UNICEF – GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA COUNTRY PROGRAMME OF CO-OPERATION

2002 – 2006

CONTEXT

• United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)

• Government of South Africa (GoSA) National Plan of Action (NPA) for Children (1996)

• National policies and initiatives:

– ISRD, Tirisano, Health Sector Strategic Framework

– White Papers

– HIV/AIDS and STD Strategic Plan for SA

• UNICEF Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) 2002-2005:

• UNICEF Regional Priorities

• Outcome Document UNGASS on Children, May 2002

FOCUS PROVINCES

• Limpopo

• Kwazulu-Natal

• Eastern Cape– Selected nodal sites in each province

UNICEF – GOSA COUNTRY PROGRAMME2002-2006

GOALS

• Contribute to fulfillment of rights of children and women with emphasis on principles of universality and non-discrimination through support to NPA processes, local government, community structures;

• Support national efforts to reduce magnitude and impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic;

• Support learning processes and application of knowledge by all duty bearers and rights holders for realization of rights of children and women.

STRATEGIES

Based on Human Rights Approach to Programming (HRAP)

• Strengthen capacity of duty bearers in fulfilling their obligations

• Enhance participation of rights holders in recognizing and accessing their rights: ensure that rights holders become main actors in shaping their own “destinies”

UNICEF – GOSA COUNTRY PROGRAMME 2002-2006

MAIN PROGRAMME AREAS

Social Policy and Local Governance (SPLG) for Child Rights : ISRD, Child Protection

Basic Social Services (BSS): Health and Nutrition; Education; Early Child Development (ECD)

HIV/AIDS

Communication and Community Participation (CCP)

SOCIAL POLICY AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE (SPLG)

Presentation by N.Ned

BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES (BSS)

OBJECTIVE: Support delivery of quality basic services in integrated and sustainable manner

PROJECTS:

• Primary Health Care (PHC)

• Nutrition

• Education

• Early Child Development

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION

Key Issues

• National aggregates mask huge inter- and intra- provincial disparities

• Challenge of making health system more responsive to needs of majority at community level

• Malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiency levels unacceptably high

• Expansion of PMTCT

PHC & NUTRITION

AREAS OF COLLABORATION

• Focus efforts on selected nodal sites Community-based Integrated Management of Childhood

Illnesses (IMCI) Support to food fortification initiatives and projects for

elimination of micro-nutrient deficiencies (e.g. IDDC) Support to operational research : Limpopo, KZN, Eastern

Cape (Universities, DOH) Support to DOH in PMTCT pilot sites

ACTIVITIESPMTCT

• Action research project on pasteurization of breast-milk to inactivate HI Virus

• Support for establishment of breast-milk bank in KZN

• Development of communication strategy in Limpopo

• Infant Feeding surveys (Health Systems Trust)

• Development of training materials for health workers

PRIMARY EDUCATION

Key Issues:

• Inequitable access to quality education : school resources, fees

Gender : no official policy; seen as non-issue or employment issue; linked primarily to problems of harassment and violence – not enrolment, achievement, completion rates

Little or no involvement of children in analysing situation and seeking solutions

SGBs passive, not oriented/supported in role of transforming schools

Teachers not equipped to handle demands of teaching “life skills”

AREAS OF COLLABORATION• Advocacy and support for policies, guidelines, operational

strategies that advance equity in education

• Building coalition of stakeholders, including girls and boys, in support of girls’ education

• Advocacy for, and demonstration of, improved instructional and management practices for improved school attendance and performance.

ACTIVITIES

• Research on equity in provision of school level resources, financial implications of alternative service models for ECD

• GEM organizing events; girls-led radio communication project; school sensitization/mobilization; peer education and counseling skills development

• Research on school responses to harassment and violence against girls

• Development of SAQA certified training module on preventing and responding to violence and harassment of girls in schools

• Needs assessment of local SGBs

• Operational research on implementing life skills programme at foundation phase in selected schools

• Research on unpaid domestic labour and school attendance

EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT

Key Issues

Attention to children 0-5 years is ad hoc and disarticulated

Competing ECD bodies (NPA working group, ECDCC)

New “Day Care Guidelines” focus on physical facilities – not on supporting or facilitating mechanisms

ECD not significant feature of IDP’s ECD still seen as responsibility of Education/Social

Development

ACTIVITIES

• Advocacy for integrated, multi-sectoral approach with focus on 0-6yrs

• Support to NPA ECD Working Group and National ECD Congress

• Operational research on models of integrated care in 2 ECD sites

• Integration of ECD in Situation Analysis exercises with partners

COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Key Issues

• Children and young people rarely consulted and not yet active participants in building their lives and society.

• Social communication still predominantly message-driven. Need debate, dialogue, consensus at community level.

• Mass media sometimes insensitive to complexities of reporting on children’s issues

• Inadequate knowledge of information systems and communication channels at community level.

AREAS OF COLLABORATION

• Giving children a voice; child participation in projects

• Media monitoring

• Development and production of media by children

• Development of capacity to create forums for children to access information, monitor child rights violations, voice opinions, and communicate with the broader community

ACTIVITIES

• Training young people in producing, broadcasting and evaluating radio programmes (loveLife)• Support to community based SABC radio stations in Eastern Cape• Theatre for development: children conceptualize, produce, perform, follow up - 9 districts in Limpopo (Phakama)• Media sensitization, development of protocols, training• Media production by children (CBFA, SABC, Afrika Cultural Centre, Soul Buddyz)

HIV/AIDSOVC

Key Issues

• Magnitude and complexity of problem still emerging

• Increasing number of children as primary caregivers: require different approaches

• Lack of appropriate management information systems

• Poor coordination among different sectors

• Social support grants hard to reach

• Community based safety nets still very limited

Areas of Collaboration

• Advocacy for inter-sectoral action (government, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, private sector, etc.)

• Participatory research on underlying causes

• Policy and legislative review

• Technical support for child-centred, family and community based safety nets

• Strengthening role of schools in supporting OVC

• Prevention of child abuse and gender based violence

HIV/AIDSYouth

Key Issues

• Good inter-sectoral policy but implementation still limited

• Limited knowledge and experience of programming for and with young people

• Impact of violence and crime recognised but not adequately addressed in existing programmes

• Denial and stigma still very high

Areas of Collaboration

• Advocacy and resource mobilization

• Operational research on factors contributing to early sexual debut

• Participatory planning at provincial, district and community levels (government, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, academic institutions)

• Development and implementation of peer education training models

• Documentation and dissemination of good practice