Press Releases
Jali Watoto: The United States Government Supports New Grants Issued on Behalf of Tanzania’s Most Vulnerable Children
May 18, 2007
A total of U.S. $1,297,000 was recently made available through the Jali Watoto program to NGOs and Faith Based Organizations in eight districts in Tanzania: four in the Mbeya Region and four in the Mara Region. Jali Watoto, or Care for the Children, is a $10 million dollar initiative supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through funding from PEPFAR (the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). Jali Watoto is designed to reach 45,000 children by providing essential health, education, psychosocial, nutrition and shelter services to children who have been identified as most vulnerable. The program is rolling out in an environment characterized by strong and effective stakeholder (donor, NGO, FBO) coordination and commitment to Tanzania’s national framework for vulnerable children.
Jali Watoto, which began in March of 2006, is implemented by the U.S. NGO Pact and seeks to contribute to the Tanzanian Government’s National Plan of Action for Most Vulnerable Children (MVC), which targets approximately 2.5 million orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in Tanzania. The Tanzanian Government’s Plan of Action involves the establishment of MVC Committees (MVCCs) at the village level and the identification of children in need. MVC committees are expected to mobilize resources to provide support and protection for orphans who are vulnerable, children both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and children experiencing abuse and exploitation. The National Plan of Action is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and is due to be officially launched in the next few months.
The United States Government (through its partner Pact) is supporting the Government of Tanzania’s MVC plan at two levels: a) national policy and planning whereby the US Government supports technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; and b) at the community implementation level where USAID supports service delivery to orphans and vulnerable children through a rapid sub-grant program. Jali Watoto also promotes an Anti-Stigma and Discrimination Campaign to reduce the terrible discrimination experienced by people living with HIV and AIDS as well as orphans and vulnerable children.
Jali Watoto has made substantial progress so far, including a total disbursement to date (with the recent disbursement above ) of approximately U.S.$ 3,400,000 on behalf of Tanzanian children:
- Approximately U.S. $480,000 was provided to 12 district councils to establish MVC Committees and to identify children in need. The identification process for these children is on-going but will be completed within the next few months.
- U.S. $1,316,000 was made available to organizations in five districts in Kagera and Tabora Regions.
The recipients of the grants will work with the MVCCs and provide services to the children who have been identified. Examples of the services to be provided include primary, secondary and vocational education, health, nutritional support, shelter and psychosocial support.
- Approximately US $ 350,000 was also provided to six civil society organizations to conduct HIV and AIDS anti stigma training for youth. In April of 2007, Jali Watoto began expansion into an additional five districts in the Mtwara and Mara regions.
Speaking about Jali Watoto’s progress, Pamela White, USAID Mission Director commented, “The needs of vulnerable children should be of the highest concern to the Tanzanian Government and society. There are too many children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Local government and civil society organizations can help alleviate the problems children face by working together to support the Tanzanian Government’s MVC National Plan of Action.”
Any individual or group interested in learning more about Jali Watoto should contact: pact@pacttz.org and refer to the website http://www.pacttz.org for additional stories on MVC support.