The document summarizes an evaluation of The Salvation Army's program in Uganda that integrated economic empowerment of caregivers with community support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The program used the WORTH model to provide women with savings opportunities, training, and loans to start small businesses. WORTH worked with Community Action Teams to facilitate discussions around HIV/AIDS and OVC care. The evaluation found the program empowered women economically and socially, and OVC in participating households had higher levels of well-being. Caregiver empowerment through the WORTH model appears to positively impact OVC outcomes. The document concludes with recommendations like maintaining a focus on OVC welfare, promoting women's leadership, and considering structural barriers beyond

1. Empowering Better Care?
Economic strengthening for OVC
caregivers in Uganda
Presented by The Salvation Army World
Service Office
April 23, 2013

2. Introduction
The Salvation Army, in collaboration with Pact, implemented an OVC
program in Uganda and Tanzania, integrating empowerment of caregivers
with community mobilization on psychosocial support for OVC. These are
the results from an evaluation of the program in Uganda.

3. WORTH Model
WORTH is a microfinance and
empowerment program through which
women:
 generate savings,
 gain access to training and loans for small
businesses, and
 teach themselves to read and write
The goal is holistic empowerment and sense of
agency

4. WORTH & Community Action Teams
WORTH works alongside Community Action
Teams (CATs)
CATs are trained to:
 1) facilitate conversations about HIV/AIDS and
OVC care;
 2) conduct in-home counseling to children and
caregivers; and
 3) organize Kids and Youth (KAY) Clubs

5. Summary of Results
Evaluation found evidence for the following:
oWORTH provided new economic opportunities for women
o WORTH empowered women beyond economic strengthening
o OVC in WORTH households measured higher levels of well-
being
o Caregiver empowerment appears to be a critical factor in OVC
well-being

6. Nutrition & Food Security

7. Health & Hygiene
o More Clean Water: 15-19% higher
o Greater use of family planning
o Greater Use of Hygiene Items

8. Health & Hygiene:
 WORTH caregivers appear to be more
attentive to the health status of OVC and
more active in seeking better quality of care
when children are sick:
 more likely to know if an OVC was actually sick
 better able to diagnose the illness for OVC and
determine the best treatment

9. Shelter
• Better condition
• Better organization & hygienic
• Better repairs

10. Finances

11. Finances

12. Outlook on Life
 Improved life
outlook (hope)
 Higher levels of
happiness
 Increased income
 Improved financial
status

13. Linkages to an OVC Economic Strengthening Framework
Stage Worth Activity or Outcome
Recover assets and
stabilize household
consumption
Asset transfer via OVC fund
Build self-insurance
mechanisms and protect
key-assets
Strong social networks
Savings
Smooth household
consumption and
manage household
cashflow
Financial literacy
Credit access
Smooth household
income and promote
asset growth
Microenterprise
Business Training
Expand household
income and consumption

14. Recommendations
1. OVC or health-centered focus: Clearly rooted in support for OVC
welfare
2. Promote women’s community leadership
3. Holistic approach to empowerment of caregivers
4. Strategic focus on levels of economic strengthening (consider
partnerships): Provision, Protection Promotion
5. Set clear health outcome indicators for financial service
programs
6. Account for other barriers to health status and behavior:
beyond financial status and awareness to structural barriers

15. Thank you! Questions?