Year 4: Quarter 1 Project Progress Report: Community Rising (CR) Project

The project aims to improve the delivery of services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) by strengthening district and sub-district structures. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The CR project has been implemented for 39 months out of a 60-month project timeframe, with a goal of strengthening OVC social service delivery systems and structures at the district and community levels. The project is working in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the Zambia Rising (ZR) consortium at district and sub-district levels. Additionally, the project is working with an array of OVC service providers and stakeholders at district and sub-district levels to strengthen social welfare systems, improve coordination amongst line ministries, and bridge the gap between government, civil society, the private sector, and other critical stakeholders. The project has three objectives: to strengthen and improve the efficiency of OVC service delivery systems in selected districts at the community level, to strengthen the provision of OVC services, and to improve the coordination and referral systems for OVC services. The project is implemented in 14 districts across five provinces in Zambia, with the first cohort of districts (Choma, Kitwe, Namwala, and Ndola) having been phased out in the fourth quarter of FY 16. The second cohort of districts (Chingola, Mazabuka, Mwense, and Nchelenge) has completed its intermediate stage and has entered the phase-out stage, while the third cohort of districts (Kabwe and Luangwa) has entered the intermediate phase stage in the first quarter of FY 17. The CR project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with a focus on implementing activities that enhance and improve client identification, linkages, and referrals coordinated by the Department of Social Welfare at the district and sub-district levels. The project has also scaled up to four new districts in the first quarter of FY 17, bringing the total number of districts to 14. The project's progress is monitored through a range of indicators, including the number of OVC services provided, the number of referrals made, and the level of coordination and collaboration amongst stakeholders. The project has also identified several best practices, including the use of community-based approaches to deliver OVC services, the establishment of community child protection units, and the development of referral systems to link OVC with available services. However, the project has also faced several challenges, including limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and resistance from some stakeholders. The project has responded to these challenges by developing strategies to improve resource allocation, enhancing infrastructure development, and engaging with stakeholders to build support for the project. The CR project has made significant progress in its first quarter of FY 17, with a focus on implementing activities that enhance and improve OVC service delivery systems. The project has also scaled up to four new districts, bringing the total number of districts to 14. The project's progress is monitored through a range of indicators, including the number of OVC services provided, the number of referrals made, and the level of coordination and collaboration amongst stakeholders. The project's success will depend on its ability to sustain its progress and build on its achievements in the coming quarters.