Synergies Between Cash and Care Interventions to Improve HIV Outcomes for OVC: Programming Brief

“Cash plus care” programming has recently gained momentum in the social protection discourse as policymakers realize the potential efficiency gains derived from integrating cash transfers with social services like health, education and psychosocial support to reduce HIV risk. This programming approach is particularly compelling for its potential to reach orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) with support for HIV prevention and adherence to treatment. Combined interventions appropriately tackle the multidimensional risks and vulnerabilities affecting OVC populations. Consequently, cash plus care programs are gaining ground as core instruments of HIV responses.

This brief examines the experience of the Isibindi project, sponsored by South Africa’s government, and community intervention work by eSwatini’s Salvation Army to demonstrate the need for a holistic set of interventions to effectively respond to the range of vulnerability factors affecting OVC populations. These programs reveal that cash plus care interventions offer an effective system of interventions that generate interactive and multiplicative effects to reduce HIV prevalence and transmission. Based on these programming examples, this brief highlights the key design elements for effective cash plus care interventions, to inform future policy development.