Government Capacity Building Support program USAID Support to the

1. Government Capacity Building Support program USAID Support to the Department of Social Development Systems Strengthening Presented by Dr Rita Sonko 21 February 2014

2. program background • USAID & DSD conceptualised a TA program specifically to support DSD & developed a TOR which resulted in this program which was advertised in 2012 • The primary focus of the work is systems strengthening at national, provincial and select districts across the country • The Pact Consortium was selected & contracted in Sept 2013 until 30 Sept 2018

3. Prime Implementer GCDS for DSD consortium partners

4. GCDS for DSD program objectives • GCDS will provide support to DSD to achieve the following three objectives: • Improve timely availability of reliable dataon program performance M&E and information on the social effects of HIV and AIDS and other vulnerabilities faced by children; • Strengthen coordination, management and oversightof community care service structures that protect and care for the most vulnerable children & their families; and • Strengthen inter-sector integration & coordinationbetween DSD and other SAG Departments (DOH, DBE) & build a supportive multi-sector environment led byDSD through system strengthening at the national and provincial level .

5. program background • Pact expected to deliver targeted technical assistanceto assist the DSD to improve coordination, management and planning for OVC in: • Task 1: Support and strengthen health and social welfare system coordination and integration for improved OVC services; • Task 2: Support improved management and outcome evaluations of programs aimed at the most vulnerable children; • Task 3: Support and strengthen social and individual behavior change to prevent HIV infection for children under 18 years; • Task 4: Support & strengthen DSD’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems & build the research base for cost effective outcomes for vulnerable children • Task 5: Support and strengthen the child protection response framework; • Task 6: Strengthen the management of the social welfare workforce

6. GCDS components at a glance (Component 1) (Component 2) (Component 5) (Component 3) (Component 6) (Component 4)

7. GCBS Theory of Change (draft) TOC\GCDS theory diagram draft 1.pdf

8. Customer Focused –Systems strengthening Who is the Customer? Child Centred Approach

9. Child Protection Systems: Actors, Context, and Components

10. Systems Strengthening - “Building Blocks for DSD”

11. Common areas of community level systems strengthening Enabling environments and advocacy Community networks, linkages, partnerships, and coordination Resources and capacity building Community activities and service delivery Leadership and organisational strengthening Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and planning

12. Examples of work plan Activities

13. Illustrative indicators: Accountability Information Management Systems / M&E /Research Indicators at district level Number and percent of districts with staff who have received training in the past 12 months on MERL (disaggregated by type of training, by province, by gender) Number and percent of districts producing quarterly service delivery data analysis reports (disaggregated by province) Number and percent of districts implementing standardised data quality management processes and oversight of NPO reporting Percentage of registered OVC NPOs in the district reporting into DSD NPO reporting systems in the reporting period

14. Accountability Indicators at CBO/community level Number and percent of CBO’s using standard data collection tools and reporting formats that enable reporting to national reporting system Number and percent of CBO’s that held at least one documented feedback mechanism with the community they serve in the last 6 months

15. Functions;Governance, Management, Enforcement Institutional level –Government Number and percentage of DSD staff in managerial positions who received training or retraining in management, leadership or accountability during the reporting period (disaggregated by province and gender) Number and percentage of districts with staff who have received training in the past 12 months on strategic planning and policy development Percentage of districts with an active DACCA (meeting at least twice annually) (disaggregated by province) Community level Number of CBO’s with staff who have received training in the past 12 months on strategic planning and policy development Number and percent of CBOs with a functioning governing board - A board of directors meets on a monthly or quarterly basis

16. Challenges with measuring systems strengthening No standards especially in the social development sector; building blocks of the “system” not standardised unlike the case with health- WHO 6 building blocks Tons of options of indicators…. Few tested

17. Challenges • The E in MERL is particularly methodologically challenging – issues of attribution/contribution; counterfactual-ethical dilemma etc- • Need to explore and use innovative approaches to evaluation- • developmental evaluations aimed at ongoing learning and improvement

18. THANK YOU Key Pact contact: Vincent Titus, Country Director vtitus@pactworld.org 012 361 9885 Rita Sonko, Senior MERL Advisor Rsonko@pactworld.org .