2nd National Conference on Orphans and Other ... - FHI 360

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Develop public relations and funding strategies for expanding the OVC Fund. Due to the growing financial needs of our OVC, an OVC <strong>National</strong> Trust Fund is in development. Strengthen existing structures/facilities to offer drop-in services for OVC, and mobilise communities to ensure that they have information on how to access state grants, allowances and services relating to OVC. As a result of work undertaken at the national, regional and constituency levels, OVC have become a national agenda focus and key stakeholders have OVC incorporated into their plans – this of course being an ongoing process. In all regions OVC are being integrated into structures and communities have been mobilised. All this work is an integral component of the work of each subgroup. I must acknowledge the efforts of the steering committee members, who willingly took leave from work – as a voluntary service to the committee – to travel the country to do this mobilising for the integration of OVC. Thank you very much, colleagues! Simplify and reinforce the implementation of the School Development Fund to ensure OVC access to quality education. Regulations to accompany the new Education Act are currently in development. Continually develop the national OVC resource manual. All delegates have received the update form for the manual, or if not there is a form in the handout pack. We hope to have the updated manual ready in a few months. SLIDES 10-11: LOBBYING GROUP The Lobbying and OVC Forums programmes are interlinked, but we decided to split the work between two groups due to the amount of work involved. The Lobbying group key actions and achievements are as follows: Lobby the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC) to gain assistance in the promulgation of all outstanding bills related to OVC. In the last year, in collaboration with many stakeholders, outstanding child welfare bills have been revisited and updated, and parliamentarians and the LRDC have been lobbied. Provide information and training workshops regarding the Guardian Fund. Due to the lack of knowledge of the Guardian Fund, training is about to commence. Devise a strategy with the MMC to promote the OVCNSC’s aims. Develop a variety of OVC awareness campaigns that work from grassroots level up. A one-year <strong>National</strong> OVC Media Strategy has been developed, but this will be revisited and portions will be incorporated into the recently developed national OVCNSC’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy. Mobilise and sensitise ministries, NGOs, churches and civil society regarding the needs of OVC. Again, work has been undertaken at the national, regional and constituency levels, OVC are on the national agenda and key stakeholders have OVC incorporated into their plans – an ongoing process. In all regions OVC are being integrated into structures and communities have been mobilised. SLIDES 12-13: OVC FORUMS GROUP The OVC Forums key actions and achievements are as follows: Organise a <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on OVC. Undertake mapping of all current structures. Hold meetings with parliamentarians and regional and local councillors to promote OVC issues. Promote the inclusion of OVC in all structures and forums. Promote and facilitate the development of OVC forums where no other forums exist. Again, all this work has been undertaken at the national, regional and constituency levels, OVC are on the national agenda and key stakeholders have OVC incorporated into their plans – an ongoing process. In all regions OVC are being integrated into structures and communities have been mobilised. 4 <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report
Promote and facilitate the exchange of information relating to OVC between all forums. Through all the work outlined and the members of the OVCNSC themselves, I believe that good information exchange is taking place. SLIDE 14: MONITORING & EVALUATION (M&E) GROUP Develop a tool for monitoring and evaluating OVC services and programmes that includes community monitors. The piloting of a national M&E tool is currently in development and the findings will be ready by October. This tool looks at service provision (i.e. quality, standards and access), training and supervision. SLIDE 15: SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GROUP This was an internal group in the Directorate of Social Assistance tasked to develop procedures to expedite payments to OVC. Over the last few months this directorate has also been transferring the budget for child welfare assistance to the MWACW, and in time payments will also be made by the latter ministry. SLIDE 16: WHAT ARE OUR CHALLENGES? I do not want to paint a picture of all being rosy in the garden; like all of you, we too have our challenges, hence the theme of the conference. Global goals vs local needs: It will remain a challenge to keep our programmes focused and responsive to local needs to prevent their being driven from outside. NGOs vs government: The OVCNSC has fostered strong partnerships with the NGO movement, and these have moved forward in leaps and bounds. However, government role-players face the inevitable bureaucracy which at times makes them look as though they are not moving fast enough. This can be very frustrating for the government role-players and their partners. Institutionalisation vs family-centred care: Unfortunately there are still people who feel that the best