Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Integration in Orphanages and Home Based Facilities, and Barriers to African Government’s Initiatives: Lessons from Zambia

About 58 million of the world’s estimated 150 million orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) are in the sub-Saharan African region. The number has been increasing over the years mainly due to Poverty, AIDs and other pandemics. OVC in the streets experience many deprivations, including a lack of emotional support, an appropriate living environment, quality health, and educational services. Efforts have been made to integrate the vulnerable children in safer places. However, the integration of orphaned and vulnerable children in orphanages and Home-based care facilities in Zambia and other African nations continues to face significant challenges. It is from this background that this study aimed to investigate the barriers to African government initiatives in integrating the vulnerable and orphaned children in orphanages and home-based care facilities. The study used the qualitative research approach. The study purposively picked Only 20 key informants from the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Open ended questions were used in the study, allowing the participants to offer clarifying questions at any time. Lack of adequate finances, unregistered orphanages, NGOs working in isolation, cultural factors, and altitude of the vulnerable children were found to be huge barriers to African government initiatives.