Persistent Vulnerability: Analyzing NGOs strategies for enhancing child-wellbeing in OVC households in Uganda.
A Research Paper presented by:
Rose Keishanyu Nyamakuru
(Uganda)
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for obtaining the degree of
MASTERS OF ARTS IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Specialization:
Children and Youth Studies
(CYS)
Members of the examining committee:
Dr. Auma Okwany (Supervisor)
Dr. Kristen E. Cheney (Reader)
The Hague, The Netherlands
November, 2011
Disclaimer:
This document represents part of the author’s study programme while at the Institute of Social Studies. The views stated therein are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Institute.
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Dedication
I dedicate this research paper to my elderly Mom Nkwanzi Angela Nyamakuru to whom my absence left her too weak and frail.
My treasured family especially my lovely children Alvin andFortunate who endured the absence of a mother for fifteen months without motherly love and care.
Iam verygrateful to Prossy whose efforts made it possible for me to concentrate knowing someone is taking care of my family in my absence.
Notwithstanding my friends Peter, Carol and Jackie whose support I will never forget.
Acknowledgement
This research has been both challenging and learning experience. Many people contributed to the process of my learning experience and shaped me while undertaking this study.
My appreciation and gratitude goes to my supervisor Dr. Auma Okwany whose critical and professional guidance through the process has helped the development of this paper. Dr. Kristen Cheney my Convenor and Reader whose counsel and advice was very resourceful through the learning process.
To Ford Foundation through AHEAD for financial and social support to make me a leader for social justice and Action for children for the prayers and encouragement.
Thanks to ILIAD, ISS Housing and Facilities whose quick response to my requests made it easy for me to grasp enormous knowledge on development challenges.
Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Acronyms
Abstract
Chapter 1: General Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background
1.3 Framing the research issue
1.3.1 Provision of support to OVC households
1.4 Relevancy and justification
1.5 Research objective and Question
1.6 Methods of data collection
1.5.1 Ethical Considerations and research Dilemmas
1.7 Organization of the paper
Chapter 2: Conceptual understanding of Vulnerability in OVC households.
2.1 Introduction
2.2. Vulnerability and Child-wellbeing
2.3 Understanding the concept of OVC
2.4 Understanding of OVC households in Uganda
2.5 The social rupture and resilience theories
Chapter 3: NGOs interventions to enhance child- wellbeing in OVC households.
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Organisations purposively selected to show activities and programmes.
3.3 NGOs Perceptions of OVC households and their programming
3.3 Vulnerability of OVC households.
Chapter 4: NGOs strategies to enhance child - wellbeing in OVC households
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Strategies used by NGOs to enhance child wellbeing
4.2.1 Awareness and advocacy as a strategy to reduce vulnerability in OVC households
4.2.2 Microcredit and Grants to reduce economic vulnerability in OVC households
4.2.3 Community projects as a strategy for reducing vulnerability among OVC households
4.2.4 Institutionalization as a strategy for reducing vulnerability among OVC households
4.2.5 Partnerships, Networking and Collaboration as a strategy for reducing vulnerability among OVC households
4.2.6 Direct services to OVC households as a strategy for reducing vulnerability among OVC households
4.3 Sustainability issues arising from NGO strategies
Chapter 5: OVC households’ perceptions of NGOs interventions.
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Key achievements from these strategies to enhance child wellbeing
5.3 Gaps in these strategies employed by NGOs to reduce vulnerability
5.4 Factors that can reduce Vulnerability in OVC households
5.4.1 OVC Households: Their role and attitude change
5.4.2 Community efforts to protect OVC households
5.4.3 Service providers’ perception and programming
5.4.4 Using existing Indigenous structures and systems
Chapter 6: Implications for Responsive Programming and Conclusion.
