orphans and vulnerable children in a concrete and verifiable way. Through its implementationwe will ensure a better future for all of Namibia’s children.
Rt Hon Prime Minister Nahas Angula
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN v
Rt Hon Nahas Angula
Commitment from Ministries
Agriculture, Water and Forestry: Commits to providing access to sustainable food security, cleanwater and sanitation for all children.
Education: Commits to ensuring that all orphans and vulnerable children can access quality educationalservices, and complete schooling successfully.
Finance: Commits to ensuring that resources are available to different ministries to meet the rights ofchildren.
Gender Equality and Child Welfare: Commits to coordinating the multi-sectoral response to the crisisaffecting children in Namibia, and building community coping mechanisms to ensure that children’s rightsare met.
Health and Social Services: Commits to ensuring that all children can access quality preventativeand curative health care services.
Home Affairs and Immigration: Commits to ensuring that birth certificates are issued to all children,and that children have access to death certificates of deceased guardians/caregivers.
Information and Broadcasting: Commits to raising awareness on the rights of children to protection,care and support, and lobbying for the fulfilment of children’s rights with various duty bearers.
Justice: Commits to upholding the rights of children and women as enshrined in international humanrights instruments, and ensuring that laws are enacted and interpreted in a just and proper manner.
Labour and Social Welfare: Commits to preventing child labour, children being used by adults tocommit crime, commercial sexual exploitation of children, child trafficking, slavery and very hazardouslabour.
Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development: Commits to strengtheninglocal responses to meet children’s need for care, support and protection.
Safety and Security: Commits to ensuring that all children and women are protected from violence,exploitation, neglect and abuse.
Office of the Prime Minister: Commits to multi-sectoral integrated service delivery for all childrento drive Namibia towards prosperity and sustainable development by 2030.
National Planning Commission: Commits to integrating issues affecting orphans and vulnerablechildren into national priorities to direct the course of national development.
Namibian Parliament: Commits to lobbying and assuring attention at the highest level for the fulfil-ment of children’s rights, and the national prioritisation of resources to respond effectively to the crisisaffecting orphans and vulnerable children.
vi NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
1. Executive Summary
The National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children defines an orphan as “a child who has lostone or both parents because of death and is under the age of 18 years” and a vulnerable child as
“a child who needs care and protection”. The policy was developed by the Ministry of Gender Equalityand Child Welfare and endorsed by Cabinet in 2004. It provides a solid foundation for strategic planningaround its main goals of strengthening the capacity of children, families, social networks, neighbourhoodsand communities to protect and care for OVC; ensuring that government protects and provides essentialservices to the most vulnerable children; and creating an enabling environment for affected children andfamilies.
This Plan of Action supplements the National Policy by identifying concrete activities in support of thesegoals. It was developed through a collaborative process involving various stakeholders under the leadershipof the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare. It also takes into account the views of Namibianchildren, especially orphans and vulnerable children.
The Plan of Action is organised around five strategic areas, which have key objectives and targets:
i) Rights and Protection aims to protect and promote the well-being of all OVC, ensuring that therights of all OVC and their caregivers are protected, respected and fulfilled.
Target: All children have access to protection services by 2010.
ii) Education aims for all OVC of school-going age to attend school, and provides appropriateeducational opportunities for out-of-school OVC.
Target: Equal proportions of OVC versus non-OVC aged 16-17 years have completed Grade 10by 2010.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 1
iii) Care and Support aims for the basic needs of all OVC to be met,including adult care and supervision, access to social services andpsychosocial support.
Target: 50 percent of all registered OVC receive any external support(economic, home-based care, psychosocial and educational) by2010.
iv) Health and Nutrition aims for OVC to have adequate nutritionand access to preventative and curative health services, includinganti-retroviral treatment, both in the community and at healthfacilities.
Target: 20 percent reduction in under-five mortality of all childrenby 2010 / Equal proportions of OVC to non-OVC aged 15-17 yearsare not infected with HIV by 2010.
v) Management and Networking aims for a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary institutional framework to coordinate and monitor theprovision of services and programmes to OVC and their caregivers,and promote action research and networks to share learning.
Target: Multi-sectoral coordination and monitoring of quality servicesto OVC are significantly improved by 2010.
The Plan of Action is divided into two volumes: Volume 1 specifies theactivities within the strategic areas to achieve the objectives, and Volume 2is the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which outlines a detailed systemfor monitoring and evaluating progress in making this National Plan ofAction a reality.
Although the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is tasked withensuring that orphans and vulnerable children are protected and nurtured,the plan calls for integrated and multi-sectoral action by those responsiblefor health, education, social welfare, trade and livelihoods and civil registra-tion. Many non-governmental partners have already devoted substantialattention and energy to assisting families, communities and orphans andvulnerable children in many parts of the country, but there still remains agreat deal to be done.
The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Permanent Task Force will spear-head the implementation and monitoring of the National Plan of Action,under the direction of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.This Permanent Task Force includes representatives of a range of govern-ment and civil society stakeholders, and is responsible for advising andcoordinating the activities as well as providing a platform for informationsharing.
Transforming the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Namibia isachievable. This Plan of Action details in a practical and concrete wayhow we can collectively accomplish that transformation.
2 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
2. Introduction
In 2007, the number of orphans in Namibia was estimated at 117 000.1 An additional 11 000 childrenwill become orphans in the next year and are potentially caring for their parents as they become sick
and die. The estimated number of orphans and vulnerable children in 2007 is 128 000.2 The rightsof these children to health, education, a caring family environment and full participation in society areunder threat in light of increasing poverty, over-stretched extended families and insufficient mechanismsto ensure policy implementation. The National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children isdesigned to address these problems and challenges.
2.1 Who are Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)?
According to the National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, an orphan is “a child who haslost one or both parents because of death and is under the age of 18 years” and a vulnerable childis “a child who needs care and protection”.3
1 Based on Spectrum Model estimates, MOHSS, September 2007. For methodology see UNICEF, UNAIDS and USPresident’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Africa’s Orphaned and Vulnerable Generations, Children Affected by AIDS, UNICEF, New York, 2006, page 36. Previous estimated and projected numbers of orphans havebeen superseded by these more accurate figures.
2 This figure is based on a conservative estimate that there are 11 000 adult caregiver deaths per annum on the presentART uptake.
3 National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare, December 2004.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 3
This definition of ‘vulnerable’ could describe all children in Namibia since all children need care andprotection. The definition of a ‘vulnerable child’ is purposefully kept broad so the appropriate children canbe reached with the appropriate interventions. Every programme or project will target their interventionsat a unique set of children. For example a school feeding programme might target children who comefrom exceptionally poor households and require additional food; or a sports club might target childrenwho are orphans and might need psychosocial support. Both target groups are vulnerable but bothgroups have different needs and thus require different interventions. The criteria for classifying a child asan OVC will thus change depending on the purpose and goals of the intervention. It is the responsibilityof each programme to develop a programme definition, which will identify beneficiaries for a particularintervention. So the education sector may define children not attending school as ‘vulnerable’ andexempt their school fees to increase attendance and retention.
To measure the circumstances of a consistent group of children over a period of time, a monitoringdefinition of OVC was developed, based on circumstances which are not expected to change in mostcases. The impact definition for a “vulnerable child”4 is:
a child living with a chronically ill caregiver, defined as a caregiver who was too ill to carry out dailychores during 3 of the last 12 monthsa child living with a caregiver with a disability who is not able to complete household choresa child of school-going age who is unable to attend a regular school due to disabilitya child living in a household headed by an elderly caregiver (60 years or older, with no caregiverin the household between 18 and 59 years of age)a child living in a poor household, defined as a household that spends over 60% of total householdincome on fooda child living in a child-headed household (meaning a household headed by a child under the ageof 18)a child who has experienced a death of an adult caregiver (18-59 years) in the household duringthe last 12 months.
Refer to the accompanying Volume 2,the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the National Plan of Action for OVC, foradditional details on the programme andimpact definitions for OVC.
It should be noted that while it is accept-able to use the term “OVC” for planning,implementation and monitoring purposes,care must be taken not to apply any labelsto children directly as this could result instigma or discrimination.
4 This definition was developed by 46 government, civil society and United Nations partners at an OVC Monitoring andEvaluation Workshop (14-16 May 2007). The group agreed that the definition must meet the requirements of being(1) measurable and (2) based on a characteristic which can be used to identify target groups before the governmentintervention takes place.
4 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 5
2.2 National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children
The starting point for government intervention on OVC is the National Policy on Orphans and VulnerableChildren, endorsed by Cabinet in 2004. This National Plan of Action should be read in conjunction withthe National Policy.
The National Policy on OVC developed by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare providesa solid foundation for strategic planning. It is organised around five main goals:
(1) strengthening and supporting the capacity of families, social networks, neighbourhoods andcommunities to protect and care for OVC
(2) stimulating and strengthening community-based responses
(3) ensuring that government protects and provides essential services to the most vulnerable children
(4) strengthening the capacity of children and young people to meet their own needs and
(5) creating an enabling environment for affected children and families.
This policy document identifies concrete action in support of these goals.
2.3 The broader policy environment
Namibia has a very positive policy environment for the fulfilment of the rights of orphans and vulnerablechildren. This includes several complementary policies with specific relevance to OVC.
Vision 2030 sets broad overall objectives for the envisioned future of areas including poverty reduction,health and education. It also contains a specific section on fostering and orphans which emphasises theneed to provide adequate social safety-nets in the form of grants as well as other types of support. It citesas one of its objectives “to provide opportunities to disadvantaged children, including orphans, which willprepare them for, and make them live, a meaningful and happy life”, and recommends incorporating
6 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
the needs of vulnerable groups into development planning at all levels.5 These objectives are based onpolicies developed much earlier in Namibia’s history.
In 1992 (shortly after independence), for example, Namibia adopted a National Programme of Action for Children. Although this general Programme of Action has now been largely superseded by morespecific policies, it was an early signal of the political will to protect children.
The Namibian HIV/AIDS Charter of Rights, adopted as a national policy in 2002, covers childrenand adolescents as well as adults. It specifically indicates that quality, accessible and user-friendly healthcare, information and education should be made available to all children and adolescents, includingthose living with HIV and AIDS. It prohibits all discrimination against children orphaned by AIDS, andstates that such children are entitled to love and care and a nurturing environment.
The National Policy on HIV/AIDS for the Education Sector adopted in 2003 contains a specificsection on the needs of OVC which emphasises the necessity of disseminating information on exemptionsfrom the payment of school and hostel fees. It also promises that no learner shall be excluded froma government school, or from examinations, because of inability to pay school or examination fees, orto afford a school uniform. This policy also stresses the need for effective inter-school referral systems tominimise disruption and to provide support to learners when they have to be transferred after a parentor caregiver dies.
An Education Sector Policy for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Namibia has beendrafted by the Ministry of Education and is expected to be finalised in 2007. The draft policy has beenconsulted in the preparation of this Plan of Action.
The National Policy on HIV/AIDS (2007) contains a section devoted to orphans and vulnerablechildren. It puts forwards a range of policy measures to protect young people from sexual abuse andexploitation and commits to involving children in the design and implementation of relevant HIV andAIDS policies and programmes.
The Third National Strategic Medium Term Plan for HIV and AIDS 2004-2009 (MTP III)includes a specific section on OVC with the objectives of increasing access to:
community-led quality programme interventionssocial assistance for OVC and their caregivers in all 13 regionseducation for all school-age OVC.
Namibia has also embarked on an Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP), which is a 15-year strategic plan (2005-2020) for improving Namibia’s education system.6
Within this plan, specific attention is given to the educational needs of OVC with regard to specialisedtraining, equitable access, psychosocial support, feeding programmes and steps to prevent stigmatisa-tion, to name but a few.7
5 Office of the President, Government of the Republic of Namibia, Namibia Vision 2030: Policy Framework for Long-term National Development (Main Document), Windhoek, 2004, at page 121.
6 Republic of Namibia, “Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP): Planning for a Learning Nation,Programme Document – Phase I (2006 -2011)”, Government of the Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, February 2007, atpage 4.
7 Id at pages 13-15, 25, 78-80.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 7NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 7
The National Gender Policy (1997) and its accompanyingPlan of Action (1992-2003) cover a range of issues relevantto OVC, and particularly the girl child. As of 2007, the Plan ofAction is being revised and the updated plan will give particularattention to violence against women and children. The Ministryis also committed to ensuring that the new Plan of Action coversissues affecting OVC.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is also in the process offormulating aNational Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, which is expected to address issues such aschildren being used by adults to commit crimes, commercial sexualexploitation of children, child trafficking and slavery and veryhazardous labour.
Another relevant process underway in 2007 is the updating ofNamibia’s Second National Development Plan (NDP2). TheThird National Development Plan (NDP3) is expected tointegrate the National Policy on and Plan of Action for OVC.
The National Policy on OVC and this National Plan of Action for OVC take cognisance of all these related plans and policies.
2.4 The development of the Plan of Action
The National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Childrenharmonises with other national and international efforts to assistOVC in that it has involved recommendations from the GlobalOVC Partners Forum held in Geneva in October 2003. In thewake of this forum, UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and the WFPagreed to embark upon a joint process of Rapid Assessment,Analysis and Action Planning (RAAAP) in 17 countries, includingNamibia. This Action Plan draws heavily on the RAAAP conductedin Namibia in 2004, as well as other recent research relevant toOVC in Namibia.
Following international models, the National Plan of Action forOrphans and Vulnerable Children is organised into five thematicareas:
(1) Rights and Protection(2) Education(3) Care and Support(4) Health and Nutrition(5) Management and Networking.
8 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
The proposed activities in the Plan of Action have been costed, and a plan for monitoring and evaluationhas been developed (see Volume 2, the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the National Plan of Action for OVC).
The tables at the end of this document include indicators which can show that the activity has beenimplemented, as well as other indicators which can measure the broader success of the planned activity.For example, for an activity such as “Ensuring that OVC receive birth certificates”, an immediate processindicator would be “public awareness campaign implemented”, while a broader indicator of successwould be an increase in the “percent of children whose births are reported registered”.
2.5 Listening to children’s voices
In order to ensure that children’s opinions were incorporatedinto the National Plan of Action for Orphans and VulnerableChildren, research from the RAAAP study and other researchincorporating the opinions of Namibian children8 were used.As a reminder of the need to listen to the voices of affectedchildren, this policy document takes the unusual step ofincluding some direct quotes from Namibian children, such asthe following:
“I feel so bad when somebody does not treat me the same as the ones who are having their own mother. Sometimes they can say, ‘There is no food for you here; maybe you can look for your father and mother to get food.’ It only happens sometimes. My aunt says it. Sometimes (at school) they just shout, ‘You are thin like somebody who doesn’t eat.’ I think they bully us because we don’t have parents. When somebody is bullying me, I say, ‘I am going to report you to my mother and father.’ But sometimes the other says, ‘I know you don’t have a mother and father.”9
Many children have reported on their experiences of stigma and rejection at school and sometimes evenin their own extended families, and many have told how they have been forced to give up friends andrecreation in order to care for those at home. Key problems cited by children in households affectedby HIV and AIDS are inability to afford school-related expenses and inability to perform in schooldue to hunger. Trauma, neglect and stigmatisation leading to withdrawal and additional householdresponsibilities – including children heading households – are also major concerns.10
8 See Social Impact Assessment and Policy Analysis Corporation (SIAPAC), A Situational Analysis of Orphan Children in Namibia, Ministry of Health and Social Services/UNICEF, Windhoek, April 2002 (information from a large number ofchildren and their caregivers); D Yates, Documentation Study on the Responses by Religious Organizations to Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Namibia, World Conference on Religion and Peace, Windhoek, 2003 (interviews with 38 children);M Ruiz-Casares, Strengthening the Capacity of Child-Headed Households to Meet their Own Needs: Preliminary Findings,University of Namibia, Windhoek, May 2004 (a study involving more than 200 children and including in-depth interviewswith 33 children heading households in three regions of Namibia); and information from a Circles of Support Project innorthern Namibia supported by the Danish development organisation Ibis, which facilitated an intensive dialogue with 14children in 2003/2004.
9 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 59.
10 Id at page 56. See also the studies cited in footnote 11.
CHILDREN’S PARLIAMENT
In May 2007 the National Assembly, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, convened the Children’s Parliament of Namibia. Two learners and one guardian teacher from each of Namibia’s 13 regions participated. The Children’s Parliament was established through the recommendation of the African Children’s Parliamentary Union Initiative, which seeks to enable children to take action to demand their rights. One of the aims of the initiative is to empower young leaders to champion for the rights of under-privileged children.
The Children’s Parliament of Namibia discussed the five thematic areas covered by the Plan of Action. They made the following comments and suggestions:
Rights and Protection: This area is not progressing well. In rural areas children are especially vulnerable to violence and abuse. There is a need for more social workers who can help enforce the rights of children and address the needs of street children which are largely ignored. There is also a need for stiffer sentences for offenders. More sensitisation campaigns need to be introduced to help communities understand children’s rights.
Education: Children are on the whole attending primary school, especially in cities, but orphans and vulnerable children are often
not in school because they are instead forced to look after cattle and goats. Education campaigns are needed to educate children on their right to free education, especially in rural areas. Secondaryeducation is also important, and government should devote money to supporting it if children are really the nation’s future.
Care and Support: The period of approving applications for child welfare grants is too long, especially for people in villages who are unable to make repeated trips to government offices. Residents of rural areas are not receiving psychological support, and caregivers need more training and support.
Health and Nutrition: It is good that all children are supposed to have access to health services, including anti-retrovirals for HIV. There is insufficient provision of food to orphans and vulnerable children, especially street children, as well as insufficient support for related nutritional initiatives such as vegetable gardens. Health services need to be closer to the communities, and there should be greater preventative health measures. OVC should be targeted for education about good nutrition, and information on how to care for people who are sick with HIV. There is a need for nurses and doctors in rural areas.
Management and Networking: Multi-sectoral and disciplined institutions should coordinate and monitor the provision of services. It is good to solicit children’s opinions, and there should be more child-initiated services.
Participants in a previous “Youth Parliament” launched in 2004 have pointed out the importance of
effective follow-up to make such initiatives for children’s participation meaningful.11
11 See letters from two participants of the Youth Parliament, published in The Namibian on 18 May 2007 and 24 May2007. See also Parliament Journal (Publication of the Parliament of Namibia), Vol 3 No 1, January-April 2005, pages 11-12 on planned follow-up to a “Second Youth Parliament” convened in 2005 in the form of visits to schools and tertiary institutions by Members of Parliament.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 9
The concerns and suggestions put forward by Namibian children have been incorporated intothis National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
10 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
3. Overviewof the situationof OVC
Most of Namibia’s orphans acquire their status as a result of HIV and AIDS, which is without questionthe most important health and development issue facing Namibia today. In 2007, Namibia’s HIV
prevalence rates were ranked amongst the highest in the world (19.9% at antenatal sites nationally in200612). It has been estimated that as of 2005, there were an estimated 230 000 Namibians living withHIV, 17 000 of whom were children.13 The estimated number of orphans and vulnerable children in2007 is 128 000.14 HIV and AIDS are impacting on the economy at every level, but especially at thehousehold level, where economic resources are undermined by the costs associated with sickness anddeath and exacerbated by the loss of wage earners.
