ANNUAL REPORT 2015

GOALS AND PRIORITIES 1 FOREWORD

NORCAP Confronted with an increasing number of complex and Norwegian Refugee Council large-scale emergencies, the need for effective and Postboks 148, Sentrum well-coordinated humanitarian assistance has grown 0102 Oslo dramatically. Through almost 800 deployments to the Norway UN and other partners, NORCAP was a key contributor to resilience and humanitarian response in international www.nrc.no/norcap assistance in 2015. [email protected] Europe received a larger share of our deployments in NORCAP DIRECTOR 2015 than at any point since the mid-1990s. Towards the Benedicte Giæver end of the year, the European refugee crisis was a grow- ing focus of NORCAP’s support. We contributed signifi- PROJECT MANAGER cantly to improving protection and the coordination of the Hilde Faugli humanitarian response in severely strained countries of reception and transit such as Greece and in the Balkans. CONTRIBUTORS Nina Meyer Stensholt Expert personnel were deployed to all the UN declared Ida Sem Fossvik Level 3 crises during the year; Iraq, South Sudan, Syria Tonje Hisdal Johannessen and Yemen. After five years of conflict, Syria and the Together with our partners, NORCAP strives to promote neighbouring countries continue to be a major focus new and effective ways of undertaking humanitarian oper- COVER PHOTO for NORCAP expert deployments. As access to Syria ations. Bringing agencies together to address common NRC/Jose Cendon remains a challenge, the majority of support was directed challenges has yielded positive results. IDP camp at the airport to the neighbouring countries. More than 60 deployments of Bangui in CAR. were made to support UN operations in Iraq, Jordan, Leb- Among our new initiatives are the inter-agency CashCap anon, Turkey and Syria, including three experts working in roster, which aims to strengthen cash programming and GRAPHIC DESIGN Damascus. capacity building in different contexts; further develop- Øystein Os Simonsen ment of the Word Meteorological Organisation’s climate Our experts continued to work in protracted crises in services initiative to improve livelihoods and food security; PRINT countries such as the Central African Republic, Dem- and the Communication with Communities project, which Gamlebyen Grafiske ocratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. The Ebola aims to improve communication with affected populations crisis in West Africa also continued to receive substantial and place beneficiaries at the centre of the response. A warm thank you to support from NORCAP deployees. As some crises tend all NORCAP staff and to divert media attention and resources from long-lasting At the heart of NORCAP are our excellent roster mem- all roster members who and off-the-radar crises, our contributions to the more bers. They are hardworking experts who build capacity have contributed to forgotten crises are important. and improve the humanitarian coordination and response. the report. They are the ones who make a difference on the ground in The increase in climate-related natural disasters has challenging and complex working conditions. We would defined our work in 2015. Improving preparedness in like to thank our experts, and our donors and partners, for disaster-prone countries reduces vulnerability when an their contributions in 2015 and we look forward to contin- emergency hits. NORCAP responded comprehensively ued collaboration in 2016. after the Nepal earthquake in April, deploying 38 experts in camp coordination, needs assessment, education, logistics, protection, gender and food security. Our aim was to bridge all stages of the response, addressing people’s needs, building local capacity and improving JAN EGELAND preparedness for future shocks. Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council

2 3 WHO WE ARE OUR ROSTERS

The NORCAP roster NORCAP, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s expert deployment capacity, aims to improve The NORCAP roster was established after the Gulf war in 1991 and is today the most used standby roster in the international and local capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. world, covering a wide range of expertise. We do this by bringing different actors together and deploying experts to the UN, inter- NOROBS national and regional organisations and national institutions. The Norwegian Standby Roster for Civilian Observers (NOROBS) is a sub-roster of NORCAP and provides observers to monitoring mechanisms and civilian capacity during all phases of a crisis. Our strong emphasis on staff to peace support operations. care is critical for staff welfare. It helps our experts to car- ry out their missions in the most trying of circumstances and to be ready quickly for new assignments. Thematic rosters operated by NORCAP:

ProCap NORCAP’s contribution goes beyond filling human re- The Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Protection source gaps. We aim to contribute to positive and durable Standby Capacity Project (ProCap) was created in 2005 change. At the operational level, our experts improve to build the capacity of relevant actors to strengthen coordination and efficiency, and contribute to building the the humanitarian protection response. ProCap is a UN inter-agency project with a steering committee and support internal capacity of their host organisations. Their broad unit in OCHA. experience across institutions, cultures and countries Since the establishment in 1991, NORCAP has deployed brings new perspectives and facilitates learning in the GenCap experts to more than 9,000 missions worldwide. The international aid system as a whole. The IASC Gender Standby Capacity Project (GenCap) NORCAP roster is our largest standby roster covering a was created in 2007 in collaboration with OCHA. The pro- ject deploys senior gender expertise, who in an interagen- wide range of competencies. NORCAP continuously discusses needs and opportuni- cy manner seeks to strengthen the capacity and leadership ties with our UN partners, regional institutions, national of humanitarians to undertake and promote gender equality In collaboration with the UN and other partners, NORCAP authorities and other networks. By bringing stakeholders programming. also operates seven thematic rosters. These provide together across sectors and mandates, we have devel- high-level support through specialised expertise in the ar- oped new partnerships and ways of working over the Standby Team of Mediation Experts The Standby Team of Mediation Experts (SBT) was estab- eas of protection, gender, needs assessments, mediation, years. In this way, NORCAP pushes the humanitarian lished in 2008. The experts can be rapidly deployed to the camp coordination, cash and markets and communication agenda forward to bridge the gap between prevention, UN and UN-supported mediation processes worldwide. with affected communities. Experts on these rosters work response, recovery and development. SBT is a service of the Mediation Support Unit (MSU) of across sectors to improve the response to needs on the the UN Department of Political Affairs. ground. ACAPS The Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) was Across all our rosters NORCAP has more than 900 NORCAP´S MISSION established in 2009 to strengthen coordinated humani- experienced professionals, recruited to meet the changing tarian needs assessments before, during and after crises. demands of a wide range of contexts and crises. ACAPS is led by a consortium of NRC, ACF and Save the Reinforce the capacities of the international Children International. community and national stakeholders to prevent How we work and respond to humanitarian challenges. CCCMCap NORCAP strives to make humanitarian efforts more effi- The NORCAP partnership with the Global Camp Coordi- cient and effective, to better meet the needs of affected nation and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster started Ensure that international operations assist people. At the same time, we work to prevent and mitigate in 2012. CCCM experts are deployed for cluster coordi- those in need regardless of their religion, race, the impact of conflict and disasters by building prepared- nation and technical support. CCCMCap includes rapid nationality and political persuasion. response teams, tools and capacity development for camp, ness and resilience. This can only be done by developing urban and out-of-camp settings. national and local capacity and systems, and strengthen- Support organisations and institutions, and ing coordination. CashCap in particular the United Nations, in all stages In 2015 the Cash and Markets Capacity Development of a crisis, from prevention and early warning, Without the right people on the ground, it is impossible to Roster (CashCap) was established to increase the use response, monitoring, reconstruction, conflict and effectiveness of cash and markets programming in use resources efficiently to improve the lives of people in resolution, sustainable development and demo- humanitarian aid. CashCap is governed by a Steering emergency situations. NORCAP has 25 years’ experience cratic governance. Committee of UN and NGO members. in deploying the right person at the right time and in the right place. In close dialogue with our partners, we con- Humanitarian Communication Roster Ensure that people in emergencies receive tinue to analyse humanitarian trends to proactively recruit The humanitarian communication roster was established in protection and assistance according to their 2015 and is led by NORCAP on behalf of the Communicat- experts in areas of high demand. needs and rights, with particular emphasis on ing with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network. the protection of civilians and the implementa- The roster provides capacity to meet the information and NORCAP experts are ready to deploy within 72 hours of communication needs of people affected by crisis. tion of relevant Security Council Resolutions. the onset of an acute emergency, and provide support

