EU REINTEG Key Learnings and Critical Gaps
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EU RE-INTEG DURABLE SOLUTIONS PROGRAMME SUSTAINABILITY OF DURABLE SOLUTIONS INVESTMENTS BEYOND RE-INTEG PROGRAMME KEY LEARNING AND MAPPING OF CRITICAL GAPS Overview There are currently 2.6 million Internally Displaced Persons in Somalia, out of which 700,000 were forced to leave their homes during 2019, mainly due to the floods. In 2020, 72,000 persons have already been internally displaced: 53,000 persons (74 per cent) due to conflict, 17,000 persons (24 per cent) due to drought and 2,000 persons (two per cent) due to other reasons. Displacement and durable solutions have been positioned very centrally on the humanitarian and development agendas in the country. However, extensive analytical work by the World Bank1 and others has also undeniably established that the internally displaced are in the category of “furthest left behind”. Recent decisions by the Prime Minister’s Office to finally and unequivocally move forward the solutions agenda in Somalia, through the development a national durable solutions strategy and the establishment of a National Durable Solutions Secretariat (NDSS), are potential game changers in “national ownership”. We should not fail this opportunity. Moreover, we have seen a strong and increased interest and engagement by Government levels on the management of durable solutions.2 EU RE-INTEG Consortia The EU RE-INTEG Consortia implemented between 2017 and 2020 in Somalia and Somaliland, have been able to move beyond traditional short-term humanitarian programming, and bring a resilience and development focused approach to addressing displacement. The consortia partners3 have been delivering multi-sectoral programs that have advanced the multiple elements of (re)integration. Furthermore, the multi-sector/ multi-actor nature of the programmes has aided the implementation of area-based approaches and created more space for the programmes to engage government representatives and communities collaboratively rather than as individual agencies. The 3-year programme timeframe has also offered increased opportunities for learning and adaptation. 1 Somali Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment (WB, April 2019) 2 ReDSS Somalia Solutions Analysis Update 2019 and Peter de Clercq Mission Report, Durable Solutions in Somalia, November 2019 3 Enhancing Integration of Displacement Affected Communities in Somalia (EIDACS), Jubaland Solutions Consortium (JSC), Somaliland Durable Solutions Consortium (SDSC) and Durable Solutions for IDPs and Returnees in Somalia (DSIRS). The EU has shown leadership among donors with its investment in durable solutions through the RE-INTEG Program. This has led to further investment from DfID and Danida in durable solutions programming, with Danwadaag Programme4 and the Durable Solutions Programme (DSP)5 respectively. These programme interventions are learning from, building on, and scaling up, initiatives and structures put in place by the EU RE-INTEG programme. See here a detailed documentation of lessons learned from the EU RE-INTEG Durable Solutions Consortia (EIDACS, JSC and SDSC) by the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS). Key points for consideration Based on the programme implementation over the last 3 years, the RE-INTEG consortia and its partners (EIDACS, JSC, SDSC and DSIRS) would like to highlight the following key points for consideration by the EU. These key points inform the sustainability of durable solutions investments, made during the programme, across the implementation areas (South West State, Jubaland, Somaliland and Puntland): The necessity to continue investing and prioritize the education and health and nutrition sectors. Despite the progress made under RE-INTEG Consortia, there is still considerable need to upscale basic services in programme locations in order to ensure sustainability, through the engagement of donors, the government and the private sector. Particular attention should be placed on teacher training and key priority elements of access and quality. The opportunity to expand and consolidate the economic empowerment/livelihoods component, increasing linkages to markets and the financial inclusion of youth and women, together with the creation of Public-Public-Partnerships (PPPs). Though informal, micro-finance institutions (MFIs) have led to financial inclusion of those who do not have means to access investment funds or loans for their businesses. The EU should consider taking on board the key learnings from RE-INTEG consortia on this outcome area, to inform the ILED’s strategy conceptualization and programme implementation, on advancing economic empowerment and creating sustainable livelihoods for displacement-affected communities. See here case study with lessons