MANDATE

“To enhance and protect the quality of life of individuals, families and communities. This involves responding to concerns such as extreme poverty, HIVAIDS, disability, old age, and disintegration of the extended family by providing essential social services to the poor and vulnerable’’.

The Department of Social Welfare is responsible for the provision and promotion of quality social welfare services aimed at alleviating poverty, reducing destitution, promoting family values and reducing juvenile delinquency.

The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services through the Department of Social Welfare has the responsibility and mandate of providing social protection services to the vulnerable and incapacitated individuals, families, households and communities. The Ministry through the Department is primarily concerned with providing assistance to those living in extreme poverty, affected with HIV and AIDS, disability, old age, vulnerable children and orphans. The Department of Social Welfare aims at providing such disadvantaged individuals and groups with essential social services to society, while also addressing juvenile delinquency and crime such as, domestic violence, human trafficking and other aspects that affect the wellbeing of society on a daily basis.

The Department provides social welfare services under two main service areas: Statutory and Non-Statutory Services.

Functions and Objectives of the Department

Objective 1: To empower the low capacity households in order to improve their productivity and livelihoods.

Objective 2: To provide social assistance to incapacitated individuals and households in order to reduce extreme poverty..

Objective 3: To rehabilitate, care and protect Juveniles and children in need in order to reduce delinquency and promote their well-being.

Objective 4: To rehabilitate and capacitate persons with disabilities in order to enhance equitable participation in national development.

Statutory Services

•          Foster Care Services

•          Adoption Services

Child Welfare Services