4 5 WEST AFRICA UKRAINE PALESTINE EUROPEAN REFUGEE CRISIS NORCAP deployed 72 ex- The conflict that began in NORCAP’s main support is 35 experts were deployed to seven countries to GLOBAL perts to work on the Ebola the east of the country in to the Temporary International support the reception and protection of refugees crisis in Liberia, Guinea and 2014 resulted in significant Presence in Hebron (TIPH), a and migrants in Europe. Read more on page 24. Sierra Leone, with a focus loss of life, displacement civilian observer mission. 27 on coordination and leader- and suffering. It is yet to be of the 40 deployed experts to OVERVIEW ship. ACAPS analysts and resolved. 17 experts were Palestine in 2015 were TIPH a gender advisor (GenCap) deployed within coordination observers. were also deployed. of humanitarian assistance, education, protection and IRAQ, SYRIA AND YEMEN NEPAL and 2015 mediation. NEIGHBOURING The country’s armed conflict As part of a comprehensive response NIGERIA COUNTRIES has left an estimated 21.2 to the April 2015 earthquake, 38 NOR- The conflicts in Iraq and Syria million people in need of CAP, GenCap, ProCap and ACAPS The conflict and violence in the and the Islamic State insurgency humanitarian or protection experts were deployed to eight UN highlights north-east of the country has have displaced more than 14 assistance. 10 experts were organisations. Read more on page 20. led to a growing humanitarian million people. Over 60 experts deployed to Yemen and crisis. 13 experts were deployed were deployed in support to UN neighbouring countries, to support the work of UNICEF, operations in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, including protection, gender UNHCR and IOM in areas such as MYANMAR Lebanon and Turkey. and camp management/ education in emergencies, child The country is considered highly coordination experts working protection and camp coordination. prone to natural hazards, and since in Sanaa. 2011 more than 240,000 people have also been displaced by conflict SENEGAL and violence. NORCAP deployed 11 Deployments to FAO experts, including a senior gender in Senegal focused on advisor (GenCap) and cluster coor- strengthening resilience in dinators for food security and camp the Sahel region, working management. in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation HAITI and food security. GenCap PHILIPPINES regional advisors were also Drought and a persistent cholera epidemic NOROBS continued to located here. have made the humanitarian and development SOMALIA support civilian peace and challenges associated with the devastating The country continues to be affected stabilisation efforts in Min- 2010 earthquake worse. Four experts were by both conflict and disasters. danao. Experts also worked deployed, including a long-term ProCap CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC NORCAP deployed eight experts to in disaster risk reduction and The country’s conflict and political crisis advisor to work with OCHA. the AU mission in the country, and climate change adaptation. have affected nearly the entire population. to work on gender-based violence, In total 12 experts were 12 experts were deployed, predominantly shelter, livelihoods and mediation. deployed in 2015. COLOMBIA to support the UN in protecting more than NORCAP deployed experts to UN Women to a million internally displaced. The Standby support the organisation’s humanitarian action team of mediation experts assisted the UN programme, and to the UN resident coordina- Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation tor’s office to support the UN system´s peace Mission (MINUSCA). and post-conflict preparations.

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN DEMOCRATIC SOUTH SUDAN ETHIOPIA KENYA THE PACIFIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Humanitarian needs and dis- 18 experts were deployed to NORCAP deployed 11 experts, Four experts were deployed to the region, including a NORCAP deployed one expert to Costa Rica The country’s prolonged and complex placement continue as a result support, among others, WHO whose work included support- disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to advise Central American governments on crisis has been complicated by an influx of violence, economic decline, and WFP’s response to the ing the regional climate centre, specialist to the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment displacement associated with natural hazards. of refugees from neighbouring CAR. 10 disease and climate shocks. 30 impacts of the El Niño weather ICPAC. NORCAP also collabo- Programme (SPREP). The impacts of El Niño triggered In Panama two experts supported UNHCR and experts worked in protection, education, experts were deployed in camp phenomenon, UNHCR’s work rated with Statistics Norway to further activities towards the end of the year. UN-Habitat’s regional programmes. health, logistics, food security and camp management, coordination, with South Sudanese refugees, deploy statisticians to UNHCR management/coordination. protection, health, disaster risk the African Union’s peace and UNFPA. Two ProCap and reduction, water, sanitation and operations department and IG- GenCap experts supported work health (WASH). AD-led talks on South Sudan. across the region from Nairobi.

6 7 WE PROVIDED OUR EXPERTS WORKED WE SUPPORTED WE WORKED IN 799 221 25 70 DEPLOYMENTS PERSON-YEARS ORGANISATIONS COUNTRIES

PERSON-YEARS PER CATEGORY PERSON-MONTHS IN 2015

PROTECTION European refugee crisis EUROPE Yemen MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA UN Supported 384 Ukraine Peace Processes Iraq, Syria COORDINATION & neigbouring AND LEADERSHIP Global, Roving & 579 countries Palestine Rapid Response & TIPH Teams Haiti ASIA Nepal Regional & Roving AFRICA Earthquake CAMP 185 UN Supported MANAGEMENT Peace Processes Ebola 321 28 AMERICAS PEACEBUILDING OCEANIA Somalia 1157 Philippines LOGISTICS DRC AND SUPPLY Nigeria South Sudan

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAR Ethiopia EXPERTS FROM AND TECHNOLOGY

