Child-sensitive social protection. A new approach to programming for children affected by HIV and AIDS

Abstract

The global agenda for children affected by HIV and AIDS is rapidly moving forward in new and important directions. Over the past 5 years, the evidence base on children and HIV/AIDS has expanded considerably and a new global consensus on how to effectively respond to the challenges faced by children affected by HIV and AIDS has emerged. Recent work commissioned and completed by the Interagency Task Team (IATT) on Children and HIV/AIDS and the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS (JLICA) synthesizing the evidence base on children affected by HIV/AIDS has been instrumental in this regard. Drawing upon the evidence base, this paper focuses upon two critical shifts in global consensus on how to improve the response to children affected by HIV and AIDS that are particularly relevant for policy and programming. Firstly, there is increasing agreement that the global response to children should be AIDS sensitive, rather than AIDS exclusive. Although there are some AIDS-specific vulnerabilities children face, as a result of poverty and social exclusion, it is broadly recognized that many of their needs are shared with other vulnerable children. Secondly, it has become evident that short-term responses to mitigating impacts on children's lives are ineffective. Rather, given that the impacts of the epidemic, especially the effects of chronic poverty, will be felt for generations, government-led national responses that enhance systems of care, support, and protection for children are required. Indeed, global consensus has consolidated around the urgent need to strengthen and scale up child-sensitive social protection for all vulnerable children, including those affected by AIDS. For development partners, this presents a signal opportunity to support capacity-building initiatives in ministries responsible for social protection and to provide technical and financial support to strengthen social protection mechanisms for the benefit of all vulnerable children.