Most extended families are doing the best they can. After the death of the parents, it is usual for relativesto take in most of the orphans, but households are becoming larger; dependency rates are growing;grandparents (especially grandmothers) have to care for an increasing number of children with dwindlingresources; household food security seems threatened and destitution is on the increase. It is no longeruncommon for the family’s children to stay on in the parental home without adult care. Such ‘child-headed households’ have no physical or legal protection. While dividing the siblings may make thesituation more manageable for the caregivers involved, this separation compounds the sense of personaland family loss that is experienced by the affected children.15 Child-headed households are particularlyvulnerable to loss of assets, as it often happens that relatives refuse to recognise the children’s inheritancerights and take their house and land from them.16
12 Ministry of Health and Social Services, “Press Release: Results of the 2006 National Sentinel Survey among PregnantWomen”, 17 April 2007. The 2006 sentinel sites comprised 79 health facilities in 29 sites spread over all 13 regions,with urban and rural characteristics representing the country’s regional and population diversity.
13 UNAIDS, 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, United Nations, New York, Annex 2 at pages 505-07.14 Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, 2007.15 L Steinitz, “‘Needing More than Love’: A Harmonisation of Existing Data on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children
in Namibia”, UNESCO, Windhoek, 2003.16 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable
Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 16.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 11
The burden faced by OVC is often exacerbated by high levels of stigma and discrimination associ-ated with HIV and AIDS which remain a significant problem. For example, a 2005 study of selectedcommunities found that many families would keep the HIV-positive status of a family member secret.17
A 2006 study of different age groups found a significant level of stigma amongst 10- to 14-year-olds.Children in this age group would like to see HIV-positive children kept out of school, do not want to befriends with HIV-positive children, would not buy food from an HIV-positive seller, would like to keepthe infection of a family member secret and feel that someone with AIDS should not be allowed to workwhere food is sold. Children in this age group perhaps do not understand HIV fully, which may contrib-ute to their fears. Nevertheless, this indicates that interventions in this age group are necessary to curbstigma.18 Such attitudes present a serious stumbling block to effective care and support of OVC.
The impact of the HIV pandemic must be viewed against the backdrop of the Namibian economicsituation. Namibia has been ranked as the most unequal country in the world in terms of divisionof wealth,19 with 35% of the Namibian population surviving on $1 per day and 56% on $2 per day.20
Despite this, Namibia has been classified as a middle-income country, which has a negative effect onits ability to attract international development aid.
Although wages and salaries are the main source of income for almost half of Namibian households,unemployment was calculated at 37% in 2004.21 Women are disproportionately represented amongstthe unemployed, with 43% of women being unemployed overall compared to 30% of men.22 Some23% of households rely on subsistence farming as their mainstay, while almost 12% of the nation’shouseholds rely on a pension as the main source of income.23 At the same time, HIV and AIDS arehaving a negative impact on the economy at every level.
Violence and abuse of women and children, especially girls, is another major obstacle to which OVCare particularly susceptible. More than 1 100 rapes and attempted rapes are reported to the NamibianPolice each year, and more than one-third of these rape victims are children under age 18.24 Despitethese high figures, research suggests that child rape is often unreported, with many children fearing thatthey will be blamed for the situation if they speak out.25 For example, a UNICEF study published in 2006produced disturbing findings about children’s experiences of forced sex; 25% of respondents aged 10-14
17 RN Rimal & RA Smith, “Namibia HIV/AIDS Strategic Information Report: A baseline household analysis of residentsfrom Gobabis, Grootfontein, Omaruru, and Otjiwarongo and a midterm household analysis of residents from Oshikuku,Oniipa, and Rehoboth”, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health / Center for Communication Programs,Baltimore, Maryland, at page 16.
18 UNICEF, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and Behaviour (KAPB) Study in Namibia: Key Findings, UNICEF, Windhoek,2006, at page 10.
19 Distribution of wealth is measured internationally by means of a number called a “Gini coefficient”. A Gini score of 1would mean that a single person gets all of the country’s income, while a score of 0 would mean the country dividesits income equally among everyone. Namibia’s Gini coefficient is the world’s highest as of 2007, standing at .7 in themost recent rankings.
20 UNDP, Human Development Report 2006, at page 293.21 Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, “Namibian Labour Force Survey 2004: Report of Analysis”, Windhoek, 2006,
at pages 38-39. This is based on a “broad” measure of unemployment which counts all those aged 15 and aboveavailable for work, whether or not they are actively seeking a job, as opposed to a stricter measure of unemploymentconfined to the unemployed who are actively job-seeking.
22 Id at page 3 and page 44 (Table 4.4).23 Id at page 2.24 NAMPOL statistics for 2003-2005, as reported in Legal Assistance Centre, Rape in Namibia (Full Report), Legal Assistance
Centre, Windhoek, at page 8.25 Rachel Jewkes et al, “Child Sexual Abuse and HIV: Study of Links in South Africa & Namibia”, Pretoria: Medical Research
Council, June 2003, at page 11.
and 15% of respondents aged 10-15 had experienced one ormore forms of sexual abuse. Half of the 10- to 14-year-oldswho had already had sex said that they had been forced into it,or had been paid or given a gift in exchange for sex. The sexualpartners were often much older. In the 15-24 age group, 24% ofthose who had already had sexual intercourse said that this wasbecause they were forced, paid or offered a gift. Most shockingof all, there was a significant incidence of rape or inappropriatesexual touching of both male and female children by their own parents or caregivers.26
Namibia is in a vicious cycle where the impact of HIV and AIDS,unequal power relations between men and women, exacerbatingfood insecurity and poverty, and the lack of economic empower-ment for women and girls increase children’s vulnerability to sexualexploitation and HIV infection.
The “sugar daddy” phenomenon, where older men have relationswith young girls, including schoolgirls, in return for material favoursis well-established in Namibia.27 This behaviour sometimes shadesinto commercial sex work. In one Namibian study, most of thesex workers interviewed had entered into this trade before theywere 16 years old and many said they began having transactionalsexual relationships in their early teens (sexual relationships inwhich on one person “pays” the other with food, clothes and otherhousehold support), which later led to participation in commercialsex work. Others began sex work when they were orphaned.28
There are also reports of instances in several regions where com-mercial truck drivers entice young girls into commercial sex work,sometimes with the support of the girls’ mothers, as an avenueout of extreme poverty.29 A recent study of child labour similarlyreported accounts of parents forcing their children into sex work,or at least condoning this line of work, in an effort to secure house-hold income.30 An extensive study of sex workers conductedby the Legal Assistance Centre in 2001 found that many of the
26 UNICEF, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and Behaviour (KAPB) Study in Namibia: Key Findings, UNICEF, Windhoek,2006, at pages 6-7, 19. This study was based on responses from 1 000 persons in three regions (Kavango, Omahekeand Ohangwena).
27 E Iipinge and D LeBeau, Beyond Inequalities: Women in Namibia, University of Namibia and South African Researchand Documentation Centre, Windhoek and Harare, 2005, at page 36; D LeBeau, “The Economics of Sex Work:Implications for Sex Workers’ HIV Risk-taking and Legal Alternatives for Namibia,” in S LaFont and D Hubbard, eds,Unravelling Taboos, Legal Assistance Centre, Windhoek, 2007, at pages 264-65.
28 D LeBeau, “The Economics of Sex Work: Implications for Sex Workers’ HIV Risk-taking and Legal Alternatives forNamibia,” in S LaFont and D Hubbard, eds, Unravelling Taboos, Legal Assistance Centre, Windhoek, 2007, at pages263-64.
29 E Iipinge and D LeBeau, Beyond Inequalities: Women in Namibia, University of Namibia and South African Researchand Documentation Centre, Windhoek and Harare, 2005, at page 36; D LeBeau, From Corridors of Mobility to Corridors of Hope: Mapping the Link between Mobility and HIV Vulnerability in Namibia, Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR)and International Organization for Migration (IOM), Johannesburg, 2006.
30 Dr ME Terry et al, “Discussion Document on Child Labour in Namibia”, Ministry of Labour and Child Welfare, Windhoek,March 2007, at page 40.
12 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
adults interviewed had entered into sex work while they were stillchildren, often as a result of financial hardship or following on theirown experiences of sexual abuse.31 A study which is still underwayas of mid-2007 is exploring preliminary information that Namibianchildren are possibly being trafficked out of the country for com-mercial sex work overseas.32
Other forms of exploitative child labour are also problematic.Only small numbers of children have been identified in illegalemployment, but it is sometimes difficult to draw the line betweenacceptable and unacceptable child labour in the family home. Theburden of household tasks appears to be having a negative impacton school attendance, especially in households affected by extremepoverty or where children must take on the chores of sick familymembers.33 There is also evidence that small numbers of childrenare being trafficked within Namibia, and into Namibia from Angolaand Zambia, for domestic work, child-minding, agricultural work,charcoal production, road construction and (in rare cases) commer-cial sex work.34
The nexus of poverty, violence and abuse contributes to the existenceof children on the street. There is no national data on this phenom-enon, although it was estimated in 2007 that there are about 400street children in Windhoek alone. Some beg, while others performsmall services for money, and it is suspected that some are involvedin commercial sex work or theft.35
More generally, crime committed by juveniles is a growing prob-lem. For example, a study of rape published in 2006 found that 13%of the perpetrators in a sample of about 400 police dockets were boysunder age 18.36 A recent survey of 124 children being held in prisonsand police cells found that the top most common crimes perpetratedby these children were rape, housebreaking, various forms of theftand murder. It has been estimated that 10-30% of young offendersare coerced into crime by adults or older children.37
31 Legal Assistance Centre, Whose Body Is It? Commercial Sex Work and the Law, Legal Assistance Centre, Windhoek, 2002, at pages 96-100, 102-07.
32 John Grobler, preliminary information from research for forthcoming studyon trafficking of women and children in Namibia, Institute for SecurityStudies, Cape Town, South Africa.
33 Dr ME Terry et al, “Discussion Document on Child Labour in Namibia”,Ministry of Labour and Child Welfare, Windhoek, March 2007, at pagesix-x.
34 Id at pages xi-xii, 39-40.35 Id at page 26.36 Legal Assistance Centre, Rape in Namibia (Full Report), Legal Assistance
Centre, Windhoek, 2006, at page 179.37 Dr ME Terry et al, “Discussion Document on Child Labour in Namibia”,
Ministry of Labour and Child Welfare, Windhoek, March 2007, at pages35-36.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 13
14 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
4. Multi-sectoral reponses to the OVC crisis
4.1 The OVC Permanent Task Force
The multi-sectoral OVC Permanent Task Force was established by Cabinet Directive in the wake of thefirst OVC National Conference held in May 2001. This Task Force is chaired by the Ministry of GenderEquality and Child Welfare and includes broad government and non-government representation. Itsresponsibilities are:
to advise on the development of a National Plan of Action for OVCto co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of the National Plan of Action for OVCto assist the MGECW on the development of guidelines for the implementation of the NationalOVC Policyto provide advice on the best practices and regulations for interventions on OVCto provide a platform for information sharing between all relevant stakeholders at a national levelto meet quarterly to discuss current and emerging issues on OVC and advise the MGECW onappropriate strategiesto submit annual reports to the Permanent Secretary of the MGECW.
There are also Regional OVC Forums in all 13 regions. These groups work together with the RegionalAIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs) which have been established in all 13 regions of thecountry and have full-time Regional AIDS Coordinators.
4.2 Government initiatives
The government’s response to OVC is primarily through four key government ministries: the Ministry ofGender Equality and Child Welfare as the lead ministry; the Ministry of Health and Social Services,the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Safety and Security.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare provides child welfare grants to OVC themselvesand to families caring for OVC. Coverage of these grants has increased enormously in recent years,with the increase in applications handled by the Ministry going from some 28 000 children in 2004 to76 000 children in September 2007. It is also appointing Community Childcare Workers at constituencylevel to provide psychosocial support, activate communities, refer cases to social workers and registerchildren for social grants. It is responsible for attending to children in need of care or protection, andfor removing them from the home environment and placing them in alternative care where necessary.This Ministry also provides monthly subsidies to children’s homes and places of safety. It has establishedCommunity Liaison Officers in support of Early Childhood Development, OVC and income generationin all regions. The Ministry has also has set up various centres, including eight multi-purpose centres andseveral recreation and after-school centres, which serve as bases for addressing the needs of women andvulnerable children in seven different regions. For example, the multi-purpose centres accommodatecommunity members who are engaged in income-generation projects as well as serving as venues forrecreational and educational activities for OVC. The recreational and after-school centres offer supportfor children in the form of help with homework, soup kitchens, sports activities and training in computerskills. Some of the centres also offer income-generation projects for youth and their parents.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is responsible for the provision of general health servicesincluding immunisation, treatment and care. The provision of medication for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and the treatment HIV and AIDS, falls under this Ministry. This Ministryalso coordinates home-based care programmes, although most of the services at community level areprovided by non-governmental and faith-based organisations.
In addition to its general responsibility for education, the Ministry of Education runs a school feedingprogramme. In 2006, almost 110 000 OVC were receiving nutritional support through the educationsystem.38
An international NGO in partnership with the Ministry trains school boards to institute networks withinthe community (known as Circles of Support) to provide different services for OVC, resulting in Kid’sClubs, the sewing of affordable school uniforms, and community feeding schemes.
38 Republic of Namibia, “Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP): Planning for a Learning Nation,Programme Document – Phase I (2006 -2011)”, Government of the Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, February 2007, atpage 152.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 15
The Ministry of Safety and Security is responsible for theWoman and Child Protection Units in all regions which dealwith criminal abuse against women and children. There arepresently 15 units in 13 regions, whose purpose is to provideprotection and support to women and children who have beenabused.
In addition, the Ministry of Justice, working in conjunction withthe Ministry of Safety and Security and the Ministry of GenderEquality and Child Welfare, deals with young offenders, fostercare placements and adoptions, and the Ministry of Labour andSocial Welfare is in the process of investigating and addressingchild labour.
There are also many efforts being undertaken by a range ofnon-governmental organisations, faith-based organisationsand community-based groups which are making sustainedand substantial attempts to address the needs of OVC. Thesenon-governmental initiatives include feeding programmes, edu-cational support, home-based care and psychosocial support.
However, the current interventions are not yet sufficient toensure that OVC grow up with the love, protection and carethey need. Despite the excellent progress that has been madein scaling up the response to OVC by government and by non-governmental organisations, the demands for services are stilloutstripping the supply. The National Plan of Action is designedto intensify and expand support and assistance to OVC.
4.3 Time frame
The goal is to complete all of the activities in the Plan of Actionproject by the end of 2010. Specific time frames have notbeen identified for individual activities, as many of them areoverlapping and inter-related. If any of the activities in the Plan ofAction cannot be completed by the target date, the governmentwill assess the obstacles identified through the monitoring andevaluation process to determine a way forward.
4.4 Costing
Budget implications were considered for the Plan of Action;the rounded budget totals were N$2 092 million (or US$299million) for activities from 2006-2010. Details of the budgetcan be found in Volume 2, but each strategic area coveredbelow has a summary budget total.
16 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
5. TheNationalPlanofAction
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 17
18 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
(1) RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONNamibia has a strong Constitutional backdropfor the fulfilment of children’s rights. Article 10 ofthe Constitution ensures equality and freedomfrom discrimination, whilst Article 14 highlightsthe family as the natural and fundamental groupunit of society, entitled to protection by societyand the State. Article 15 guarantees children theright to a name and nationality and the right toknow and be cared for by their parents, subjectto legislation enacted in the best interests ofthe child, and also provides protection againstexploitative child labour practices. Article 20provides for the right to free, compulsory,primary education. In terms of Article 95(j), the State is obliged to promote and maintain the welfare of thepeople by adopting policies aimed at raising and maintaining an acceptable level of nutrition and standardof living of the Namibian people, and at improving public health.
Namibia is party to the following international conventions with relevance for children, and particularlyin some cases the girl child:
Convention on the Rights of the Child (plus the Optional Protocols on the Involvement of Childrenin Armed Conflict and the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography)African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildILO Convention 138 concerning Minimum AgeILO Convention 182 on the Prohibition and Immediate Elimination of the Worst Forms of ChildLabourProtocol to the Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime to Prevent, Suppress andPunish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and ChildrenConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenProtocol to the African Charter for Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.
However, Namibia is not yet party to several important international conventions pertaining to children,in particular the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of IntercountryAdoption and the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
The main legislation governing child protection is the Children’s Act 33 of 1960, inherited from theRepublic of South Africa at independence.
Since independence, Namibia has enacted several laws which improve protection for OVC in variousways. The Combating of Rape Act 2000 provides a stronger framework for addressing sexual abuse,and gives increased protection to young children, both girls and boys. The Combating of DomesticViolence Act 2003 provides remedies in cases of broadly-defined acts and threats of domestic violence,and specifically covers violence against, or in the presence of, children. The Maintenance Act 2003assists children by improving the system whereby caregivers (including extended family members oreven unrelated caregivers) can obtain maintenance for children from absent parents.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 19
In 2006 Parliament passed a Children’s Status Act which removes discrimination against childrenborn outside marriage (particularly in the area of inheritance), and provides new rules for parentalcustody and access in respect of such children. This new Act also assists orphans by providing asimple, cost-free procedure for appointing guardians when a child’s parent or guardian has died, aswell as a simple procedure for making complaints in cases where a child’s guardian is not acting inthe best interests of the child. This is aimed at the situations where adults appear to take responsibilityfor children but are in fact motivated by a desire to get access to the child’s assets or grants intendedto assist the child. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is in the process of developingRegulations to put this Act in force.
In 2007, a new Labour Act was passed by Parliament with strengthened provisions aimed at preventingharmful forms of child labour.
Some pieces of legislation that are currently in draft form are:
The Child Care and Protection Bill, which is under preparation and is expected to replace the oldChildren's Act. This law is expected to emphasise preventative measures, and to provide morerecognition of the role of the extended family structures present in many Namibian communities.The Child Justice Bill, which would institutionalise screening and diversion programmes for youngoffenders, to provide alternatives to criminal conviction for first-time offenders accused of relativelyminor crimes.
