THIS IS AN ONGOING ACTIVITY. THE NARRATIVE IS UNCHANGED EXCEPT FOR UPDATED

REFERENCES TO TARGETS AND BUDGETS.

1. LIST OF RELATED ACTIVITIES

This activity links to activities in counseling and testing (#8781 and #8776), ARV services (#8797 and

#8813), and palliative care (#8797 and #8813).

2. ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION

Catholic Relief Services' Track 1 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) Project in Kenya is implemented in

Kilifi District in the Archdiocese of Mombasa (ADM). Kilifi District is along the main transport corridor road

from the port of Mombasa to Central African countries. The highway has thus heavy truck traffic contributing

the HIV prevalence rate of 7% in the District. This situation is also fueled by some cultural practices such as

early marriages, polygamy and wife inheritance. With an overall goal of improving the quality of life of

orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), the program is designed to use a two-fold strategy: to increase the

capacity of communities, families and orphans to respond to the needs of OVC and to increase the

institutional capacity of the partner to deliver high quality and sustainable OVC interventions. This strategy

is in line with the broader Kenya government goal, which seeks to provide OVC with quality care, support

and protection. The program targets 20,000 OVC that were identified in the first year of the project

implementation. Through its HIV/AIDS unit, CRS Kenya provides the technical backstopping and

administrative support for the program while the Archdiocese of Mombasa (through its Parish management

and Village management committees and CBOs on the ground) does the actual activity implementation on

the ground. Services provided via the program include education support, health care, psychosocial

support, food and nutrition, and economic strengthening. The traditional extended family fostering system is

believed to be a more effective way of caring for OVC since their social, cultural and psychological needs

can be met as they interact with different members of the society. The program is designed to use the home

based care approach, in which a packaged care and support service delivery strategy is employed to deliver

various services to orphans and vulnerable children in an affordable, accessible and sustainable way. The

program is designed to use two main strategic objectives: OVC are better able to meet their needs, and

local faith- and community-based organizations (FBOs/CBOs) have a sustained capacity to deliver quality

services to OVC. Under the first strategic objective, the program is designed to ensure that OVC use and

enjoy improved access to required services. These services include community-based child care,

psychosocial and education support, and nutrition. This is attained through community mobilization and

training, and partnership and networking with other key stakeholders on the ground, namely some CBOs,

Parish and Village management committees. Under this strategy, the OVC are identified based on agreed

criteria of selection. Their specific needs are identified and documented and include education, health,

psychosocial and economic needs. Follow up efforts and support is provided through home visits using a

network of 400 volunteer Community Health Workers and 7,480 caregivers who have been keen and active

in this cause. While many of the project activities for FY06 are a continuation of FY05 activities, new

activities have emerged in FY06. For example, owing to OVC completing primary education, it was realized

that there is need for vocational training so that the OVC gain useful skills to help them earn some income

and support their families. Planned training programs for enhancement of partner capacity include training

Trainer of Trainers (TOT) in home based care, basic counseling, basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS

programming, financial management and other relevant areas such as Gender issues and HIV/AIDS. These

trainings are specifically tailored to suit the training needs of the ADM and CBO partner staff. The capacity

building efforts are reinforced with planned periodical supervisory visits at different levels and the provision

of technical and financial support. It is envisioned that through these efforts, the organizations will attain

sustained capacities to provide the much desired quality services for the OVC.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL PROGRAM AREA

The overall goal of this project is to improve the quality of life of 20,000 OVC and their families through the

provision of compassionate care and social support and also train 2,000 caregivers. Specifically, 20,000

OVC and their family members will demonstrate enhanced medical and psychological well being, will have

the skills necessary to reduce their risk of HIV infection, and 75% of the targeted households and their

families will demonstrate improved quality of life. Local Implementing Partners (LIPs) will strengthen their

capacity to deliver quality care and support to 20,000 OVC and their families.

4. LINKS TO OTHER ACTIVITIES

This activity links to other Ministry of Health facilities, partners in the areas counseling and testing, home

based care and ART.

5. POPULATIONS BEING TARGETED

This activity will target orphans and vulnerable children, their family members and care givers, and will work

through FBO, CBO and other implementing partners.

6. KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES ADDRESSED

The key legislative issue being addressed is stigma and discrimination through enhanced medical and

psychological well being, and demonstrated improved quality of life. This activity also addresses the

wraparound issues of food security and economic strengthening.

7. EMPHASIS AREAS

The major area of emphasis is local organization capacity development and the minor area of emphasis is

community mobilization/participation.