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

egardless. We know it will take a long time to
strengthen them, but we should not think this
entails putting up new structures around the
country. We are simply saying that we need to
strengthen the existing families and community
structures, and in our view it would be very costeffective
and even economical to venture down
this road. As Mr Phiri noted in his address, the
extended family has not disintegrated; it is there
but it is stressed to capacity. This is a matter of
sustainability, and we have no choice but to find
ways to strengthen the family networks so they
can do what we are asking them to do.
Comment (Petronella Masabane): The outgoing
OVCNSC has costed the activities we had
planned to implement on an annual basis. We
do have a strategic plan, some of the conference
recommendations will be catered for in this plan,
and an action plan with specific time lines will
be drawn up annually with all activities costed.
It is a general requirement of government that
all strategic plans and policies are costed so that
we can be clear on what resources we need for
implementating them. We must assume that the
same will happen in respect of all recommendations
of this conference.
GROUP 3
Review the draft
<strong>National</strong> Policy on OVC
Facilitators:
Andrew Muwonge, Southern Consultants
Ottilie Abrahams, NAWA
Rapporteur:
Rosa Namises, Namibian MP
Ms Masabane noted that the presence of a Member of Parliament throughout the proceedings was
much appreciated. The group had worked until 6.30pm the previous night and she thanked the members
for their dedication to the task.
KEY STRATEGY
Mobilise human and financial resources for the following:
Empowering the community to carry out various activities necessary for the development of
OVC.
Assessing, monitoring and evaluating.
Ensuring speedy implementation, simplifying and dissemination of information.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. All stakeholders to advocate and lobby for the updating of all existing laws, for enforcing their
implementation, and for the speedy enactment of all existing bills, with special reference made
to gender disparities.
2. Remove all bureaucratic procedures relating to state assistance to ensure inclusive, speedy
and efficient access to service delivery, and increase grant amounts to bring them in line with
current cost-of-living inflation.
3. Identify stakeholders to work out a framework to govern effective co-ordinated networking,
monitoring and evaluation at all levels.
4. Support the empowerment of caregivers.
<strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report
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