ADMINISTRATION ENGINEERING AND FINANCE LARGEST RECEIVING ORGANISATIONS LARGEST RECEIVING COUNTRIES

UNHCR Palestine SOCIAL AFFAIRS UNICEF South Sudan 75 EDUCATION AND LIVELIHOOD WFP Switzerland COUNTRIES WERE DEPLOYED IOM Liberia MEDIA, COMMUNICATION HEALTH UNFPA Nepal AND INFORMATION AND NUTRITION OCHA Iraq TIPH Sierra Leone CIVIL AFFAIRS AND RULE OF LAW AND CAPACITY AU Ethiopia WE RECRUITED DEMOCRATISATION LEGAL AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENT UN Peace Proc. Guinea ACAPS Global CAR WHO Nigeria UN Women Lebanon UNDP Philippines FAO Ukraine UNESCO Greece EXPERTS IN 2015 NEW EXPERTS NATIONALITIES MEN/WOMEN UN-Habitat United States RECRUITED REPRESENTED IN OUR Nat. governments Somalia IN 2015 IN OUR ROSTER ROSTER IMT/IDB Jordan 137 94 251/192 UNRWA DRC 100 200 300 400 100 200 8 9 THE YEAR IN BRIEF

Devanna de la Puente (front row, second from right) Mildrid Mikkelsen is deployed to UN Women Arame Tall speaking at a side event during the at a women’s centre in Jalozai camp in Pakistan. in Colombia. Photo: NORCAP/Tonje Hisdal climate conference. Photo: NORCAP/Heidi Photo: private Johannessen Solheim Nordbeck

PARTNERSHIP WITH MALI PEACE SYRIA NEEDS ANALYSIS GENCAP EXPERT RECEIVES WOMEN AT THE TABLE NEW CLIMATE AGREEMENT CDAC NETWORK AGREEMENT PROJECT SHELVED 2015 MARSH AWARD IN COLOMBIA NEEDS FOLLOW-UP

In partnership with the Communica- A peace agreement was reached The ACAPS project closed down in Regional emergency GBV advisor More than 50 years of civil war have NORCAP climate experts are quietly tion with Disaster Affected Communi- in June after talks were initiated in June as funding ended, bringing two Devanna de la Puente received the had a major impact on women in optimistic about the new climate ties (CDAC) Network, NORCAP has July 2014. Mediation experts from and a half years of regular situation award for her innovative work in Colombia. As the parties to the con- agreement. “The Paris agreement developed a roster of humanitarian the Standby Team and staff of the awareness products for the country’s preventing and responding to sexual flict negotiate, NORCAP has been is a very good start, mobilising the communication experts. With several UN Department of Political Affairs crisis to an end. and gender-based violence in the working to get women involved in the world’s governments to commit to large crises over the past few years, supported the UN Special Repre- context of disasters and conflict in peace process. Mildrid Mikkelsen action on climate change,” says the demand for personell to enhance sentative of the Secretary-General for At the start of the collaboration the Asia-Pacific region. was deployed to UN Women in 2015 NORCAP expert Arame Tall, before humanitarian response has never Mali and the mediation team of MI- between ACAPS and MapAction, to fight gender discrimination and adding a note of caution. “It remains been greater. The Humanitarian Com- NUSMA during all the phases of the information sharing and publications “I love what I do,” De la Puente says. strengthen equality during the transi- to be clarified who will pay the bill for munication Roster was developed to Algerian-led talks held between the on the Syria crisis were extremely “Although it is challenging, it is re- tion to peace. adaptation in developing countries strengthen the communication with Government of Mali and the armed limited. Analysts deployed in Jor- warding to know that I can contribute and whether a binding mechanism and accountability towards disaster movements from the north. dan, Lebanon and Turkey provided to change, and that I can speak on “When the peace talks started in will be established to ensure that affected communities. It aims to comprehensive analyses of humani- behalf of so many countries, people 2012, all participants, with the excep- countries respect their nationally ensure that humanitarian responders tarian needs in Syria and neighbour- and amazing women who are working tion of one, were male,” Mikkelsen determined emission commitments.” can rapidly access communication ing countries through independent every day to end gender-based vio- says. “After pressure from different experts to better meet the information reports, and technical support and lence and speaking out for women’s actors such as women’s organisa- NORCAP’s project manager for and communication needs of those capacity building for conducting and girls’ rights.” tions and UN Women, women now climate and resilience, Heidi Sol- affected by crisis. humanitarian assessments. An ex- hold a third of the seats on both sides heim Nordbeck, is pleased that the ternal evaluation highlighted the high of the table. A separate commission agreement is more ambitious than value of the project as a single and is also created to include the voices many had hoped for in terms of comprehensive source of information of women’s organisations and civil emission cuts, and that it also sees and analysis, and a catalyst for better society.” climate change as a factor leading information sharing and reporting. to displacement and migration. “That is something we have been working hard to include,” she says.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Boko Haram Baga New Minsk cease- Conflict in Syria 25th April: 7,8 mag- Level 3 crisis re- NORCAP arrang- Yemen declared as GenCap expert New wave of First El Niño re- New CashCap Colombias massacre and es- fire deal between enters its 5th year nitude earthquake sponse deactivated es Ebola debrief level 3 emergency receives 2015 violence erupts in lated deployment, roster opens for government and calation of violence Ukraine and sepa- hits Nepal in the Central Afri- seminar Marsh Award for the Central African CCCM prepared- requests to support FARC sign the in Nigeria ratist groups Partnership with can Republic after NORCAP response Peacemaking and Republic ness expert to Peru cash programming fourth chapter of CDAC Network 27th April: CCCM peace accords. Syria Needs Analy- to the European Peacekeeping a five-point peace The Malawi govern- rapid response sis Project closes Refugee Crisis First Communica- Agreement signed agreement ment declares half Cyclone Pam hits team and ACAPS Mali peace agree- begins NORCAP expert tion with Communi- with UNICEF on the country disaster Vanuatu are in place in ment signed Agreement is Fassou Noramou ties team deployed Accountability to Global climate zone after flooding Kathmandu as signed with WMO Addis Ababa Action receives UNICEF to UNHCR Greece Affected popula- agreement adopted Sendai Framework first NORCAP on partnership on Agenda agreement award for the tions project by 195 countries for Disaster Risk responders Climate Services on financing for Ebola-response in in Paris during Reduction 2015- Initiative Development Liberia COP21 2030 adopted Photo: NRC/Ingrid Prestetun Photo: NRC/Jose Cendon

10 11 CLIMATE AGREEMENT LEARNING FROM TO REDUCE FOOD CRISIS THE EBOLA RESPONSE

Climate change can have a significant impact for farmers. Tailored climate information is important for early warning and response in different sectors such as agriculture. Photo: NRC/Ingrid Prestetun.

Farmers and vulnerable communities need better information about extreme weather events Better communication with affected communities, improved coordination and stronger links and climate change to reduce the risk of food crises and displacement. In 2015 an agreement between the medical and humanitarian responses were the key recommendations emerging was signed with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to improve climate services. from an Ebola seminar NORCAP hosted in Oslo.