In order to fully protect OVC, it is also necessary to move forward with law reform on surrounding familyissues, particularly those which affect the distribution of family resources – including the removal of allexisting discrimination in respect of the rights of women and children to inherit property.
Yet another rights issue involves birth certificates, which are often a pre-requisite for accessing variousforms of support. Namibia’s Demographic and Health Survey 2000 concluded that 71% of births inNamibia are registered (based on responses from mothers who could either produce birth certificatesor said that their children’s births were registered). Among the reasons given for failure to registerbirths were that it required travelling too far, the mother did not know that births must be registered,or the mother did not know where to go to register the birth.39 The Legal Assistance Centre has hadseveral recent complaints from mothers who report that they were told by government officials thatthey could not register their children’s births without the father’sidentity document – although the Births, Marriages and DeathsRegistration Act 81 of 1963 actually allows mothers to registera child’s birth without giving any information about the child’sfather, in which case no one will be named as the child’s father onthe birth certificate.40 This is an example of an area where thereis a need for public information as well as clear guidance to theofficials who implement the law.
The enactment of new legislation is only the first stage in improvingchild rights and protection, as effective implementation is probablythe key challenge. Service providers must be trained and monitored,and there is a need to ensure that adequate structures and humanresources are available to put improved laws into action.
39 Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2000, Ministry of Health and SocialServices, Windhoek, at page 128.
40 Information from the Legal Assistance Centre, 2007.
20 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
RIGHTS AND PROTECTION:Plan of Action – N$27.9 million
Objective: A framework for protecting and promoting the well-being of all OVC is in place, ensuringthat the rights of all OVC and their caregivers are protected, respected and fulfilled.
Target: All children have access to protection services by 2010.
ACTIVITY 1.1Popularise the National Policy on OVC and the Plan of Action for OVC, by various means including(a) posters and pamphlets in various languages (b) radio broadcasts on the various language services(c) video productions on OVC which can be shown on NBC or at community meetings (d) discussionsof OVC issues on NBC television programmes such as Talk of the Nation and Good Morning Namibia and (e) awareness-raising amongst church leaders.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceOVC ForumsNamibian Broadcasting CorporationMinistry of EducationCouncil of Churches in Namibia
ACTIVITY 1.2Assess the need to adopt international and regional conventions aimed at the protection of children towhich Namibia is not already a party, and adopt additional conventions as necessary.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of JusticeMinistry of Foreign AffairsOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance CentreNational Assembly Parliamentary Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 21
ACTIVITY 1.3 Finalise and enact all relevant draft legislation on children, including the Children’s Status Act, the ChildCare and Protection Act and the Child Justice Act, and incorporate the criteria for all social welfare grantsaimed at OVC into appropriate legislation.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Justice / Office of the Prosecutor GeneralMinistry of Safety and Security / Woman and Child Protection UnitsMinistry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural DevelopmentOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance CentreTraditional Authorities
ACTIVITY 1.4Review and reform as necessary existing laws which affect the distribution of family resources, includingthe laws on inheritance, registration of customary marriage, customary and civil divorce proceedings,marital property rights and cohabitation.
Leading agenciesLaw Reform and Development Commission (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of JusticeOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 1.5 Provide detailed and intensified training on all existing and new child- and family-related laws forimplementing officials including judges and magistrates, court clerks and interpreters, prosecutors,police, officials in the Master’s Office, social workers and other key service providers.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Justice / Master of the High CourtMinistry of Safety and SecurityTraditional AuthoritiesLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 1.6Compile and disseminate in popular form information for caregivers, OVC and the public on all newchild- and family-related laws – including information on inheritance, marital property issues, how torequest maintenance from a deceased estate and how to access social welfare grants – by various meansincluding (a) simple educational material in various languages (b) radio broadcasts on the variouslanguage services (c) video productions on OVC which can be shown on NBC or at communitymeetings and (d) workshops for non-governmental organisations and church and community leaders.
22 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Justice / Master of the High CourtMinistry of Information and BroadcastingOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 1.7 Develop and implement media campaigns (including pamphlets, videos, radio programmes, televisionprogrammes and posters) addressing (a) the elimination of discrimination against OVC, including theissue of stigma and discrimination in respect of HIV and AIDS (b) the need to eliminate all forms ofviolence against children and (c) encouraging parents to provide for their children after their death bymeans of written wills.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Information and BroadcastingMinistry of Justice / Master of the High CourtOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 1.8Increase the effectiveness of Woman and Child Protection Units in protecting children by amongst otherthings (a) ensuring that they have proper human and material resources (including increased staff, addi-tional computers and vehicles and suitable office accommodation) and intensified training for all staff(b) strengthening linkages between the Units and communities through the establishment of CommunityProtection Groups and (c) giving priority in police investigation, prosecution and court rolls to casesinvolving children.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Safety and Security (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of Health and Social ServicesMinistry of Justice / Office of the Prosecutor-GeneralJudge-President of the High Court
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 23
ACTIVITY 1.9 Mobilise traditional leaders to play a more proactive role in protecting women and children against property-grabbing, by providing training workshops for traditional leaders on children’s rights and inheritance issues.
Leading agencies Ministry of Lands and Resettlement (lead)Council of Traditional LeadersMinistry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of JusticeLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 1.10 Create child rights information corners in all schools, hospitals and clinics, with accessible informationabout relevant policies, laws and support services in appropriate languages for the geographical area.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceMinistry of EducationMinistry of Health and Social Services
ACTIVITY 1.11Ensure that OVC and their caregivers can obtain birth certificates, identity documents, death certificates,guardianship certificates and any other documentation necessary to facilitate access to state assistancein a timely manner, by various means including (a) establishing birth registration facilities in hospitals(b) conducting a public campaign to reach children for late birth registration and (c) identifying andacting on bottlenecks in respect of other documentation.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Home Affairs and Immigration (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of justice / Master of the High CourtOVC Permanent Task ForceTraditional Authorities
ACTIVITY 1.12Encourage children’s participation in OVC issues by various means including (a) supporting and expandingon initiatives such as the Children’s Parliament to ensure that children have an effective voice in issuesaffecting them, by arranging regular regional and national forums where children can give input on OVCissues and (b) ensuring that children’s authentic and ethically-obtained opinions and contributions aretaken into account in the planning and implementation of each activity in the Plan of Action.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of EducationMinistry of Youth, National Service, Sport and CultureNational AssemblyRegional CouncilsOVC Permanent Task Force
(2) EDUCATIONAs primary education is compulsory inNamibia,41 primary school enrolment isgenerally very high and well-balancedbetween boys and girls. However enrol-ment in secondary grades is more prob-lematic.
In 2005, net primary school enrolmentwas at 93.6% (95.4% for females and91.7% for males), but net secondaryschool enrolment dropped to 49.5%(54.1% for females and 44.8% formales).42 Female learners have higherpromotion rates and lower repetition rates up to Grade 6, while the opposite is true for the highergrades. Yet early school leaving is overall a greater problem amongst boys than girls.43
The most recent statistics indicate that Namibia is making great strides in ensuring that OVC attendschool. The 2000 Demographic and Health Survey indicated that 83% of double orphans of primaryschool age were attending school, as compared to 90% of non-orphans.
Primary education is, in theory, free to those who cannot afford it.44 The current regulations require thatlearners who are orphans must be fully exempt from paying contributions to the school developmentfund if there is proof that there is no provision for the learner’s education.45 School boards are alsoauthorised to accept contributions in kind, such as livestock or services to the school, where parentsare unable to make a financial contribution – although this often proves to be impractical.46
Some OVC are excluded from schooling because they cannot pay hostel boarding fees. The nationaleducation regulations specifically mention orphans who are not receiving proper guardianship at theirhomes and several other categories of vulnerable children, as categories of children eligible for hostelaccommodation.47 The Education Act and the regulations also provide a procedure for applying forexemption from hostel fees,48 but this does not always serve the purpose in practice.
41 Article 20 of the Constitution is supported by section 53(1) of the Education Act 16 of 2001, which provides that schoolattendance is compulsory for every child from the beginning of the year in which the child attains the age of 7 years, untilthe day the child completes primary education before reaching the age of 16 years or the last school day of the year inwhich the child reaches the age of 16 years.
42 Education Management Information System, Education Statistics 2005, Ministry of Education, Windhoek, Table 27.43 Id, Tables 30 and 32.44 Article 38(1) of the Education Act 16 of 2001 provides that “All tuition provided for primary and special education in
state schools, including all school books, educational materials and other related requisites, must be provided free ofcharge to learners until the seventh grade, or until the age of 16 years, whichever occurs first.”
45 Government Notice 187 of 2002 (Government Gazette 2841), Regulation 11(4).46 Id, Regulation 11(6).47 Id, Regulation 42(3). Other categories of children mentioned include children with disabilities which warrant hostel accom-
modation, children who are being neglected or abused at their homes and children who live in unsafe conditions.48 Education Act 16 of 2001, section 39; Government Notice 187 of 2002 (Government Gazette 2841), Regulation 42(6),
One problem for some orphans my be that the regulation requires that the “parent” apply for the exemption fromboarding fees.
24 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Despite the evident intentions to ensure that OVC are not deprived of schooling because of theirfinancial position, in practice there are still some OVC who do not attend school either because theycannot afford the school development fund contribution, the boarding fees or the school uniform orbecause they are required to stay at home to care for sick parents or siblings. In practice, the exemptionprocedure for orphans and poor children is rarely used due to lack of awareness.49
Schooling may be one of the most important interventions for OVC. Many studies have shown thatschooling provides a degree of protection from the risk of HIV infection. In addition, schools providechildren with the knowledge and skills to support themselves in the future without resorting to high-riskactivities such as transactional sex.
Schools help to integrate OVC into society and can serve as a watchdog and protection service forvulnerable children. Schools also provide a base for improving nutrition amongst OVC. Feeling hungryand being unable to concentrate at school seem to be common experiences for orphans and vulnerablechildren:
“…I often make oshikundu (millet drink) before I go to sleep. But when I wake up, somebody drunk it and then I go to school without breakfast. Sometimes you just sit like this (shelays her head on her arms), it looks like you are sleeping, and then you don’t listen at all. Sometimes you are looking at the teacher but you don’t hear anything, because your mind is not in the class, you are just thinking about food. Sometimes the teacher asks, “Do you understand?” Then I say, “Yes,” but I didn’t hear anything.50
Although the school feeding programme is already reaching almost 110 000 children,51 a majordrawback is the fact that it is operational only on weekdays during school terms. The supply anddelivery of food is contracted out, and parents or school community members prepare the food andreceive some meals in return.52
49 T Godana and N Kalili, “Study to Cost School Development Fund Exemptions”, Namibia Economic Policy ResearchUnit (NEPRU), Windhoek, 2003, at pages 38 and 45. Only 2% of the parents in this survey had obtained exemptionsfrom school development fund contributions.
50 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 17.
51 Republic of Namibia, “Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP): Planning for a Learning Nation,Programme Document – Phase I (2006 -2011)”, Government of the Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, February 2007, atpage 152.
52 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 6.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 25
All primary and secondary schools implement HIV and AIDS life-skills programmes which provideyoung people with facts about sexual health and reproduction, pregnancy and sexually-transmittedinfections including HIV and AIDS, as well as attempting to improve their communication skills. Theseare supported by extracurricular programmes, namely Windows of Hope (primary school studentsaged 8-13), My Future My Choice (secondary school students aged 14-18), and Let’s Talk (out-of-school youth and parents).53 There are also many civil society organisations that target schools withprogrammes (such as the Stepping Stones and True Love Waits programmes; Lifeline/Childline’sFeeling Yes, Feeling No programme for pre-primary and junior primary classes; the Early ChildhoodDevelopment Project; Development Aid from People to People – Namibia’s Hope Youth Programme;and Ombetja Yehinga Organisation’s school programmes and clubs in selected regions with innovativecultural programmes that incorporate dance, music and fashion).
Another issue of relevance to OVC is the current educational policy on teen pregnancy. The currentofficial policy is in the form of “temporary guidelines” issued in 2001, but not yet replaced by a morepermanent policy. These guidelines state that a pregnant schoolgirl should be allowed to attend regularclasses at least until her pregnancy is visibly clear, and then allowed to return to normal schooling afterspending at least a year with the baby. The same conditions are supposed to apply to any schoolboywho is held responsible for a schoolgirl’s pregnancy, but this aspect of the policy is obviously harderto enforce.54 This is an area where policy re-examination and clarification would be useful, if girls areto be successfully encouraged to achieve the highest possible levels of education.
53 Ministry of Health and Social Services, “Follow-up to the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS”, Namibia Country Report 2005, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Windhoek, December 2005.
54 Ministry of Education, “Circular Formal Education 5/2001”.
26 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 27
EDUCATION:Plan of Action – N$347.9 million
Objective: All OVC of school-going age attend school and are not deterred from full participation bylack of financial means, material or psychosocial need, stigma, discrimination or any other constraints,and provide appropriate educational opportunities for out-of-school OVC.
Target: Equal proportions of OVC versus non-OVC aged 16-17 years have completed Grade 10 by2010.
ACTIVITY 2.1 Assist and support the Ministry of Education in finalising, implementing, disseminating and monitoringthe National Education Sector Policy for Orphans and other Vulnerable Children in Namibia, particularlywhere it overlaps with the activities in this Plan of Action.
Leading agencies Ministry of Education (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task ForceOVF Forums
ACTIVITY 2.2 Complete initial registration of OVC of school-going age and OVC in schools, ensure that a workablesystem is in place for regular updating of this information, compare the lists annually and target any OVCof school-going age who is not in school for the necessary support and assistance to enable enrolment,or for appropriate alternative assistance.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Education (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task ForceOVC Forums
ACTIVITY 2.3Ensure adequate provision of meals to OVC attending schools and Early Childhood Development Centresby revising guidelines for school feeding programme and increasing numbers of OVC benefiting from theschool feeding programme.
Leading agencies Ministry of Education (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareCommunity-based partners
ACTIVITY 2.4Develop and implement a strategy for feeding of OVC who are most in need of food during weekendsand holidays.
Leading agenciesOVC Permanent Task Force (lead)OVC ForumsVarious non-governmental partnersTraditional Authorities
ACTIVITY 2.5 Ensure that OVC who cannot afford the costs of schooling are exempted from all such costs, by (a) dis-seminating accessible information nationwide on exemptions from school fees, hostel fees, examinationfees, contributions to school development funds and other school-related expenses to children and theircaregivers (b) monitoring and enforcing implementation of the regulations on exemptions by schoolsnationwide (c) activating the Education Development Fund to reimburse schools which provide exemp-tions from contributions to school development funds and (d) putting in place a plan for exempting OVCfrom uniforms, or for providing uniforms to OVC free or at reduced cost.
Leading agencies Ministry of Education (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 2.6 Strengthen counselling, care and support services for OVC in all educational institutions, by (a) continu-ing and expanding pre-service and in-service training on OVC care for education personnel includingprincipals, hostel superintendents, teachers and school board members and (b) establishing HIV andAIDS committees and functional counselling support groups at each school.
Leading agencies Ministry of Education (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
28 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
ACTIVITY 2.7Expand Early Childhood Development services for OVC, by (a) identifying children who are in most needof Early Childhood Development services and removing obstacles to their participation (b) expandingEarly Childhood Development facilities as necessary to accommodate such children as necessary and(c) providing training to Early Childhood Development teachers and caregivers to enable them tounderstand and address the needs of all children.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Health and Social ServicesMinistry of EducationOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 2.8 Ensure OVC have priority access to OVC-friendly hostels regardless of their ability to pay hostel fees,by (a) disseminating information to the public on procedures for obtaining exemptions from hostel fees andensuring that schools implement the exemption process correctly (b) equipping hostel facilities with thenecessary human and material resources to provide an acceptable standard of security, safety and hygieneand (c) providing information and training to hostel staff and their supervisors on how to understand andaddress the needs of all children.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Education (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareFaith-based organisations / Community-run hostelsOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 2.9 Support multi-purpose centres to cater for needs of out-of-school OVC, by (a) identifying OVC whomight benefit from the services offered at the multi-purpose centres (b) targeting these OVC forinformation about the available services and (c) providing training to the persons offering the servicesto enable them to understand and address the needs of all children.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and CultureOVC Permanent Task Force
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 29
ACTIVITY 2.10 Target all children attending school, including OVC, with appro-priate life-skills training programmes (such as the Windows of Hopeand My Future My Choice programmes and the Health-PromotingSchool Initiative) and increase the effectiveness of such programmes,by amongst other things (a) incorporating them into the school rou-tine at all schools (b) providing all peer education initiatives withsupport from an appropriately-trained teacher (c) introducing moreexperiential learning to achieve greater impact on the students and(d) ensuring that such programmes address alcohol use and abuse.
Leading agencies Ministry of Education (lead)Ministry of Health and Social ServicesOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 2.11 Target OVC not attending school for appropriate basic educationand skills training programmes.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture (lead)Ministry of EducationMinistry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareNamibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL)Vocational Training CentresCommunity Skills Development CentresVarious non-governmental partners
30 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 31
(3) CARE AND SUPPORT
Basic family units and extended familiesremain the primary caregivers to the vastmajority of OVC, but their human and finan-cial resources are often stretched beyondcapacity. Interventions must seek to give eco-nomic possibilities to poor families caring forchildren and to improve their access to serv-ices. The child welfare grants, school feed-ing schemes and various other interventionstargeting food security are the main channelsfor this. Income-generating programmes andskills training are a complementary strategy.
OVC and their caregivers have access to assistance in the form of maintenance and foster grants, andin some cases to disability grants. The current criteria and practices were inherited by the Ministry ofGender Equality and Child Welfare from the Ministry of Health and Social Services in 2004. The grantcriteria are based on regulations issued in terms of the Children’s Act 33 of 1960, which is reviewedby the Ministry from time to time.
In 2007, the criteria for a maintenance grant require that the application be made by a parent in asituation where the other parent is:
deceased (as proved by a death certificate)in prison for longer than six months (as proved by a notice of imprisonment) orin receipt of an old-age pension or disability grant.
The household income prior to the grant must be less than N$1 000 per month. The applicant mustalso provide each child’s birth certificate (or confirmation of birth or baptism card) and school reportsif the child is attending school. The grant is N$200 for the first child and N$100 for subsequent children,up to a maximum of six children per household.
The current criteria exclude some of the more vulnerable groups of OVC:
children in situations where both parents are alive are unable to contribute sufficient maintenancebecause they are unemployed and without assetsdouble orphans (although those who have lost both parents may qualify for a foster grant if theyare in foster care)child-headed householdschildren with one or two parents who are untraceablechildren in households with an income of more than N$1 000/month, which may have to beshared amongst large numbers of dependantschildren who have six other siblings already receiving a maintenance grant.
