Report Scheme Sent For July Services In Brokline

Organizational JULY report for a project accomplishment in OVC requested standard.

A.  Executive Summary

The project activities aim at providing comprehensive, standard and quality protection, care and support services for vulnerable children and their households. Thus various activities were implemented in line with the project goal: to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and families in the focus states with specific focus of improving the well-being and welfare of OVC through accelerated and sustainable multisectoral approach.  

Financial management training was conducted for reactive beneficiaries. Advocacy was paid to National Population Commission (NPopC,), FHI 360 while private partnership with Ikot Ekpene Local Government was establish in order to empower beneficiaries with Household Economic Strengthening (HES )support.

Protection service was rendered to OVC through issuance of birth certificate in collaboration with National Population Commission (NPopC). School visit and assessment was intensified. In line with the Child Safe guarding Policy (CSP), CPC meeting was held in order to improve effective emergency OVC protection response. Other services/activities carried out include psychosocial, health and nutrition education during Home visit. Book keeping training was conducted for executives of Village savings and Loan Association (VSLA) All these activities took place in wards 9, 10, and 11 of the project coverage area.

IR1: Improved systems and structures at community, LGA and States providing responsive quality care, protection and support services for vulnerable children and their households.

• Enrolment of OVC/ Vulnerable Household
• Home visit
• PSS service provision
• VSLA
• HES
• CPC
• Birth registration Protection Service

IR2: Improved organizational and technical capacity of local Nigerian partners and other local providers offering services to vulnerable children and families

·         Nutrition Training

·         HES Financial Management Training

·         CV Mentorship

·         CBO Training On Report Writing

·         CV/ BLF Management Meeting

IR3:  Local indigenous civil society partners engage more effectively with local government and private partners.

·         Advocacy to the Chairman Local Government Area Ikot Ekpene

·         Advocacy to FHI 360

·         Advocacy to National Population Commission (NPopC)

  B.  Introduction

ARFH/LOPIN1 Project is a 5year OVC intervention Project that seeks to address the high OVC burden and HIV prevalence in 5 L.G.A.s in Akwa Ibom and 3 L.G.A.s in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Brokline Foundation (BLF) is a Non-governmental organization in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A established 2007 with the mission ‘’To improve the health and socioeconomic welfare of the poor and vulnerable in the society’’. We envisage a healthy society for every person and our core values includes: Accountability, transparency, integrity and team work.

BLF has in partnership with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (SMWASD), Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), OVC NGOs, CSOs and a range of Community Based Organization Networks, SACA, CISHAN etc has implemented a variety of gender sensitive projects across Akwa Ibom State, addressing issues of HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents, care and support for orphans and vulnerable children.

BLF is providing gender sensitive care and support services to Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) (0-17years) aimed at increasing access to comprehensive integrated social services (education, health, nutrition, protection and psychosocial support).

BLF is implementing the ARFH/LOPIN1 project in three (3) wards which are ward 9, 10 & 11 in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State

C.  Activity Financial Summary

LOPIN 1’s FINANCIAL SUMMARY AS AT JULY, 2016

Activity Name: Local Partners for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (LOPIN 1)

Sub-grantee: Brokline Foundation

Life of Activity (start and end dates): 5th Aug 2014 to 4th Aug 2019

Total Estimated Sub-Agreement Amount: N14,160,000

Amount disbursed to date: N6,122,347.55

Balance as at reporting time:N33,860.37

Cumulative Expenditures to Date:  N7,779,129.00

Estimated Expenditures Next month(based on work plan):

Report Submitted by: Brokline Foundation

Submission Date: 05/07/16

Programmatic Monthly Progress (narrative)

IR1: Improved systems and structures at community, LGA and States providing responsive quality care, protection and support services for vulnerable children and their households

The following activities were carried out to achieve above named intermediate result of the project; 

• Enrolment of OVC/Vulnerable Households

BLF enrolled 35 (14m, 21f) new vulnerable OVC this month into care and support with the aim of reducing the impact of HIV & AIDS on vulnerable households through an accelerated multisectoral approach

• Home visit

Home visit was conducted this month to ensure OVC/HHs was served with comprehensive care and support in order to improve their well being. During the home visit, caregivers were educated on health. They counseled and assisted by the community volunteers to clear stagnant water around their environment in order to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. They were issued with long lasting mosquito treated net (LLTN) based on identified needs.

