Zambia Rising Human Resources Assessment & Gap Analysis of Zambia‘S Social Welfare Workforce
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Zambia Rising Human Resources Assessment & Gap Analysis of Zambia‘s Social Welfare Workforce September 2014 Conducted by: Training Resources Group, Inc. 1 | P a g e Disclaimer: This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Save the Children and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. 2 | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 4 Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... 5 Definition of Key Terms ........................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 8 Ministerial Leadership of the SWW and Cadres ..................................................................................... 8 Assuring Quality through Training Programs and HR Tools ............................................................. 10 The Informal SWW ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Challenges and Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 11 Cadres of Zambia’s Formal SWW ........................................................................................................... 11 The Workload of the DSWO ..................................................................................................................... 11 Ensuring the SWW Provides Quality Services to OVC....................................................................... 12 Coordination of the Social Welfare Function and Workforce ........................................................... 12 HR Tools to Support the SWW ................................................................................................................ 12 IT/ HRIS .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 The Political Context: Decentralization ................................................................................................ 13 Informal Social Welfare Workforce in Zambia ..................................................................................... 13 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 14 Background .............................................................................................................................. 14 Contextual Maps ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Goal and Objectives ................................................................................................................ 19 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 19 Zambia Rising’s Approach .......................................................................................................................... 20 Ethical Considerations and Approval Received ..................................................................................... 21 Limitations of the Study .............................................................................................................................. 21 Framework for Strengthening ............................................................................................... 21 Findings .................................................................................................................................... 22 Literature Review ......................................................................................................................................... 23 Successes On Which to Build ................................................................................................ 26 Cadres of Zambia’s Formal SWW ........................................................................................ 28 Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) ............................. 31 Department of Social Welfare ............................................................................................................. 31 Department of Community Development........................................................................................ 33 Department of Mother and Child Health .......................................................................................... 34 Ministry of Gender and Child Development (MGCD) ......................................................................... 35 Department of Child Development .................................................................................................... 35 1 | P a g e Mapping the Institutional Setting of the SWW ............................................................................... 37 Notable Challenges and Change Opportunities .................................................................................... 39 Points for Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 39 Work Load of the District Social Welfare Officer ............................................................... 40 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................... 40 Notable Challenges and Change Opportunities .................................................................................... 41 Committee Work and Representation .............................................................................................. 41 Work Flow and Work Load .................................................................................................................. 43 Other Variables Impacting the Role ................................................................................................... 43 Points for Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 45 Ensuring the SWW Provides Quality Services to OVC ...................................................... 46 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................... 46 Notable Challenges and Change Opportunities .................................................................................... 46 Universities and Training Institutions ................................................................................................ 46 Credentialing and Requirements of Social Welfare Positions ...................................................... 49 Professionalizing the Field of Social Work ........................................................................................ 52 Points for Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 55 Coordination of the Social Welfare Function and Workforce ........................................... 56 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................... 56 Notable Challenges and Change Opportunities .................................................................................... 57 Lack of National Coordinating Mechanism ....................................................................................... 57 Uneven Collaboration and Complementarity between MCDMCH and MGCD ...................... 57 Inconsistent Collaboration between departments of MCH, Social Welfare and Community development at the district level ................................................................................. 58 Donor Fragmentation ............................................................................................................................ 59 Points for Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 59 HR Tools to Support the SWW ............................................................................................ 60 Current Status ............................................................................................................................................... 60 Notable Challenges and Change Opportunities .................................................................................... 60 Supervision ................................................................................................................................................ 60 In-Service Training, Professional Development, and Individualized Development Plans ...... 62 Points for Discussion ...................................................................................................................................