“It makes an essential difference for people to know ble farmers and local communities. “The problem today The Ebola response became the main focus of NOR- Report to the UN Secretary-General whether it will be very hot or very wet, and whether they is that they don’t understand the information. We want to CAP’s efforts towards the end of 2014 and continued The seminar concluded that fragmentation and lack of will have enough water for the cattle and for the overall tailor climate information to the needs of ordinary citizens,” to be one of its top priorities in 2015. More than 70 overall coordination was a significant problem. This was population,” says NORCAP expert Serge Soubeiga. says Serge Soubeiga. NORCAP, ACAPS and GenCap experts were deployed true both between UN agencies, donors and NGOs, and Soubeiga is deployed to the Food and Agricultural Organ- to support the medical response and to deal with the between the affected countries. isation’s regional office in Dakar, Senegal to help develop Arame Tall, who leads the NORCAP team in the Sahel, humanitarian consequences of the disease. action plans for national climate services in the region. underlines the importance of early warning, pointing out Several participants also highlighted the need to improve The new agreement will see more meteorology and that there is no wide practice of this in the Sahel. The Ebola outbreak highlighted significant weaknesses communication between responders and the communi- climate experts deployed to disaster-prone countries “Information must be used for effective early warning and in the international humanitarian system’s ability to put a ties affected by Ebola. International humanitarian workers through the UN-initiated Global Framework for Climate early action in key sectors like agriculture and food securi- rapid collective response to a large pandemic in place. In had much to do with only limited resources, and many Services. ty, water management and health,” says Tall. June 2015, NORCAP brought together deployed experts, responded based on their own analyses rather than work- UN representatives and others to learn from the experi- ing with the communities to understand their traditional The importance of prevention and preparedness ence. cultural practices and apply solutions that resonated with In 2015 NORCAP had experts on mission to work with them. disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation Jan Egeland, NRC’s Secretary General, stressed that the in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. In the Sahel and Eastern responders initially focused too narrowly on the health “We need to make sure frontline staff can communicate Africa, the experts work to improve systems for collecting crisis, which delayed the humanitarian response. In De- compassionately and effectively, because this will save weather and climate change information. These areas are cember 2014 ACAPS began a needs analysis project to lives right from the start,” said Egeland. prone to extreme weather that could lead to crop failure. provide holistic information on the humanitarian impacts The food insecurity that ensues is often the reason people of the crisis and the needs of those affected. The first The lessons discussed in Oslo were passed on to a are forced to leave their homes and become displaced. outbreak was however reported already in March. Having high-level UN panel appointed to make recommendations this type of analysis from the onset would have helped the for improving national and international systems to prevent The experts also help improve the distribution of weather NORCAP climate expert Serge Soubeiga and NRC Secretary international community to realise the need for a full-scale and manage future health crises. General Jan Egeland. Photo: Marie Patureau/WMO and climate information, to make sure it reaches vulnera- humanitarian response.

12 13 Half of South Sudan’s children have no access to formal education. Providing education is key to strengthening resilience. Photo: NORCAP/Lars Aune LINKING RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT IN PROTRACTED CRISES: THE CASE OF SOUTH SUDAN

Addressing protracted and recurrent crises requires responding to both short-term needs and longer-term vulnerabilities. NORCAP’s work includes initiatives that build national capacity and help link humanitarian efforts with longer term development and resilience.

NORCAP has contributed to the development of South Sudan’s first disaster management policy and is helping to establish an early warning system for floods and drought. Photo: UN Photo/JC McIlwaine

The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has weakened Civil society and national NGOs have a vital role to play already fragile state institutions, affecting the govern- in the current crisis, reconciliation efforts and longer- ment’s ability to protect civilians and offer basic services. term development. In 2015, one of our experts worked to This has serious humanitarian consequences, and will improve communication channels between NGOs, the UN also affect the country’s ability to recover. Although chal- and other international actors. He also pushed for national lenging during a crisis situation, it is critical to continue to NGOs to take part in humanitarian clusters and consoli- build capacity that will endure beyond the crisis. dated appeals. Increased capacity, and knowledge of how to access funding and how to work with the international South Sudan has the highest reported proportion of community, will help national NGOs to assist affected out-of-school children in the world. Half of the country’s communities, improving the sustainability of the overall children have no access to formal education, accord- humanitarian response. As partners of the international ing to UNICEF, and more than 800 schools have been community, civil society will also be able to play a more destroyed in the conflict, forcing 400,000 children to drop prominent role in longer term processes of reconciliation out. As such, providing education is both a humanitarian and development. challenge and key to strengthening people’s resilience. As well as suffering from conflict, South Sudan is prone The authorities’ ability to provide good quality education to natural disasters. NORCAP has contributed to the is limited. In 2015, a NORCAP expert worked to improve development of South Sudan’s first disaster management the capacity of the education ministry and the sector as a policy and is helping to establish an early warning system whole. He has been instrumental in the ongoing process for floods and drought. By building resilience and contin- of developing an education sector plan that will not only uing to focus on longer term goals alongside emergency address the consequences of the current crisis, but also response and peace-building, we are trying to integrate improve the quality of education for all children. humanitarian and development efforts.

14 15 PROTECTION ON THE AGENDA

Closings of schools during Ebola exposed children to increased risk of exploitation and child labour. Annelies Oulliez, NORCAP education in emergencies expert (left) at a school in Liberia during registration of students before re-opening. Syrian refugees crossing the border between Syria and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Photo: NRC/Christian Jepsen Photo: NORCAP/Eirik Christophersen

