DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL 1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021
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YEAR 2 – Q4 PROGRESS REPORT AFGHAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROJECT - ADIP DRC – MMC ASIA & DIASPORA PROGRAMME Third QUARTERLY REPORT YEAR 2 DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL 1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021 PROJECT TITLE: Enhancing protection information for displaced people from Afghanistan through collaborative engagement with diaspora communities in Europe DURATION: June 2019 – June 2022 TARGET COUNTRIES: Afghanistan, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands DONOR: Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Migration Management Grant) DRC TEAM: Diaspora Programme in Denmark, Mixed Migration Centre/Regional Office Asia OBJECTIVE: Afghans on the move and Afghans considering migrating through irregular means have a realistic and credible picture of the journey, understand the protection risks and their rights 1 YEAR 2 – Q4 PROGRESS REPORT AFGHAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROJECT - ADIP DRC – MMC ASIA & DIASPORA PROGRAMME 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The project “Enhancing protection information for displaced people from Afghanistan through collaborative engagement with diaspora communities in Europe” named in the report the Afghan Diaspora Information Project (ADIP) focuses on enhancing protection information for displaced people from Afghanistan through collaborative engagement with diaspora communities in Europe. The 36-months project aims to support members of the Afghan diaspora in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands to engage with migrants and refugees in a way that reduces protection risks. During the reporting period the six diaspora partners received the pre-testing recommendations on their campaign materials and revised their materials for the second round of message testing in Afghanistan. All the organisations received additional mentoring sessions to discuss the feedbacks and the necessary adjustments. An online training on Protection Information was conducted for Afghan diaspora without prior knowledge on protection on 27 May 2021. The mapping and the research on services for migrants and refugees on the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans Routes has been finalized. In addition this quarter snapshot on the economic reintegration challenges facing returnees has been finalized and published online: https://mixedmigration.org/resource/4mi-snaphot-a-spotlight-on- economic-reintegration-for-afghan-returnees/ Another relevant snapshot produced by MMC Europe “Smuggling dynamics for Afghans on the move toward Europe” was also published and shared: https://mixedmigration.org/resource/4mi-snapshot- smuggling-dynamics-for-afghans-on-the-move-toward-europe/ An interactive dashboard of the return survey in Afghanistan is underway. 2. ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENT OUTCOME 1: Increased availability of information about the behaviours of Afghan irregular migrants that expose them to protection violations, and which of these behaviours are open to influence Output 1.1: Information from returnee migrants about the protection incidences that they experienced or witnessed is available Activity 1.1.1. Development of a unique 4Mi survey to focus on Afghan returnees from neighboring countries, Europe and South East Asia to ensure adequate information about migration routes and protection violations, experiences at destination countries and upon return MMC Asia’s 4Mi “Returnee Survey” continues to be implemented in 7 provinces and 3 border locations across Afghanistan. The survey covers different themes regarding returnees’ outward migration journeys, including the profile of migrants, the factors influencing their decision to migrate, the routes taken, and protection issues faced, as well as the services and supports received en route. The survey also covers themes regarding return, including, reasons for and method of return, the level of preparedness for return, the location and nature of protection violations during and after return, their current and projected needs, the issue of access to information about the return and upon arrival, the level of integration achieved, and their future aspirations. Q4 Project Year 2 Update: The survey was revised last quarter in February 2021 to resume focus on the experience of migration, return and reintegration, as opposed to the impacts of COVID-19. Implementation continued throughout Q4 of Project Year 2. Next steps for upcoming reporting period: Continue implementation of 4Mi Returnee Survey. 