Therefore, the criteria need to be reassessed, revised and embodied in law or regulations.
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Double orphans and other children in need of care can be placed with a foster parent in terms of theChildren’s Act. However, such placements take a considerable amount of time to finalise as they requirea detailed assessment by a social worker followed by a court hearing with a magistrate. Foster grantsare N$200 for the first child and N$100 for subsequent children. The regulatory framework for fosterparents is also in need of re-examination and revision.
Disabled children are eligible for special maintenance grants of N$200/month after a medical certificateand a background report from a social worker has been completed.
There is also provision for the payment of N$10 per child per day as a “place of safety” allowance toan individual or an institution which has taken in children on a short-term, temporary basis.
In recent years, the coverage of these grants has increased dramatically as a result of a two-fold strategy– an intensive information campaign so that many more people realised that they were eligible forthese grants, accompanied by the recruitment of Community Childcare Workers in each constituencyto augment the Ministry’s ability to provide psychosocial support and to process application forms.55
However, access to these grants, though drastically improved, is still cumbersome and difficult especiallyfor poor, isolated families, sometimes because of a lack of information about what assistance is availableor how to access such assistance. A particular problem for some families is acquiring certified copies ofall the required documents for grant applications. Another problem is that the verification of documentsis difficult and time-consuming.56
Financial support is not the only kind of support needed. Thetrauma of losing a parent, perhaps of serial loss of caregivers,and of emotional and material insecurity, takes its toll on chil-dren. A number of children interviewed for the RAAAP studyreported bouts of crying and feelings of estrangement with littleopportunity for fun, recreation, a sympathetic adult listener orpeer support:
“When I didn’t have anybody, I cried and cried. Then I felt better.” (Girl, aged 15.)
“I beat my fist against a wall until it hurt really badly and then I stop. It feels good to feel the pain in my hand because it is not bad as the pain in my heart.”(Boy, aged 17.)
“I once got so angry, I broke a window. But then my hand got all cut and I felt even worse.” (Boy, aged14.)57
55 A Ashby, D Yates, D Hubbard & E Mkusa, “A Review and Plan to ensure the systematic transition of OVC from FoodAssistance to Government Grant”, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare / World Food Programme OVC FoodSupport Programme, September 2006.
56 Ibid.57 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable
Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 17.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 33
Children also expressed their desire for more time to spend havingfun with friends as an antidote to hardship and stress. Caring forsick relatives and for other siblings reportedly took children awayfrom sports and other recreational activities and friends.
“I didn’t have time to visit my friends because I had to take care of my father… It was hard because I wanted to be with my friends but I knew that I had to do this because my father was sick and he needed me.” (Boy, aged 18.)
“Last year I had to stay away from my friends in order to care for my Mom. I had to clean the house and wash her.” (Girl, aged 14, in Katutura.)
Although assisting in the household, caring for sick relatives,and doing things for oneself are all important aspects of buildingresilience, there needs to be a balance so that children can alsoexperience fun, nurturing and support.58
Current interventions are addressing such emotional needs byproviding adult champions for OVC in the form of youth mentors,home-visitors, lay counsellors, camp leaders, school counsellorsand other supportive persons. Associated material support (such as food, blankets and clothes) alsohelps keep families intact and provides comfort to vulnerable children. The provision of recreational,sporting, cultural and religious activities is another means of integrating isolated children and providinga platform to address a variety of needs. It has been estimated that about 15 000 OVC were receivingsome form of psychosocial support in 2006.59
Children can be placed at risk of exploitation, abuse or neglect by caretakers who are unavailable orunable to cope because of the strains of the situation. Both adult caregivers and OVC need supportfrom social networks, including educational institutions, churches and other civil society organisationsto cope with the challenges of their circumstances.
Churches, faith-based organisations, home-based caregivers, and school-related projects are primaryproviders of support to OVC and their caregivers. Faith-based organisations are playing an ever-increasingrole in supporting families with counselling as well as a few basic material needs.
58 Id at page 59.59 Republic of Namibia, “Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP): Planning for a Learning
Nation, Programme Document – Phase I (2006 -2011)”, Government of the Republic of Namibia, Windhoek, February2007, at page 152.
Care and Support:Plan of Action – N$1 248 million
Objective: The basic needs of all OVC are met, including adult care and supervision, access to socialservices and psychosocial support.
Target: 50% of all registered OVC receive any external support (economic, home-based care, psycho-social and education) by 2010.
ACTIVITY 3.1 Review and revise social welfare grant criteria and procedures to ensure that extended family or personscaring for OVC can access appropriate social assistance quickly and that the neediest OVC are notexcluded, and enact legislation or regulations embodying the revised grant criteria and procedures toprovide a high degree of transparency, certainty and clarity.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of JusticeLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 3.2 Compile and disseminate in popular form information for caregivers, OVC and the public on how toaccess child welfare grants, by various means including (a) posters and pamphlets in various languages(b) radio broadcasts on the various language services and (c) video productions which can be shownon NBC or at community meetings.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Information and BroadcastingOVC Permanent Task ForceLegal Assistance Centre
ACTIVITY 3.3Strengthen and expand training for home-based caregivers in methods of psychosocial support, parentalskills, home-caring practices and children’s rights, to enable them to address the needs of OVC moreeffectively both before and after the death of a parent or caregiver.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task Force
34 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
ACTIVITY 3.4Register all homes and shelters caring for OVC; streamline the registration process, developing differentcategories if necessary to serve the best interests of OVC; and make regular supervisory visits to registeredplaces of care to assess the standard of care and what forms of support or intervention are needed.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 3.5Train caregivers in homes and places of safety to ensure appropriate levels of care, and assess needsfor greater outreach to vulnerable families.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Health and Social ServicesOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 3.6Develop and adopt mechanisms to ensure that children’s opinions and wishes are expressed and takeninto consideration when looking at care options.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 3.7Provide community groups (including Circles of Support, school boards, and church groups) with training,technical assistance and financing to increase their capacity to assist OVC and affected families.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Regional AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs)Constituency AIDS Coordinating Committees (CACOCs)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 3.8Encourage families caring for OVC to keep siblings together or at least to maintain regular contact betweensiblings.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceTraditional Authorities
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 35
36 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
ACTIVITY 3.9 Expand programmes in small and micro enterprise and skills training enabling families headed bychildren or young adults, and families with large numbers of OVC, to generate income.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of EducationKatutura Youth Enterprise Centre (KAYEC)Vocational Training CentresCommunity Skills Development CentresVarious non-governmental partners
ACTIVITY 3.10 Hold workshops for organisations providing psychosocial support through camps, Kids Clubs andother after-school programmes to share expertise, learning, materials and best practices.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of EducationMinistry of Youth, National Service, Sport and CultureOVC Permanent Task Force
Activity 3.11 Realign national drought relief programme, emergency food assistance, food for work, agriculturalextension work and other programmes so that families caring for OVC are prioritised.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareEmergency Management Unit, Office of the Prime MinisterOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 3.12Strengthen community capacities to provide care and support to OVC, by various means including(a) piloting the concept of central “Village Care Points” where OVC can access a range of services (b)equipping people at these Village Care Points with the knowledge to provide a full range of assistanceto OVC (c) building on good practices from these pilot initiatives and (d) sensitising leaders at theregional level to prepare and implement regional work plans for OVC.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 37
(4) HEALTH AND NUTRITION
As of mid-2007, there is little health and nutritiondata available which is specific to OVC, but wecan look at the overall picture for children. In2005, Namibia’s infant mortality rate was 46 per1 000 live births, while the under-five mortalityrate per 1000 live births stood at 62. On both ofthese indictors, Namibia’s rates were amongstthe best in all the African countries monitored bythe World Health Organisation.60
The majority of Namibian babies are breastfed frombirth, but supplemental feeding tends to begin veryearly, which can lead to children being underweightfor their age. Looking at nutritional indicators, in2000 one-quarter of Namibian children under fivewere short or underweight for their age, or stunted(suffering from chronic malnutrition). About 9%of children under age 5 were wasted (acutely mal-nourished), and 2% were severely wasted, whichcan lead to an elevated risk of death. These indi-cators of malnutrition were higher for children notliving in the same households with their mothers,illustrating the increased vulnerability of OVC.61
On the surface, immunisation rates in Namibia aregood, with many regions having 80% coverage,but this does not reflect the vast regional disparitiesand those regions that have very low coverage.
Long distances between health care centres in ruralareas and lack of access to transport often meanthat OVC and their caregivers find it difficult toaccess primary health care.62
Important interventions include the Preventionof Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT)programme of the Ministry of Health and SocialServices (piloted in 2002). By March 2006, 165health facilities were providing PMTCT services,including all 34 district hospitals plus 131 health
60 World Health Organisation Statistical Information System, http://www.who.int/whosis/.61 Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia Demographic and Health Survey 2000, Ministry of Health and Social
Services, Windhoek, at pages 143-146, 150-154.62 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable
Children, Namibia, July 2004, at page 37.
38 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
centres and clinics, with the result that PMTCT services were available to 68% of pregnant women seekingantenatal care nationwide. However, one problem is that in 2006, 35% of pregnant women on average stilldid not know their HIV status. If a woman does not seek antenatal care before delivery or does not deliverin a hospital, she will not have access to PMTCT – which will increase her chances of passing HIV to herbaby, in turn increasing that baby’s vulnerability.
Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) is available free of charge through the state health care system. As of31 March 2007, ART was available at 43 sites, including all 34 district hospitals. Namibia has alreadyexceeded its original national target of having 30 000 people on ART by 2008, achieving this goalby December 2006.63 This treatment is important to the topic of OVC because it is the best hope forkeeping HIV-positive parents alive and minimising the number of orphans in Namibia.
Home-based care is an important component of Namibia’s response to HIV and other chronic diseases,and one way of reducing the care burden experienced by OVC. Almost 40 000 people were receivinghome-based care as of March 2006, with the highest number being in the Oshana region. An estimated64% of the beneficiaries of home-based care were female. The Ministry of Health and Social Servicesis responsible for coordinating this response, in close coordination with the Namibia Network of AIDSOrganisations (NANASO). However, care and support services at community and household level forpeople infected and/or affected by HIV and AIDS are largely provided through civil society organisations.As of 2006, the faith-based group Almighty Father Protect our Nation against the Disease AIDS(Tkmoams) was the largest provider of home-based care services in Namibia with 17 820 clients, mainlyin the four northern regions.64 Another key provider was Catholic AIDS Action, with some 1 500 trainedvolunteers assisting more than 4 000 clients and 18 500 orphans. Despite these admirable efforts, thereis still insufficient coverage of home-based care services across the country.
The government acknowledges the strong leadership role civil society and private sector organisationsplay in providing home-based family care and psychosocial support to OVC and other vulnerable popu-lations in the country. The Regional and Constituency AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs andCACOCs) play an important role in facilitating referrals to home-based care, providing volunteers withrelevant information and providing financial support and training. A Home-Based Care Forum has alsobeen established in the northern regions of the country to serve as a coordinating mechanism amongstvarious community-based service providers. Volunteers work within the framework of the CommunityBased Health Care Policy and National HIV/AIDS Policy on Community Volunteers and Home BasedCare Programmes.65 The work of volunteers in this regard is vital and yet many volunteers are forced tostop their work when they themselves become too ill to help or must devote their full attention to othersin their family who are ill, or when they find full-time employment.
63 Response Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Directorate of Special Programmes, Ministry of Health and Social Services,“Draft MTP Progress Report”, 2007, Chapter 4.
64 Ibid.65 Ibid.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 39
Food security is a particular problem for OVC. In communal areas, theCommunal Land Reform Act 5 of 2002 was a large step forward in protectingwomen’s rights to communal land tenure. In terms of this law, if a husbanddies, his widow has a right to remain on the land if she wishes and is entitledto keep the land even if she re-marries. If there is no surviving spouse whenthe holder of the land right dies, then the land will be re-allocated to a childof the deceased identified by the Chief or Traditional Authority as beingthe rightful heir. There is as yet no data on the effectiveness of this law inprotecting widows and children.66 However, there is evidence that “property-grabbing” continues to take place, and the current law gives no protectionfor movable assets such as livestock and farming equipment.
A study based on a 2002 survey of 514 households in Ohangwena, 50% of which were headed bywomen, found that the deceased husband’s family had taken away cattle from 44% of widows andorphans surveyed, while 28% had lost small livestock and 41% had been deprived of farming equipment.In addition to being a direct loss of food security, the loss of livestock also takes away draught powerand a source of organic fertiliser, meaning that grain production in the affected households also falls.The study found that households affected by HIV tended to lose more property than other households.It also found that 20% of the households surveyed were fostering orphans, confirming the direct effect ofproperty-grabbing on OVC food security.67
A related health issue concerns access to clean water and acceptable sanitation. In 1990, only 57% ofthe Namibian population had access to an improved water source, whereas by 2004 that figure hadrisen to 87%. Access to improved sanitation over the same period was not so impressive, increasing from24% of the population to only 25% in 2004.68 Lack of access to such services can fall disproportionatelyon OVC, who may find themselves in a situation where the household can no longer pay municipalaccounts or who may be pressed into greater chores, such as fetching water for a household which hassuddenly increased in size.
66 The Legal Assistance Centre was in the process of conducting a study of the impact of the new law in mid-2007.67 Africa Institutional Management Services, “The impacts of HIV/AIDS on the agricultural sector and rural livelihoods
in Northern Namibia”, Integrated Support to Sustainable Development and Food Security Programme of the Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO), October 2003.
68 UNDP, Human Development Report 2006, at page 307. An improved water source includes household connections,public standpipes, boreholes, protected dug wells, protected springs and rainwater collection. At least 20 litres per personper day of this water must be available within one kilometre of a user’s dwelling to qualify for this definition. An “improvedwater source” is used as a measure internationally because access to a safe water supply cannot be adequately measuredon a global scale. “Improved sanitation” includes connection to a public sewer, a septic tank, a pour-flush latrine, a simplepit latrine or a ventilated improved pit latrine.
Alcohol abuse is recognised as a wide-spread socialproblem in Namibia, and it has been linked to violenceand abuse, as well as willingness to engage in riskybehaviour of various sorts. A 2006 study found thatabout one out of ten 10- to 14-year-olds in the surveyhad already started using alcohol, as well as about threeout of ten 15- to 24-year-olds who had on averagestarted drinking at age 15. Peer pressure was cited inboth groups as the most common reason for beginningto drink, with parental example also being a significantfactor. In both age groups, 6% of those who had triedalcohol were already drinking daily. Some 60-70% of the children and youth in these age groups had beenexposed to alcohol abuse and drunken behaviour in their own homes, and close to half had witnesseddrunken behaviour by their own parents or caregivers.69 In addition to affecting children’s health, alcoholabuse also has ramifications for their vulnerability to violence and to earlier and riskier sexual activity.
Government efforts to address alcohol abuse are being com-plemented by non-governmental organisations such as the DrugAwareness Group and the Coalition on Responsible Drinking.
Another issue of concern which is reportedly affecting the abilityof OVC to access needed medical services is the application ofthe law on fees payable at hospitals and clinics. The Hospitalsand Health Facilities Act 36 of 1994 authorises the Minister togrant exemptions for the prescribed fees for health services.70
The regulations issued in terms of this law prescribe fees forstate patients which, despite being set quite low, are still beyondthe reach of many. Although the regulations provide severalpossible categories of exemptions, none of these apply to OVCas a group or provide for fee exemptions on the straightforwardground of poverty.71 In practice, it is reported that exemptionsfrom the prescribed health service fees are granted to personswho cannot pay, but these exemptions are treated as “debts” tothe state which can prevent the persons in question from beingable to access follow-up treatment.
69 UNICEF, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and Behaviour (KAPB) Study in Namibia: Key Findings, UNICEF, Windhoek,2006, at pages 20-21.
70 Section 19 of the Hospitals and Health Facilities Act 36 of 1994 states that “the Minister may at any time in his or herdiscretion determine that a patient, or category of patients, be exempted from the payment of fees for treatment or forother services rendered at a state hospital or state health facility or be liable for payment only of such reduced fees asthe Minister may determine”. In addition, section 21 provides for the provision of emergency treatment and transportto any patient at state expense, with later reimbursement from those who are able to pay.
71 See Government Notice 43/1993 (Government Gazette 621), as amended by Government Notice 199/1995 (Govern-ment Gazette 1183) and Government Notice 12/2001 (Government Gazette 2468). Regulations concerning the classi-fication of hospitals and health facilities are contained in Government Notice 184/2001 (Government Gazette 2609).State patients are entitled in terms of the regulations to receive “essential health care which is reasonably affordable”.Fee exemptions are provided for (a) persons suffering from a “notifiable disease” (b) students who are injured duringschool activities (c) treatment associated with donations of milk, blood or organs (d) persons treated in the interests ofmedical research and training (e) treatment aimed at the prevention of the spreading of a contagious disease and (f)well baby, antenatal, post-natal, family planning and immunisation services which are part of state campaigns aimedat disease prevention or health promotion.
40 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
HEALTH AND NUTRITION:Plan of Action – N$247.6 millionObjective: OVC have adequate nutrition and access to preventive and curative health services, includinganti-retroviral treatment, both in the community and at health facilities.
Target: 20% reduction in under-five mortality of all children by 2010 / Equal proportions of OVC tonon-OVC aged 15-17 years are not infected with HIV by 2010.
ACTIVITY 4.1 Improve OVC access to free health services, by (a) disseminating information to communities, OVC care-givers and health workers on how to access health care services and on the procedures for being exemptedfrom the fees for such services and (b) amending health regulations to provide for exemptions for OVCand other state patients who cannot afford the prescribed health fees, and issuing an official circular to allhealth care providers and administrative staff on the proper interpretation and implementation of suchregulations.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Information and BroadcastingMinistry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task ForceOVC Forums
ACTIVITY 4.2Develop an appropriate system for referrals of OVC who are in need of assistance from multiple agencies,and improve referral systems between health care services and home-based care providers and others.
Leading agencies Ministry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of EducationOVC Permanent Task ForceOVC Forums
ACTIVITY 4.3 Ensure that all pregnant women access PMTCT services and that HIV-positive mothers access after-carefor themselves and their babies, by various means including (a) implementing a campaign to encouragepregnant women to have HIV tests and to use PMTCT (b) strengthening outreach and follow-up servicesfor pregnant women and new mothers and (c) providing pregnant women and mothers with informationand counselling on infant-feeding practices and growth monitoring.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 41
ACTIVITY 4.4 Improve provision of HIV and AIDS care for children, by (a) ensuring that such children receive qualitytreatment and (b) improving outreach and follow-up service, including nutrition counselling and growthmonitoring.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 4.5 Promote adolescent-friendly health services, by various means including (a) mobilising young peopleto visit health facilities (b) sensitising them on their reproductive health rights and (c) training healthstaff to understand the needs of adolescents and to provide appropriate counselling.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Youth, National Services, Sport and CultureHealth Faculty, University of NamibiaOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 4.6Train communities and home-based care volunteers in nutrition monitoring and basic health carepractices, and ensure that they use these skills to monitor and care for children.
