Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Details for Mechanism ID: 12272
Country/Region: Zambia
Year: 2012
Main Partner: U.S. Department of State
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Other USG Agency
Funding Agency: enumerations.State/African Affairs
Total Funding: $300,000

Orphans and vulnerable children represent some of the most underprivileged members of society. According to the National AIDS Strategic Framework 2011-2015: Towards improving the quality of life of the Zambian people (NASF, 2010), Zambia ranks second in the highest number of OVC in Africa, an estimated 1.3 million. Of these, 50 percent are thought to be due to HIV and AIDS. 4 in 10 children under age 18 were not living with both parents; and that 15 percent of children under age 18 were orphaned with one or both parents were dead.

With this magnitude of OVC, extended family structures are being overly taxed. Prevailing poverty makes it difficult for families to care these children. Of those that are taken in, many OVC are resented for the strain they add to the family. These children are less likely to be in school and are more vulnerable to child labor, harassment and sexual abuse. The NASF (2010) estimates that in 2006 there were 13,000 children living on the streets with this figure projected increase to over 22,000 in 2016.

Zambias Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has the mandate to socially protect OVC. The Ministry works with the Ministry of Home Affairs to place OVC in the care of relatives. When this is not possible, children are placed in childrens homes or orphanages. According to the NASF (2010), there are 4,592 children living in these facilities. Community leaders, village headmen, teachers and religious figures know which children are in the most need in their communities. The PEPFAR OVC Small Grant program builds on this knowledge by providing small grants to organizations who work closely with these individuals to identify OVC, prioritize their needs, and mobilize community action

Funding for Care: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HKID): $300,000

The PEPFAR OVC Small Grant program is designed to assist NGOs and community, faith-based and womens groups with innovative projects that provide care and support to OVC. The goal of the program to improve the standard of living of OVC and their households through sustainable community-led projects. Projects have to fill a need in the community and reach a large number of OVC.

This years grants funded 25 projects located in all of Zambias nine provinces. Projects were selected based on their past work with the under privileged and their demonstrated ability to make a significant improvement in the health and wellbeing of OVC. Project funding ranged from $7,500 to $14,800. All projects focus on at least two of the following areas, with education being the most prevalent:

- Education: school fees, uniforms, shoes, books and other requisites- Basic needs: nutrition, medical care, hygiene, clothing, blankets- Counseling: psychosocial, life skills, behavior change- Income generating activities for the organization and/or OVC households- HIV prevention- Stigma and discrimination issues- Skills training: tailoring, carpentry, bricklaying, catering, crafts, OVC care

Program successes are simple but critical. One of the most important is that children are able to go to school when previously they had to drop out to care for a sick family member or because they were orphaned.

Challenges encountered include the continual fact that the need is far greater than the funds available. Many organizations report that they have to turn away OVC because they have reached their quota and do not have additional funds to support more children.

The PEPFAR OVC Small Grant program is very popular. During this years call for new applications, over 400 were received for next years funding cycle. All the applications were reviewed and promising projects short listed. Site visits are ongoing to determine which 25 to 30 projects will be funded.

A new requirement for all future projects is the addition of an income generating activity (IGA) to enable the grantee to continue their OVC services after the PEPFAR funds are spent. Examples of IGAs include a hammer mill for grinding grain, tailoring, brick making, catering, poultry rearing, vegetable production, and micro lending schemes. The goal of these activities is to produce a better future for OVC and the organizations that support them.

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $300,000
Education $200,000
Food and Nutrition: Commodities $100,000