Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2007 2008 2009

Details for Mechanism ID: 4735
Country/Region: Haiti
Year: 2007
Main Partner: World Concern
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: FBO
Funding Agency: USAID
Total Funding: $1,214,070

Funding for Care: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (HKID): $1,214,070

SUMMARY: The Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO)'s HIV/AIDS Alliance ("the Alliance") will carry out activities to enable households, families, churches and communities to provide support to children orphaned or affected by HIV/AIDS. The Alliance will work closely with local partners to develop community-based OVC support interventions that respond to their psychosocial needs, strengthens the economic coping capacities of caregivers, links children and families to available health and social services, provides food contributions, and trains caregivers and children in basic hygiene and disease prevention. Trainings in, and the use of, curricula such as "Our Children" will serve to raise awareness of OVC issues, reduce stigma, and empower communities to support and nurture OVC. The primary target populations are OVC, caregivers (including PLWHA caregivers), faith-based organizations (FBOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), volunteers, community leaders and religious leaders. The coverage area is the West, North West, South, North, South East, Central, Nippes, Grande'Anse, Artibonite and North East.

BACKGROUND: This activity is expanding on the current PEPFAR-funded FY06 OVC activities carried out by the Alliance in Haiti. Each partner agency will work with the Haiti Ministry of Health (MOH) at the community level, and World Concern Development Organization (WCDO)—lead agency; will also coordinate with the MOH at the national level. Implementing the program are WCDO, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Medical Ambassadors International, Operation Blessing, Salvation Army, World Hope International and World Relief. All are NGOs.

Female OVC are at greater risk for HIV infection because they are especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Sex for survival is not uncommon for female OVC, especially when they lack any financial support or are caring for younger siblings. The Alliance will seek to bolster the economic abilities of vulnerable OVC and caregivers through micro-credit, and activities will be monitored to ensure females are at least 50% of the beneficiaries. The problem of older men targeting young women also contributes to higher HIV incidence among young women within the age groups of 15 to 24 years. Enabling leaders to articulate values regarding care of OVC will address this exploitation.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS: Activity 1. Strengthen 1,170 caregivers to support OVC, including 680 elderly caregivers. An inventory will be completed to identify the OVC households that will be included in the program; beneficiaries will include households with OVCs under five. An intensive two-day training in basic business skills will be given to 1,100 caregivers who will be selected based on an assessment of the individual caregiver's experience, ability and capacity to run a small business or income generating activity. Small startup capital will be provided for 385 households and/or community groups for sustainable income generation activities. Basic farming resources will be received by 1,000 caregivers who will also be trained in effective farming practices. OVC households will be linked to essential health and social services where available. Caregivers will be trained in basic hygiene and disease prevention. The Alliance will link VCT/PMTCT/ARV sites to OVC households, as well as accept referrals from these sites. Deworming medications and vitamin-A supplements will be given to 30,000 OVC and their family members. OVC will participate in immunization drives. Trained volunteers will teach 1,890 caregivers on the legal rights of OVC, including inheritance rights. Volunteers will also provide psychosocial care to 1,800 OVC.

Activity 2. The Alliance will recruit, mobilize and strengthen 180 new churches, FBOs and CBOs into the program, with continued care that areas are not double covered for OVC support. These local partners will be supported in the development and maintenance of their own OVC programs, through which 155 self sustaining programs will be established. These community-driven OVC programs will be encouraged to establish caregivers' care groups that will further strengthen caregivers supporting OVC. In addition, 1,600 OVC will receive nutritional support and 1,700 will receive mentoring from adult role models. Trained volunteers will regularly visit OVC households, including child-headed households, to assess needs, provide psychosocial support and aid to meet basic needs.

Activity 3. Increase the capacity of older children (ages 15 to 17) to meet their own needs. This will include training and mentoring 300 older OVC in animal husbandry and household farming. Additional economic activities centered on hand crafts will also be taught, with assistance in marketing the finished products.

Activity 4. Ensure access to vocational or formal education for OVC. This activity will be done in selected cases and based on need. The Alliance will work with local schools assisting 300 OVC to attend school.

Activity 5. Raise awareness among families, churches, communities and society in general to create an environment that enables support for OVC. The Alliance will enable community and religious leaders to clearly articulate traditional and faith-based values regarding care of OVC. Curriculums such as "Our Children" will sensitize 3,300 leaders to share the needs of OVC including issues of social abuse, child slavery (restavek), adoption, child trade, stigmatization and legal rights. Broadcast media will highlight the treatment of OVC and provide a context for reflection and discussion. This medium will raise awareness among 300,000 people, helping to transform the public perception of OVC. The Alliance will also establish preventative HIV education programs, where 1,900 children will receive prevention training.

In regard to the issues of U.S. Legislative interest, please note that for every activity, we will track the number of OVC who are female so that at least 50% of the beneficiaries are girls, preferably higher. OVC female caregivers will also have access to income and productive resources through the availability of microfinance and income generation in the form of goat loans. Stigma and discrimination will be reduced through sensitivity trainings provided to the local organizations working with the OVC, as well as the HIV/AIDS training on transmission and prevention which will demystify and destigmatize the disease. Stigma associated with HIV/AIDS will also be reduced through the use of mass media campaigns.

A public/private partnership is possible because MedPharm is providing deworming medications valued at US$12.87 per tab and vitamin-A supplements valued at US$0.236 per tab so that OVC and their caregivers can receive these treatments to boost their nutrition. In total, the Alliance is providing a cost share of 37% for OVC activities.

These activities relate to the PEPFAR 2-7-10 goals by providing care and support to OVC and their households. In the past 12 months the Alliance helped to meet the needs of 10,078 OVC in Haiti.