Date Published: 15 February 2007

Massive injection for Zimbabwe's orphans and vulnerable children - UNICEF

Massive injection for Zimbabwe’s orphans and vulnerable children

An historic national partnership was sealed today when 21 non-governmental organizations signed agreements with the Zimbabwean Government and UNICEF to advance a National Action Plan that will improve the living conditions of 350,000 Zimbabwean orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in 2007.

The agreement – backed by more than US$70 million from donors over five years – enables the 21 NGOs to fund and support a further 150 community-based organizations. As a result, Zimbabwe’s flagship National Action Plan for OVC will massively scale-up its interventions in communities.

Almost one in four children in Zimbabwe, 1.1 million, are now orphaned by AIDS and this number is growing. HIV and AIDS have dramatically increased children’s vulnerability in recent years. Amid this, economic hardships have added stress on Zimbabwean families who continue to absorb the vast majority of the country’s orphans.

“ Let me say congratulations to the 21 organisations whose proposals were approved,” said the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr. L Museka. “OVC programming is a collective responsibility, which is achieved when we work with all stakeholders, as displayed today.”

As most of Zimbabwe’s orphans and vulnerable children remain with their larger family, today’s agreement will ensure that the 171 NGOs and community-based organizations:

1. Strengthen the capacity of families to protect and care for orphans and vulnerable children;
2. Mobilise and support community-based responses;
3. Ensure access for orphans and vulnerable children to essential services, including education, health care and birth registration.

“ In a complex and difficult environment this is an outstanding agreement between a diverse group of key institutions,” said UNICEF’s Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr. Festo Kavishe. “Here we have donors funding the United Nations to support community groups who will execute a Government coordinated National Action Plan. Combined we are reaching out to hundreds of thousands of orphans across the country, and we are doing it effectively and cost-efficiently.”

Specifically, today’s agreement binds the NGOs and community-based organizations to:

• Increase school enrolment of orphans and vulnerable children
• Boost school nutrition programmes
• Increase the number of children with birth certificates
• Greatly improve access to food, health services, water and sanitation
• And protect children from abuse, violence and exploitation

The agreement is powered by the joint financial efforts of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), New Zealand AID, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the German Government. In all, US$250 million is required for the five year programme.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by the UNICEF on 15 February 2007 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit their website using the link below.