Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of.pdf - Global HIV ...

and networking. To achieve scale and quality, it is essential
to build consensus and create a harmonized, wellcoordinated,
and data-driven response.
Perspectives on Consultative Planning and
Coordinating Structures
National or sub-national consultations about the situation
of OVC and youth may occur in two parts: one
part before and one part after a situation analysis. In
this scenario, a comprehensive analysis may be postponed
and a rapid assessment or desk review undertaken
as a prompt for the initial consultation. In this
way, a situation analysis becomes part of an extended
consultative process that can move beyond the
parameters of one or two national or sub-national
conferences and take shape as a permanent coordinating
structure (likely including former Situation
Analysis Advisory Team members). Such a structure
will rely on the situation analysis findings to guide
development and implementation of a national plan of
action for large-scale and sustainable interventions for
vulnerable children and youth.
Strategic National Action Plan
Building on the consultation process, situation analysis
findings can guide development of a strategic national
(or sub-national) action plan for OVC or can be used to
amend or update an existing action plan. It is relatively
easy to use the data collected to identify HIV/AIDSrelated
problems or issues affecting children and their
caregivers. The challenge is to identify the most critical
problems and to formulate appropriate and strategic
responses. 1 Situation analysis findings help planners take
into account both the seriousness of various problems
and their consequences. This in turn makes it possible to
evaluate the potential impact that specific actions will
have on the problems. Several points must be taken into
account for each problem:
• Causes of problems experienced by orphans and vulnerable
children
• Estimated number and proportion of children and
families affected (from other sources)
• Relevant coping strategies identified
1 PHNI. 2004. Conducting a Situation Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Affected by HIV/AIDS: A Framework and Resource Guide.
• Contextual factors that significantly affect (positively
or negatively) the problems and how people cope
• Adequacy and effectiveness of current programs or
other interventions
• Opportunities for making a significant impact
• Costs and timeframe for alleviating the problem
For each problem, potential types of action can be
identified, and may involve:
• Prevention to block factors causing problems
• Mitigation to change the factors influencing problems
to make it easier for those affected to cope
• Capacity-building to strengthen family and community
capacity to deal with problems on an ongoing
basis
• Relief to provide direct assistance to affected individuals
and families to meet urgent needs
Situation analysis findings can be used to put the magnitude
of the problems experienced by vulnerable children
and their caregivers into perspective. Given that the findings
will convey opinions and sentiments of the intended
beneficiaries of a strategic plan, the relevance of the findings
cannot be overstated.
The Advisory Team will not likely submit cost estimates
for carrying out actions recommended in the situation
analysis report. However, when developing recommendations
that may be used to guide the drafting or updating
of a national action plan, the Advisory Team should take
into account factors related to cost. This will result in
more realistic recommendations and perhaps make them
Increasing Public Awareness
While most people living in high-HIV/AIDS-incidence
countries have been directly or indirectly involved
with supporting vulnerable children, an understanding
of the situation from the child’s perspective may not
be widely known or understood. In fact, many adults
may believe that children will get over their losses
with minimal assistance.This belief prevents adults
from understanding the causes, for example, of a
child’s deviant or spiteful behavior. Communications
planners can guide a participatory process that uses
data from the analysis to influence changes in attitudes
and norms regarding the care of vulnerable
children.
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