NOVOC’s Profile
NOVOC is a Malawian non-government, umbrella organisation with a secretariate in Lilongwe. In 2001 an historic meeting took place, by orphan-care stakeholders, and it was agreed that a national network was needed in Malawi to monitor, popularise and 
disseminate Community-Based Organisations (CBO’s), and so NOVOC was born. NOVOC functions to network Orphaned-and- Vulnerable Children (OVC’s) service providers, to build their capacity, thus offering quality services to orphans and vulnerable
children.
MISSION STATEMENT
“NOVOC exists to promote, assist and empower individuals and organisations invovled with the care and support of orpahns and vulnerable children so as to create and increase services and thereby improve their quality of life”.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
- Increase coordination, colaboration and communication amongst stakeholders; including Government Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and individuals involved in OVC work through regular and open communication
- Facilitate the sharing of information, materials, programs and other resources among OVC stakeholders and service providers to help OVC’s reach their utmost potential
- Advocate for effective policies and practices in the care of OVC’s and their access to essential services, intergrated and comprehensive community-based support
- Build and enhance the capacity of CBO’s involved in OVC programing, project and Finance management, proposal and report writing, documentation and effective care for OVC
- Build and enhance the financial, technical and personnel capacity of NOVOC to be able to respond and provide timely and quality support to OVC service providers
Malawi has over 1,000,000 orphans (UNICEF, 2005) and faces a huge challenge in responding to the increasing number of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. NOVOC needs assistance in providing care to these children country wide. Several international organisations have joined forces with NOVOC so that challenges and goals are reached daily. The orphaned and vulnerable children of Malawi are about to embark upon a journey of healing and transformation that will change the course of their lives as well as the entire nation. This journey will be witnessed and applauded by the local, regional and international community.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS THAT WORK TOGETHER WITH NOVOC
Raising Malawi Trust, Firelight Foundation, Joint Oxfam Programme in Malawi, The Regional Psycho-social support Initiative (REPSSI), Viva Network in UK and STOP AIDS NOW!
WHAT NOVOC HAS ACHIEVED SO FAR
- Conducted Psycho-Social Support (PSS) training for members to increase the quality of life for OVCs affected by HIV and AIDS
- Conducted advocacy training for members to ensure that children’s’ rights are protected and that Government provides adequate resources for the education and welfare of orphans and vulnerable children
- Has engaged into a lobbying process with government to increase/include budget allocation for OVC education and also to increase the number of bursaries
- Linked some CBOs with donors, for direct support of their interventions
- Created a comprehensive database of CBOs through mapping and directory development
- Successfully continue to monitor the operations of CBOs, thereby ensuring accurate reporting and quality control of services and prudent utilization of funds
- Developed the draft Psychosocial Support manual for Malawi that will help the Malawi Government provide the framework of Psychosocial care to the children of Malawi
- Has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Gateway Private Secondary School in Lilongwe, which will facilitate free access to secondary education for 50 OVC girl pupils from all the districts for a period of 4 years
Contact details:
Network of Organizations for Vulnerable and Orphaned Children (NOVOC)
P O Box 1266
Lilongwe
Malawi
Phone: 265-1-920013/751502
Email: info@novocmalawi.org
Website: http://www.novocmalawi.org/
Contactperson:
Mr. Cuthbert Q. Nyirenda,
National Coordinator
Email: cnyirenda@novocmalawi.org
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