There is an increasing commitment in Rwanda to provide a protective and supportive environment for OVC. This is evidenced by the development of the National Policy for OVC (2003) and other related policies and strategies in social protection, health, education and HIV policy and strategic plan 2008-2012 which include OVC component. A Strategic Plan of Action for OVC which provides the framework for concerted and scaled up action in support of OVC has been approved in May 2007.

Recently defined Minimum Standards for Care, Protection and Support for OVC aim at ensuring the operationalisation of a holistic approach including psychosocial support, economic empowerment of the household, basic education (formal and non-formal), protection against all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation and access to health and nutrition.

In September 2007, Rwanda’s Government just approved its second Poverty Reduction Strategy, called the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2008-2012. Cross cutting issues like HIV/AIDS and Social Inclusion have been mainstreamed into this strategy and a particular attention has been given to ensure that Social protection measures will include providing effective delivery of a minimum package of services to vulnerable groups including OVC and PLHIV.

The decentralization process offers a unique opportunity both to ensure that resources and services are provided directly to the most vulnerable and that children and other rights-holders participate in the planning, design and delivery of all activities.

One of the key priorities of good governance is the participation of the population, including children, in their development and more particularly in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of district development plans.

Since 2004, children representatives elected by their peers have the opportunity to express their views and raise their concerns to the high authorities of the country, through the four previous National Children Summits and the four National Paediatric Conferences.

However, the issue of OVC is the collective responsibility of all government ministries, civil society, communities, children themselves and the international community to work collaboratively to ensure the survival, growth, well-being and development of the children of Rwanda.

The integration of OVC issues into the Rwanda Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy and all relevant sectoral policies and strategic plans, with specific budgetary allocation, is crucial to the realization of this vision.