The OVC Programme Effort Index

(UNICEF, UNAIDS and the Futures Group)

• An effective formal coordinating mechanism, which has been established to coordinate national action for OVC, has a permanent structure, a constitution, statutory authority and which met within the last 3 months.
• An effective consultative process, which assures that all stakeholders are actively involved and meet regularly, including at least one ‘national consultation’ each year.
• An up-to-date, published, comprehensive participatory national situation analysis of OVC of good quality, which includes at least an inventory of organizations involved, a literature review, and specific recommendations.
• A multi-sectoral nationally agreed action plan for OVC, which has been developed by a broad group of stakeholders and has the following characteristics: includes estimates of cost, specifies sources of funding, prioritizes interventions, has been adopted by government and provides clear guidance to all ministries and departments involved as well as to non-government stakeholders.
• An effective special policy for OVC, which has been developed by a broad group of stakeholders, adopted by government and has been made public. The policy includes at least: educational, health, nutritional and psychosocial support for OVC and is linked to broader policies on HIV/AIDS.
• A review of existing legislation and effective special laws to protect orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, which have been enacted and implemented with adequate resources to ensure enforcement.
• A national monitoring and evaluation system, which is implemented and coordinated by one mandated organization. Interventions by government and non-government organizations are both monitored and evaluated. Findings are made public, used in policy formulation and include at least estimates of number of OVC, indicators of vulnerability, number of OVC reached, and cost of interventions.
• A response with adequate financial resources as government is actively soliciting funds from the international community, provides funds to NGOs and assists them in their fundraising efforts, and ensures that expenditures are consistent with an overall national policy or plan.