Community Rising MKUSHI DISTRICT DIRECTORY Mapping Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zambia’s Mkushi District, Central Province

The project works in conjunction with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and other partners from district to community level, as well as with Zambia Rising and Data Rising. Community Rising's activities are focused on 14 districts in five Zambian provinces, including Mkushi. The project's objectives include improving coordination, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation among organizations providing services to orphans and vulnerable children. Community Rising also aims to bridge the coordination gap between government, civil society, the private sector, and other critical stakeholders at district and community levels. A baseline assessment conducted by Community Rising with the Department of Social Welfare found that at district and lower levels of program implementation, service delivery providers did not have ready listings of organizations in the sector. This lack of information was identified as one of the reasons for the lack of effective linkage and referral at the local level. To address this issue, Community Rising worked with partners to conduct mapping of OVC services and consolidate them in the form of a directory for each district. The Mkushi District Directory was created through a process of data collection, verification, and validation. Information was collected through interviews with contact persons at the offices of listed organizations, using a questionnaire as a guide. The data was then entered into a database developed for the project, and further verification was conducted to ensure accuracy of records, remove errors, and correct omissions. The directory includes information on organizations operating in Mkushi district, including their date of registration, geographical operating area, address, contact person, vision, mission, objectives, major thematic areas, types of services provided, and affiliated networks. The directory is expected to facilitate referrals, identify other organizations to collaborate and network with, and close the gap to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children receive holistic services without duplication. The Community Rising project also decentralizes the initiatives introduced by Zambia Rising and Data Rising at higher levels and will augment and cascade these systems and interventions from the district down to the community level. This work will be guided by a recognition of the importance of strengthening GRZ systems and processes for sustainability, a commitment to building on previous investments to produce results quickly and efficiently, and prioritization of geographic areas based on need and OVC burden data. The directory lists 20 organizations operating in Mkushi district, including the Bwafwano Integrated Service Organization, Donata Special School, Department of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, and others. Each organization's listing provides detailed information on their services, objectives, and affiliated networks. The Mkushi District Directory is expected to be reviewed periodically to include new organizations and to modify listings for organizations where changes have taken place. This will ensure that the directory remains a valuable resource for service providers and stakeholders working with orphans and vulnerable children in Mkushi district.