Leading agencies Ministry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 4.7 Improve access to proper nutrition for families caring for OVC, by means of training in labour-saving,cost-effective production and processing of food.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (lead)Emergency Management Unit, Office of the Prime MinisterMinistry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural DevelopmentOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 4.8 Provide temporary food supplies to needy families caring for OVC and to children on the street.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Regional AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs)Emergency Management Unit, Office of the Prime MinisterOVC Permanent Task Force
42 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 43
ACTIVITY 4.9 Target preventative health care services for young children (0-3) in the care of the elderly or at EarlyChildhood Development Centres and strengthen growth monitoring to identify children in thesecircumstances who are not thriving.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of EducationMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare
ACTIVITY 4.10 Revise and enforce inheritance laws and the provisions for widows in the Communal Land Reform Act,and take strong action against property-grabbing, to ensure that OVC and child-headed householdsdo not lose access to the land and resources they need for food security.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Lands and Resettlement (lead)Ministry of Justice / Master of the High CourtLaw Reform and Development CommissionLegal Assistance CentreTraditional Authorities
ACTIVITY 4.11 Record health and nutrition information on OVC to provide data for measuring progress on this issue.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Health and Social Services (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareOVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 4.12 Improve OVC access to clean water and sanitation by various means, including (a) rainwater harvestingat schools and Early Childhood Development Centres (b) providing boreholes and pay pumps in areaswhere they are most needed and (c) installing environmentally-appropriate toilet facilities at schools andEarly Childhood Development Centres.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (lead)Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMinistry of Health and Social ServicesMinistry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development
44 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
(5) MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKINGThe sheer volume of demand for OVC services seems to be an inhibiting factor in some interventions,especially for community responses. Some organisations have closed their registration lists, as they canno longer address the needs of so many OVC. Church leaders also express how overwhelming the needsappear, given their very limited resources.
The dearth of technical skills among staff and the lack of funds are key constraints faced by organisationswhich want to address HIV and AIDS and the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.
Lack of funds may be such a problem because the evident material needs of OVC demand a responseover and above that required by other HIV interventions. Skills and information on how to access fundsare needed at the local level, and strategies are needed to channel resources to local communities.A few mechanisms do exist that allow for communities and smaller non-governmental organisationsto access funds, but these need to be replicated and scaled up. Various government initiatives, suchas the school feeding programme described above, also need funds in order to expand their serviceshorizontally to more schools and more children, and vertically, down to early childhood centres.
The shortage of human resources and the lack of technical skills is another major concern. Ministriesindicate that a shortage of trained personnel is hindering their work. The government has for severalyears now struggled to fill vacant posts for social workers, as it does not receive sufficient applicationsfrom suitably qualified applicants. Non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations haveinsufficient qualified staff to write funding proposals, manage large budgets and monitor programmes.Furthermore, the very organisations which are being called upon to play a larger role in mitigating theimpact of HIV and AIDS on an increasing number of vulnerable children are themselves negativelyimpacted through death and illness of key staff, burnout and overwork of existing staff, and pressureto deliver.72
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is responsible for convening the OVC PermanentTask Force, which, with its cross-sectoral representation, is responsible for implementing the NationalPlan of Action for OVC. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is a relatively new ministry,having acquired ministerial status only in 2000. A Human Resource and Capacity Gap Analysis
72 UNICEF, UNAIDS, USAID and WFP, Rapid Assessment, Analysis and Action Planning on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Namibia, July 2004, at pages 6-7, 14 and 43, referring to:
• D Yates, Documentation Study on the Responses by Religious Organizations to Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Namibia, World Conference on Religion and Peace, Windhoek, 2003.
• D Yates, “Report on the Situational Analysis of the Church Response to HIV/AIDS in Namibia”, Pan African ChristianAIDS Network, Windhoek, July 2003.
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 45
undertaken in 2007 found that the Ministry will need significantly increased human and materialresources to carry out its role in implementing the National Plan of Action for OVC.73 Similar challengesmust be tackled if Regional OVC Forums are to be fully functional in all regions.
Regional OVC Forums are supposed to report to Regional AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs),or in their absence to Regional Development Committees. At constituency level, OVC Forums aresupposed to report to Constituency AIDS Coordinating Committees (CACOCs) or to ConstituencyDevelopment Committees. Representatives from the constituency-level OVC Forums are expected toattend the Regional OVC Forum and provide reports. However, as of May 2007, OVC Forums hadbeen established in only 35 out of 107 constituencies. Furthermore, capacity needs to be enhanced atboth regional and constituency level so that OVC Forum members are equipped to convene, facilitateand run effective meetings that produce results, and to make plans and monitor outcomes.74
Government efforts to provide support for OVC are also hampered by the current shortage of socialworkers in the country. There are approximately 400 registered social workers in Namibia, but manyprefer to work outside the government because of work pressure and comparatively low salaries. Onlysix students graduated with degrees in social work from the University of Namibia in 2006.75 Both theMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Ministry of Health and Social Services are currentlyunable to fill all of their vacant social work posts.
Another challenge is ensuring the proper applica-tion of funds. One of the most serious obstacles toproper use of funds comes in the form of “bottle-necks” – bureaucratic procedures or regulations thatstop or slow down the flow of financial resources fromthe original source (such as national government ora donor) to the final destination (such as a serviceprovider or OVC. There are typically several inter-mediaries between source and destination; it is there-fore important to map all of these elements (sources,intermediaries and destinations) and track the flow ofmoney so problems can be identified. The greater thenumber of intermediaries, the more likely fund trans-fers will be delayed and some of the original amountslost or stopped along the way. Resource tracking canshow whether funds are actually being spent for theirintended purposes.76
Improved coordination at national, regional andlocal levels will help to ensure that Namibia is makingthe best use of its limited resources.
73 Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, “A Human Resources and Capacity Gap Analysis: Improving ChildWelfare Services” (draft report), July 2007.
74 Id at pages 17-18.75 Id at page 22.76 UNAIDS, 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, United Nations, New York, at Chapter 10, pages 251-52.
46 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING:Plan of Action – N$221.1 millionObjective: A multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary institutional framework coordinates and monitors theprovision of services and programmes to OVC and their caregivers and promotes action research andnetworks to share learning.
Target: Multi-sectoral coordination and monitoring of quality services to OVC are significantly improvedby 2010.
ACTIVITY 5.1 Develop, update, maintain and share a national database on OVC services which includes informationon all OVC interventions, and make every effort to ensure that it is accurate and comprehensive.
Leading agencies Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 5.2 Hold a national conference on OVC every two years to examine and highlight the current situation,progress, best practices and future plans.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 5.3 Maintain and report on basic Monitoring and Evaluation information on the situation of OVC, reviewthe Monitoring and Evaluation Plan which accompanies this Plan of Action and train on its use, andperiodically revise the Monitoring and Evaluation system as necessary.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceOVC Forums
ACTIVITY 5.4 Ensure commitment and consistency in attendance and participation in the OVC Permanent Task Forceto increase its effectiveness, and strengthen OVC Permanent Task Force secretariat capacities.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceParticipating ministriesParticipating non-governmental partners
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 47
ACTIVITY 5.5 Further develop the capacity of the OVC Permanent Task Force to share good practices, plan andmonitor the national programme, create awareness, and involve all sectors, by providing (a) additionaltraining as necessary (b) organising in-country study tours (c) sharing case studies and documentationand (d) encouraging them to make use of appropriate e-forums and websites.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 5.6 Strengthen information-sharing and networking throughout the country, by highlighting good practices,organising in-country study tours, sharing case studies and documentation and establishing e-forumsand websites.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Information and BroadcastingOVC Permanent Task Force
Activity 5.7 Develop regional and constituency-level OVC Forums and committees, to increase the level of regionaland local networking and service delivery, and to improve reporting.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural DevelopmentOVC Permanent Task ForceRegional AIDS Coordinating Committees (RACOCs)Constituency AIDS Coordinating Committees (CACOCs)
ACTIVITY 5.8 Increase the capacity of mayors, municipal leaders and local authorities to initiate, expand and managelocal support to OVC, by (a) providing local officials with training and sensitisation on the needs ofOVC (b) encouraging them to establish and participate in local OVC committees (c) encouraging themto make local authority resources (such as space in buildings owned by the local authority) availableto support OVC services and (d) encouraging them to provide at least temporary relief to householdscaring for OVC who cannot pay for local authority services such as water and electricity.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task ForceAlliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa (AMICAALL) (lead)Namibia Association of Local Authority Offices (NALAO)Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN)
48 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
ACTIVITY 5.9 Map services for OVC to facilitate referrals and to prevent duplicationof services.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)
ACTIVITY 5.10 Commission a study on resource mapping to see if funds allocatedfor OVC services are being applied efficiently for their intendedpurposes.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)OVC Permanent Task Force
ACTIVITY 5.11 Ensure that the recommendations in the Ministry of Gender Equalityand Child Welfare Human Resource and Capacity Gap Analysis areimplemented.
Leading agenciesMinistry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (lead)Ministry of FinancePublic Service Commission
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 49
6. Summary of activities and indicators of progress
The following tables are intended to give a summary of the planned activities, their target beneficiaries,the participating agencies and the anticipated results. This provides a resource for quick reference,
and it ties the Plan of Action to its accompanying Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Each of the anticipatedresults is designed to be a measurable item, so that progress in making the Plan of Action a reality canbe tracked in a systematic fashion. In addition, the last column of each table lists the indicators which willbe collected through the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan in order to measure the broader impact of eachactivity.
50 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
RIGH
TSAN
D PR
OTEC
TION
Targ
et:A
ll ch
ildre
n ha
ve a
cces
s to
pro
tect
ion
serv
ices
by
2010
.
ACTI
VITI
ESLE
ADIN
GAG
ENCI
ESRE
LATE
DIN
DICA
TORS
IN M
&E P
LAN
1.1
Popu
laris
e Na
tiona
l Pol
icy
on O
VC a
nd N
atio
nal P
lan
of A
ctio
n fo
r OVC
, by
vario
us
mea
ns, i
nclu
ding
(a) p
oste
rs a
nd p
amph
lets
in v
ario
us la
ngua
ges (
b) ra
dio
broa
dcas
ts o
n th
e va
rious
lang
uage
serv
ices
(c) v
ideo
pro
duct
ions
on
OVC
whi
ch
can
be sh
own
on N
BC o
r at c
omm
unity
mee
tings
(d) d
iscus
sions
of O
VC is
sues
on
NBC
tele
visio
n pr
ogra
mm
es su
ch a
s Tal
k of
the
Natio
n an
d Go
od M
orni
ng N
amib
ia
and
(e)a
war
enes
s-ra
ising
am
ongs
t chu
rch
lead
ers.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eOV
C Fo
rum
sNa
mib
ian
Broa
dcas
ting
Corp
orat
ion
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
Coun
cil o
f Chu
rche
s in
Nam
ibia
P.18
Num
ber o
f pam
phle
ts in
eac
h la
ngua
ge d
istrib
uted
P.
19 N
umbe
r of r
adio
bro
adca
sts
in e
ach
lang
uage
P.
20 N
umbe
r of N
BC te
levi
sion
prog
ram
mes
with
OVC
them
e P.
5Or
phan
ed a
nd v
ulne
rabl
e ch
ildre
n po
licy
and
plan
ning
eff
ort i
ndex
1.2
Asse
ss th
e ne
ed to
ado
pt in
tern
atio
nal a
nd re
gion
al c
onve
ntio
ns a
imed
at
the
prot
ectio
n of
chi
ldre
n to
whi
ch N
amib
ia is
not
alre
ady
a pa
rty,
and
ado
pt
addi
tiona
l con
vent
ions
as
nece
ssar
y.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
Min
istry
of F
orei
gn A
ffai
rsOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
Natio
nal A
ssem
bly
Parli
amen
tary
Com
mitt
eeon
Hum
anRe
sour
ces,
Soci
al a
nd C
omm
unity
Deve
lopm
ent
P.13
Num
ber o
f law
s en
acte
d or
am
ende
d an
d br
ough
t int
o pl
ace
P.8
Num
ber o
f rec
omm
ende
d co
nven
tions
ratif
ied
by P
arlia
men
t
1.3
Fina
lise
and
enac
t all
rele
vant
dra
ft le
gisla
tion
on c
hild
ren,
incl
udin
g th
e Ch
ildre
n’s
Stat
us A
ct, t
he C
hild
Care
and
Pro
tect
ion
Act a
nd th
e Ch
ild Ju
stic
e Ac
t, an
d in
corp
orat
e th
e cr
iteria
for a
ll so
cial
wel
fare
gra
nts
aim
ed a
t OVC
into
ap
prop
riate
legi
slatio
n.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
/ Of
fice
of th
e Pr
osec
utor
Ge
nera
lM
inist
ry o
f Saf
ety
and
Secu
rity
/ W
oman
and
Ch
ild P
rote
ctio
n Un
itsM
inist
ry o
f Reg
iona
l and
Loca
l Gov
ernm
ent,
Hous
ing
and
Rura
l Dev
elop
men
tOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
Trad
ition
al A
utho
ritie
s
P.13
Num
ber o
f law
s en
acte
d or
am
ende
d an
d br
ough
t int
o pl
ace
1.4
Revi
ew a
nd re
form
as
nece
ssar
y ex
istin
g la
ws
whi
ch a
ffec
t the
dist
ribut
ion
of
fam
ily re
sour
ces,
incl
udin
g th
e la
ws
on in
herit
ance
, reg
istra
tion
of c
usto
mar
y m
arria
ge, c
usto
mar
y an
d ci
vil d
ivor
ce p
roce
edin
gs, m
arita
l pro
pert
y rig
hts
and
coha
bita
tion.
Law
Refo
rm a
nd D
evel
opm
entC
omm
issio
n(le
ad)
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
Min
istry
of J
ustic
e OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
P.13
Num
ber o
f law
s en
acte
d or
am
ende
d an
d br
ough
t int
o pl
ace
1.5
Prov
ide
deta
iled
and
inte
nsifi
ed tr
aini
ng o
n al
l exi
stin
g an
d ne
w c
hild
- and
fa
mily
-rel
ated
law
s fo
r im
plem
entin
g of
ficia
ls in
clud
ing
judg
es a
nd m
agist
rate
s,
cour
t cle
rks
and
inte
rpre
ters
, pro
secu
tors
, pol
ice,
off
icia
ls in
the
Mas
ter’s
Offic
e, s
ocia
l wor
kers
and
oth
er k
ey s
ervi
ce p
rovi
ders
.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
/ M
aste
r of t
he H
igh
Cour
tM
inist
ry o
f Saf
ety
and
Secu
rity
Trad
ition
al A
utho
ritie
sLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
P.14
Trai
ning
man
ual f
or se
rvic
e pr
ovid
ers o
n rig
hts a
nd p
rote
ctio
n de
velo
ped
P.15
Num
ber o
f tra
ditio
nal l
eade
rs re
ceiv
ing
trai
ning
on
inhe
ritan
ce a
nd
prop
erty
righ
ts is
sues
P.16
Num
ber o
f ser
vice
pro
vide
rs tr
aine
d on
oth
er s
ervi
ces
avai
labl
e an
d pr
oced
ures
to a
cces
s th
ose
refe
rral
ser
vice
s.P.
17 N
umbe
r of s
ervi
ce p
rovi
ders
trai
ned
on c
hild
ren’
s rig
hts
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 51
1.6
Com
pile
and
diss
emin
ate
in p
opul
ar fo
rm in
form
atio
n fo
r car
egiv
ers,
OVC
and
the
publ
ic on
all
new
chi
ld- a
nd fa
mily
-rel
ated
law
s – in
cludi
ng in
form
atio
n on
in
herit
ance
, mar
ital p
rope
rty
issue
s, ho
w to
requ
est m
aint
enan
ce fr
om a
dec
ease
d es
tate
and
how
to a
cces
s soc
ial w
elfa
re g
rant
s – b
y va
rious
mea
ns, i
nclu
ding
(a
) sim
ple
educ
atio
nal m
ater
ial i
n va
rious
lang
uage
s (b)
radi
o br
oadc
asts
on
the
vario
us la
ngua
ge se
rvice
s (c)
vid
eo p
rodu
ctio
ns o
n OV
C w
hich
can
be
show
n on
NBC
or a
t com
mun
ity m
eetin
gs a
nd (d
) wor
ksho
ps fo
r non
-gov
ernm
enta
l or
gani
satio
ns, c
hurc
h an
d co
mm
unity
lead
ers.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re (l
ead)
M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
/ M
aste
r of t
he H
igh
Cour
tM
inist
ry o
f Inf
orm
atio
n an
d Br
oadc
astin
g OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
P.7
Perc
enta
ge o
f wom
en a
nd c
hild
ren
who
exp
erie
nce
prop
erty
di
spos
sess
ion.
P.17
Num
ber o
f ser
vice
pro
vide
rs tr
aine
d on
chi
ldre
n’s
right
sP.
18 N
umbe
r of p
amph
lets
in e
ach
lang
uage
dist
ribut
ed
P.19
Num
ber o
f rad
io b
road
cast
s in
eac
h la
ngua
ge
P.20
Num
ber o
f NBC
tele
visio
n pr
ogra
mm
es w
ith O
VC th
eme
1.7
Deve
lop
and
impl
emen
t med
ia c
ampa
igns
(inc
ludi
ng p
amph
lets
, vid
eos,
ra
dio
prog
ram
mes
, tel
evisi
on p
rogr
amm
es a
nd p
oste
rs) a
ddre
ssin
g (a
) the
el
imin
atio
n of
disc
rimin
atio
n ag
ains
t OVC
, inc
ludi
ng th
e iss
ue o
f stig
ma
and
disc
rimin
atio
n in
resp
ect o
f HIV
and
AID
S (b
) the
nee
d to
elim
inat
e al
l for
ms
of v
iole
nce
agai
nst c
hild
ren
and
(c) e
ncou
ragi
ng p
aren
ts to
pro
vide
for t
heir
child
ren
afte
r the
ir de
ath
by m
eans
of w
ritte
n w
ills.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re (l
ead)
M
inist
ry o
f Inf
orm
atio
n an
d Br
oadc
astin
g M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
/ M
aste
r of t
he H
igh
Cour
tOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
P.2
Perc
enta
ge o
f adu
lts a
ged
15-4
9 ex
pres
sing
acce
ptin
g at
titud
es to
war
d pe
ople
livi
ng w
ith H
IVP.
