This desk review is part of a wider study commissioned to SOS Children’s Villages International by the European Commission. The overall study aims to map the issue of alternative care and deinstitutionalization in countries in Asia, South and Central America, and Africa. It also seeks to increase the evidence on child protection, alternative care and deinstitutionalization and on how this can be addressed, in order to potentially inform future initiatives in these continents, at country or regional level. The study comprises three continental desk reviews and six field-based case studies. This report is the desk review on alternative care and deinstitutionalisation in Africa. It is accompanied by two country case studies: one focussing on Nigeria and one on Uganda. The results of the regional reports and case studies are synthesised in a report entitled Towards the Right Care for Children: Orientations for reforming alternative care systems. Africa, Asia, Latin America (European Uni...

Objective: Prevalence of obesity and related diseases has increased in Ghana. Dietitians have essential skills to prevent and manage dietary diseases. However, little is known about dietetic practice in Ghana. This paper describes the history and current state of dietetics prac-tice in Ghana. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 13 die-titians and six dietetic interns in February 2012. The questionnaire collected data on perceptions about die-tetics practice, career progression, and challenges in dietetics practice in Ghana. Key informant interviews (KII) on history of dietetics in Ghana were also held with four retired dietitians, and two dietetics educators. Additional KII were conducted with the Chief dietitian, two officers of the Ghana Dietetic Association, and

In a first, the interview for ICEB’s present issue has been conducted with caregivers occupying roles at different levels of the care spectrum of alternative care in India. The first interview was conducted with the carer team at Prayas Children’s Home, with Caregiver (referred to as Ma or Mother at Prayas) Ms. Sunita Gupta, Social Worker Ms. Jayabala, Counsellor Ms. Banashree Hati, and Director Mr. Vishwajeet Ghoshal. The second interview was conducted with Mr. Premoday Khakha, Superintendent/Person-in-Charge at Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) I & III and
Observation Home for Boys II, Delhi. The third interview was conducted with Mr. Deepak Sharma, Honorary Director and Mentor Father of Udayan Care’s Jagshanti Ghar in Greater Noida. The responses from the interviews, although conducted separately, have been brought together per question to enable easier reading.

The European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) commissioned SOS Children’s Villages International to undertake case studies of arrangements for ‘alternative child care’ in six non-European countries across three continents to help inform the EU’s future strategy for provision of support for children in countries outside Europe. This report is a case study of one of the six countries, Uganda. A companion report provides a summary of alternative child care across Sub-Saharan Africa. The results of the regional reports and case studies are synthesised in a report entitled Towards the Right Care for Children: Orientations for reforming alternative care systems. Africa, Asia, Latin America (European Union, Brussels, 2017).

Key findings and recommendations
The existence of strong formal commitments to children’s rights and legal provision to protect children is simply not proving the foundation for action that might have been anticipated. This is due to the weakness of government institutions at central and local level, but also due to the impact of poverty on families and lack of community-based social services.
Recommendations focus on strengthening both central and local government capacity to enforce the law and develop community-based services to support resettlement and closure of many unsatisfactory residential care facilities. Donor advocacy is seen as crucial to supporting these processes.
1 Continued strengthening of Ministry and District capacity to register, monitor, persuade and educate owners/managers of CCIs to work to the Alternative Care Framework.
2 Advocacy aimed at promoting the importance of the Alternative Care Framework to senior District politicians and officials.
3 Share learning across agencies about best methods of sustainably supporting kin families in context of resettlement and prevention work.
4 Continue to pilot fostering and to share practice as it emerges.
5 Increase capacity of CCIs to operate as per the Guidelines, notably with concepts of family contact, improved care-planning and record-keeping.
6 Advocacy aimed at donors and funders regarding sponsorship of children in institutions, the dangers of ICA corruption, orphanage tourism, etc.
7 Faith-based advocacy will be an important part of any such education and advocacy efforts.