2008 05 09 OVC Best Practices.pdf - SAfAIDS

INTRODUCTION
The symposium was co-convened by the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Working
Group and the UK Department for International Development. The Orphans and
Vulnerable Children Working Group is a sub-group of the UK Consortium on AIDS
and International Development and was formed in March 2004. The Working Group
currently comprises nineteen UK based international agencies 1 working, inter alia, for
the rights of children and their families and carers affected by HIV/AIDS around the
world. The group aims to lobby and provide technical support to the UK Department
for International Development (DfID), the European Union, the United Nations, and
bilateral donors in the development of HIV/AIDS related policies and strategies, as
well as to share programme experiences among its members and other interested
parties.
The aim of this symposium was to share experiences and programme approaches
among practitioners working with orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and
AIDS and their carers. There were presentations to highlight lessons learnt and best
practice related to the five approaches identified in 'The Framework for the Protection
of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS.’ The
presentations facilitated discussion and assisted with identifying approaches, which
can be scaled up and replicated.
Following an overview of ‘The Framework,’ the symposium consisted of five
sessions: one on each of the five approaches in the Framework. Each included one
or two examples of programme experience based on recent research or evaluations,
followed by plenary discussion time. The day concluded with a round up session to
summarise core lessons and identify some next steps.
We would like to thank the staff of the UK Consortium Secretariat for helping us
organise this event, in particular Penny Bloore for her tireless efforts.
Stuart Kean & Christina D’Allesandro, Co-chairs of the OVC Working Group &
David Clarke, Senior Education Adviser, DFID AIDS Team
February, 2005
1 The Working Group on Orphans and Vulnerable Children members include: AMREF, British Red
Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, European Forum on HIV/AIDS, Children, Young People and Families,
Healthlink Worldwide, HelpAge International, Hope HIV, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Mildmay
International, Plan UK, Religions for Peace (UK), Save the Children UK, Tearfund, UNICEF UK, USPG,
Uganda AIDS Action, VSO and World Vision UK.
3