1 Nu
mbe
r of c
ases
of c
hild
ren
(sex
ually
or p
hysic
ally
) abu
sed
repo
rted
P.17
Num
ber o
f ser
vice
pro
vide
rs tr
aine
d on
chi
ldre
n’s
right
sP.
18 N
umbe
r of p
amph
lets
in e
ach
lang
uage
dist
ribut
ed
P.19
Num
ber o
f rad
io b
road
cast
s in
eac
h la
ngua
ge
1.8
Incr
ease
the
effe
ctiv
enes
s of
Wom
an a
nd C
hild
Pro
tect
ion
Units
in p
rote
ctin
g ch
ildre
n by
am
ongs
t oth
er th
ings
(a) e
nsur
ing
that
they
hav
e pr
oper
hum
an
and
mat
eria
l res
ourc
es (i
nclu
ding
incr
ease
d st
aff,
addi
tiona
l com
pute
rs a
nd
vehi
cles
and
sui
tabl
e of
fice
acco
mm
odat
ion)
and
inte
nsifi
ed tr
aini
ng fo
r all
staf
f (b)
str
engt
heni
ng li
nkag
es b
etw
een
the
Units
and
com
mun
ities
thro
ugh
the
esta
blish
men
t of C
omm
unity
Pro
tect
ion
Grou
ps a
nd (c
) giv
ing
prio
rity
in
polic
e in
vest
igat
ion,
pro
secu
tion
and
cour
t rol
ls to
cas
es in
volv
ing
child
ren.
Min
istry
of S
afet
y an
d Se
curit
y (le
ad)
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
Min
istry
of J
ustic
e /
Offic
e of
the
Pros
ecut
or -G
ener
al
Judg
e-Pr
esid
ent o
f the
Hig
hCo
urt
P.1
Num
ber o
f cas
es o
f chi
ldre
n (s
exua
lly o
r phy
sical
ly) a
buse
d re
port
edP.
4M
edia
n tim
e be
twee
n ra
pe a
nd c
ourt
out
com
eP.
6 Nu
mbe
r of p
eopl
e re
ceiv
ing
coun
selli
ng (f
rom
WAC
PU)
P.9
Num
ber o
f fun
ctio
ning
Com
mun
ity P
rote
ctio
n Gr
oups
P.21
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g pr
otec
tion
serv
ices
1.9
Mob
ilise
trad
ition
al le
ader
s to
pla
y a
mor
e pr
oact
ive
role
in p
rote
ctin
g w
omen
an
d ch
ildre
n ag
ains
t pro
pert
y-gr
abbi
ng, b
y pr
ovid
ing
trai
ning
wor
ksho
ps fo
r tr
aditi
onal
lead
ers
on c
hild
ren’
s rig
hts
and
inhe
ritan
ce is
sues
.
Min
istry
of L
ands
and
Res
ettle
men
t (le
ad)
Coun
cil o
f Tra
ditio
nal L
eade
rsM
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
Lega
l Ass
istan
ce C
entr
e
P.15
Num
ber o
f tra
ditio
nal l
eade
rs re
ceiv
ing
trai
ning
on
inhe
ritan
ce a
nd
prop
erty
righ
ts a
nd is
sues
1.10
Crea
te c
hild
righ
ts in
form
atio
n co
rner
s in
all
scho
ols,
hos
pita
ls an
d cl
inic
s, w
ith
acce
ssib
le in
form
atio
n ab
out r
elev
ant p
olic
ies,
law
s an
d su
ppor
t ser
vice
s in
ap
prop
riate
lang
uage
s fo
r the
geo
grap
hica
l are
a.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re (l
ead)
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
P.10
Num
ber o
f inf
orm
atio
n co
rner
s in
sch
ools
1.11
Ensu
re th
at O
VC a
nd th
eir c
areg
iver
s ca
n ob
tain
birt
h ce
rtifi
cate
s, id
entit
y do
cum
ents
, dea
th c
ertif
icat
es, g
uard
ians
hip
cert
ifica
tes
and
any
othe
r do
cum
enta
tion
nece
ssar
y to
faci
litat
e ac
cess
to s
tate
ass
istan
ce in
a ti
mel
y m
anne
r, by
var
ious
mea
ns, i
nclu
ding
(a) e
stab
lishi
ng b
irth
regi
stra
tion
faci
litie
s in
hos
pita
ls (b
) con
duct
ing
a pu
blic
cam
paig
n to
reac
h ch
ildre
n fo
r lat
e bi
rth
regi
stra
tion
and
(c) i
dent
ifyin
g an
d ac
ting
on b
ottle
neck
s in
resp
ect o
f oth
er
docu
men
tatio
n.
Min
istry
of H
ome
Affa
irs a
nd Im
mig
ratio
n (le
ad)
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reM
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
/ M
aste
r of t
he H
igh
Cour
tOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eTr
aditi
onal
Aut
horit
ies
P.3
Perc
enta
ge o
f chi
ldre
n ag
ed 0
-4 w
hose
birt
hs a
re re
port
ed re
gist
ered
P.11
Per
cent
age
of h
ospi
tals
with
birt
h an
d de
ath
regi
stra
tion
faci
litie
s P.
17 N
umbe
r of s
ervi
ce p
rovi
ders
trai
ned
on c
hild
ren’
s rig
hts
P.21
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g pr
otec
tion
serv
ices
1.12
Enco
urag
e ch
ildre
n’s
part
icip
atio
n in
OVC
issu
es b
y va
rious
mea
ns, i
nclu
ding
(a
) sup
port
ing
and
expa
ndin
g on
initi
ativ
es s
uch
as th
e Ch
ildre
n’s
Parli
amen
t to
ens
ure
that
chi
ldre
n ha
ve a
n ef
fect
ive
voic
e in
issu
es a
ffec
ting
them
, by
arra
ngin
g re
gula
r reg
iona
l and
nat
iona
l for
ums
whe
re c
hild
ren
can
give
inpu
t on
OVC
issue
s an
d (b
) ens
urin
g th
at c
hild
ren’
s au
then
tic a
nd e
thic
ally
-obt
aine
d op
inio
ns a
nd c
ontr
ibut
ions
are
take
n in
to a
ccou
nt in
the
plan
ning
and
im
plem
enta
tion
of e
ach
activ
ity in
the
Plan
of A
ctio
n.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re (l
ead)
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
Min
istry
of Y
outh
, Nat
iona
l Ser
vice
,Spo
rt a
nd
Cultu
reNa
tiona
l Ass
embl
y Re
gion
alCo
unci
lsOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
P.12
Resu
lts o
f Chi
ldre
n’s
Parli
amen
t are
refle
cted
in N
atio
nal P
lan
of A
ctio
n
EDUC
ATIO
NTa
rget
:Equ
al p
ropo
rtio
ns o
f OVC
ver
sus
non-
OVC
aged
16-
17 y
ears
hav
e co
mpl
eted
Gra
de 1
0 by
201
0.
ACTI
VITI
ESLE
ADIN
GAG
ENCI
ESRE
LATE
DIN
DICA
TORS
IN M
&E P
LAN
2.1
Assis
t and
sup
port
the
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
in fi
nalis
ing,
impl
emen
ting,
di
ssem
inat
ing
and
mon
itorin
g th
e Na
tiona
l Edu
catio
n Se
ctor
Pol
icy
for
Orph
ans
and
othe
r Vul
nera
ble
Child
ren
in N
amib
ia, p
artic
ular
ly w
here
it
over
laps
with
the
activ
ities
in th
is Pl
an o
f Act
ion.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
OVF
Foru
ms
E.4
OVC
educ
atio
n po
licy
final
ised
E.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 15
-17
year
s co
mpl
etin
g Gr
ade
10
2.2
Com
plet
e in
itial
regi
stra
tion
of O
VC o
f sch
ool-g
oing
age
and
OVC
in s
choo
ls,
ensu
re th
at a
wor
kabl
e sy
stem
is in
pla
ce fo
r reg
ular
upd
atin
g of
this
info
rmat
ion,
com
pare
the
lists
ann
ually
and
targ
et a
ny s
choo
l-goi
ng a
ge
OVC
who
is n
ot in
sch
ool f
or th
e ne
cess
ary
supp
ort a
nd a
ssist
ance
to e
nabl
e en
rolm
ent,
or fo
r app
ropr
iate
alte
rnat
ive
assis
tanc
e.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
OVC
Foru
ms
E.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 16
-17
com
plet
ing
Grad
e 10
E.2
Ratio
of d
oubl
e or
phan
s to
non
-orp
hans
age
d 10
-14
atte
ndin
g sc
hool
2.3
Ensu
re a
dequ
ate
prov
ision
of m
eals
to O
VC a
tten
ding
sch
ools
and
Early
Ch
ildho
odDe
velo
pmen
tCen
tres
by
revi
sing
guid
elin
es fo
r the
sch
ool f
eedi
ng
prog
ram
me
and
incr
easin
g nu
mbe
rs o
f OVC
ben
efiti
ng fr
om th
e sc
hool
fe
edin
g pr
ogra
mm
e.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
Com
mun
ity-b
ased
par
tner
s
E.5
Num
ber o
f OVC
ben
efiti
ng fr
om s
choo
l fee
ding
pro
gram
me
H.1
Ratio
of p
ropo
rtio
n of
OVC
com
pare
d to
non
-OVC
who
are
mal
nour
ished
(u
nder
wei
ght)
H.16
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g fo
od a
nd n
utrit
iona
l ser
vice
s
2.4
Deve
lop
and
impl
emen
t a s
trat
egy
for f
eedi
ng O
VC w
ho a
re m
ost i
n ne
ed o
f fo
od d
urin
g w
eeke
nds
and
holid
ays.
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
(lead
)OV
C Fo
rum
sVa
rious
non
-gov
ernm
enta
l par
tner
s Tr
aditi
onal
Aut
horit
ies
H.1
Ratio
of p
ropo
rtio
n of
OVC
com
pare
d to
non
-OVC
who
are
mal
nour
ished
(u
nder
wei
ght)
2.5
Ensu
re th
at O
VC w
ho c
anno
t aff
ord
the
cost
s of
sch
oolin
g ar
e ex
empt
ed
from
all
such
cos
ts, b
y (a
) diss
emin
atin
g ac
cess
ible
info
rmat
ion
natio
nwid
e on
exe
mpt
ions
from
sch
ool f
ees,
hos
tel f
ees,
exa
min
atio
n fe
es, c
ontr
ibut
ions
to
sch
ool d
evel
opm
ent f
unds
and
oth
er s
choo
l-rel
ated
exp
ense
s to
chi
ldre
n an
d th
eir c
areg
iver
s (b
) mon
itorin
g an
d en
forc
ing
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
regu
latio
ns o
n ex
empt
ions
by
scho
ols
natio
nwid
e (c
) act
ivat
ing
the
Educ
atio
n De
velo
pmen
t Fun
d to
reim
burs
e sc
hool
s w
hich
pro
vide
exe
mpt
ions
from
co
ntrib
utio
ns to
sch
ool d
evel
opm
ent f
unds
and
(d) p
uttin
g in
pla
ce a
pla
n fo
r ex
empt
ing
OVC
from
uni
form
s, o
r for
pro
vidi
ng u
nifo
rms
to O
VC fr
ee o
r at
redu
ced
cost
.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
E.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 16
-17
com
plet
ing
Grad
e 10
E.2
Ratio
of d
oubl
e or
phan
s to
non
-orp
hans
age
d 10
-14
atte
ndin
g sc
hool
.E.
8 Nu
mbe
r of O
VC e
xem
pted
from
sch
ool a
nd e
xam
inat
ion
fees
E.7
Num
ber o
f OVC
exe
mpt
ed fr
om h
oste
l fee
s E.
13 N
umbe
r of O
VC a
cces
sing
educ
atio
n se
rvic
es
2.6
Stre
ngth
en c
ouns
ellin
g, c
are
and
supp
ort s
ervi
ces f
or O
VC in
all
educ
atio
nal
inst
itutio
ns, b
y (a
) con
tinui
ng a
nd e
xpan
ding
pre
-ser
vice
and
in-s
ervi
ce
trai
ning
on
OVC
care
for e
duca
tion
pers
onne
l inc
ludi
ng p
rinci
pals,
hos
tel
supe
rinte
nden
ts, t
each
ers a
nd sc
hool
boa
rd m
embe
rs a
nd (b
) est
ablis
hing
HIV
and
AIDS
com
mitt
ees a
nd fu
nctio
nal c
ouns
ellin
g su
ppor
t gro
ups a
t eac
h sc
hool
.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eE.
9 Nu
mbe
r of i
nstit
utio
ns w
ith fu
nctio
ning
cou
nsel
ling
supp
ort g
roup
s
2.7
Expa
nd E
arly
Chi
ldho
od D
evel
opm
ent s
ervi
ces f
or O
VC, b
y (a
) ide
ntify
ing
child
ren
who
are
mos
t in
need
of E
arly
Chi
ldho
od D
evel
opm
ent s
ervi
ces
and
rem
ovin
g ob
stac
les t
o th
eir p
artic
ipat
ion
(b) e
xpan
ding
Ear
ly C
hild
hood
De
velo
pmen
t fac
ilitie
s as n
eces
sary
to a
ccom
mod
ate
such
chi
ldre
n as
nec
essa
ry
and
(c) p
rovi
ding
trai
ning
to E
arly
Chi
ldho
od D
evel
opm
ent t
each
ers a
nd
care
give
rs to
ena
ble
them
to u
nder
stan
d an
d ad
dres
s the
nee
ds o
f all
child
ren.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Hea
lth a
nd S
ocia
lSer
vice
sM
inist
ry o
f Edu
catio
nOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
E.10
Num
ber o
f OVC
att
endi
ng E
CD p
rogr
amm
esE.
13 N
umbe
r of O
VC a
cces
sing
educ
atio
n se
rvic
es
52 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 53
2.8
Ensu
reOV
C ha
ve p
riorit
y ac
cess
to O
VC-f
riend
ly h
oste
ls re
gard
less
of t
heir
abili
ty to
pay
hos
tel f
ees,
by
(a) d
issem
inat
ing
info
rmat
ion
to th
e pu
blic
on
proc
edur
es fo
r obt
aini
ng e
xem
ptio
ns fr
om h
oste
l fee
s an
d en
surin
g th
at
scho
ols
impl
emen
t the
exe
mpt
ion
proc
ess
corr
ectly
(b) e
quip
ping
hos
tel
faci
litie
s w
ith th
e ne
cess
ary
hum
an a
nd m
ater
ial r
esou
rces
to p
rovi
de
an a
ccep
tabl
e st
anda
rd o
f sec
urity
, saf
ety
and
hygi
ene
and
(c) p
rovi
ding
in
form
atio
n an
d tr
aini
ng to
hos
tel s
taff
and
thei
r sup
ervi
sors
on
how
to
unde
rsta
nd a
nd a
ddre
ss th
e ne
eds
of a
ll ch
ildre
n.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
Faith
-bas
ed o
rgan
isatio
ns /
Com
mun
ity-r
unho
stel
sOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
E.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
exe
mpt
ed fr
om s
choo
l and
exa
min
atio
n fe
esE.
7 Nu
mbe
r of O
VC e
xem
pted
from
hos
tel f
ees
E.6
Num
ber o
f sch
ool b
oard
s, p
rinci
pals,
teac
hers
and
pee
r cou
nsel
lors
trai
ned
inOV
C su
ppor
t
2.9
Supp
ort m
ulti-
purp
ose
cent
res t
o ca
ter f
or n
eeds
of o
ut-o
f-sc
hool
OVC
, by
(a) i
dent
ifyin
g OV
C w
ho m
ight
ben
efit
from
the
serv
ices
off
ered
at t
he m
ulti-
purp
ose
cent
res (
b) ta
rget
ing
thes
e OV
C fo
r inf
orm
atio
n ab
out t
he a
vaila
ble
serv
ices
and
(c) p
rovi
ding
trai
ning
to th
e pe
rson
s off
erin
g th
e se
rvic
es to
ena
ble
them
to u
nder
stan
d an
d ad
dres
s the
nee
ds o
f all
child
ren.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f You
th, N
atio
nal S
ervi
ce,S
port
and
Cu
lture
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
E.11
Num
ber o
f OVC
get
ting
food
sup
port
at m
ulti-
purp
ose
cent
res
2.10
Targ
et a
ll ch
ildre
n at
tend
ing
scho
ol, i
nclu
ding
OVC
, with
app
ropr
iate
life
-ski
lls
trai
ning
pro
gram
mes
(suc
h as
the
Win
dow
s of H
ope
and
My
Futu
re M
y Ch
oice
prog
ram
mes
and
the
Heal
th-P
rom
otin
gSc
hool
Initi
ativ
e) a
nd in
crea
se th
e ef
fect
iven
ess
of s
uch
prog
ram
mes
, by
amon
gst o
ther
thin
gs (a
) inc
orpo
ratin
g th
em in
to th
e sc
hool
rout
ine
at a
ll sc
hool
s (b
) pro
vidi
ng a
ll pe
er e
duca
tion
initi
ativ
es w
ith s
uppo
rt fr
om a
n ap
prop
riate
ly-t
rain
ed te
ache
r (c)
intr
oduc
ing
mor
e ex
perie
ntia
l lea
rnin
g to
ach
ieve
gre
ater
impa
ct o
n th
e st
uden
ts a
nd
(d) e
nsur
ing
that
suc
h pr
ogra
mm
es a
ddre
ss a
lcoh
ol u
se a
nd a
buse
.
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Hea
lth a
nd S
ocia
lSer
vice
sOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
E.3
Perc
enta
ge o
f chi
ldre
n ag
ed 1
5-24
yea
rs w
ho h
ave
com
preh
ensiv
e kn
owle
dge
on th
e tr
ansm
issio
n of
HIV
and
AID
S
2.11
Targ
etOV
C no
t att
endi
ng s
choo
l for
app
ropr
iate
bas
ic e
duca
tion
and
skill
s tr
aini
ng p
rogr
amm
es.
