Orphans and Vulnerable Children Initiative

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Leadership and Innovation Network brings together a cross-sectoral group to develop leadership, capacity and innovation for providing a loving response, at scale, to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa.

Despite South Africa's historic advances in democracy and development since 1994, widespread poverty and social exclusion, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, has created a reality in which millions of children are in need of support and care. Collectively known as orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), in South Africa these youth are composed of the 1.2 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; the 250,000 who are 19 years or under and who already head households and the 10.2 million children under 18 years old who live in conditions of poverty, homelessness and insecurity.

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Leadership and Innovation Network was launched in 2006 to improve the effectiveness of the OVC response in South Africa using a cross-sectoral approach. The initiative brings together key leaders from government, civil society, business and community organizations working at national, provincial and local levels who are playing a frontline role in realizing rights and care for vulnerable children. The network provides a space to foster relationships and collaboration among these key players. At a larger scale, the initiative works with these leaders to build their capacity to take a systems approach, create and implement cross-sectoral innovations and address the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.

The core activity of the leadership and innovation network is a process in which participants focus on "stuck areas" of the broader OVC system to unlock innovative solutions that have a large impact on the delivery of rights and services to children. Additionally, participants receive mentoring for their professional development and periodically convene to engage in peer learning and networking. The initiative is led by CONVENE Venture Philanthropy, in partnership with The Synergos Institute and Reos Social Innovation.

For more information

Read the 2007 Innovation Lab report or contact:

Barry Smith
Regional Director, Southern Africa
Tel + 27 (0)21 421-9788
bsmith@synergos.org