Introduction
Through the ASPIRES project, USAID’s Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) seeks to generate evidence and learning related to the role that household-level economic strengthening (ES) interventions can play in keeping families at risk of separation together and returning children to family care. Based on this learning, ASPIRES will develop guidance to help practitioners design appropriately targeted ES interventions and strategies for use in family reintegration and prevention of separation programming. Gathering lessons from colleagues in the field is an important part of this process.
In November 2015, ASPIRES launched an online survey of practitioners to identify potential sources of learning and to assess needs for improving the use of ES interventions in reintegration and prevention of separation programming. The survey aimed to:
- identify organizations that are currently implementing such activities;
- gather some basic information about these programs;
- gather basic information about information, tools, and support practitioners would find useful to improve economic components of reintegration and prevention of separation programs; and
- identify organizations willing to participate in subsequent surveys and/or interviews.
The survey was not intended as a formal research activity, but rather as a landscape analysis. Our primary interest was to identify current practices and needs to inform our thinking about future inquiry and guidance that could be useful to the field. A number of the survey respondents requested ASPIRES share the findings of the survey, which are summarized in this brief report. Additionally, at the conclusion of the report, we offer an annex with links to relevant existing economic strengthening technical resources that may be helpful for practitioners in the area of child protection.