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Quality and quantity with Donor requirements
6.3 Politicians involvement in NGOs interventions
6.4 Limited use of government standards and frameworks (Limited coordination at district level)
6.5 Improved institutional structures of NGOs
6.6 Public private partnerships and uniting to reduce vulnerability in OVC households
6.7 Weaknesses in NGO programming
6.8 Sustainability for OVC households.
6.9 Lessons learnt by NGOs
6.10 Conclusion
Appendices
References
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Categorization of OVC children in Uganda:
Table 2.1 Showing criteria for choosing OVC and their households for intervention:
Table 3.1 Showing the Demographic data of OVC households interviewed for the study.
Table 4.1 Showing How NGOs finance their activities
Table 5.1 Showing average monthly income for OVC households.
List of Figures
Figure 1.1 Showing perception of OVC by NGOs
Figure 2.1 Photo narration of OVC household headed by a grandmother.
Figure 3.1 The main source of income for OVC household
Figure 4.1 Type of Support received from NGOs
Figure 5.1 The use of the support given to Households
Figure 6.1 OVC household’s opinions on how effective are NGO strategies in enhancing child-wellbeing in their area
List of Acronyms
ABEK-Alternative Basic Education in Karamoja
AFC- Action forChildren
AIDS -Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
CAO- Chief Administrative Officer
COCC-Community OVC Care Coalitions
CSF- Civil Society Fund
CSO- Civil Society Organisation
CSO- Civil Society Organisation
DDP- District Development Plan
DHS-Demographic Health Survey
ECD- Early Childhood Development
FGD- Focus Group Discussion
HIV- Human Immunodeficiency Virus
MDLSD- Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development
MoFPED- Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development
NAADS- National Agricultural Advisory Services
NAP - National Action Plan
NGO- Nongovernmental organization
NOP- National Orphans and other Vulnerable Children’s Policy
NSSPI- National Social Strategic Plan of Implementation
OVC- Orphans and other Vulnerable Children
PPP- Public Private Partnership
SCIU- Save the Children in Uganda
SDIP- Strategic Investment Plan for Development
TSO- Technical Service Provider
UCRNN- Uganda Child Rights NGO Network
UNICEF -United Nations Children’s Fund
UORDP- Uganda Orphans Rural Development Programme
WVU- World Vision International Uganda (WVU)
Abstract
The paper looks at the issue of orphans and vulnerable childrenwhich has become a big concern in Africa especially within the era of HIV/AIDS,combinedwith wide- spread poverty at household level which has created many orphans and vulnerable households. It shows how NGOsdespite diverse intervention strategies, NGOs have ultimately failed to alleviate OVC vulnerability. This is because a majority of NGOs consider OVC as vulnerable with no resilience something that has created less sustainable impact.
This conceptualization of the households informs NGO strategies such that they transform OVC households. The research paper highlights the different strategies to support OVC by NGOs, the gaps in these strategies and the extent to which it’s working. For a holistic picture, OVC and their households give the key achievements, what is not known that is hindering the progress and what can be done. The study highlightsimplications for responsive programming to reduce vulnerability among OVC households and enhance child-wellbeing.
Not in the inability and vulnerability of OVC households but the gaps in the NGOs strategies employed and programming mechanisms that persistence in vulnerability in OVC households is rooted.
Keywords
Vulnerability, Child-wellbeing, Orphans and Vulnerable children,and OVC households.
1
Chapter 1: General Introduction
1.1 Introduction
The success of the national response to combat AIDS and efforts to spur economic growth and fight poverty are both linked to how well the country cares for the millions of orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda. (Head of OVC secretariat,Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development)
“OVCs will continue to feature for a long time to come and well thought out interventions are needed to address the challenges presented by the crisis. NGOs and CBOs have provided relief to OVC but it’s not enough because they do not empower vulnerable individuals and enable them to take control of their lives”(Lombe and Ochumbo 2008: 192).
1.2Background
The OVC situation in Uganda has been exacerbated by HIV/AIDS epidemic, leaving many households with a challenge of child welfare as many children are becoming orphans at an increasing rate.HIV/AIDS has reduced adult life expectancy and “created a burden of care of orphans and vulnerable children for the traditional family structure” (Abebe and Aase 2007: 2058).