Nutrition services was provided for a total of 3268 (1669m, 1599f) OVC, Health education was provided for 3679 (1876m, 1803f) OVC, while school visit and assessment was provided for 2089 (1063m, 1026f).

At the end of the services provided during the home visit well being of caregivers and their vulnerable households were improved.

         

• Provision of Psychosocial service (PSS)

PSS was provided for a total of 3105 (1569m, 1536f) VC during home and school visit, during this activity motivational and spiritual counseling support was provided to the caregivers and OVC. At the end of the PSS, the psychological wellbeing of the VC beneficiaries were improved.

 

·         VSLA

BLF formed the caregivers into Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) with the aim of enabling caregivers on the LOPIN project access Household Economic Strengthening. This will alleviate the economic status of the household and reduce the impact of HIV & AIDS.

Book keeping training was conducted for Ibaikpan Ikot Inam and Ikot Ntuen VSLA executives 15 (4m, 11f), the book keeping training was facilitated by 3m (1HES focal person, 1 ARFH PM & HES PA) on 23^rd July, 2016.

VSLA DATA

VSLA	EXECUTIVE		STAFF/ FACILITATOR	TOTAL
	M	F	M
IBIAKPAN	2	8	3	13
NTUEN	2	3	3	8
TOTAL	4	11	6	21

·        HES

In the bid to ensure vulnerable households acquire a means of livelihood, as a follow up to the 20 caregivers empowered with HES livelihood support in Nyarenyin Utong Uno ward 9, monitoring was conducted this month of July 2016 to ensure that the pro-vitamin A cassava stem that caregivers are supported with are planted in homestead farms and are doing well. Also 11 caregivers across the project community coverage area were given financial education in order to boost the success of their business in which they are supported with start up grant.

• Child Protection Committee (CPC)

Child Protection Committee (CPC) meeting was held in various communities across ward 9, 10 and 11. For this month of July 2016, CPC meeting was held in Ikot Ntuen ward 11 and Ibiakpan Ikot Inam ward 10 in order to strengthen and harmonize emergency child protection interventions for Vulnerable Children (VC).

At the end of the meeting, CPC members’ has improved emergency child protection response for Vulnerable Children (VC). In attendance of the meeting were 19 (14m: 5f) CPC members.

     Data of CPC Meeting

DATE	WARD	COMMUNITY	VENUE	M	F	TOTAL
23/07/2016	11	Ikot Ntuen	Govt Pry Sch	7	2	9
30/07/2016	10	Ibiakpan Ikot Inam	Council Hall	7	3	10
TOTAL				14	5	19

• Birth registration Protection Service

BLF in collaboration with NPopC issued birth certificate on this month of July 2016 at the various communities; the aim is to protect the rights of the vulnerable child through provision of birth certificate. As part of the outcome of the CPC meeting, Caregivers were sensitized during home visit by community volunteers about the importance of their vulnerable children having birth certificate.

At the end of the exercise, protection has been provided for 241 (115m, 126f), the protection for the OVC was also improved.  

IR2: Improved organizational and technical capacity of local Nigerian partners and other local providers offering services to vulnerable children and families

·         Nutrition Training

A five-day training was conducted on the 27^th June to 1^st July, 2016 at EMJIMM Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the Executive Director and Assistant Program Officer with the objective to:

ü  Build CBOs capacity in nutrition service delivery to caregivers and vulnerable household in relation to HIV /AIDS.

ü  To assess the nutrition level for caregivers/ vulnerable households

At the end of the training CBOs capacity has been strengthened in nutrition service delivery to caregivers/vulnerable households.

·    HES Financial Management Training

Association for Reproductive Family Health (ARFH) organized financial management training for 11 reactive HES beneficiaries on the 5^th July, 2016 at Majesty Realm Hotel, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo. Objective of the training includes:

ü  To enhance beneficiaries knowledge on profit maximization.