2 YEAR 2 – Q4 PROGRESS REPORT AFGHAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROJECT - ADIP DRC – MMC ASIA & DIASPORA PROGRAMME Activity 1.1.2 Training of 4Mi monitors in Afghanistan to collect data with Afghan returnees. Q4 Project Year 2 Update: From April to June 2021 MMC Asia collected 1207 surveys with returned refugees and migrants in Afghanistan. One remote training was conducted with all monitors on the survey implementation. A follow up training was held on the safety and security update in data collection locations, COVID-19 situation and recruitment strategies. Training conducted this quarter built on previous trainings, focusing on remote data collection techniques and survey implementation as well as sharing some findings with the monitors. Trainings are an important component of MMC Asia’s quality control, as well as provide a regular forum through which to assess and mitigate the safety situations of different data collection locations. In addition to training, regular support was given to monitors in the form of weekly calls throughout the quarter. These calls provide opportunity to address the potential technical and field challenges as they arise, thereby helping to assure the quality of data collected. In total 20 monitors in 7 provinces and 3 border locations were trained. Province Number of monitors Kabul 4 Kandahar 2 Nangarhar 2 Nimruz 2 Kunduz 2 Herat 2 Balkh 2 Border Locations Number of monitors Zaranj 1 Torkham 1 Islam Qala 2 Next steps for upcoming reporting period: While the monitors used both in-person and remote data collection techniques, due to the new wave of COVID-19 throughout the country, all interviews for next quarter will be remote and over phone. Once assessed as safe by the DRC Safety Team, 4Mi monitors will return to face-to-face data collection. When this occurs, 4Mi monitors will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment kit and also provided with further safety training that focuses on the following: • Overview of COVID-19 and how it spreads • Overview of the security situation in data collection provinces Activity 1.1.3 4Mi data management, analysis and report writing 3 YEAR 2 – Q4 PROGRESS REPORT AFGHAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROJECT - ADIP DRC – MMC ASIA & DIASPORA PROGRAMME Q4 Project Year 2 Update: Since implementation of the 4Mi Returnee Survey began 4148 surveys have been collected. This includes 925 from the pilot phase, pre-COVID (1st January – 18th March 2020), 1842 collected since the COVID-19 adapted Returnee Survey has been implemented (18th April – 15th December 2020), and 1381 surveys since the return to the core returnee survey (16th February - 25th June 2021). One 4Mi snapshots was published during this reporting period exploring the economic reintegration challenges facing returning migrants and refugees. Data was also shared via an internal dashboard to DRC Afghanistan and Asia Displacement Solutions Platform staff for use in programme implementation and advocacy. Next steps for upcoming reporting period: • Ongoing 4Mi data collection and analysis Activity 1.1.4 Visualization of the 4Mi data on MMC’s homepage Data has been visualized on MMC’s homepage via the publication of snapshots as highlighted in previous reports. Q4 Project Year 2 Update: Utilising programme underspends resulting from the inability to travel due to COVID-19, MMC Asia are currently working with a consultant to design a public interactive dashboard of 4Mi Returnee data. This dashboard will be available on MMC’s website, updated monthly and publicly available. An example of the dashboard is available here. Next steps for upcoming reporting period: The 4Mi Returns dashboard will be finalized and launched. Output 1.2: Based on information from returnees, factors influencing migration behaviours are understood and disaggregated, including peer/community influencers Activity 1.2.1 Conducting interviews with Afghan returnees in Afghanistan on information sources and channels used during their decision-making process Completed in Q1 Project Year 2 Activity 1.2.3 Publishing the survey report including recommendations to inform the SBCC campaign Completed in Q1 Project Year 2 Output 1.3 Primary audience is responsive to specific messages and information developed to influence them SP Knowledge Consultants was selected to conduct Social Behavioural Change Campaign Message Pretesting in Europe and Field Testing in Afghanistan between April and July 2021. The consultants conducted a desk review before the pre-testing phase to identify the relevant languages and most relevant communication materials and communication channels for each of the target audiences of the seven diaspora organisations. Due to the development of the Covid-19 and the security situation in Afghanistan it was decided to start the field-testing in Afghanistan earlier than initially planned by modifying and shortening phase 1 of pre-testing. Instead of pre-testing with Afghans in Europe, the consultants conducted an expert review of existing materials with ResultsinHealth SBCC specialist, SP Knowledge consultant and a hired Afghan SBCC specialist 4 YEAR 2 – Q4 PROGRESS REPORT AFGHAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROJECT - ADIP DRC – MMC ASIA & DIASPORA PROGRAMME to help the diaspora