learnt from EIDACS on ‘Establishing and supporting small businesses for displacement-affected communities’. Continued investment on encouraging the inclusion of Protection strategies and activities, to reduce the number of displaced and non-displaced communities who suffer violent crimes and or experience safety incidents, including Sexual Gender Based Violence. Investment in government capacity to lead and coordinate solutions processes. Learning under RE- INTEG has led to improvements in durable solutions programme coordination and planning, under the leadership of authorities across the various project implementation areas. EIDACS, JSC, SDSC and DSIRS consortia engaged authorities in the implementation of specific programme activities, through Programme Steering Committee and Technical Working Group meetings, joint monitoring processes and through solutions-focussed trainings. In addition, there were efforts to support authorities’ technical capacity, through secondments to relevant ministries (e.g. EIDACS secondment to SWS Ministry of Planning M&E department). These investments will form a basis for continued government 4 IOM led Consortium with NRC, CWW, SHACDO, GREDO and ReDSS as partners 5 DRC/DDG led program with WYG (private sector) and ReDSS as partners 2 leadership on solutions programming and hence should be supported to ensure an area-based government-led approach to durable solutions. Leveraging of investments done under RE-INTEG with new potential funding and ongoing durable solutions programmes. Based on the identified critical gaps below, it is recommended that the EU explores to leverage possibilities of coverage of the gaps, linking the investments made under RE-INTEG to planned funding (e.g. ILED programme, Sameynta programme, Joint Resilience Action-JRA) or additional funding by other donors (Swiss, World Bank etc). Investment on measuring progress towards sustainable (re)integration. The EU RE-INTEG partners, with the support of ReDSS, have made efforts to put in place a process to measure progress towards (re)integration. This is based on the four common outcome areas within the programme: government engagement/community engagement, access to basic services, livelihoods and research and learning. Based on the lessons learnt from the programme, future EU durable solutions programmes should ensure they develop a clear theory of change, which outlines a causal pathway for advancing (re)integration and addresses vulnerability across the targeted displacement-affected communities, from the inception and design phase of the programme. The EU could also learn from the experience of Danwadaag consortium partners, who have developed a local (re)integration index (LoRI) to measure the extent to which the targeted beneficiaries in the programme are locally integrated and to better understand the different services and factors that influence displacement affected communities’ (re)integration in the local community. April 2020, Enhancing Integration of Displacement Affected Communities in Somalia (EIDACS) Jubaland Solutions Consortium (JSC) Somaliland Durable Solutions Consortium (SDSC) Durable Solutions for IDPs and Returnees in Somalia (DSIRS) 3 ANNEX: CRITICAL GAPS Explore new opportunities and leverage on existing Durable Solutions programmes: explore how can the authorities in the various locations (SWS, Jubaland, Puntland, Somaliland), Danwadaag, DSP, BRCiS, ILED, Saameynta, partners, (and others) absorb further critical components. DAC Forums . School enrolling campaigns . Access to WASH services . Sustainable livelihoods strategy . On-job teachers training prioritized . JL administration allocating parcel of land to settle IDPs, Returnees and vulnerable Host Communities: need for protection and security assessments before developing the land . Improved land tenure documentation with establishment of land authority and expanding its reach to other districts . Danwadaag durable solution and BRCiS in some of the communities to be targeted with basic service provision to complement and address gaps. Introduce alternative ways of financing costs of education . Women and youth: SHGs, VSLAs, and TVETs. Financial inclusion. Enhanced Public Private Partnerships . Use of social media: governance, social cohesion and integration . Permanent (social) services for “permanent” IDPs . Government capacity building Enhanced coordination and integration: an extended action would in particular build on the benefits so far realised during this action and establish a stronger foundation for sustainability. Critical gaps Sectors Critical gaps, challenges and what needs to be done DAC Forums (SWS) DAC forums engagement with all implementing partners active in their respective locations: . Establish a clear link between DAC Fora and technical line ministries, district offices