• Introduction to targeting
• How should I approach targeting?
• Targeting by level of vulnerability: Who is most vulnerable?
• Geographic Targeting:  Where do you find more OVC?
• How do I set constraints on the number of children assisted?
• How identify eligible children at the community level?
• What if community-based methods are not possible? 
• What about children outside family care?
• Is there a role for (public) institutions?

How should I approach targeting?
Asking for identification of vulnerable children, without imposing a limit on the number, will lead to exaggerated lists.  Also, when there are no limits, there is a tendency to run local programs on a first-come first-served basis, which will probably result in an unfair distribution of benefits. Targeting is thus a way to ensure that the most deserving needy are given priority, regardless of geographic regions, ethnic groups, and clans. The reality and perception of a fair distribution of assistance to vulnerable children builds political support for these types of program and this may help sustain budgetary support.

Targeting of OVC, as compared to broader targeting of poor children or of children in particularly poor areas, can potentially be very efficient, but can also turn out to be costly, cumbersome and ineffective. All targeting methods have their pros and cons, and none of them is fool (or leak) proof.  Experience suggests that it is generally more effective to combine different methods, for example by using first a general criterion such as geographic residence or orphan status and then more specific community-based criteria to further restrict eligibility.  

Below are some recommendations on how to distribute limited OVC funding resources.  These recommendations could be applied to sector-specific approaches or multi-sector OVC support programs.