This report focuses on the role of older carers in supporting orphans and vulnerable children. It draws on evidence collected from programme experience in Africa and Asia, in order to provide policymakers and other actors tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic with: an overview of the issues identified by older people and orphans and vulnerable children themselves; good practice examples from community-based programmes that are improving the lives of older people and orphans and vulnerable children; recommendations that will help to prioritise orphans and their carers within HIV/AIDS and wider development policies, programmes and research.