OVC Support Toolkit  >  Running a programme  >  Improving the Work 

Setting Standards

This section looks at setting standards for activities which seek to provide care and support for orphans and other vulnerable children. It is part of improving work. Related sections include working with others and monitoring and evaluation.

Key points about setting standards are:

1. Standards can be used by an individual project/programme to assess their own achievements and to have something to aim for

2. Standards can be used to compare different approaches. This may be particularly important when trying to assess costs.

3. Standards can be set in a number of areas where children have needs/rights. These include survival, security, socialization and self-actualisation.

Why are Standards Needed?

Organizations have very varied ways of working with orphans and other vulnerable children. It may be extremely difficult to assess the relative effectiveness of these approaches unless there are agreed standards for the kind of care that needs to be provided. Such standards may be useful for individual projects who can use them to assess how they are doing and as targets for improved activities in the future. Also, such standards can allow comparisons to be made between different project approaches. However, many of the standards are affected by poverty in general. It may be necessary for communities to adapt these standards so that they are appropriate for local settings.

Areas in which Standards are Useful

One approach is to identify four areas in which standards are needed. These are:

1. Survival : This area covers a number of basic physical needs that children have in order to survive. These include food, clothing, home environment, hygiene/infection control, treatment and health care. It is possible to set standards in each of these areas. For example, in South Africa under 'food', two standards were adopted, namely that children should receive three meals per day and should be involved in food preparation and choice.

2. Security : This area covers a child's need for both protection and affection. Areas in which children need protection include from abuse, stigma and discrimination and from loss of parental assets.

3. Socialisation : This covers a range of needs and rights children and young people have in relation to interaction with others. These areas include the right to their own identity and to feel part of a community; education/schooling; participation; understanding, information and communication and counseling/supportive services.

4. Self-actualisation : This area covers a child's need to achieve a fulfilling life. These areas include the areas of recreation/idleness, creativity and freedom of expression.

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