NKUNDABANA INITIATIVE FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT NIPS

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NKUNDABANA INITIATIVE FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT
(NIPS)

• LESSONS LEARNT

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PROJECT KEY FEATURES

• Dates April 1st 2003-June 30th 2006
• Budget 1.4 million Euros (50 EU, 35 Austrian
  Government, 15 CARE Austria)
• Location Former Gitarama Province (Districts of
  Ruhango, Muhanga Kamonyi)
• Key partners MIGEPROF, ARCT, HAGURUKA, Children
  and communities.

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PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Goal Vulnerable children are economically
  productive and contribute positively to peace and
  reconciliation for the future of their country.
• Specific objective 1 Sustainable forms of
  community support for 2600 child headed
  households are in place
• Specific objective 2 Enhanced psychological
  resilience and livelihood opportunities of 2600
  child headed households.

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MAIN STRATEGIES

• PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH NKUNDABANA
• RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH GENUINE PARTICIPATION OF
  CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES
• ENGAGING LOCAL AUTHORITIES THROUGH PROJECT
  ADVISORY COMMITTEES
• INCREASING LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF CHILDREN AND
  NKUNDABANA
• ENSURING ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE MINIMUM
  PACKAGE BUILT AROUND THE PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

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PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH NKUNDABANA

• Selection by the children (a group of 5
  households) of an adult mentor in their direct
  neighborhood to serve as their Nkundabana.
• Nkundabanas Job Description include minimum
  weekly visits to children, parental role,
  advice, serve as role model, help to solve
  problems of household, advocates on behalf of
  children, facilitate access to basic services
  (e.g. school, ARV adherence, etc),
• Training ongoing accompaniment of Nkundabana
  in counseling skills, child rights, advocacy
  skills, various life skills (including HIV-AIDS),
  etc
• Organisation of Nkundabana in formally recognized
  associations capacity building of Nkundabana
  associations

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MAIN RESULTS

• 524 Nkundabana have been trained and are fully
  operational, providing support to 2587
  households
• Community members were sensitized on children
  rights and actively participated in program
• 428 heads of households have been trained as peer
  educators in children rights, reproductive health
  HIV-AIDS
• Children were organized in voice of children
  committees at cell, sector, district and
  provincial level
• Project advisory committees in place and
  operational, with Nkundabana and children
  representatives.

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KEY INDICATORS EVALUATION FINDINGS VERSUS PROJECT
TARGETS

• Satisfaction of children with quality of
  assistance by Nkundabana and quality of
  relationship with Nkundabana target 60 / result
  95.2
• Children who report increased emotional
  wellbeing target 60 / result 97.9
• Knowledge of rights of children now knows what
  to do if they or someone is being
  exploited/abused target 80 / result 95.9
• Improved livelihood security are now able to
  provide for their family themselves without
  external support. Target 60 / Result 54.4

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FINAL EXTERNAL EVALUATION CONCLUSION
SUSTAINABILITY

• Deep impact on the psychosocial domains of child
  well-being
• Strengthened support networks to provide a
  healthy and safe place for vulnerable children
  and youth
• Strengthened community cohesion changed
  community perception of OVCs
• Nkundabana approach very sustainable
  cost-effective and easily replicable after all
  the learning from this project

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LESSONS LEARNT

• Consultation and involvement of communities is
  essential
• Children must select their own Nkundabana whom
  they trust
• Helpful Active Listening skills of Nkundabana
  need to be strengthened
• Nkundabanas need to better adjust their attitude
  and support to the varying needs of all children
  members of the household

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LESSONS LEARNT (CONTINUED)

• Programs must have a family approach, be linked
  with early childhood development (ECD) and
  secondary education opportunities
• Targeting one category of children, even if the
  most vulnerable, poses the risk of creating the
  lucky orphan syndrome
• Project Advisory Committees give local
  authorities a platform from where to exercise
  their authority in relation to OVC, with guidance
  from other stakeholders and the children
  themselves.

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LESSONS LEARNT (CONTINUED)

• Clarify the role of Nkundabana among children
  from the start to avoid unrealistic expectations
  
• CAREs voluntary savings and loan model
  significantly contributed to making the
  Nkundabana model sustainable
• Nkundabana need to strengthen their managerial
  skills and their capacity to mobilize their own
  resources for basic services to the children
• The risk of backlash for the children and the
  Nkundabana must be recognized

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Girl, head of household about the Nkundabana
program

• I never felt happy in my life, I cried all the
  time, I felt like committing suicide, but today
  Im alright