Ensuring effective protection of civilians and responding to serious human rights violations Like in South Sudan, access to populations has been The international community needs to act faster and more continue to be a challenge for the international community. Although protection issues have a challenge in the Syrian conflict. The vast majority of effectively to protect the human rights of people affected received more attention in recent years, it has been pointed out that commitment, funding responders working in Syria are local, and this underlines by crises. Protection from the most serious risks should the importance of improving protection capacity and rais- be our main concern. As new protection concerns arise and leadership is still inadequate. ing awareness of international standards at the local level. with new challenges such as increased displacement from There is need for clear and practical tools, trainings and natural disasters, faltering democratic progress and gen- Several overarching issues pose challenges to protection, affect everyone equally. This changed the way the Ebola guidance in relevant languages on how to “do” protection eralised violence, approaches to protection must adapt. including political and geopolitical considerations. This response was carried out, and more gender-sensitive in specific contexts. NORCAP, GenCap and ProCap Improving both the protection capacity of humanitarian is especially the case where state actors are among the recovery plans were implemented. experts are working on protection issues in Syria for the workers and the protection sensitivity of organisations that perpetrators. Humanitarian actors need to keep a focus most part in cross-border operations from neighbouring do not have a protection mandate is as important as ever. on protection and provide assistance in ways that do The conflict in South Sudan has been characterised by countries. In addition to coordination efforts, capacity not expose people to more danger. NORCAP deploys widespread killings of civilians, sexual violence and grave building on protection issues including child protection experts to work both on policy development to further the violations of children’s rights since violence broke out in and gender based violence has been a focus. Identifying protection agenda and to do hands-on work to safeguard 2013. A major concern has been access to communities. local actors to work with and building capacity of particu- the rights and wellbeing of the most vulnerable during an Humanitarians, especially local, have been attacked and larly Syrian NGOs has been a priority to provide protec- emergency. killed and convoys have been stopped. Besides prevent- tion despite limited access. ing assistance to affected populations, lack of access also The Ebola crisis made children and women particularly means lack of information on the impact of the conflict. In In Afghanistan, a ProCap expert worked with the author- vulnerable. Thousands of children lost or were separated 2015 a ProCap deployee has worked to strengthen the ities to develop the country’s national strategy on IDPs, from their parents or carers, suffered traumas and risked implementation of the humanitarian country team’s pro- which began to be rolled out locally in 2015. The strategy being exploited. NORCAP child protection officers helped tection strategy. It aims to ensure that displaced persons sets out the roles and responsibilities of ministries, hu- to identify children in need of assistance, ensuring they and other civilians in South Sudan are protected. The manitarian partners and others in ensuring the protection were placed in care or reunited with their families. The expert had dialogue and collaborated with UN agencies, and rights of internally displaced. One of its main objec- breakdown of health and education services particularly NGOs, civil society, donors and the UN peacekeeping tives is to find lasting and durable solutions for the dis- affected women and girls. They were also more exposed mission. His work facilitated both increased awareness on placed populations. Given the number of challenges the ProCap Laurie Wiseberg assisted with development of to the virus given their traditional role in taking care of protection and improved links between humanitarian and Afghanistan’s IDP strategy. Here with IDP leaders in Kandahar. country faces, much work remains to be done to ensure Photo: Laurie Wiseberg/ProCap. the deceased. The main challenge for GenCap advisors peacekeeping actors who occupy different but comple- that solutions for return, local integration and relocation was to raise awareness of the fact that Ebola did not mentary roles in protection. are sustainable, but the policy is an important step in the right direction.

16 17 CASH: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND DIGNIFIED ASSISTANCE WITH COMMUNITIES

Giving people cash rather than assistance such as food, seeds or tools can have many bene- Since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, emergency responders have become increasingly aware fits. In cash programming, aid agencies engage with local markets, banks and mobile phone of the importance of providing information to affected communities. Communities also need companies to deliver cash where possible. to play an active role in shaping responses.

Technological development can offer effective new tools in humanitarian assistance, also in cash transfer programming. Here a vendor using a smart phone app in a cashless transaction with a customer in Nigeria. Photo: NRC/Ingrid Prestetun

NORCAPs first communication with communities team, Arwen Kidd, Benjamin Grubb and Virginia M Moncrieff in Idomeni, near the border between Greece and Macedonia. Photo: Marie Beriot O’Connell/NORCAP.

NORCAP has deployed communication experts for sever- family reunification, medical help and where to buy a sim al years, but the need to focus on specialised humanitar- card. ian communication was one of the main lessons learned from the response to the Ebola crisis. “We always say information is protection. And there’s nothing more important than protection in any emergency. This gives people the opportunity to decide for them- Connecting multiple actors to meet common objectives, In 2015 NORCAP formed a collaboration with the network You can have all the good system, ideas, mandates and selves how to address their own needs. Cash transfers this would mark a significant shift in the way aid works. called Communicating with Disaster Affected Communi- policies in the world, but if you do not communicate them can also boost local economies and help restore liveli- ties (CDAC), and deployed a specialised communications to those you are supposed to protect, there’s no point in hoods. This shift cannot happen, however, unless humanitari- with communities (CwC) team to a humanitarian crisis for having them in the first place”, explains Virginia M. Mon- an actors commit to change and improve coordination. the first time. crieff, who leads the CwC team in Greece. Research suggests that in many contexts cash is a At the moment, cash and market knowledge is in short better and cheaper way of helping people than handing supply and for this reason the cash and markets capacity The need for information and communication among The team has visited transit sites on several islands and out goods. Cash is particularly appropriate when local development roster (CashCap) was established in 2015. communities affected by the refugee crisis in Europe was has helped to provide information on practical and legal markets function well and people can both receive their Through deployments and capacity building, its aim is to recognised as one of the main gaps in the early stages matters and more serious issues such as gender-based payments and buy what they need safely. It enables ben- increase the use and effectiveness of cash and markets of the emergency response. In a constantly changing violence and trafficking. NORCAP works closely with eficiaries to meet a range of needs, from food to medical. programming in different contexts. environment, it is challenging for migrants, refugees and UNHCR to make sure the project is responsive to the flex- As such, efficient cash programming has the potential to host communities to access reliable information about ible nature of the crisis, and to the communication needs improve coordination between actors who work in differ- Capacity building is particularly needed in sectors where everything from registration and asylum procedures to of the different people targeted. ent sectors. cash has traditionally not been used much, such as pro- tection, shelter, logistics and water and sanitation. Training With better collaboration between the humanitarian and on-the-job mentoring of experienced humanitarian “You can have all the good system, ideas, mandates and policies in the world, system, the private sector, national authorities and devel- workers will help to build the capacity needed. A larger but if you do not communicate them to those you are supposed to protect, opment agencies that operate longer term, cash program- pool of expertise on cash transfers will help to ensure that there’s no point in having them in the first place” ming could also help link relief to development. people affected by crises are assisted in an empowering and dignified way. VIRGINIA M. MONCRIEFF Leader of the CwC team in Greece

18 19 Protection concerns including trafficking, child marriage, THE NEPAL EARTHQUAKE: gender-based violence, lack of civil documentation and discrimination based on caste, indigenous ethnicity and THE NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE gender were widespread in Nepal before the earthquake, and disasters often reinforce vulnerabilities. Deployed RESPONDING TO Experts deployed in 2015: 38 protection and gender advisors provided both operational and strategic guidance to actors across a wide range of A PREDICTED DISASTER sectors to help them identify gender and protection gaps Person-years worked: 11,5 and challenges. Rosters involved: Almost a year after the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years, significant humanitarian UN Women commented that the deployees had contrib- NORCAP, GenCap, ProCap, ACAPS, CCCMCap challenges remain. NORCAP has contributed during all phases of the emergency response. uted to linking humanitarian and development actors, par- ticularly by working with and ensuring the participation of Organisations supported (Person-months): women’s organisations at the district level. “This is key in IOM making sure that gaps and risks identified are addressed WPF when the country transitions from humanitarian relief to UN WOMEN development,”says Ziad Sheikh, UN Women’s representa- UNICEF tive in Nepal. UN-Habitat ACAPS Global Bracing for the next disaster UNFPA An external evaluation of NORCAP’s response conclud- OCHA ed that overall it was relevant and timely. The evaluation UNHCR 10 20 30 40 50 underlined the value of deploying experts with experience in humanitarian coordination and emergencies such as the Rule of law Other Haiti earthquake and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. & legal affairs This was particularly beneficial to UN agencies that lacked Social affairs Camp & livelihood disaster management capacity and experience. management Logistics & supply Nepal’s mountainous geography, its scattered population and landslides caused by monsoon rains made reaching affected populations a significant challenge. In the second Main half of 2015, severe fuel shortages impeded humanitarian expertise assistance and access to markets, and people in remote used Neighbourhood in Kathmandu, May 2015. Photo: Håvard Breivik/NORCAP areas lacked basic goods and building materials as winter approached. In addition, high staff turnover and a lack The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 partners. Six experts deployed immediately after the earth- of understanding of local culture has been found to have April 2015 and its aftershocks left 9,000 people dead and quake to establish and lead IOM’s site planning unit, and complicated the overall international response. That said, Coordination tens of thousands more injured and displaced. NORCAP their work was essential in identifying and developing safe international support was essential in meeting humanitari- & leadership focussed on contributing to a coordinated and compre- locations for both temporary settlements and resettlement an needs in the aftermath of the earthquake. Information hensive response to the crisis, deploying cluster coordi- of displaced people. NORCAP architects also played a management & technology Protection nators to support the UN and government coordination vital role in planning and setting up the first rehabilitation As it is Nepalese authorities, organisations and commu- efforts. Essential support staff also worked in education, centre in Nepal, where people with injuries and disabilities nities who will take the recovery and reconstruction work food security, protection, health, shelter and camp man- received medical help and treatment. forward, NORCAP has made capacity building, coordina- agement. tion and hand-over to local partners a priority throughout Building back better the response. Earthquake experts had long predicted a Responding to urgent needs Responding to urgent needs was critical in the first phase, major earthquake in the Kathmandu area, and future earth- Just a few days after the disaster, an ACAPS team arrived but the principle of building back better has been equally quakes are inevitable. NORCAP support contributed to in Nepal to support assessments and analysis of the important in the response. The aim has been to link im- the integration of national contingency plans and disaster

humanitarian situation. The updated information helped to mediate relief with longer term processes of recovery and management mechanisms into the international emergen- Selang IDP-camp, Sindhupalchwok, Nepal. inform the response of the authorities, NGOs and the UN development. To ensure buildings are more resilient in the cy response. Photo: NORCAP/Kishor Sharma. system. A pilot use of social media monitoring was par- future, one of our experts established a centre to provide ticularly useful in the initial weeks of the crisis, because it local communities with training and guidelines on building The April earthquake showed that the country is not well “NORCAP has proved to respond increased awareness of the needs on the ground. techniques. enough prepared for a disaster of such magnitude. NOR- quickly and precisely to our needs by CAP will therefore in 2016 work with UNDP on initiatives sourcing a wide range of technical skill, The earthquake ruined homes, buildings and historic NORCAP support, however, has gone further than re- for safer housing reconstruction and the development of in the face of looming and landmarks. Nearly 500,000 homes were destroyed and building and improving physical infrastructure. The experts district-level recovery plans and disaster risk reduction. pressing deadlines” 250,000 damaged. Providing shelter ahead of the im- focused on involving the displaced in decision making to Continuing to improve disaster preparedness and resil- pending rainy season was a priority during the initial relief build ownership and resilience among the affected com- ience in Nepal is vital. MAURIZIO BUSATTI Chief of Mission, IOM Nepal phase. NORCAP’s camp coordination and camp manage- munities. A deployed education expert worked to ensure ment response was lauded as a success among shelter that children in crisis areas got back to school as quickly as possible. 20 21 “WE ALL FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE HERE RIGHT NOW”

Omar Suleiman travelled from far away to support the earthquake survivors, while Suvash Acharya faced challenges on his very doorstep.

“It was strange to be among those affected by a crisis. Resilience and reconstruction Usually I work to support others, but now we were the vic- Despite his family home being damaged by the earth- tims,” says Suvash Acharya, a Nepalese expert deployed quake, Acharya continued to work for several weeks to to WFP as a coordinator after the earthquake. help his country at a critical time. Among other things, he helped farmers secure crops and grain that had not been destroyed by the earthquake - not an easy task when 90 per cent of the buildings in the area lay in ruins.

Reconstruction has been a major challenge for Nepal in the year since the earthquake. In many places internally displaced populations have refused to go back to their villages until geological assessments conclude it is safe to do so. Others have seen their villages buried by landslides triggered by the tremors and want to resettle elsewhere. “The government needs to prioritise those who have been affected by the earthquake. We have worked with the Suvash Acharya during food distribution. Photo: NRCS,WFP local authorities in order to have geological assessments done, but is difficult to get the necessary clearance from “I was sitting at a WFP logistics meeting when the after- the central government to do these assessments,” Sulei- shock hit. My wife was on the top floor of our house. She man explains. called me afterwards and said that it was like swinging back and forth. The aftershocks caused the real disaster, physically and mentally,” Acharya explains.

Omar Suleiman arrived in Nepal from Norway a week after the first major earthquake struck, and just in time to experience the second. As an expert in camp coordination and camp management he was sent to Gorkha, one of the hardest hit regions.

“Many people here live in very remote villages, so it has been a challenge to assess the destruction and the needs of the local communities,” he explains. “It is often difficult Omar Suleiman and a translator talking to women in Gubsepaka, to find the internally displaced communities and reach an isolated area of the hard-hit Gorkha district. Photo: IOM Nepal them with emergency relief. Not just because the villages are remote, with no road access, but also because people He is highly impressed by the attitude of Nepalese peo- have moved from place to place to get away from after- ple, who despite receiving little or no help from their gov- shocks and landslides.” ernment, continue to work hard. One of them is Acharya, who decided to stay in Nepal for a while after his mission Suleiman describes a particularly moving experience was completed. when he visited one of the biggest sites in Gubsepaka camp, a very isolated area of Gorkha. “In the past, I’ve left my family behind to go and help people elsewhere, in countries such as Pakistan, South “The women were so impressed that I came all that way Sudan and Afghanistan. When my family and my country “An architect’s competence and responsibility in this kind of situation is to create spaces where society can and had left my family in a country far away in order to needed me, I had to stay and help,” he says. be rebuilt. It is not just that people need roofs over their heads. In a crisis situation where people have moved help them. One woman said: ‘Even if you don’t bring us away from where they used to live, they need to have something meaningful to do, continue with some anything, this is enough for us. We are thankful that you activities, cater to their animals etc. We created common spaces where people could continue their lives.” are here.’ I almost cried,” he says. INGEBJØRG SKAARE Architect deployed to IOM Nepal during the earthquake response.

22 23 Photo: IOM Nepal IOM Photo: Coordination amid chaos The crisis in the Mediterranean has been complicated EUROPEAN REFUGEE CRISIS RESPONSE STRENGTHENING PROTECTION by the fact there was no system in place to coordinate assistance on many of the Greek islands. The result was a FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS IN EUROPE chaotic situation in which local and international volun- teers, local NGOs, the Greek authorities and the UN sys- Experts deployed in 2015: 35 tem all made their own uncoordinated efforts to provide humanitarian assistance. NORCAP experts have been Person-years worked: 7 heavily involved in supporting the government in its efforts to coordinate the work and ensure that as many people Rosters involved: as possible get the help they need. They established NORCAP, CCCMCAP, Humanitarian Communica- working groups for responders to share information and tion, ACAPS collaborate on issues such as providing protection, food and managing reception sites. NGOs, volunteer groups, Countries supported (Person-months): coastguards, police and municipalities were brought together to improve the initially disjointed response. Greece Italy Morocco Serbia “The NORCAP deployees to UNHCR Macedonia in Lesvos were some of the first staff on Hungary the ground. They were of fundamental Spain 20 40 60 importance in establishing UNHCR’s response on the island” Capacity development Media, GREGORY GARRAS UNHCR Lesvos, Greece Camp Communication management & Information NORCAP deployees also built capacity through training sessions and the development of systems and procedures that will remain in place once they leave. Ensuring that NORCAP protection officer Mirvette Abed Rabbo informing refugees in Kos, Greece the Greek authorities are better able to meet new arrivals’ about the registration process. Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik Main needs has been key, and an agreement has been reached expertise with the authorities to intensify this work in 2016 through used More than a million refugees and migrants arrived in Europe in 2015, and almost 4,000 peo- collaboration with the Greek First Reception Services.

ple died at sea trying to reach the continent. As countries tried to cope with the influx, signifi- Profound impressions cant humanitarian needs became evident. Responding to the refugee crisis in Europe has been de- manding in many ways. Greek authorities lacked capacity Camp The absence of a unified and comprehensive European According to their colleagues at UNHCR, some of their and experience to handle the influx, and were slow to put management response increased pressure on frontline and transit main contributions were to identify gaps in services and a response in place. This led to frustration among humani- Protection countries. Greece, already in the throes of an economic make recommendations to bring them into line with inter- tarian responders and the people they were trying to help. and political crisis, lacked proper reception facilities, leav- national standards, and to establish better procedures Refugees and migrants clashed with police on Lesvos and ing refugees and migrants living on the streets or staying and structures to systematise the response. other islands, and violence from extremist groups hostile Innovations for dignified reception for weeks in overcrowded and often makeshift camps with to the new arrivals added to the insecurity. NORCAP has worked with our partners to identify new no proper toilet and sanitation facilities. Refugees and migrants face challenges in accessing ways of working to improve the European response to its refugee crisis. The deployment of a specialised team to information and meeting their basic needs en route to Most of our deployees had experience from previous improve communication with refugees and host communi- From July onwards, NORCAP deployed nearly 40 experts, Europe, and many remain at risk of exploitation from smug- emergencies, but their missions in Greece and other ties was one such initiative. Building sufficient reception mostly to UNHCR in Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia, glers and profiteers as they move across the continent. southern European countries have been particularly capacity fitting for the European context has also been on Hungary and Morocco to improve protection and assis- Our deployees focussed on providing information about challenging. Bureaucracy and slow responses, coupled the agenda, in collaboration with immigration authorities tance. Feedback from UNHCR confirmed that the deploy- the asylum process, and identifying particularly vulnerable with dramatic stories from desperate people on the move, both in Greece and countries further north. ees made vital contributions to the operations. people. Their work has been vital in ensuring that vulner- have made a profound impression. NORCAP has initiated Sweden and Norway also struggled with the large number able groups, including people with disabilities, those who debriefings and follow-up to ensure the well-being of the of arrivals in 2015, and here NORCAP brings valuable Improving protection upon arrival are ill and children travelling alone are referred for proper experts. Many report having struggled to process their experience from working with the reception of refugees NORCAP experts arrived with experience from other ref- care. encounters. globally. A collaboration with the Oslo School of Architec- ugee operations and humanitarian crises, to assist where ture and Design will train practitioners in shaping physical spaces such as transit centres so they are better suited to Greek authorities lacked capacity. Our field protection In Greece, Macedonia, Hungary and Serbia, NORCAP “It is impossible to stay here without being affected by people seeking refuge. We are also exchanging experi- officers have been instrumental in setting up and oper- architects have worked closely with local authorities to people’s stories. Especially when you see how frightened ences with immigration authorities and others involved in ating systems for registering new arrivals on a number of cater for the huge number of people arriving. They helped and uneasy the children are,” says Håvard Breivik, who receiving refugees in Scandinavia with the aim of ensuring islands. identify adequate sites and design shelters and sanitation worked as a site planner for UNHCR in Macedonia and that they do so in a dignified manner. facilities. Hungary.

24 25 BRIDGING THE GAP ON LESVOS

Patric Mansour was one of NORCAP’s first experts to arrive in Greece at the start of the refu- gee influx. His contributions helped shape the response on Lesvos and brought local authori- ties, humanitarians and volunteers closer together.

Mansour was deployed to UNHCR in August 2015, and From chaos to collaboration has been stationed ever since on Lesvos, the island with From September 2015, the majority of new arrivals came the highest number of refugees. He remembers how the ashore on Lesvos’s northern beaches, and Mansour was first arrivals left the local authorities stunned. sent to Molyvos to head UNHCR’s efforts. He was in charge of coordinating all of the humanitarians on the “It was complete chaos. The authorities were over- ground, and their overall response. whelmed, and didn’t have the experience or the resources to deal with such a massive increase of people in such a News reports led large numbers of European volunteers short period of time,” he says. to fly in to help. They brought food, clothes and other items, and a new challenge for Mansour. Although they A refugee crisis usually prompts the host government to were very eager to help, they were disorganised and inex- ask the professional humanitarian system to start oper- perienced in humanitarian emergency responses. ations. In Greece’s case, however, Mansour – who had “Most volunteers were great and cooperated with us from previously worked in Syria and Jordan – had to spend a the start,” Mansour says. “They were keen to contribute, lot of time advocating with the authorities to let UNHCR organised themselves and performed the tasks they were contribute to the response. assigned, whether it was receiving refugees at the beach, running assembly points or other important work.” “It took a long time to establish solid registration, and even longer to get proper transit sites where the refugees could There were some, however, who did not want to cooper- stay. Many were in the streets or in parks, and there were ate, which caused some frustration among humanitarian demonstrations and protests from frustrated refugees who workers, local authorities and the volunteers themselves. were not able to leave the island,” he elaborates. In the end, the local mayor decided all volunteers would have to register either with an NGO or with the local Bridging the gap authorities. Of Middle Eastern origin, Mansour was one of the few Arabic-speaking humanitarians on the island in the early Despite the occasional turbulence, the volunteers’ stages of the crisis. He spent much of his first few weeks contributions were highly appreciated. “Especially in the among the refugees and migrants, informing them about beginning, when professionals were struggling to get the the registration process, answering questions and identi- necessary permits to operate, volunteers made a huge dif- fying particularly vulnerable people. He also learned about ference to the thousands of refugees who received their their needs, making him an important bridge between the help,” Mansour says. new arrivals and the Greek authorities both on Lesvos and in Athens. Eventually Mansour and his UNHCR colleagues got a proper reception system up and running, taking care of Although he maintained a professional attitude, Mansour refugees and migrants from the moment they came ashore struggled with Europe’s reactions to the burgeoning until they were registered and ready to move on to Athens humanitarian crisis on its doorstep. and beyond. “We got everyone working towards the same goal, to make sure refugees received the help they need- “It’s great to be able to help people with immediate needs, ed. That is a great feeling”, he says. but it can also be frustrating when the situation doesn’t seem to be moving on a higher level,” he says. “I worked Mansour’s UNHCR colleagues commend his efforts. for a year and a half in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, “Perhaps Mansour’s greatest achievement in the Lesvos “I have met refugees that I have previously registered in camps in Syria and Jordan. and at times that seemed like a five star hotel compared to situation has been in his ability to build strong and effec- Some of them have been displaced for years. I feel privileged that I have been given the the conditions on Lesvos. It was very difficult to under- tive relationships of trust with national authorities. He can opportunity to perhaps make part of their struggle a little easier to bear” stand that this was happening in Europe, and that the always be relied upon to put the interests of refugees first European countries responded the way they did.” in getting the job done, ” says UNHCR’s Gregory Garras. PATRIC MANSOUR NORCAP protection expert, Lesvos, Greece

26 27 Photo: NRC/TirilPhoto: Skarstein THE NORCAP CRISIS RESPONSE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME

4 1 A CRISIS BREAKS OUT. Given the num- EXPERTS ARE DEPLOYED. NORCAP ber of concurrent crises around the world, maintains contact with the expert and the organisations are often stretched to their limits receiving organisation in order to ensure in terms of funding and personnel. They need that the best possible job is done in a specialists to coordinate assistance and pro- demanding situation. The experts improve vide technical expertise, advice and training. coordination and the efficiency of opera- National authorities may need help to improve tions and contribute to building the capacity their capacity to take lead and ensure that of their host organisations. Their broad efforts made are sustainable over time. Along experience across institutions, cultures and with funding and relief items, it is crucial to countries also brings new perspectives and have the right person in the right place at learning opportunities. the right time.

THE UN AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS THE RECEIVING ORGANISATION AND REQUEST PERSONNEL SUPPORT 2 THE RESPONSE ARE STRENGTHENED. 5 FROM NORCAP. In the initial phase of NORCAP links partners across sectors to crisis, time is of utmost importance. Experts promote new and effective ways of protect- with relevant skills and experience are hard ing lives and livelihoods. Experts assist in to find and relocate, because they are tied to numerous fields, including cash programming other places and jobs. NORCAP has stand- to enable people to use local markets and by personnel ready to deploy at short notice resources; improving communication with and stay for six months or more to ensure affected communities to guarantee their continuity. NORCAP experts bridge the gap voices are heard; and promoting climate between the development and emergency services and disaster risk reduction to sectors to improve short-term crisis respons- ensure that communities are prepared es and long-term recovery efforts. when a new crisis breaks out.

THE EXPERTS COMPLETE THEIR AS- 3 6 SIGNMENT AND ARE READY FOR NEW MISSIONS. They finalise their projects and NORCAP MATCHES REQUESTS WITH THE hand over their tasks and lessons learned RIGHT PROFILE. We have a large pool of to colleagues in the receiving organisations experts who have been through a thorough re- to ensure that their achievements are sus- cruitment and training process. Their education, tained. Through individual and group debriefs, experience, languages, cultural background and experts share their experiences and learning. social skills ensure that they are able to hit This increases NORCAP’s overall capacity the ground running. They have a wide variety of and institutional knowledge, strengthens qualifications both in the coordination of roster members’ resilience, prevents burnout assistance and specific technical fields. and makes sure experts are ready for new missions.

28 29 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

HOW TO REQUEST EXPERT PERSONNEL NORCAP recruits experts in areas of high demand to NORCAP DONORS NORCAP deploys experts on demand to the UN, regional achieve our goal of strengthening prevention, prepar- organisations and national governments. If your country edness, response and recovery in a crisis. Our rosters The Norwegian Ministry of office or organisation believe experts from the NORCAP are diverse in terms of nationalities, language skills and Foreign Affairs (NMFA) and roster or thematic rosters would improve the delivery of gender. NORCAP have worked closely to humanitarian aid and services to affected populations, strengthen the capacities of hu- please identify your needs and personnel gaps and Would you like to be part of our team? NORCAP is manitarian response for 25 years, consult your organisation’s standby partner focal constantly looking for people with the right professional since the standby roster was point at headquarters. background, personal skills and motivation. We recruit established in 1991 upon request new members to the NORCAP and thematic rosters from UNHCR. Financial support HOW TO JOIN NORCAP several times a year. from the NMFA has included The recruitment of highly qualified and motivated roster framework partnership agreements members is vital for NORCAP to maintain our position More information about requirements for requests and op- from 2009 to 2015 and additional as a responsive and trustworthy strategic partner to key portunities with NORCAP can be found on our website: funds in emergency situations. stakeholders. www.nrc.no/norcap The Department for Interna- tional Development (DFID) has supported NORCAP since 2012. In 2015 DFID funded initiatives such as Regional Emergency Gender Based Violence Advisors (REGAs), ACAPS and CashCap capacity-building activities.

The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Pro- tection department (ECHO) has been supporting NORCAP since 2012, and has been a key partner “When a new sudden onset emergency strikes, the focus of attention and funding makes it more for the CashCap roster, ACAPS, difficult to fill needs in other emergencies. NORCAPs mandate, flexibility and ongoing attention to and the CCCM project. protracted crisis was important for UNICEF’s ability to provide standby deployment support to multiple simultaneous emergencies in 2015” Other donors: NORCAP also receives resources from UN agen- LAUREN CHESHIRE Emergency Specialist, Standby Arrangements, UNICEF cies, Norad, SIDA and various other donors.

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