Global Action for Children

Formed in 2003, Global Action for Children (GAC) GAC was a results-oriented coalition dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and highly vulnerable children in the developing world.

GAC advocated for improved policies and expanded investments in proven interventions, increased effectiveness of programs, and effcient spending of taxpayer dollars to better serve children. GAC lead advocacy efforts to ensure access to low-cost, life-saving medicine and interventions that directly impacted and ensured the survival and healthy development of orphans and highly vulnerable children.

GAC’s unique strength was derived from the effectiveness and diversity of the charitable, faith-based, nongovernmental, and student organizations that comprise its Leadership Council, and the ability to mobilize a broad range of constituencies. GAC was a nonpartisan, independent voice for children that did not accept any government funding. That independence allowed GAC to adhere to its mission, avoid advocating out of self-interest, and take bold action on issues affecting children without fear of financial repercussions. Many in the child health community looked to GAC to be a strong, independent voice.

GAC advocated on the following issues that affect orphans and vulnerable children worldwide: basic education, prevention of child marriage, child sexual abuse and trafficking; child survival and immunizations, children in conflict, community care, foreign aid reform, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.

Advocate Jennifer Delaney led efforts as a consultant from September 2005 – January 2006; US Director, January–October 2006; and founding executive director October 2006 – October 2009. Kathleen Guy served as executive director from October 2009 to 2010.

Global Action for Children ceased operations in December 2010.

Advocacy strategy

Global Action for Children worked to generate awareness, policies and funding in Washington, DC to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children worldwide had the resources and support that they needed to grow up safe and healthy.

GAC's advocacy strategy:

• Policy outreach - GAC collected and analyzed information about the issues that affected orphans and vulnerable children from partners in the field. The findings were taken to policymakers to persuade them to allocate funds for programs that protected the world’s children.
• Media outreach - GAC educated the public about the challenges and opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children. GAC contacted journalists and placed op-eds in U.S. publications. It reached out to the public directly through a monthly newsletter and updates to the website and social media.
• Coalition building - GAC brought together diverse groups. When policymakers saw a wide range of constituents united behind an issue, they listened. Corporate partnerships gave GAC the support to fulfill its mission.
• Grassroots and grasstops mobilization - GAC policy, media and coalition work was strengthened when a community of activists added their voices to the cause.

Successes

• Generated the support to pass the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act (P.L. 109-95) in 2005. It was the first comprehensive legislative response to the global crisis surrounding orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
• Coordinated partners in the AIDS-Free Generation coalition to boost the UNAIDS resource needs assessment from $1.2 billion to $4.5 million to account for 19 million orphans between 2008-2015.
• Lead efforts to authorize $3 billion (10 percent of PEPFAR funding) for OVC programs from 2009-2013.
• Placed op-eds and letters to the editor about orphans and vulnerable children in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Vanity Fair.

Timeline

2003

• Future partners of GAC worked together to get an earmark of 10% of U.S. global AIDS funding for the care and support of orphans and vulnerable children within U.S. Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003
• September: Founded as a coalition of nongovernmental, faith-based, and student organizations

2004

• Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act (PL-109-95) introduced, the result of GAC and Congressional allies working together

2005

• OVC legislation signed into law November 8, 2005 by President Bush^[1]

2006

• GAC led more than 30 stakeholders in creating Civil Society Recommendations for implementing PL-109-95
• Jolie-Pitt Foundation contributed $1 million

2007

• GAC, in partnership with UNICEF, held a summit in Brussels on establishing an AIDS Free Generation network
• Organization was officially launched as an independent entity in April^[2]
• GAC influenced the Bush Administration’s appeal to Congress to increase the funding of PEPFAR from $15 million to $30 million, with 10 percent allocated to orphan care.
• GAC and UNICEF’s Unite for Children. Unite Against AIDS. campaign published the AIDS Free Generation strategy report.

Board of directors

Advisory board

References

External links

• Global Action for Children Website