way to solve the OVC problem is to put children in children’s homes. In Namibia this has been called for, but the Government of Namibia (GRN) is taking a stand against going down that road, and I hope you will all continue to do so. It will be a challenge, however, to prevent private sector agencies developing homes if they have the resources. As we all know, in many cases institutionalisation causes children to develop communication and behavioural problems, and makes reintegration into society and forming relationships difficult for them. Legislation: One major problem we face is that of outdated children’s legislation. The relevant laws have been updated, but we had to review the drafts again due to the transfer of the child welfare function to the MWACW. Also, since the first drafts of the updated laws were produced in 1995 many things have changed and we have learnt more. The draft laws must accommodate the changes and new knowledge. Co-ordination of resources: The OVC issue is very ‘hip’ at present and many people want to throw money at it. The same thing happened in Namibia in relation to HIV and in a short time many agencies folded. People living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) were the ones who suffered. We don’t want to see the same thing happen to OVC. We are trying to send out the message that all agencies in Namibia should feed their plans, programmes etc. via the OVCNSC, so that we have a co-ordinated response – not controlling but co-ordinated – with the maximum impact, by pooling resources and avoiding duplication and overlap. Role of the older person: This matter is very close to my heart, and I believe it has been overlooked and disregarded to a great extent. Older people are the people providing care and support to OVC as well as to others affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. Not enough attention has been given to supporting them in this difficult task. It is my sincere wish that the incoming steering committee will devote substantial time to finding ways to support our older persons. They are an extremely valuable resource in our fight to provide care, support and protection, and it will be a sad day when we allow this resource to be neglected and slip through our fingers. SLIDE 17: WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE I think it is very important to state that everything we are doing or have planned, though intended <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report 5
Page 1 and 2: 2nd Nation
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS FOREWORD ACRONYMS AND ABBR
Page 5 and 6: FOREWORD Namibia has come a long wa
Page 7 and 8: INTRODUCTORY SESSION Session chairp
Page 9: Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) Mult
Page 13 and 14: As mentioned in the previous presen
Page 15 and 16: I am here to represent the MWACW ta
Page 17 and 18: the mother will take custody, for t
Page 19 and 20: permission for it? In other words,
Page 21 and 22: Questions and comments on Ms Hubbar
Page 23 and 24: a basis and guidelines for operatio
Page 25 and 26: parents when a child is arrested; a
Page 27 and 28: I will now read out our group’s s
Page 29 and 30: Lack of food and parental supervisi
Page 31 and 32: Recommendations: 1. Information on
Page 33 and 34: Social services: Lack of knowledge
Page 35 and 36: Impacts on OVC: 1. Psychosocial nee
Page 37 and 38: OFFICIAL OPENING SESSION Session ch
Page 39 and 40: anecdotal reports from communities
Page 41 and 42: Trauma associated with losing a par
Page 43 and 44: Namibia’s resource distribution i
Page 45 and 46: Ms Kovambo Nujoma Keynote address,
Page 47 and 48: EXPERT PRESENTATIONS PRESENT TIONS
Page 49 and 50: 3. Psychosocial Normal stresses an
Page 51 and 52: RACOC Regional Director PEER SUPPOR
Page 53 and 54: equests for increments in the Schoo
Page 55 and 56: tance of proper co-ordination can n
Page 57 and 58: then not deliver. The other conside
Page 59 and 60: OVC VC LOGO AND DEFINITION Session
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WORKING GROUP SESSIONS Session chai
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Before calling on the first group r
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Learned/enforced roles Domestic vi
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Comment: Everything in the strategy
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GROUP 2 SUB-GROUP 2: FAMILY-CENTRED
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egardless. We know it will take a l
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Questions and comments on Group 3 r
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SUMMARY OF GROUP 4 DISCUSSION (verb
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the why? If it is for the purpose o
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COMMENTARY AND ADDITIONAL POINTS IN
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therefore reached consensus that a
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Session chairperson Ulitala Hivelua
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Official reports and policy documen
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MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND CHILD
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CATHOLIC AIDS ACTION (CAA) Dr Lucy
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Dr Marita Grobler, Head of Departme
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OUTGOING AND INCOMING OVC VC NATION
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