There is wide acceptance of the five key strategies for addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children that are presented in The Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS and Children on the Brink. Economic strengthening is an important component of the first three of these strategies (strengthening family capacities, strengthening community capacities, and ensuring children’s access to essential services).
The present study was carried out in recognition of the importance of economic strengthening to these strategies. The objective of the study is to better inform programming for orphans, children affected by HIV/AIDS, and other vulnerable children. It is intended for use by the recently created Children and Youth Economic Strengthening network, USAID’s Africa Bureau, and other parties concerned about ways to: a) strengthen the economic capacity of vulnerable families and communities to provide more adequately for their children’s needs, and b) build the economic capacity of older children. Its purpose includes identifying programs with economic strengthening interventions benefiting orphans and other vulnerable children, and analyzing information on a sub-set of these programs.
