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In a message dated 5/18/2005 9:42:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time, cabaforum@S-3.COM writes:
Subj:New publication- World Vision's 'More than Words?...'
MORE THAN WORDS? Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in
Africa
The impact of HIV and AIDS on children in developing countries is immense. As well as threatening a child's right to life and a family environment, it also undermines a multitude of other rights, and can leave affected children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Given the devastating impact on these children's lives, urgent international action is needed to ensure that their rights are protected and needs met. In 2001, specific commitments to orphans and vulnerable children were made as part of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS - commitments which were to be met by 2005. Despite this, many governments and donors have fallen short of the promises made and progress has been frustratingly slow. Intended to inform and challenge, More than words? is a qualitative investigation of how far the rights and needs of orphans and vulnerable children are being met in four of the worst-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on surveys and focus group discussions with children, parents, caregivers and officials in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia, this report offers a timely insight into how far the commitments are being met and provides practical recommendations for action at both national and international level. The report concludes that orphans and vulnerable children are most likely to be missing out in terms of education, health, nutrition and other basic needs. Furthermore, very few are receiving appropriate psychosocial support and many find themselves the victims of property grabbing. Given these findings, it is clear that care and support for orphans and vulnerable children must be considered an integral part of national and international response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, not an optional addition. For more information, contact:
Helen Young
From: Profitinafrica@aol.com [mailto:Profitinafrica@aol.com] Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 5:57 PM To: helen.young@worldvision.org.uk Cc: peterbnyc@gmail.com; CABA Forum; krisdev@gmail.com Subject: Re: New publication- World Vision's 'More than Words?...' Dear Helen Young I was interested to see World Vision presenting a report on the OVC crisis. Why are you doing a 'qualitative report' at this time? Why are you doing it in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia and not in 30 other highly affected countries? Why are you doing it at all. Surely by now there is a huge amount of study, and hardly any action to address the problem. World Vision today is one of the largest money raisers on the planet ... and in a position to do a huge amount of good. But only if the money gets into doing things that are worth doing, and really deliver value on the ground to people who are in desperate need. There is a crisis in progress, Big organizations like World Vision are doing some very good work, but my observation on the ground would be that World Vision is probably being about one tenth (1/10th) as effective as it could be if it was using management information (quantitative) in a professional way and was 100% committed to the delivery of excellence from 100% of its resources. I may be wrong, and I would be delighted to be proved wrong. Most communities I know are not seeing very much assistance ... even though there is a huge amount of talk and study about the problem. Sincerely
Peter Burgess
In a message dated 6/6/2005 4:33:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, cabaforum@s-3.com writes:
Subj:RE: New publication- World Vision's 'More than Words?...'
Dear Mr. Burgess, Thank you for your email. USAID requests that The Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (CABA) Forum exclude listserv postings targeting specific organizations and therefore, we regretfully will not be able to distribute your message to all of our subscribers. We would be happy to post requests for information and discussion topics if there are further questions CABA members might be able to discuss. Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. Thank you for your understanding. Best regards,
Virginia Lamb
[AFRO-NETS] WORLD VISION'S 'MORE THAN WORDS?...' From: Peter Burgess World Vision's 'More than Words?...' ------------------------------------ Dear Colleagues I wanted to address a question to World Vision as a result of a posting on the CABA forum... but USAID rules did not allow it to get posted according to Virginia Lamb, the CABA Moderator. The person who did the posting, Helen Young, was out of the office when my message was received. It is interesting to see the messages that are now addressing the question of 'Phantom Aid', the biggest segment by far of the official relief and development assistance (ORDA) industry. Maybe this is the opening we have all been waiting for to make donors start to act with some honesty. Up to now donors have driven the process, even if it makes no real development sense. By being part of the global Transparency and Accountability Network (Tr-Ac-Net)... in due course I expect to be able to make a difference. Tr-Ac-Net is getting ready to use a new framework for 'management information for development' that will ensure that the result of using development resources is on the record and people get held accountable for inadequate performance. It is going to be interesting. Sincerely,
Peter Burgess
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