From April 25–26, 2016, the RHF project team carried out an important stakeholder identification and selection exercise as part of the preparatory phase for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and Home-Based Care (HBC) components of the HPDP II project. The activity was implemented with technical assistance from the Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (BYSACA) and the Network of People Living with HIV & AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Rivers State chapter.
The process was carefully designed to ensure that key individuals and institutions at both the state and community levels, whose roles are critical to the successful delivery of the project, were mapped and selected. The selection took into account each stakeholder’s influence, technical capacity, and relevance to the OVC and HBC interventions.
The identified stakeholders included:
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State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (SMWASD) – to provide oversight, policy guidance, and direct involvement in child protection and welfare activities.
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State Ministry of Education (SMOE) – to facilitate school-based interventions, educational support for OVC, and collaboration with school authorities.
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State Ministry of Health (SMOH) – to strengthen health facility linkages, referrals, and access to medical care for beneficiaries.
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Network of People Living with HIV & AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Bayelsa State Chapter – to enhance PLHIV mobilisation, peer support, and community-level advocacy.
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God’s Deliverance Support Group – a community-based group to provide psychosocial support and mobilise local participation in project activities.
The outcome of the exercise was the successful mapping and identification of these critical project stakeholders and gatekeepers. Following their identification, advocacy letters were developed and tailored for each stakeholder, outlining specific areas of partnership, expected roles, and possible avenues of support.
This foundational activity laid the groundwork for strong collaboration, ensuring that the project would be anchored on robust partnerships that support both the implementation and sustainability of OVC and HBC services in the targeted communities.
