In 2005 Project HOPE (HOPE) began the "Sustainable Strengthening of Families of Orphans and

Vulnerable Children" project, which delivers health messages and training on parenting skills combined with

access to micro credit (18235.08, 3782.08). To date, over 1,600 caregivers of OVC in the Oshana,

Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati Regions are participating in this program. Additionally, 300 households

headed by either elderly or OVC were added during COP07. Project HOPE is a Track 1 partner with an

agreement in place for 2005 - 2010 and also receives funding from the field. In FY07, Project HOPE

underwent an assessment of their program direction and implementation which resulted in a new project

alignment between the field funding program and Track 1 scope of work. Under the Track 1 agreement

HOPE works mainly with caregivers, while the field funding program supports the new prevention activities,

work with grannies and households. Although the project works with existing government and non-

governmental organization (NGO) and faith-based organization (FBO) partners in Namibia, there is scope

for additional cooperation.

The UNICEF OVC Situational Analysis in 2001 indicated that the number of families caring for OVC and the

number of OVC in these households (HH) is increasing at an alarming rate. It is projected that by 2021

there will be approximately 250,000 OVC under the age of 15 in Namibia. A lack of economic opportunities

and a high unemployment rate constitute a serious challenge to heads of households (HH) who bear the

financial responsibility for these OVC. A baseline study conducted by Project HOPE in 2006 and regular

data collected by Family Resource Persons (FRPs) (community volunteers) indicate that 54% of the

caregivers are elderly (60 years and above) and the main source of income for the HH is the N$370 monthly

pension for the elderly. The baseline study also revealed that 1% of the caregivers are OVC themselves

and regular surveillance data from the FRPs show that the older OVC are leaving their siblings with

neighbors or community members and leaving to pursue economic opportunities elsewhere. Caregivers

who can earn income are stressed by the constant search for income to contribute to the HH needs, often

resulting in the neglect or abandonment of children, and at times a hostile environment for the OVC who

bear the brunt of the stress experienced by their caregivers.

To address some of these issues HOPE proposes the following objectives: To expand the coping

capabilities of families of OVC by 1) improving economic status and quality of life within HHs; and 2)

strengthening the capacity to provide care and support to OVC. During COP 2008 300 HH (COP 2007) will

continue participating and will receive larger loans to enable business growth and market expansion. They

will also receive a host of business development services from Business Development Officers (BDO).

Community Health Workers (CHW) will continue providing the Parenting Skills/Listening Skills curriculum

"Happy Children at the Heart of the Community" during the bi-weekly meetings and FRPs will continue

facilitating access to services for OVC including, but not limited to, psychosocial support, bereavement

counseling, access to maintenance and foster grants, as well as food donations for malnourished under 5.

Leveraging with other partners, including prevention (see activity #) with a stronger focus on health and

promoting health seeking behavior and preventative health care will be developed as Project HOPE

expands. The demand for these services is increasing and HOPE proposes to expand the program in the

currently active regions to reach an additional 450 HH (making a total of 750 HH).

HOPE proposes to hold promotional meetings with interested groups identified by stakeholders like Ministry

of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW), Catholic AIDS Action (CAA), Lifeline Childline (LLCL),

Regional AIDS Coordination Committees (RACOS), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) and

others. After the promotional meeting, interested OVC Caregivers will form Village Health Funds of self-

selected caregivers. They will be provided a pre-loan training (five to six sessions depending on their level

of understanding). Identified OVC heads of HH will receive scholarships for vocational training and or

apprenticeships. Linkages for future public-private partnerships may occur with apprenticeship programs in

conjunction with other USG OVC business partnerships. Established Village Health Funds (VHF) will

receive financial services ranging from savings, loans and (for more mature groups) leases. Bi-weekly

meetings will be held to repay their loans/leases and to receive the "Happy Children at the Heart of the

Community" curriculum as mentioned above. HOPE will provide services to three field teams: the Loan

Team (LT), the Health and Psychosocial Support Team (H&PSST) and the Business Development Team

(BDT). All teams will have representation in the groups through the elected management committee that will

include a President, Treasurer and a Secretary who will work closely with the LT to ensure good

governance and repayment of loans.

Family Resource Persons will work closely with the Health and Psycho-social Support team (H&PSST) and

the MGECW to conduct activities mentioned above while Business Activists will work closely with the BDOs

in identifying business opportunities and ensuring participants are exploiting opportunities in the market.

Caregiver/Family resource persons will assist in providing OVC support and community care. The program

will have a stronger focus on health and promoting health seeking behavior and preventative health care.

One of the business opportunities the VHFs will pursue closely is the industrialization of local agricultural

produce into E-PAP, a nutritional supplement for people living with HIV and OVC. VHF members will be

encouraged to form associations to produce and supply the demand of partner organizations such as CAA,

TKMOAMS, YELULA, ELCIN, Church Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and others.

In order to ensure that the implementation of activities goes according to plan, regional supervisors as well

as team supervisors will visit field activities between two to three times a week and daily activity reports will

be entered into a database to keep track of all activities. Each team will have a set of monitoring and

evaluation (M&E) tools to assess impact; some of them will be collected at baseline and recollected after a

year of participation. One of these tools is the member profile, which provides socio economic data for each

member. All tools will be kept by groups in files as well as entered into a database. VHF files contain the

following information about each member: member profile (collected by field staff), household assessment

(collected by FRP), house visitation reports, growth monitoring assessment (in under-5), evidence of

referrals and recollected information. All data is entered into the databases through data entry personnel

and will be linked to the national OVC database (see activity#). Process data will be analyzed by the

regional supervisor and Acting/Country Director to adjust and correct interventions and also to report back

to USAID.

HOPE will participate and advocate for OVC in different networks such as the OVC Permanent Task Force,

OVC Regional Forums, RACOC meetings and Home Based Care Forums to strengthen access to services

for OVC. HOPE will support activities of the MGECW, like the OVC National Database (6471.08, 3781.08,

18235.08), OVC Forums and other community structures. HOPE will also collaborate with other USG

Activity Narrative: partners to develop prevention materials and behavior change communication (BCC) messaging, to train

home care volunteers and community action forums and integrate reproductive health. HOPE will also

participate in microfinance and small business forums to strengthen the services provided to the small

businesses that caregivers are operating. Theses networks include the Rural Microfinance Task Team,

Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Joint Consultative

Committee. HOPE together with other micro finance institutions will establish a Microfinance Institution

Umbrella Organization/Forum.

Project HOPE has been actively involved in the process in Namibia of developing minimum criteria and

quality standards, especially in the area of economic strengthening. The program will align its curriculum to

the standards and expanding service delivery to provide quality core services.