Min
istry
of Y
outh
, Nat
iona
l Ser
vice
,Spo
rt a
nd
Cultu
re e
ad)
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reNa
mib
ian
Colle
ge o
f Ope
nLe
arni
ng (N
AMCO
L)Vo
catio
nal T
rain
ing
Cent
res
Com
mun
itySk
ills
Deve
lopm
entC
entr
esva
rious
non
-gov
ernm
enta
l par
tner
s
E.12
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g ba
sic s
kills
trai
ning
at v
ocat
iona
l tra
inin
g ce
ntre
s (V
TCs)
CARE
AND
SUPP
ORT
Targ
et:5
0% o
f all
regi
ster
ed O
VC re
ceiv
e an
y ex
tern
al s
uppo
rt (e
cono
mic
, hom
e-ba
sed
care
, psy
chos
ocia
l and
edu
catio
n) b
y 20
10.
ACTI
VITI
ESLE
ADIN
GAG
ENCI
ESRE
LATE
DIN
DICA
TORS
IN M
&E P
LAN
3.1
Revi
ew a
nd re
vise
soc
ial w
elfa
re g
rant
crit
eria
and
pro
cedu
res
to e
nsur
e th
at e
xten
ded
fam
ily o
r per
sons
car
ing
for O
VC c
an a
cces
s ap
prop
riate
soc
ial
assis
tanc
e qu
ickl
y an
d th
at th
e ne
edie
st O
VC a
re n
ot e
xclu
ded,
and
ena
ct
legi
slatio
n or
regu
latio
ns e
mbo
dyin
g th
e re
vise
d gr
ant c
riter
ia a
nd p
roce
dure
s to
pro
vide
a h
igh
degr
ee o
f tra
nspa
renc
y, c
erta
inty
and
cla
rity.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Jus
tice
Lega
l Ass
istan
ce C
entr
e
C.1
Ratio
of O
VC v
ersu
s no
n-OV
C w
ho h
ave
3 ba
sic m
ater
ial n
eeds
C.
3 Nu
mbe
r of c
hild
ren
0-17
livi
ng in
resid
entia
l car
e fa
cilit
ies
C.6
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n re
ceiv
ing
soci
al w
elfa
re g
rant
s
3.2
Com
pile
and
diss
emin
ate
in p
opul
ar fo
rm in
form
atio
n fo
r car
egiv
ers,
OVC
and
th
e pu
blic
on
how
to a
cces
s ch
ild w
elfa
re g
rant
s, b
y va
rious
mea
ns in
clud
ing
(a) p
oste
rs a
nd p
amph
lets
in v
ario
us la
ngua
ges
(b) r
adio
bro
adca
sts
on th
e va
rious
lang
uage
ser
vice
s an
d (c
) vid
eo p
rodu
ctio
ns w
hich
can
be
show
n on
NB
C or
at c
omm
unity
mee
tings
.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Inf
orm
atio
n an
d Br
oadc
astin
gOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eLe
gal A
ssist
ance
Cen
tre
C.1
Ratio
of O
VC v
ersu
s no
n-OV
C w
ho h
ave
3 ba
sic m
ater
ial n
eeds
C.
3 Nu
mbe
r of c
hild
ren
0-17
livi
ng in
resid
entia
l car
e fa
cilit
ies
C.6
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n re
ceiv
ing
soci
al w
elfa
re g
rant
sP.
18 N
umbe
r of p
amph
lets
in e
ach
lang
uage
dist
ribut
ed
P.19
Num
ber o
f rad
io b
road
cast
s in
eac
h la
ngua
ge
P.20
Num
ber o
f NBC
tele
visio
n pr
ogra
mm
es w
ith O
VC th
eme
3.3
Stre
ngth
en a
nd e
xpan
d tr
aini
ng fo
r hom
e-ba
sed
care
give
rs in
met
hods
of
psyc
hoso
cial
sup
port
, par
enta
l ski
lls, h
ome-
carin
g pr
actic
es a
nd c
hild
ren’
s rig
hts,
to e
nabl
e th
em to
add
ress
the
need
s of
OVC
mor
e ef
fect
ivel
y bo
th
befo
re a
nd a
fter
the
deat
h of
a p
aren
t or c
areg
iver
.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
C.2
Perc
enta
ge o
f OVC
who
se h
ouse
hold
s ha
ve re
ceiv
ed fr
ee b
asic
ext
erna
l su
ppor
t in
carin
g fo
r the
chi
ldC.
3 Nu
mbe
r of c
hild
ren
0-17
livi
ng in
resid
entia
l car
e fa
cilit
ies
C.5
Num
ber o
f pro
vide
rs/c
areg
iver
s tr
aine
d in
car
ing
for O
VCC.
6 Nu
mbe
r of c
hild
ren
rece
ivin
g so
cial
wel
fare
gra
nts
C.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g ps
ycho
soci
al s
uppo
rt s
ervi
ces
3.4
Regi
ster
all
hom
es a
nd s
helte
rs c
arin
g fo
r OVC
; str
eam
line
the
regi
stra
tion
proc
ess,
dev
elop
ing
diff
eren
t cat
egor
ies
if ne
cess
ary
to s
erve
the
best
in
tere
sts
of O
VC; a
nd m
ake
regu
lar s
uper
viso
ry v
isits
to re
gist
ered
pla
ces
of
care
to a
sses
s th
e st
anda
rd o
f car
e an
d w
hat f
orm
s of
sup
port
or i
nter
vent
ion
are
need
ed.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eC.
7Re
gist
ratio
n pr
oces
s, g
uide
lines
and
pro
cedu
res
impl
emen
ted
for
inst
itutio
nal c
are
C.9
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g sh
elte
r and
car
e se
rvic
es
3.5
Trai
n ca
regi
vers
in h
omes
and
pla
ces
of s
afet
y to
ens
ure
appr
opria
te le
vels
of
care
, and
ass
ess
need
s fo
r gre
ater
out
reac
h to
vul
nera
ble
fam
ilies
. M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
C.5
Num
ber o
f pro
vide
rs/c
areg
iver
s tr
aine
d in
car
ing
for O
VC
3.6
Deve
lop
and
adop
t mec
hani
sms
to e
nsur
e th
at c
hild
ren’
s op
inio
ns a
nd w
ishes
ar
e ex
pres
sed
and
take
n in
to c
onsid
erat
ion
whe
n lo
okin
g at
car
e op
tions
.M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
C.3
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n 0-
17 li
ving
in re
siden
tial c
are
faci
litie
s
3.7
Prov
ide
com
mun
ity g
roup
s (in
clud
ing
Circ
les
of S
uppo
rt, s
choo
l boa
rds,
and
ch
urch
gro
ups)
with
trai
ning
, tec
hnic
al a
ssist
ance
and
fina
ncin
g to
incr
ease
th
eir c
apac
ity to
ass
ist O
VC a
nd a
ffec
ted
fam
ilies
.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)Re
gion
al A
IDS
Coor
dina
ting
Com
mitt
ees
(RAC
OCs)
Cons
titue
ncy
AIDS
Coor
dina
ting
Com
mitt
ees
(CAC
OCs)
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
C.2
Perc
enta
ge o
f OVC
who
se h
ouse
hold
s ha
ve re
ceiv
ed fr
ee b
asic
ext
erna
l su
ppor
t in
carin
g fo
r the
chi
ldC.
5 Nu
mbe
r of p
rovi
ders
/car
egiv
ers
trai
ned
in c
arin
g fo
r OVC
54 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 55
3.8
Enco
urag
e fa
mili
es c
arin
g fo
r OVC
to k
eep
siblin
gs to
geth
er o
r at l
east
to
mai
ntai
n re
gula
r con
tact
bet
wee
n sib
lings
. M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
Trad
ition
al A
utho
ritie
s
C.3
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n 0-
17 li
ving
in re
siden
tial c
are
faci
litie
sC.
4 Pe
rcen
tage
of O
VC w
ho a
re n
ot li
ving
in th
e sa
me
hous
ehol
d w
ith a
ll th
eir
siblin
gs u
nder
the
age
of 1
8 ye
ars
3.9
Expa
nd p
rogr
amm
es in
sm
all a
nd m
icro
ent
erpr
ise a
nd s
kills
trai
ning
ena
blin
g fa
mili
es h
eade
d by
chi
ldre
n or
you
ng a
dults
, and
fam
ilies
with
larg
e nu
mbe
rs
ofOV
C, to
gen
erat
e in
com
e.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Edu
catio
nKa
tutu
ra Y
outh
Ent
erpr
ise C
entr
e (K
AYEC
)Vo
catio
nal T
rain
ing
Cent
res
Com
mun
itySk
ills
Deve
lopm
entC
entr
esVa
rious
non
-gov
ernm
enta
l par
tner
s
C.1
Ratio
of O
VC v
ersu
s no
n-OV
C w
ho h
ave
3 ba
sic m
ater
ial n
eeds
C.
2 Pe
rcen
tage
of O
VC w
hose
hou
seho
lds
have
rece
ived
free
bas
ic e
xter
nal
supp
ort i
n ca
ring
for t
he c
hild
C.3
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n 0-
17 li
ving
out
side
of fa
mily
car
eC.
5 Nu
mbe
r of p
rovi
ders
/car
egiv
ers
trai
ned
in c
arin
g fo
r OVC
C.10
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g ec
onom
ic s
tren
gthe
ning
ser
vice
s
3.10
Hol
d w
orks
hops
for o
rgan
isatio
ns p
rovi
ding
psy
chos
ocia
l sup
port
thro
ugh
cam
ps, K
ids
Club
s, a
nd o
ther
aft
er-s
choo
l pro
gram
mes
to s
hare
exp
ertis
e,
lear
ning
, mat
eria
ls an
d be
st p
ract
ices
.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Edu
catio
n M
inist
ry o
f You
th, N
atio
nal S
ervi
ce,S
port
and
Cu
lture
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
C.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g ps
ycho
soci
al s
uppo
rt s
ervi
ces
3.11
Rea
lign
natio
nal d
roug
ht re
lief p
rogr
amm
e, e
mer
genc
y fo
od a
ssist
ance
, foo
d fo
r wor
k, a
gric
ultu
ral e
xten
sion
wor
k an
d ot
her p
rogr
amm
es s
o th
at fa
mili
es
carin
g fo
r OVC
are
prio
ritise
d.
Min
istry
of A
gric
ultu
re, W
ater
and
For
estr
y (le
ad)
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reEm
erge
ncy
Man
agem
entU
nit,
Offic
e of
the
Prim
eM
inist
erOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
C.1
Ratio
of O
VC v
ersu
s no
n-OV
C w
ho h
ave
3 ba
sic m
ater
ial n
eeds
C.
2 Pe
rcen
tage
of O
VC w
hose
hou
seho
lds
have
rece
ived
free
bas
ic e
xter
nal
supp
ort i
n ca
ring
for t
he c
hild
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
ed
3.12
Str
engt
hen
com
mun
ity c
apac
ities
to p
rovi
de c
are
and
supp
ort t
o OV
C, b
y va
rious
mea
ns in
clud
ing
(a) p
ilotin
g th
e co
ncep
t of c
entr
al “V
illag
eCa
rePo
ints
” whe
re O
VC c
an a
cces
s a
rang
e of
ser
vice
s (b
) equ
ippi
ng p
eopl
e at
th
ese
Villa
geCa
re P
oint
s w
ith th
e kn
owle
dge
to p
rovi
de a
full
rang
e of
as
sista
nce
to O
VC (c
) bui
ldin
g on
goo
d pr
actic
es fr
om th
ese
pilo
t ini
tiativ
es
and
(d) s
ensit
ising
lead
ers
at th
e re
gion
al le
vel t
o pr
epar
e an
d im
plem
ent
regi
onal
wor
k pl
ans
for O
VC.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
C.1
Ratio
of O
VC v
ersu
s no
n-OV
C w
ho h
ave
3 ba
sic m
ater
ial n
eeds
C.
2 Pe
rcen
tage
of O
VC w
hose
hou
seho
lds
have
rece
ived
free
bas
ic e
xter
nal
supp
ort i
n ca
ring
for t
he c
hild
C.3
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n 0-
17 li
ving
in re
siden
tial c
are
faci
litie
sC.
4 Nu
mbe
r of p
rovi
ders
/car
egiv
ers
trai
ned
in c
arin
g fo
r OVC
C.9
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g sh
elte
r and
car
e se
rvic
es
HEAL
THAN
DN
UTRI
TION
Targ
et:2
0% re
duct
ion
in u
nder
-five
mor
talit
y of
all
child
ren
by 2
010
/ Equ
al pr
opor
tions
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 15
-17
year
s are
not
HIV
infe
cted
by
2010
.
ACTI
VITI
ESLE
ADIN
GAG
ENCI
ESRE
LATE
DIN
DICA
TORS
IN M
&E P
LAN
4.1
Impr
ove
OVC
acce
ss to
free
hea
lth s
ervi
ces,
by
(a) d
issem
inat
ing
info
rmat
ion
to c
omm
uniti
es, O
VC c
areg
iver
s an
d he
alth
wor
kers
on
how
to a
cces
s he
alth
ca
re s
ervi
ces
and
on th
e pr
oced
ures
for b
eing
exe
mpt
ed fr
om th
e fe
es fo
r su
ch s
ervi
ces
and
(b) a
men
ding
hea
lth re
gula
tions
to p
rovi
de fo
r exe
mpt
ions
fo
rOVC
and
oth
er s
tate
pat
ient
s w
ho c
anno
t aff
ord
the
pres
crib
ed
heal
th fe
es, a
nd is
suin
g an
off
icia
l circ
ular
to a
ll he
alth
car
e pr
ovid
ers
and
adm
inist
rativ
e st
aff o
n th
e pr
oper
inte
rpre
tatio
n an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of s
uch
regu
latio
ns.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Inf
orm
atio
n an
d Br
oadc
astin
g M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
OVC
Foru
ms
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
edH.
2Ra
tio o
f OVC
to n
on-O
VC a
cces
sing
appr
opria
te h
ealth
car
e fo
r Acu
te
Resp
irato
ry In
fect
ions
H.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
exe
mpt
ed fr
om fe
es fo
r hea
lth s
ervi
ces
H.16
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g fo
od a
nd n
utrit
iona
l ser
vice
sH.
17 N
umbe
r of O
VC re
ceiv
ing
heal
th c
are
serv
ices
4.2
Deve
lop
an a
ppro
pria
te s
yste
m fo
r ref
erra
ls of
OVC
who
are
in n
eed
of
assis
tanc
e fr
om m
ultip
le a
genc
ies,
and
impr
ove
refe
rral
sys
tem
s be
twee
n he
alth
car
e se
rvic
es a
nd h
ome-
base
d ca
re p
rovi
ders
and
oth
ers.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
Min
istry
of E
duca
tion
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
OVC
Foru
ms
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
edH.
2Ra
tio o
f OVC
to n
on-O
VC a
cces
sing
appr
opria
te h
ealth
car
e fo
r Acu
te
Resp
irato
ry In
fect
ions
H.7
Num
ber o
f hom
e-ba
sed
care
rs a
nd h
ealth
car
e w
orke
rs tr
aine
d in
refe
rral
se
rvic
es
4.3
Ensu
re th
at a
ll pr
egna
nt w
omen
acc
ess
PMTC
T se
rvic
es a
nd th
at H
IV-p
ositi
vem
othe
rs a
cces
s af
ter-
care
for t
hem
selv
es a
nd th
eir b
abie
s, b
y va
rious
mea
ns
incl
udin
g (a
) im
plem
entin
g a
cam
paig
n to
enc
oura
ge p
regn
ant w
omen
to
have
HIV
test
s an
d to
use
PM
TCT
(b) s
tren
gthe
ning
out
reac
h an
d fo
llow
-up
serv
ices
for p
regn
ant w
omen
and
new
mot
hers
and
(c) p
rovi
ding
pre
gnan
t w
omen
and
mot
hers
with
info
rmat
ion
and
coun
selli
ng o
n in
fant
-fee
ding
pr
actic
es a
nd g
row
th m
onito
ring.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eH.
11 P
ropo
rtio
n of
HIV
-pos
itive
wom
en w
ho re
ceiv
e PM
TCT
care
4.4
Impr
ove
prov
ision
of H
IV a
nd A
IDS
care
for c
hild
ren,
by
(a) e
nsur
ing
that
suc
h ch
ildre
n re
ceiv
e qu
ality
trea
tmen
t and
(b) i
mpr
ovin
g ou
trea
ch a
nd fo
llow
-up
serv
ice,
incl
udin
g nu
triti
on c
ouns
ellin
g an
d gr
owth
mon
itorin
g.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e H.
1Ra
tio o
f OVC
to n
on-O
VC a
ged
0-4
who
are
mal
nour
ished
H.2
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
acc
essin
g ap
prop
riate
hea
lth c
are
for A
cute
Re
spira
tory
Infe
ctio
nsH.
5 Eq
ual p
ropo
rtio
ns o
f OVC
to n
on-O
VC a
ged
15-1
7 ye
ars
are
not H
IV in
fect
ed
by 2
010
H.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
exe
mpt
ed fr
om fe
es fo
r hea
lth s
ervi
ces
H.9
Num
ber o
f ser
vice
pro
vide
rs, c
omm
unity
lead
ers,
car
egiv
ers
and
educ
ator
s tr
aine
d in
Ado
lesc
ent F
riend
ly H
ealth
Serv
ices
H.14
Num
ber o
f chi
ldre
n re
ache
d w
ith H
IV a
nd A
IDS
care
H.17
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g he
alth
car
e se
rvic
es
4.5
Prom
ote
adol
esce
nt-f
riend
ly h
ealth
ser
vice
s, b
y va
rious
mea
ns in
clud
ing
(a)
mob
ilisin
g yo
ung
peop
le to
visi
t hea
lth fa
cilit
ies
(b) s
ensit
ising
them
on
thei
r re
prod
uctiv
e he
alth
righ
ts a
nd (c
) tra
inin
g he
alth
sta
ff to
und
erst
and
the
need
s of
ado
lesc
ents
and
to p
rovi
de a
ppro
pria
te c
ouns
ellin
g.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f You
th, N
atio
nal S
ervi
ces,
Spor
t and
Cu
lture
Heal
th F
acul
ty, U
nive
rsity
of N
amib
iaOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
H.9
Num
ber o
f ser
vice
pro
vide
rs, c
omm
unity
lead
ers,
car
egiv
ers
and
educ
ator
s tr
aine
d in
Ado
lesc
ent F
riend
ly H
ealth
Serv
ices
H.10
Num
ber o
f ado
lesc
ents
reac
hed
thro
ugh
Adol
esce
nt F
riend
ly H
ealth
Serv
ices
H.3
Ratio
of O
VC c
ompa
red
to n
on-O
VC a
ged
15-1
7 ye
ars
who
had
sex
bef
ore
age
15.
H.5
Equa
l pro
port
ions
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 15
-17
are
not H
IV in
fect
ed b
y 20
10.
56 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 57
4.6
Trai
n co
mm
uniti
es a
nd h
ome-
base
d ca
re v
olun
teer
s in
nut
ritio
n m
onito
ring
and
basic
hea
lth-c
are
prac
tices
, and
ens
ure
that
they
use
thes
e sk
ills
to
mon
itor a
nd c
are
for c
hild
ren.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
edC.
5 Nu
mbe
r of p
rovi
ders
/car
egiv
ers
trai
ned
in c
arin
g fo
r OVC
4.7
Impr
ove
acce
ss to
pro
per n
utrit
ion
for f
amili
es c
arin
g fo
r OVC
, by
mea
ns o
f tr
aini
ng in
labo
ur-s
avin
g, c
ost-
effe
ctiv
e pr
oduc
tion
and
proc
essin
g of
food
.M
inist
ry o
f Agr
icul
ture
, Wat
er a
nd F
ores
try
(lead
)Em
erge
ncy
Man
agem
entU
nit,
Offic
e of
the
Prim
eM
inist
erM
inist
ry o
f Reg
iona
l and
Loc
al G
over
nmen
t, Ho
usin
g an
d Ru
ralD
evel
opm
ent
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
H.13
Num
ber o
f hou
seho
lds
rece
ivin
g fo
od a
ssist
ance
H.12
Num
ber o
f hou
seho
lds
trai
ned
in fo
od s
ecur
ityH.
1Ra
tio o
f OVC
to n
on-O
VC a
ged
0-4
who
are
mal
nour
ished
C.2
Perc
enta
ge o
f OVC
who
se h
ouse
hold
s ha
ve re
ceiv
ed fr
ee b
asic
ext
erna
l su
ppor
t in
carin
g fo
r the
chi
ld
4.8
Prov
ide
tem
pora
ry fo
od s
uppl
ies
to n
eedy
fam
ilies
car
ing
for O
VC a
nd to
ch
ildre
n on
the
stre
et.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)Re
gion
al A
IDS
Coor
dina
ting
Com
mitt
ees
(RAC
OCs)
Emer
genc
yM
anag
emen
tUni
t,Of
fice
of th
e Pr
ime
Min
ister
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
H.13
Num
ber o
f hou
seho
lds
rece
ivin
g fo
od a
ssist
ance
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
edC.
2 Pe
rcen
tage
of O
VC w
hose
hou
seho
lds
have
rece
ived
free
bas
ic e
xter
nal
supp
ort i
n ca
ring
for t
he c
hild
H.16
Num
ber o
f OVC
rece
ivin
g fo
od a
nd n
utrit
iona
l ser
vice
s
4.9
Targ
et p
reve
ntat
ive
heal
th c
are
serv
ices
for y
oung
chi
ldre
n (0
-3) i
n th
e ca
re
of th
e el
derly
or a
t Ear
ly C
hild
hood
Deve
lopm
entC
entr
es a
nd s
tren
gthe
n gr
owth
mon
itorin
g to
iden
tify
child
ren
in th
ese
circ
umst
ance
s w
ho a
re n
ot
thriv
ing.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Edu
catio
nM
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
H.1
Ratio
of O
VC to
non
-OVC
age
d 0-
4 w
ho a
re m
alno
urish
edH.
17 N
umbe
r of O
VC re
ceiv
ing
heal
th c
are
serv
ices
4.10
Revi
se a
nd e
nfor
ce in
herit
ance
law
s an
d th
e pr
ovisi
ons
for w
idow
s in
the
Com
mun
alLa
ndRe
form
Act
, and
take
str
ong
actio
n ag
ains
t pro
pert
y-gr
abbi
ng, t
o en
sure
that
OVC
and
chi
ld-h
eade
d ho
useh
olds
do
not l
ose
acce
ss to
the
land
and
reso
urce
s th
ey n
eed
for f
ood
secu
rity.
Min
istry
of L
ands
and
Res
ettle
men
t (le
ad)
Min
istry
of J
ustic
e /
Mas
ter o
f the
Hig
hCo
urt
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reLa
wRe
form
and
Dev
elop
men
tCom
miss
ion
Lega
l Ass
istan
ce C
entr
eTr
aditi
onal
Aut
horit
ies
H.4
The
perc
enta
ge o
f mot
hers
or p
rimar
y ca
regi
vers
who
repo
rt h
avin
g id
entif
ied
a st
andb
y gu
ardi
an w
ho w
ill ta
ke c
are
of th
e ch
ild in
the
even
t tha
t sh
e/he
is n
ot a
ble
to d
o so
4.11
Reco
rd h
ealth
and
nut
ritio
n in
form
atio
n on
OVC
to p
rovi
de d
ata
for
mea
surin
g pr
ogre
ss o
n th
is iss
ue.
Min
istry
of H
ealth
and
Soc
ialS
ervi
ces
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
M.1
4De
mog
raph
ic a
nd H
ealth
Surv
ey c
ompl
eted
4.12
Impr
ove
OVC
acce
ss to
cle
an w
ater
and
san
itatio
n by
var
ious
mea
ns,
incl
udin
g (a
) rai
nwat
er h
arve
stin
gat
sch
ools
and
Early
Chi
ldho
odDe
velo
pmen
tCen
tres
(b) p
rovi
ding
bor
ehol
es a
nd p
ay p
umps
in a
reas
whe
re
they
are
mos
t nee
ded
and
(c) i
nsta
lling
env
ironm
enta
lly-a
ppro
pria
te to
ilet
faci
litie
s at
sch
ools
and
Early
Chi
ldho
odDe
velo
pmen
tCen
tres
.
Min
istry
of A
gric
ultu
re, W
ater
and
For
estr
y (le
ad)
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
reM
inist
ry o
f Hea
lth a
nd S
ocia
lSer
vice
sM
inist
ry o
f Reg
iona
l and
Loc
al G
over
nmen
t, Ho
usin
g an
d Ru
ralD
evel
opm
ent
H.6
Prop
ortio
n of
chi
ldre
n un
der f
ive
year
s of
age
who
die
d in
the
last
yea
rH.
16 N
umbe
r of O
VC re
ceiv
ing
food
and
nut
ritio
nal s
ervi
ces
MAN
AGEM
ENT
AND
NET
WOR
KIN
GTa
rget
:Mul
ti-se
ctor
al c
oord
inat
ion
and
mon
itorin
g of
qua
lity
serv
ices
to O
VC a
re s
igni
fican
tly im
prov
ed b
y 20
10.
ACTI
VITI
ESLE
ADIN
GAG
ENCI
ESRE
LATE
DIN
DICA
TORS
IN M
&E P
LAN
5.1
Deve
lop,
upd
ate,
mai
ntai
n an
d sh
are
a na
tiona
l dat
abas
e on
OVC
ser
vice
s w
hich
incl
udes
info
rmat
ion
on a
ll OV
C in
terv
entio
ns, a
nd m
ake
ever
y ef
fort
to
ensu
re th
at it
is a
ccur
ate
and
com
preh
ensiv
e.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
M.8
Num
ber o
f OVC
regi
ster
ed o
n w
eb-e
nabl
ed d
atab
ase
5.2
Hold
a n
atio
nal c
onfe
renc
e on
OVC
eve
ry tw
o ye
ars
to e
xam
ine
and
high
light
th
e cu
rren
t situ
atio
n, p
rogr
ess,
bes
t pra
ctic
es a
nd fu
ture
pla
ns.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
M.5
Num
ber o
f Nat
iona
l OVC
con
fere
nces
hel
d be
twee
n 20
06 a
nd 2
010
5.3
Mai
ntai
n an
d re
port
on
basic
Mon
itorin
g an
d Ev
alua
tion
info
rmat
ion
on
the
situa
tion
of O
VC, r
evie
w th
e M
onito
ring
and
Eval
uatio
n Pl
an w
hich
ac
com
pani
es th
is Pl
an o
f Act
ion
and
trai
n on
its
use,
and
per
iodi
cally
revi
se th
e M
onito
ring
and
Eval
uatio
n sy
stem
as
nece
ssar
y.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eOV
C Fo
rum
s
M.1
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
se m
othe
r, fa
ther
or b
oth
pare
nts
have
die
dM
.2 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
ho a
re v
ulne
rabl
e ac
cord
ing
to n
atio
nal
mon
itorin
g de
finiti
onM
.6 P
erce
ntag
e of
org
anisa
tions
that
hav
e su
bmitt
ed th
e re
quire
d Sy
stem
for
Prog
ram
me
Mon
itorin
g fo
rms
on ti
me
in th
e pa
st 1
2 m
onth
s
5.4
Ensu
re c
omm
itmen
t and
con
siste
ncy
in a
tten
danc
e an
d pa
rtic
ipat
ion
in
the
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
to in
crea
se it
s ef
fect
iven
ess,
and
bui
ld O
VCPe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e se
cret
aria
t cap
aciti
es.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e Pa
rtic
ipat
ing
min
istrie
sPa
rtic
ipat
ing
non-
gove
rnm
enta
l par
tner
s
M.1
2 Nu
mbe
r of O
VC s
ervi
ce p
rovi
ders
att
endi
ng P
erm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
M.1
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
se m
othe
r, fa
ther
or b
oth
pare
nts
have
die
dM
.2 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
ho a
re v
ulne
rabl
e ac
cord
ing
to n
atio
nal
mon
itorin
g de
finiti
on
5.5
Furt
her d
evel
op th
e ca
paci
ty o
f the
OVC
Per
man
ent T
ask
Forc
e to
sha
re
good
pra
ctic
es, p
lan
and
mon
itor t
he n
atio
nal p
rogr
amm
e, c
reat
e aw
aren
ess,
an
d in
volv
e al
l sec
tors
, by
prov
idin
g (a
) add
ition
al tr
aini
ng a
s ne
cess
ary
(b)
orga
nisin
g in
-cou
ntry
stu
dy to
urs
(c) s
harin
g ca
se s
tudi
es a
nd d
ocum
enta
tion
and
(d) e
ncou
ragi
ng th
em to
mak
e us
e of
app
ropr
iate
e-f
orum
s an
d w
ebsit
es.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
M.7
Num
ber o
f OVC
For
um e
xcha
nge
visit
s co
nduc
ted
betw
een
regi
ons
M.1
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
se m
othe
r, fa
ther
or b
oth
pare
nts
have
die
dM
.2 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
ho a
re v
ulne
rabl
e ac
cord
ing
to n
atio
nal
mon
itorin
g de
finiti
onM
.3 W
ebsit
e de
velo
ped
on O
VC s
ervi
ces
5.6
Stre
ngth
en in
form
atio
n-sh
arin
g an
d ne
twor
king
thro
ugho
ut th
e co
untr
y, b
y hi
ghlig
htin
g go
od p
ract
ices
, org
anisi
ng in
-cou
ntry
stu
dy to
urs,
sha
ring
case
st
udie
s an
d do
cum
enta
tion
and
esta
blish
ing
e-fo
rum
s an
d w
ebsit
es.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)M
inist
ry o
f Inf
orm
atio
n an
d Br
oadc
astin
gOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e
M.6
Per
cent
age
of o
rgan
isatio
ns th
at h
ave
subm
itted
the
requ
ired
Syst
em fo
r Pr
ogra
mm
eM
onito
ring
form
s on
tim
e in
the
past
12
mon
ths
M.7
Num
ber o
f OVC
For
um e
xcha
nge
visit
s co
nduc
ted
betw
een
regi
ons
M.9
Nat
iona
l chi
ldre
n’s
OVC
Foru
m e
stab
lishe
dM
.12
Num
ber o
f OVC
ser
vice
pro
vide
rs a
tten
ding
Per
man
ent T
ask
Forc
e
5.7
Deve
lop
regi
onal
and
con
stitu
ency
-leve
l OVC
For
ums
and
com
mitt
ees,
to
incr
ease
the
leve
l of r
egio
nal a
nd lo
cal n
etw
orki
ng a
nd s
ervi
ce d
eliv
ery,
and
to
impr
ove
repo
rtin
g.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
) (le
ad)
Min
istry
of R
egio
nal a
nd L
ocal
Gov
ernm
ent,
Hous
ing
and
Rura
lDev
elop
men
tOV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
eRe
gion
al A
IDS
Coor
dina
ting
Com
mitt
ees
(RAC
OCs)
Cons
titue
ncy
AIDS
Coor
dina
ting
Com
mitt
ees
(CAC
OCs)
M.1
0 Pe
rcen
t of r
egio
ns w
ith fu
nctio
ning
OVC
For
ums
M.1
1 Pe
rcen
t of c
onst
ituen
cies
with
func
tioni
ng O
VC F
orum
sM
.6 P
erce
ntag
e of
org
anisa
tions
that
hav
e su
bmitt
ed th
e re
quire
d Sy
stem
for
Prog
ram
me
Mon
itorin
g fo
rms
on ti
me
in th
e pa
st 1
2 m
onth
sM
.1 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
hose
mot
her,
fath
er o
r bot
h pa
rent
s ha
ve d
ied
M.2
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
are
vul
nera
ble
acco
rdin
g to
nat
iona
l m
onito
ring
defin
ition
58 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN 59
5.8
Incr
ease
the
capa
city
of m
ayor
s, m
unic
ipal
lead
ers
and
loca
l aut
horit
ies
to
initi
ate,
exp
and
and
man
age
loca
l sup
port
to O
VC, b
y (a
) pro
vidi
ng lo
cal
offic
ials
with
trai
ning
and
sen
sitisa
tion
on th
e ne
eds
of O
VC (b
) enc
oura
ging
th
em to
est
ablis
h an
d pa
rtic
ipat
e in
loca
l OVC
com
mitt
ees
(c) e
ncou
ragi
ng
them
to m
ake
loca
l aut
horit
y re
sour
ces
(suc
h as
spa
ce in
bui
ldin
gs o
wne
d by
the
loca
l aut
horit
y) a
vaila
ble
to s
uppo
rt O
VC s
ervi
ces
and
(d) e
ncou
ragi
ng
them
to p
rovi
de a
t lea
st te
mpo
rary
relie
f to
hous
ehol
ds c
arin
g fo
r OVC
who
ca
nnot
pay
for l
ocal
aut
horit
y se
rvic
es s
uch
as w
ater
and
ele
ctric
ity.
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ld W
elfa
re
(lead
)OV
C Pe
rman
ent T
ask
Forc
e Al
lianc
e of
May
ors
and
Mun
icip
alLe
ader
s on
HI
V/AI
DS in
Afr
ica
(AM
ICAA
LL) (
lead
)Na
mib
ia A
ssoc
iatio
n of
Loc
al A
utho
rity
Offic
es(N
ALAO
)As
soci
atio
n of
Loc
al A
utho
ritie
s in
Nam
ibia
(A
LAN)
M.1
0 Pe
rcen
t of c
onst
ituen
cies
with
func
tioni
ng O
VC F
orum
sM
.1 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
hose
mot
her,
fath
er o
r bot
h pa
rent
s ha
ve d
ied
M.2
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
are
vul
nera
ble
acco
rdin
g to
nat
iona
l m
onito
ring
defin
ition
M.1
1 Pe
rcen
t of c
onst
ituen
cies
with
func
tioni
ng O
VC F
orum
s
5.9
Map
ser
vice
s fo
r OVC
to fa
cilit
ate
refe
rral
s an
d to
pre
vent
dup
licat
ion
of
serv
ices
.M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
M.4
Annu
al N
PA re
port
sub
mitt
ed to
Cab
inet
5.10
Com
miss
ion
a st
udy
on re
sour
ce m
appi
ng to
see
if fu
nds
allo
cate
d fo
r OVC
serv
ices
are
bei
ng a
pplie
d ef
ficie
ntly
for t
heir
inte
nded
pur
pose
s.M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
OVC
Perm
anen
t Tas
k Fo
rce
M.1
3St
udy
on re
sour
ce m
appi
ng fo
r OVC
ser
vice
s co
mpl
eted
and
di
ssem
inat
ed
5.11
Ensu
re th
at th
e re
com
men
datio
ns in
the
Min
istry
of G
ende
r Equ
ality
and
Chi
ldW
elfa
reHu
man
Reso
urce
and
Cap
acity
Gap
Ana
lysis
are
impl
emen
ted.
M
inist
ry o
f Gen
der E
qual
ity a
nd C
hild
Wel
fare
(le
ad)
Min
istry
of F
inan
cePu
blic
Serv
ice
Com
miss
ion
M.1
Per
cent
age
of c
hild
ren
unde
r 18
who
se m
othe
r, fa
ther
or b
oth
pare
nts
have
die
dM
.2 P
erce
ntag
e of
chi
ldre
n un
der 1
8 w
ho a
re v
ulne
rabl
e ac
cord
ing
to n
atio
nal
mon
itorin
g de
finiti
on
AGEN
CYC
ON
TA
CT P
ER
SON
TELE
PH
ON
EFA
XP
OST
AL
AD
DR
ESS
EM
AIL
AD
DR
ESS
Min
istr
y of
Agr
icul
ture
, Wat
er
and
Fore
stry
Min
istr
y of
Edu
cati
on
Min
istr
y of
Fin
ance
Min
istr
y of
Gen
der
Equa
lity
and
Child
Wel
fare
Min
istr
y of
Hea
lth
and
Soci
alSe
rvic
es
Min
istr
y of
Hom
eAf
fair
s an
d Im
mig
rati
on
Min
istr
y of
Info
rmat
ion
and
Broa
dcas
ting
Min
istr
y of
Jus
tice
Min
istr
y of
Lab
our
and
Soci
alW
elfa
re
Min
istr
y of
Reg
iona
l and
Loc
alGo
vern
men
t,Ho
usin
g an
d Ru
ralD
evel
opm
ent
Min
istr
y of
Saf
ety
and
Secu
rity
Nam
ibia
n Pa
rlia
men
t
Nat
iona
l Pla
nnin
g Co
mm
issi
on
Offi
ce o
f th
e Pr
esid
ent
Offi
ce o
f th
e Pr
ime
Min
iste
r
OVC
Perm
anen
t Ta
skFo
rce
Agency contact details
60 NAMIBIA NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
Notes
UNICEF technical and financial support in the preparationand finalisation of the National Plan of Action facilitated thecontributions of the following persons:
DeeDee Yates, who compiled the RAAAP report of 2004which formed the basis of the Plan of Action.Jane Begala of Futures Group, who assisted with costingthe Plan of Action.Dianne Hubbard and Anne Rimmer of the Legal AssistanceCentre, for editing to finalise the text of the Plan of Action.Clever Clogs Productions (associate photographer JacoStrauss) and UNICEF (photo library), for some of the photosin this document.Perri Caplan, for designing and laying out this documentand the accompanying Monitoring and Evaluation Plan(Volume 2).
National Plan of Actionfor Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Volume 1
Recommended