Annual Report: Economic Strengthening for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Tanzania

USAID's portfolio includes the Kizazi Kipya program implemented by Pact, the Sauti Yetu program implemented by the National Council for People Living with HIV and AIDS (NACOPHA), the Community Health and Social Welfare Systems Strengthening Program (CHSSP) implemented by John Snow, Inc. (JSI) and MEASURE Evaluation – Tanzania implemented by Palladium. The report found that the primary themes of success stories cited by the respondents were the provision of economic opportunities to caregivers, which improved their economic status and capacity to support OVCs. The inclusion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in savings groups (SGs) increased HIV testing and reduced stigma. Government ownership and involvement in program activities improved program outcomes. The report also identified barriers and challenges faced by implementing partners (IPs) and beneficiaries, including the inaccessibility of HES activities for many destitute households, insufficient market linkages for households at the promotion stage of the livelihoods pathway, and government priorities and budgets that do not yet align with OVC project activities. Based on lessons learned shared in interviews, the annual report offers the following recommendations to guide USAID strategic planning. USAID should consider incorporating additional trainings such as money management, vocational skills, and entrepreneurship into future OVC program scopes of work. Facilitating further coordination across USAID IPs in different sectors is also recommended. Additionally, including targeted support for destitute households in future OVC program scopes of work and continuing to promote Government of Tanzania (GoT) ownership of program activities during and after project implementation are suggested. The report aims to provide insight into how household economic strengthening (HES) activities are contributing to child-level outcomes, illuminate lessons learned, and provide recommendations for future programming. The report is based on key informant interviews (KIIs) and group interviews with staff from across USAID's portfolio of programs targeting OVC in Tanzania and secondary research related to HES for OVC and people affected by HIV. The USAID OVC programs in Tanzania are funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and include Kizazi Kipya, Sauti Yetu, and Community Health and Social Welfare Systems Strengthening Program (CHSSP). ASPIRES staff conducted KIIs with staff from Pact and local partners Walo Katika Mapambano Na AIDS Tanzania (WAMATA) and Zanzibar Muslim Women AIDS Support Organization (ZAMWASO) implementing the Kizazi Kipya program. Similarly, ASPIRES staff held KIIs with staff and Cluster Leaders from the National Council for People Living with HIV and AIDS (NACOPHA), which is implementing the Sauti Yetu program. The report highlights the importance of government ownership and involvement in program activities, as well as the need for additional trainings and targeted support for destitute households. The recommendations provided aim to improve the effectiveness of USAID's OVC programs in Tanzania and contribute to the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children.