|
Challenges |
Opportunities |
Street Children |
- Few verifiable criteria for eligibility (child can lie about own situation) - Communities often not too keen to collaborate - Will often not trust you and can appear to prefer their perceived “freedom” in the street. - Highly mobile |
- Often visible - Concentrated in urban areas - NGOs often have special programs serving street children and know who they are and where to find them |
Former Child Soldiers |
- Beneficiaries may not want to be identified because of stigma - Targeting resources to child soldiers may create resentment among the rest of the population, especially in a community setting - After demobilization, child soldiers become geographically dispersed |
- During the demobilization process child soldiers are likely to be geographically concentrated and handed over to a specialized agency (UNICEF or NGO) |
Orphans |
- Geographically dispersed (but possible concentrations in some districts) - May not be enrolled in school or use health care facilities, so may need to go house to house to find them - May not want to be identified because of stigma - Targeting can cause jealousy from other household children and discontent among foster parents. |
- Community residents often know which households have orphans - Religious institutions may have knowledge of parental deaths - Easy objective targeting, but remember that not all orphans are vulnerable. |
HIV Affected Children |
- Often unaware of own HIV status (even if the parents know). - Geographically dispersed (but possible concentrations in some districts) - May not be enrolled in school or visit health care facilities, so may need to go house to house to find them - May not want to be identified because of stigma |
- Health care providers may be able to identify relevant households - Community residents often know which households have a sick parent |
Malnourished Children |
- Geographically dispersed (but possible concentrations in some districts and lower income brackets) - Difficult to identify the under 5 who are not yet enrolled in school |
- Visual signs of the problem - Health care providers may be able to identify relevant households - Malnutrition is easy to verify using height/weight or Measurement of Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Tape - Stigma not a major issue, so parents likely to self-identify |
Abused Children |
- Very dispersed - Parents will not come forward - Children will not come forward - Cultural values prevent recognition of problem (e.g., beating teaches discipline) - Sexual abuse may be hidden because of shame or taboos |
- Schools and health care providers may be able to identify relevant households - Abuse often leaves physical evidence, but child or caretaker may lie about its origin and sexual abuse is more difficult to detect - May be concentrated in urban slums and areas with high rates of alcoholism. - Parents with alcohol or drug problems are often a good indicator of possible child abuse. - Neighbors and relatives often report cases of abuse. |
Children engaged in Harmful Labor |
- Children may not have freedom of movement - Children are far from parental advocates - Eligibility criteria may clash with cultural values - Children may be in secluded environments |
- Some children may be reached through employers - Particular work places like mines and quarries are easy to target. |
Disabled Children |
- Geographically dispersed - Children often not enrolled in school - Children may have limited mobility and communication outside of home - Parents may not want to be identified because of stigma - Disabilities vary a lot and different disabilities create different needs. |
- Some NGOs may specialize in serving disabled children - Community residents generally know which households have a disabled child |