ü  To encourage budgeting among beneficiaries.

ü  To enhance wealth creation.

ü  To maintain a proper cash flow.

ü  To encourage record keeping among beneficiaries.

ü  To control finance

ü  To ensure confident financial decision

At the end of the training, beneficiaries’ knowledge on financial management has been improved.

·    CV Mentorship

BLF conducted CV mentorship on 27^th July, 2016 at Brokline office 14 Atan road, Ikot Ekpene. The CV mentorship was aimed at getting updates/feedback from community volunteers engaged by Brokline Foundation (BLF); Strengthening CVs capacity for effective service delivery in the project communities and evaluating the progress/achievement recorded monthly by individual CVs.

The mentorship was facilitated by BLF PO, APO, M&E AND ARFH PM.

The CVs performance were reviewed and identified gaps were addressed through mentorship to speed up enrolment to meet up with our FY16 target.

Outcome

a.       CVs have improved knowledge on enrolment process

b.      CVs had improved knowledge on the 6+1 service domains

At the end of the mentorship, CVs were mandated to speed up enrolment and a target of 10 enrolment per day was assigned to them.

38 participants were in attendance (20m, 18f) were present at the CV mentorship.

ORGANISATION	MALE	FEMALE	TOTAL
CV	17	14	31
BLF	2	3	5
ARFH	1	1	2
TOTAL	20	18	38

·         CBO Training On Report Writing

A report writing training was facilitated by the SPC ARFH on the 29^th July, 2016 for BLF Staff at CBO’s office 14 Atan road, Ikot Ekpene. The aim was to build BLF’s capacity in report writing. The SPC in the person of Mr. Mike Ejeh took staff through the rudiments of what a report is, components of a good report, timeliness and data capture. At the end of the training staff has improved skills in report writing.

In attendance of the training were 11(6m, 5f).

·         CV/ BLF Management Meeting

The CV working in Ikot Ekpene LGA of the LOPIN 1 project coverage area in ward 9, 10 and 11 called for a meeting with BLF Management on the 29^th July, 2016 at Mbiaso Government Primary School. The following issues were presented by the CVs.

a.       CVs stipend proration/deduction should be jettisoned and CV ward leaders to be informed of stipend deduction of any CVs.

b.      Stipend increment due  to inflation in the country

c.       Provision of transport fare to facilitate Mobilization of beneficiaries since the coverage area is large.

d.      Provision of appointment letter.

e.       Provision of ID card to facilitate community work especially during school visit.

f.       CVs requested to handle kids club activity.

g.      Insufficient entertainment during kids club,

h.      Beneficiaries preferred educational materials such as books, pencils etc instead of bobo during kids club.

i.        CVs asked if HES empowerment is for only reactive clients or for general vulnerable household enrolled in the project.

The issues raised were addressed by the Executive Director and ARFH State Program Coordinator. In attendance of the meeting were the CVs, 4(2m, 2f) BLF management Staff comprising of the ED, PO, M&E and Asst. M&E, 2 ARFH PMs (1m, 1f) and AFRH SPC.

IR3:  Local indigenous civil society partners engage more effectively with local government and private partners.

The following activities were carried out to achieve above named intermediate result of the project;

·           Advocacy to the Chairman Local Government Area Ikot Ekpene

Advocacy was paid to the chairman Local Government Area Ikot Ekpene in order to model inclusiveness and private partnership in empowering the first phase of 17 caregivers on the LOPIN 1 project by BLF in conjunction with ARFH.

·           Advocacy to FHI 360

Advocacy was paid to FHI 360 HTS team in Ikot Ekpene with the aim of collecting tracking list and making arrangement for HTS. In response FHI said they are now conducting targeted testing and a high level advocacy with have to be paid by ARFH HQ/State team to FHI CAT to facilitate approval/release of tracking list in other to meet the triple 90 mandate.