In Uganda orphanhood does not apply to HIV/AIDS alone but also due to war in Northern Uganda, poverty over 24.5% (World Bank, 2009) and malaria which is number one killer disease (Ministry of Health 2008) plus social orphans due to rural –urban migrations leaving the young ones with elderly care givers or alone. Hence the increasing number of OVC households in Uganda as a result of disease and social unrest that has increased parents death resulting into a large population of orphans in the country.
Uganda is among the poorest countries in the world with over 24.5% of the population living below the poverty line (World Bank, 2009). The population statistics show a burden of orphans and vulnerable children (Okiror 2008:3).And the most affected by poverty included single mothers, widowed, youths, elderly and the orphaned children (UPPAP Wakiso District Report 2002). Poverty prevents the enjoyment of basic human rights, security and wellbeing.
Moser (1998)explains how UNICEF and UNAIDS convened the first global forum for spelling out the strategies; principles and programming guidance to enable countries meet the global goals regarding OVC based on the UNGASS declaration and contribution towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals. In 2003 October, the framework for protection, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children living in the world with HIV/AIDS was endorsed. The framework also promoted the best interest of a child as stated in the convention on the rights of the child, including rights to survival, wellbeing and development(Moser 1998: 2).
To address the plight of OVC, government has come up with National Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Policy (NOP). This policy is an essential part of the Social Development Sector Strategic Investment Plan (SDIP), which is an integral part of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). In addition, the government developed the National Program Plan of Interventions for orphans and other vulnerable children (NSPPI)“to guide interventions for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Uganda.” (Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development 2004:14). Developed Children’s act and follows the “ National Plan of Action (NPA) for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) is a government strategy document detailing a set of key objectives and the corresponding activities to address the national OVC situation”(Sabates-Wheeler and Pelham 2006: 1).
However, like many of the government's policy, this has not improved social protection of the OVC households in practise. Smart (2003) argues that “disconnect between policies, principles, and frameworks on the one hand and practise and action on the other is the major impediment to effective responses for OVC and needs to be acknowledged and affirmatively addressed” (Smart 2003: 23). So I set out to find out why there was persistent vulnerability amidst NGOs efforts by analyzing the strategies.
Since 1986, there has been a rapid proliferation of both indigenous and international NGOs in Uganda (Kwesiga and Ratter, 1993). By 1995, more than 1200 NGOs had been registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Barton and Bizimana, 1995). “NGOs in different areas grew constantly starting from the end of the World War II however, the largest leap was observed during 80s and 90s. The number of NGOs has increased from nearly 13,000 in 1981 to more than 47,000 by 2001 according to the Union of International Organizations”(Sydorenko 2010: 15).“NGOs are playing an important role in every sphere of our live today. They became the voice of those who cannot rise by themselves and talk, or those whose voices are not heard. They are the voice of society. It is not a new phenomenon, however today it is more important and influential than any time in the history of humanity” (ibid. 2010: 15). I do not agree with Sydorenko and the study show vulnerability in the OVC households amidst NGOsintervention.
NGOs have consequently increased in coverage and scope of their services in rural areas, reaching the very poor at community and household levels(Robinson 1992: 10). However, irrespective of the increase in the number of NGOs and efforts, Child well-being among OVC households has not been enhanced and vulnerability has continued to increase in these households. It’s against this background that I decided to find out why NGOs strategies are not improving OVC households to address vulnerability.
Uganda National OVC Quality Standards (2005:23) stipulates that if OVC programs are to be sustainable,household’s projects should be integrated into the local government operations and local resource persons should be trained on skills for continuous assessment of the needs of OVC and their households. Ensure there is provision of supportfor short, medium and long term mechanisms. NGOs should build capacity of OVC households for self sufficiency and complementary items of OVC households should make a minimum contribution of locally available materials(Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development 2005)(Uganda National OVC service Quality Standards 2005:23). Since this is not happening, there was a need for a study to find out the extent to which NGOs have adhered to the OVC set guidelines to enhance child-wellbeing in OVC households through their strategies.
