Government Capacity Building and Support Program Annual Report October 2017 – September 2018

The program, which began in 2013, focuses on improving the delivery of child protection and HIV/AIDS-related services to orphans and vulnerable children and youth (OVCAY). The GCBS program is implemented through a comprehensive approach that includes the provision of child protection and HIV/AIDS-related interventions, as well as the strengthening of the social service workforce. The program's services are designed to address the needs of OVCAY, with a focus on improving their well-being and reducing their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The program's geographic coverage spans several provinces in Southern Africa, with a focus on areas with high concentrations of OVCAY. The program's activities are implemented in collaboration with local government authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs). Progress toward achieving the program's results is monitored through a range of indicators, including the number of OVCAY receiving child protection and HIV/AIDS-related services, the number of social service workers trained, and the number of communities with functional child protection systems. The program's progress is also evaluated through regular assessments and evaluations, which provide insights into the effectiveness of the program's interventions and identify areas for improvement. One of the key strategies employed by the GCBS program is the implementation of a core package of services for OVCAY, which includes child protection and HIV/AIDS-related interventions. The program also focuses on strengthening the social service workforce through training and capacity development, as well as the implementation of effective supervision and workload management systems. In addition to its core activities, the GCBS program also places a strong emphasis on information management and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The program supports the development and implementation of sound M&E systems, as well as the collection and analysis of data to inform decision-making and program implementation. The GCBS program has made significant progress in achieving its results, with notable gains in the number of OVCAY receiving child protection and HIV/AIDS-related services, the number of social service workers trained, and the number of communities with functional child protection systems. The program's success is attributed to its comprehensive approach, which addresses the complex needs of OVCAY and strengthens the capacity of the social service workforce. The GCBS program's extension and consortium models have also been instrumental in scaling up the program's impact, with the extension model allowing for the expansion of the program's services to new areas and the consortium model enabling the program to leverage the resources and expertise of multiple partners. The program's human resources, including staffing levels and key personnel recruitment, have also been critical to its success, with a strong team of professionals working together to achieve the program's goals. Overall, the GCBS program has made significant contributions to the improvement of child protection and HIV/AIDS-related services for OVCAY in Southern Africa, and its success serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of social service systems in the region.