From orphanages to family accommodation: a dynamic transition in Northern Uganda

The high number of orphans in Northern Uganda stems from the region’s turbulent history, particularly the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict (1986–2006), and ongoing socio-economic challenges like HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, poverty, and inadequate healthcare. These issues have led to a rise in orphanages, often supported by foreign initiatives favoring institutional care over family-based alternatives. This emphasis on institutional care has disempowered parents, who often feel pressured to place their children in orphanages due to limited options. This paper explores how innovative, network-driven strategies can transition from institutional care to family-based accommodations, ensuring children’s physical, emotional, social, and psychological well-being. The proposed framework leverages Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to enhance education and child welfare by utilizing community resources and capabilities, emphasizing the role of family income and assets in children’s academic success. The paper highlights the importance of addressing economic factors in educational policies, particularly in low-income settings. The transition to family-based care faces challenges such as abuse, malnutrition, and unclear administration of children’s identities in orphanages. The integration of advanced network analysis and results-based financing is proposed as a solution, offering a framework to revolutionize child welfare systems for more efficient and impactful outcomes. Key strategies include family tracing, reunification, foster care, and adoption, requiring strong community support, cultural continuity, and strengthening legal frameworks. However, economic challenges, stigma, and lack of trust are significant barriers to garnering external support and fully realizing family-based care solutions. This paper argues that a community-centered approach, supported by results-based financing and tailored to the local cultural context, offers a sustainable and holistic path forward for improving the welfare of orphans in Northern Uganda.