·           Advocacy to National Population Commission (NPopC)

A high level advocacy was paid by the executive director in conjunction with ARFH State office to the Director of NPpoC in order to address the challenges in issuing birth certificate to vulnerable children (VC) in LOPIN project coverage areas in order to ensure that the VC is protected. OUTPUT

• Number of caregivers forums   0
• Number of kids clubs              0
• Adolescent Girls Group           0
• Number of advocacies             3
• Number of CPC                      2

• Caregivers forum (attendance/NOMIS) 0
• Kids club (attendance/NOMIS 0
• Adolescent Girls Group 0
• CPC attendance 19 (14m: 5f) CPC
• CV Mentorship attendance 31 CV (17m: 14f), 5 BLF (2m: 3f), ARFH PM 2(1m, 1f) total 38 (20m: 18f).

• Number of OVC/Caregivers provided with at least one service 1689
• PSS service provided for 3105 (1569m, 1536f) VC
• Nutrition services were provided for 3268 (1669m, 1599f) OVC
• Health service provided for 3679 (1876m, 1803f) OVC
• School visit and assessment was provided for 2089 (1063m, 1026f)
• VSLA record keeping training for (m, f) 15 (4m, 11f) executives, the book keeping training was facilitated by 3m (1HES focal person, 1 ARFH PM & HES PA)
• Financial Management training 11 caregivers

OUTCOME

• Services provided during home visit have improved the knowledge of the caregivers on parenting skills
• Nutrition education service rendered has improved the Nutrition knowledge of the caregiver
• Health education service rendered has improved the Health knowledge of the caregiver
• PSS service provided through, home visit has improved the psychosocial well being of the VC
• CV mentorship has improved CVs knowledge on enrolment process and service provision
• There was community involvement.
• HES beneficiaries have improved financial management skill.

 Lesson Learnt

• For the success of any project there should be stakeholders involvement.
• Engaging CVs in activities/mentorship/trainings builds their capacity.

 Challenges

·         Caregivers are asking when they will be empowered.

·         Clients were not escorted due to no escort fund disbursed leading to non adherence.

·         Some reactive clients are declining services probably due to fear of stigma.

·         General Hospital Ikot Ekpene has HIV clinic days every Wednesday and Fridays and reactive clients are made to queue up at the HIV unit thus exposing them to stigma.

·         Tracking list has not been made available to BLF by FHI 360 and FHI is longer conducting mass test.

·         Insufficient entertainment during kids club,

·         Beneficiaries preferred educational materials such as books, pencils etc instead of bobo during kids club. Adolescent girl preferred sanitary pads than the usual refreshment. Caregivers are tired of the usual entertainment

Recommendation

·         Empowerment process should be fast tracked.

·         Special funds should be approved/disbursed for client escort

·         BLF to conduct awareness to address stigma.

·         BLF to follow up to ensure adherence

·         ARFH/SACA/Ministry of Health are to conduct a high level advocacy to GH Director/Medical Superintendent in order to address the issue of client made to queue in distinctive line to access service.

·         ARFH State Team/HQ are to conduct a high level advocacy to FHI 360 CAT in order to facilitate the approval for release of tracking list by FHI 360 HTS Team in Ikot Ekpene.

·         CV should be engaged during community activities, this will help build their capacity.

SUCCESS STORY

·         BLF community volunteers have requested management’s approval to be conducting kids club activities in their communities since they have the capacity to do so.

Next Month’s Expected Results and Related Tasks

·        Provision of Birth certificates to VC.

·        Child Protection Committee (CPC) meeting

·        Conduct Girls Child Group

·        Identification of OVC and Caregivers for vocational skills acquisition

·        Identification of Adolescent Girls for vocational skills acquisition

·        Conduct Caregivers Forum

·        Formation of  Caregivers into VSLA for HES

·        Monitoring of CVs by BLF at the community level

·        Monthly BLF/CVs review meeting and refresher training for Community Volunteers on service provision for OVC and Caregivers

·        Provision of PSS, Nutrition, Health and Education services

·        Conduct Kids Club

·        Collation of Data

·        Monthly NOMIS Data Entry

·        Conduct OVC caregivers forum in communities

·        Monthly CBO/CVs review meeting and refresher training for Community Volunteers on service provision for OVC and Caregivers.

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