Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Partners: Coca-Cola, East Africa Bottling Share Company PLC, Save the Children USA
Location: Ethiopia
Objective: Provide income, life skills, and business skills to adolescent orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia

One example of a public-private partnership that is targeted towards a particular population in a local setting is the vendor model. Since November 2005, USAID, with support from the Emergency Plan and the Global Development Alliance (GDA)¹, has partnered with Coca-Cola and the East Africa Bottling Share Company PLC to pioneer a vendor employment model for orphans and vulnerable children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At present, this public-private partnership has supported 50 adolescent orphans and vulnerable children (ages 16-17) deemed “heads of household” with income generated through employment as vendors of Coca-Cola products in the Merkato area of Addis Ababa and in Awassa.

The new vendors received marketing and business skills training from Coca-Cola, and life skills training, guardian counseling, educational support and psychosocial counseling through Save the Children USA with Emergency Plan support. The partnership is a pioneering model for linking the private sector with the PEPFAR goals of providing care and support to 500,000 orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia.

The partnership will expand to other areas of Addis Ababa and regional centers where additional adolescent orphans will benefit from tangible business experience, education, and encouragement to pursue their personal goals.