N/A

New/Continuing Activity: New Activity

Continuing Activity:

Program Budget Code: 13 - HKID Care: OVC

Total Planned Funding for Program Budget Code: $800,000

Total Planned Funding for Program Budget Code: $0

Program Area Narrative:

OVERVIEW:

The Government of Lesotho (GOL) has prioritized orphans and vulnerable child (OVC), as witnessed in the National OVC

Strategic Plan: 2005-2010, which calls for all orphans and other vulnerable children to be appropriately cared for by 2010. The

plan provides a vision, mission, strategic aims and a complex action plan to provide essential services to OVC in Lesotho. The

GOL estimates that between 150,000 and 200,000 children are classified as OVC, e.g. single or double orphans under 18 years

of age. There is no standard OVC registration form used universally, nor is a central database in operation. Thus, there are no

reliable figures on the numbers of OVC who are currently being "reached." There is no established child welfare system, few, if

any, temporary safe havens for minors in crisis, nor any national referral system.

A USG assessment of the current situation, conducted by the RHAP OVC Specialist in September 2008, identified several

constraints and opportunities. OVC programs appear to be scattered throughout Lesotho, supported by different organizations

and agencies, yielding a complicated and mixed picture of OVC policy and programs. New and significant developments around

OVC were identified and include:

1) New staff in the Department of Social Welfare (DSW): new national OVC Coordinator, M&E expert on six-month TA, and two

M&E Officers.

2) New OVC specialist within UNICEF: hired on eight-month TA to guide the EU's Cash Transfer Program which targets 60,000

recipients (5000 to be reached in Jan-Mar 2009 pilot)

3) Global Fund resources: GF Round 7 includes a significant investment in OVC care and support, including a registration system,

capacity building for Child and Gender Protection Units within police stations, and direct support for school fees, housing, and

food security. The first disbursement of $2.8 million was recently released.

4) Initiation of a national Child Line project (a phone call-in service that answers questions and discusses issues involving

children), a pass through of Global Funds through UNICEF to Save the Children, Lesotho.

Primary donor contributions for the OVC sector at present are from EU and Global Fund. EU funding of more than 12 million

Euros is to be used in a cash transfer program over five years, with a goal of reaching 60,000 OVC. The OVC component of the

Global Fund Round 7 grant is $16.1 million over 5 years, with proposed phase 1 funding of $5.4 million. In addition, international

NGO Sentebale, the primary organization working in the OVC sector, has an annual budget of approximately $2.3 million.

National coordination for OVC programs is improving. The National OVC Coordination Committee (NOCC) includes ~20

agencies/organizations and meets quarterly. Letsema, an NGO coordinating body managed by Sentabale, represents over 120

local and international NGOs working with OVCs and meets monthly. Letsema's website includes a directory of related

organizations, a developing GIS mapping effort, and a newsletter. The initial mapping efforts reflect both geographic and service

provision gaps. Letsema's parent organization, Sentebale, is on good terms with DSW and will need to ensure that their

coordination work (including mapping) does not become a parallel system from the NOCC. Letsema has established seven

working committees (e.g., M&E; Resource Mobilization; Policy; Education; Child Protection; Research and Documentation), but

most have yet to become operational.

CURRENT USG PROGRAM:

Following a DP-approved reorganization of the PEPFAR/Lesotho program in 2007, PEPFAR/Lesotho largely pulled out of the

OVC sector. A USG, non-PEPFAR funded activity is the US Ambassador's Scholarship Fund which funds education expenses for

172 girls and 100 boys up to age 15, with an emphasis on orphans and other vulnerable children. A small amount of FY 2008

PEPFAR funding for the US Ambassador's "self-help fund" supports 7 community groups providing OVC activities either directly

or indirectly.

USG FY 2009 SUPPORT:

In the FY 2009 COP, PEPFAR/Lesotho will return to providing direct support for OVC activities. USG partners around the world

have demonstrated excellent models for providing basic services to OVC, especially psychological and social services. A new

OVC partner can bring best practices to Lesotho in structuring an effective and efficient model of community-based services for

OVC. USG has prioritized several recommendations from the assessment exercise of September, 2008 as seen in the following

activities:

1. Increase the number of OVC reached at community level with quality services through improved implementation and human

capacity development. The MOHSW has approved policies, plans of action and an M&E system for OVC, however, there are few

service delivery programs. PEPFAR/Lesotho plans to identify a new partner that can develop an effective system to provide

quality services for OVC at the community level. PEPFAR/Lesotho will strengthen the capacity of local OVC care providers and

the linkages with the community health workers.

2. Liaise closely with the new National OVC Coordinator in DSW and build the department's capacity to strategically plan and

monitor the scattered service programs now in existence. The DSW also need assistance and skills in developing a realistic

budget for the strategic plan and to accurately report against a costed plan.

3. Complement/wrap around other USG-related resources dedicated to vulnerable children. This will include an increased budget

for Peace Corps with defined OVC targets. A number of volunteers have experience with early childhood education and child

care services and with adolescents in the areas of improved life skills and economic strengthening. In addition, PEPFAR/Lesotho

will explore opportunities with the Ambassador Girl's Scholarship Fund program to provide continuity of care through senior high

school;

4. Provide TA for a two day "national standards/quality" meeting on OVC services, perhaps in collaboration with UNICEF, NOCC,

Sentebale and other agencies/organizations.

In order to address these recommendations, PEPFAR/Lesotho plans to hire a split-time FSN/TCN to provide leadership and

facilitate the PEPFAR programming in OVC and to liaise with other USG programs, other donors and GOL. The new staff person

will also manage our proposed community-based care partner and collaborate with DSW. USG will identify a new partner to

become the technical lead in programming for OVC and for community based care through a competitive process.

LEVERAGING/WRAPAROUNDS:

With renewed funding from PEPFAR in COP09, USG plans to leverage funding from Global Fund Round 7, the EU's cash transfer

grants, and other programs in support of OVC. PEPFAR/Lesotho is a member of Letsema and will seek membership to NOCC in

order to coordinate closely with others working in the OVC sector.

PROPOSED COMPACT EXPANSION:

As PEPFAR/Lesotho moves forward to negotiate a Partnership Compact with GOL, we anticipate strengthening human capacity

and resources within the OVC sector, as well as continuing to scale-up OVC service provision. We plan to address issues facing

childen, including protection for OVC, and gender issues increasing children's vulnerability to HIV infection, as noted in the

Guidance documents we received from the Deputy Principals. As Compact negotiations are only at the early stages, we

understand that we may need to revise expectations, and will be in touch with our core team and DP "friend" as we move forward.

OTHER QUALITATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Revised M&E Plan to monitor OVC services

Table 3.3.13: