Multi-Sectoral Support to Vulnerable Households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280)
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Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280) INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE NIGER SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger AGREEMENT NO: 720FDA18GR00280 REPORTING PERIOD: AUGUST 1, 2018- MARCH 31, 2019 PRESENTED TO: THE USAID OFFICE OF FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE Collaborating Partner: Agency Headquarters: International Rescue Committee Niger International Rescue Committee c/o Giorgio Faedo, Country Director c/o Amelia Hays, Program Officer Tel: +227 92 18 74 01 Tel : 212.551.0954 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SUBMITTED: MAY 1, 2019 Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280) I. Executive Summary PROGRAM TITLE: Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger AGREEMENT: 720FDA18GR00280 AGENCY: International Rescue Committee in Niger CAUSE: WASH, protection, food security, shelter and NFI PROJECT PERIOD: 12 months (August 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019) OBJECTIVE: Improve the living conditions and build the resilience of vulnerable households in Diffa region, through emergency and early recovery interventions in the WASH, protection, food security, shelter, and NFI sectors BENEFICIARIES: Total number of beneficiaries targeted: 26,280 direct beneficiaries, including 14,580 IDPs Total number of beneficiaries reached to date: 15,359 beneficiaries, including 8,728 IDPs LOCATION: Region of Diffa, Niger WASH: Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria departments Protection: N’Guigmi, Bosso, Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria departments Agriculture and Food Security: N’Gourti, Diffa, Maïné Soroa, and Goudoumaria departments Shelter and Settlements: Diffa department 1 Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280) I. Introduction For several years, Niger’s population has been affected by cyclical, structural and chronic problems that require an urgent humanitarian response coupled with strategies aimed at strengthening the resilience of the affected populations. Diffa region in eastern Niger, located along the border with Nigeria, has been affected by non-state armed group (NSAG) activities since 2015 and continues to face attacks by these NSAGs. While the number of attacks decreased in 2017 and early 2018, the end of the year and the beginning of 2019 have seen a sharp increase in violence. Such violence is likely to persist as military operations are conducted in Niger and as NSAGs are looking to maintain presence in the region (including in Chad and Nigeria). According to UNHCR, at least 52 violent events can be directly attributed to Boko Haram in recent months (15 in November, 17 in December and 20 in January). In March 2019, 21 attacks targeting security forces and civilians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and local populations, were recorded, displacing nearly 19,000 people throughout Diffa department. The situation is expected to continue to impact food security, as well as access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and shelter solutions, with a significant impact to protection as access to fields will remain constrained. On March 24, N’gagam site was attacked by non-state armed actors, causing mass displacements and forcing the IRC to suspend activities at this site through the end of the reporting period (March 31). The IRC will provide an update in the next report. Despite these setbacks, the IRC continues to offer emergency protection services in the five departments of implementation and to closely monitor the evolving needs of affected populations. Following population displacements between January and March 2019, the IRC conducted 8 multi-sectoral assessments (MSAs) to identify the most urgent needs of the affected population as well as 6 rapid protection assessments (RPAs) to highlight the protection issues faced by IDPs. According to the results of these assessments, most of the newly displaced people have left their place of origin without any of their belongings while the people in a situation of protracted displacement also have limited possessions and resources. Over 60% of the displaced affected communities were facing poor food consumption and without access to adequate excretal disposal solutions. The rapid response mechanism (RRM) team was mobilized to provide emergency assistance via the distribution of non-food items (NFI) and emergency shelters kits to the displaced households. II. Summary of Activities A. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Number of beneficiaries targeted: 17,750 beneficiaries, including 9,900 IDPs Total number of beneficiaries reached: 4,976 beneficiaries, including 2,190 IDPs Sub-Sector 1: Hygiene Promotion Community-led sensitization: From August 2018 to March 2019, 100 community relays (all volunteers), and 20 substitutes in case of an absence, were elected respectively by their community and trained on their roles and responsibilities in the communes of Guéskérou, Diffa, Chétimari and Mainé Soroa. With the support of IRC staff, the community sensitized 4,476 people (1,698 women, 1,001 men, 1,066 girls and 711 boys) on ending the practice of open defecation; using, cleaning and maintaining sanitary facilities; hand washing; practicing good hygiene and water practices, including water collection, transport, conservation and consumption, and environmental and menstrual hygiene. The IRC has worked in the villages of Djalori (Guéskérou commune), Ballari (Diffa commune), Biri Boulam, Tcholori, Gonidi, Wogom Koura, Wogom Gana (Chétimari commune), and Mourimadi (Mainé Soroa commune), to help communities reduce the risk of spreading water-related diseases and health problems through an integrated approach in which access to WASH infrastructure and awareness raising are intimately linked. In order to reach the target, the IRC will strengthen awareness raising during the next distribution of NFIs. Hygiene promotion at schools: Since August 2018, IRC staff and community relays carried out hygiene promotion activities in 15 schools, including 12 schools in the commune of Diffa, two in the urban commune 2 Multi-sectoral support to vulnerable households in Diffa, Niger (Agreement No: 720FDA18GR00280) of Mainé Soroa and one in the rural commune of Chétimari. The IRC established a hygiene club consisting of 12 students in each school to sensitize other students on good hygiene practices and share their knowledge at home with their families and neighbors. These school-based actions will help reach 11,723 students, including 7,254 boys and 4,469 girls. Health clubs have no political or religious affiliations and are specifically trained to eradicate communicable diseases in their school and community, which is why the IRC has intervened in schools to build the capacity of students to eradicate communicable diseases. According to the new policy of the State of Niger on school hygiene, parents’ associations (such as the Mother-Educator Associations) and School Management Committees (CGDES) can no longer be members of these clubs; however, they provide support such as training the hygiene club members and acting as mentors. Additionally, the IRC is in the process of setting up fifteen handwashing stations in each school, each of which could serve an average of 500 students. Sub-Sector 2: Sanitation Promotion of household latrine construction and maintenance: In order to promote improved hygiene and sanitation, the IRC is providing subsidies for latrine construction for 500 households (to the benefit of 3,500 individuals) in the form of Sanplat bricks and slabs, as well as sanitation and hygiene kits. Beneficiaries have been identified in the villages of Gonidi, Cholori, Murimadi, Biri Boula, intervention areas that will also be served by the construction of a multi-village water system, and Wogom Koura and Wogom Gana, whose populations already have access to a multi-village drinking water system through complementary funding. The purpose of targeting villages that are or will have access to clean drinking water is to establish an integrated approach to ending the transmission of water-borne diseases. Once the materials are distributed, the IRC will provide technical expertise and informal training on latrine construction, including digging and masonry pits, latrine superstructures and latrine maintenance. Although this activity has been delayed due to challenges outlined in the last section of this report, household latrine construction will be complete and indicators will be achieved by the end of the project. Distribution of sanitation kits: 1,500 sanitation kits, comprising a hard brush, plastic and household gloves, bleach, a rake, and a metal bucket have been purchased and will be distributed to the 500 households receiving latrine material subsidies and 1,000 other households benefiting from improved water sources. During distributions, the IRC will also provide demonstrates on how to properly use the kits to help families build and maintain their latrines and keep this environment free of fecal matter. Monthly sanitation days in the communities: The monthly awareness days did not go as planned because of the relocation of the implementation sites of the mini-AEP multi villages, though community sensitization on WASH topics occur regularly in the communities. 500 people should be reached by each campaign. Campaigns could help educate families about proper use and maintenance of family-built sanitation facilities, and end open