• How to raise awareness about OVC within your government counterpart ministry?
• How to identify and work with relevant stakeholders and partners?
• Which partner can best play which role(s)?
• Organizing a stakeholder meeting
• Consulting with Children
  • Why consult OVC and children at risk?
  • How to consult with OVC and children at risk?
  • Special challenges related to consulting OVC

How to raise awareness about OVC within your government counterpart ministry

To gain an understanding of the potential effects your project might have on children (who may later become OVC) you may need to reach out to government and civil society representatives beyond the Ministry with whom you traditionally collaborate. This is especially true for projects in transport, urban development, and other sectors outside of human development. Before you start consulting with external stakeholders, take time to raise awareness among your lead government counterparts on the possible impacts of your project on OVC. This will probably fit most comfortably in your discussion on the social and environmental impact of the project (see the Social Analysis Sourcebook).

Initially, you may encounter some resistance, if your counterparts perceive this as just another level of World Bank red tape that requires more time and effort on their part. This resistance may diminish if you share some information about the OVC situation in Africa and what you have learned to date about OVC in your target country. This information can be organized and presented using a PowerPoint format and can draw on data presented in the attached presentation on OVC. The section on Rationale for OVC Interventions should also be useful in finding persuasive arguments, including the cost-effectiveness of investing in preventive measures as compared to investing in caring for children who are already OVC.