Based on my own experience in NGOs work in Uganda, for the last seven years as a social worker, and seeing the zeal ofNGOs involvement, participation and commitment of OVC households motivated me to question why irrespective of NGOs efforts and resources there is vulnerability and OVC households have continued to suffer the brutal negative consequences of disease, poverty and psychosocial challenges with many children in these households performing badly on standard of living indicators. The study was based on the several strategies used like directly giving support to OVC households, community projects, micro finance loans, and setting up of institutions or children’s villages.
The major reason to carry out this research was to get an answer as to why there is persistent vulnerability in OVC households irrespective of NGOs support. I have been inspired by scholars like (Lombe and Ochumbo 2008; Cheney 2010)to analyse NGOs strategies for enhancing child-wellbeing in OVC households. These reasons motivated this study to find answer to the issue at hand as to what are the most effective strategies for reducing persistent vulnerability in OVC households.
1.3Framing the research issue
Chirwa and Abebe’s characterization of households draws a picture on OVC households. Writing on social exclusion and inclusion and reacting to challenges of orphan care, Chirwa quoted scholars interest being in arguing that there is total breakdown in family structures and social support systems that safety nets are collapsing and increasing numbers of orphaned children are becoming destitute. However, Chirwa believed that with HIV/AIDS pandemic, families and social support systems are strained but building the resilience with varying degrees of success and failure(Chirwa 2002: 93).
Abebe and Aase viewed the two contradicting theories one assuming the traditional system of orphan care being stretched by the epidemic and collapsing and the other suggesting flexibility and strength of informal child care practises and if supported by appropriate interventions can still support a large number of orphans. They called for understanding of orphan care burden and gave four types of families being rupturing, transient, adaptive and capable families(Abebe and Aase 2007: 2058).
The state as the key duty bearer is not doing it work to protect OVCs and their households and this has created a space that NGOs are filling. NGOs are dominant in this area but even though dominant their outreach is limited and they still leave out many vulnerable households. They use a lot of approaches but they are not adequate.
NGOs strategies as currently employed are not effectively tackling vulnerability. Inadequacies underlying NGOs strategies include strengthening existing community structures and systems, creating dependency in OVC households with direct support, starting strategies that exclude particular category of vulnerable households like microcredit, failure to plan for sustainability of these households and starting projects that do not fitthe local context like institutions for children.
Social protection is aright and all formal and informal public and private interventions that assist individuals, households and communities should aim at mitigating impact on households and vulnerability(UNDP poverty centre,UNICEF 2007) as in(Mushunje and Mafico 2010: 267).
This research paper highlights that there is substantive literature on OVC households focusing on HIV/AIDS and orphan crisis with none looking at persistent vulnerability and the extent to which NGOs strategies are effective in enhancing child- wellbeing in OVC households in Uganda.
1.3.1 Provision of support to OVC households
Most organization support extends directly to OVC households as a strategy of strengthening their economic security. Many NGOs are basically charitable organizations. Their preoccupation is uplifting the standard of living of the poor using charitable means. The major support to these households includes provision of households’ items, income generation grants, medical support, nutritional supplements, education and psychosocial support. Analysis of the benefits of these strategies was central to this research.
Uganda’s Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (2004) identified provision of income generating activities (IGA) grants as a way of strengthening economic security of OVC households. Organizations giving IGAs should target the whole community, start with simple grants, guide OVC households in identifying IGAs and train them to manage them(Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development 2004:24). However, it should be noted that, this remains on a policy level. The situation on ground is different basing on my seven year experience working with NGOs. This research therefore aimed at analyzing the NGO support strategies towards enhancing child wellbeing in OVC households in the following focus areas: