Supporting Early Child Development (ECD) in HIV/AIDS Programs for Africa Mary Eming Young HDNED

1. Supporting Early Child Development (ECD) in HIV/AIDS Programs for AfricaMary Eming YoungHDNED

2. Topics • Why it is important to address ECD in HIV/AIDS programs for Africa • What is the purpose of the ECD HIV/AIDS guide? • How governments can partner with civil society to support ECD HIV/AIDS interventions

3. “Children Affected by HIV/AIDS”refers to: Children ages 0-8 who are – Infected with HIV or Are vulnerable because of AIDS in their communities and families. Children ages 0-8 have different needs than older children.

4. Potential Negative Consequences for a Child Born in an AIDS-affected Community

5. ECD Interventions — Comprehensive packages of • Health • Nutrition, and • Care or education • Community-based • In homes, community settings, centers, schools • Organized and supported by public and private sectors • Operated by ministries, local NGOs, communities, and parents.

6. 10 Potential Direct Beneficiaries of ECD Activities in AIDS-affected Countries — • Young children who are HIV positive • Young children whose parents are very ill with HIV/AIDS and/or opportunistic illnesses • Orphans and unaccompanied children • Young children in institutions • All parents and caregivers of young children

7. Direct Beneficiaries (continued) • Households with young children whose caregivers are overwhelmed • Households headed by elderly caregivers • Households headed by children • Women ― who can obtain information on HIV/AIDS through ECD services • Communities threatened by HIV/AIDS.

8. What Is the Purpose of the ECD HIV/AIDS Guide? • To help country stakeholders rapidly operationalize ECD activities in their community responses to HIV/AIDS. The Guide can help governments ― • Define an action plan and implementation strategy for meeting the broad needs of young children that involves all appropriate ministries and district offices. • Scale up ECD responses within MAP projects and with other available resources.

9. Who Is the Guide For? • The guide is principally intended for: • HIV/AIDS practitioners • NAC and NAS staff • Line ministries with responsibility for young children • CSO staff and community leaders • Staff of bilateral and multilateral agencies • Planners of HIV/AIDS and life skills education programs.

10. What Does the Guide Provide? • Guidance to develop national ECD policies, programs, and interventions; multi-sectoral ECD approaches; and ways to advocate, implement, monitor, and evaluate efforts • Suggestions for interventions • A resource for other national HIV/AIDS programs

11. The Guide Includes — Descriptions and Indicators for 5 Effective ECD HIV/AIDS Interventions: • Delivery of services to young children • Education and support of parents • Training and support of caregivers (including economic enhancement activities) • Sensitization of the public, through the mass media, to the value of ECD • Mobilization and strengthening of community-based activities to protect and improve the care of children. A strong public-private partnership is needed for all these interventions!

12. How Can Governments Partner With Civil Society? • ECD interventions depend on public and private support • Partnerships between governments and CSOs are essential • CSOs are effectively delivering ECD services to thousands of disadvantaged communities worldwide • Through grants to CSOs, governments can support a many diverse activities at all levels of society.

13. ECD Guides for HIV/AIDS “Operational Guide for Supporting ECD in Multi-sectoral Programs in Africa” Amber Surrency and Richard Seifman World Bank 2003