Orphans and other vulnerable children : what role for social protection ?

Recent estimates have provided unprecedented numbers of orphans, and vulnerable children, either brought about because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, or carriers themselves of HIV infections, a relentless growth which has precipitated a multifaceted care burden, that will too, grow for the next twenty years. This report records the proceedings of the Conference"Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children", which sought to promote awareness of the extent of this crisis, and, to probe the role of social protection in implementing a balanced response. The social protection framework for working with orphans, and vulnerable children shaped the conference agenda. Provision of appropriate risk management instruments is crucial for lasting poverty reduction, while programs to reduce the vulnerability of orphans, and other children, should play an integral role in any national development strategy, in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Building community capacity will constitute the centerpiece of any feasible response. Within a realistic framework, programs must spread, and scale up, to address the vast, and growing need.