CRS’ curriculum, entitled Child-Optimized Financial Education (COFE): Moving Families from Vulnerability to Thriving, is unique among financial education curricula. It helps caregivers look holistically at the financial lives of their families, with an emphasis on meeting the basic needs of children in their care. It also integrates themes around HIV prevention, care and treatment, child protection and succession planning to support caregiver financial planning, decision-making and ultimately to increase investment in the children in their care.

COFE was designed to be used within projects that focus on HIV, but with minor adjustments, COFE can be used in family strengthening and care, education, health, nutrition and food security projects. Opportunities also exist to support participants in government social protection programs.