Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) The CAP is much more than an appeal for money. It is an inclusive and coordinated programme cycle of: • strategic planning leading to a Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP); • resource mobilisation (leading to a Consolidated Appeal or a Flash Appeal); • coordinated programme implementation; • joint monitoring and evaluation; • revision, if necessary; and • reporting on results. The CHAP is a strategic plan for humanitarian response in a given country or region and includes the following elements: • a common analysis of the context in which humanitarian action takes place; • an assessment of needs; • best, worst, and most likely scenarios; • stakeholder analysis, i.e. who does what and where; • a clear statement of longer-term objectives and goals; • prioritised response plans; and • a framework for monitoring the strategy and revising it if necessary. The CHAP is the foundation for developing a Consolidated Appeal or, when crises break or natural disasters occur, a Flash Appeal. The CHAP can also serve as a reference for organisations deciding not to appeal for funds through a common framework. Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator, the CHAP is developed at the field level by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Country Team. This team mirrors the IASC structure at headquarters and includes UN agencies, and standing invitees, i.e. the International Organization for Migration, the Red Cross Movement, and NGOs that belong to ICVA, Interaction, or SCHR. Non-IASC members, such as national NGOs, can be included, and other key stakeholders in humanitarian action, in particular host governments and donors, should be consulted. The Humanitarian Coordinator is responsible for the annual preparation of the consolidated appeal document. The document is launched globally each November to enhance advocacy and resource mobilisation. An update, known as the Mid-Year Review, is presented to donors in June of each year. Donors provide resources to appealing agencies directly in response to project proposals. The Financial Tracking Service (FTS), managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is a database of donor contributions and can be found on www.reliefweb.int/fts In sum, the CAP is about how the aid community collaborates to provide civilians in need the best protection and assistance available, on time. ORGANISATIONS PARTICIPATING IN CONSOLIDATED APPEALS DURING 2005: AAH CPA-LIRA HIA Non-Violence Int'l TEWPA ABS CPAR Horn Relief NPA UNAIDS ACF/ACH CPCD HWA NRC UNDP ACTED CRC IFRC OCHA UNESCO ADRA CREAF ILO OCPH UNFPA Africare CRS IMC OHCHR UN-HABITAT Alisei DDG INTERMON Open Continent UNHCR AMREF DENAL INTERSOS Orphan's Aid UNICEF ARC DRC IOM OXFAM-GB UNIFEM Atlas Logistique EMSF IRC PAPP UNMAS AVSI ERM IRIN PIN UNODC CAM FAO Islamic Relief PRC UNRWA CARE Int'l Fondn. Suisse Déminage JVSF RUFOU UNSECOORD CARITAS GAA KOC SBF VESTA CEASOP GPI LIBA SCF / SC-UK VETAID CESVI HA LSTG SCU WACRO CIRID HABEN MAG SERLO WANEP/APDH COLFADHEMA Handicap Int'l Mani Tese SFP WFP COMED HDIG MAT Solidarités WHO COOPI HDO MDA TASO WV Int'l CORDAID HFe.V NE TEARFUND TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................... 1 2. CHANGES IN THE CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES...................... 2 3. REVIEW OF THE COMMON HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN........................................ 3 3.1 Impact of funding levels on CHAP implementation:............................................................... 3 3.2 Scenarios ............................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Strategic Priorities.................................................................................................................. 4 4. RESPONSE PLAN .............................................................................................................. 5 5. CONCLUSION................................................................................................................... 10 ANNEX I. CAP 2005 – HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN CONGO .................................................. 11 ANNEX II. CAP 2005 – NEW AND REVISED PROJECTS ............................................................... 12 ANNEX III. CAP 2005 – NEW AND REVISED PROJECTS DESCRIPTIONS ................................... 13 ANNEX IV. TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY APPEALING ORGANISATION AND BY SECTOR................................................... 25 ANNEX V. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................. 26 iii iv REPUBLIC OF CONGO 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Mid-Year Review revises the Consolidated Appeal in response to changes in the situation in the Republic of Congo (RoC) and more particularly in the Pool Region. These changes result mainly from: (1) the recent announcement of legislative elections by President Sassou Ngesso; (2) the country’s efforts to implement the March 2003 Peace Agreement as Ninjas Chief Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pastor Ntumi, has now clearly expressed his intention to be part of the political process and has taken some concrete steps to confirm this option; and (3) the status of the Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) process. Pastor Ntumi has recently visited all districts in the Pool, claiming his intention to bring peace, collect arms and represent the region in the parliament. It is not clear yet whether he has the backing of the present government and/or the support of the majority of the Pool inhabitants including the Ninjas. Conversely, the DDR programme, which was supposed to start in June, has been delayed again with some signs that the implementation may be more challenging than previously expected. A postponed DDR programme may generate a sharp rise in criminal behaviour leading to increased threats against civilians as well as lootings of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies. It is widely believed that an inadequate or delayed DDR may jeopardise any peace process. The impact of this evolution on humanitarian needs and strategy is not yet clear. It is clear, however, that many basic needs are still unmet in the sectors of water and sanitation, education, agriculture, and health. The nutritional situation of a vast majority of the population remains precarious, particularly in the Pool region, and there are still considerable reconstruction and rehabilitation needs. It is likely that the delayed DDR and lengthy political settlement, in the short term, will not help improve the humanitarian situation in the Pool. On the contrary, it may (1) bring to light new needs and new trends as populations previously inaccessible are revealed, or (2) set further obstacles to access. A key achievement during the last six months has been the recent opening of a UN office in the Pool (Kinkala) that will be able to launch a strong advocacy campaign on protection of civilians, negotiate for access to areas of need with authorities and non-state actors on behalf of humanitarian partners, and implement rehabilitation and income generating projects. However, major constraints so far to the implementation of key components of the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) have been: (1) Low funding levels (30% for the CAP); (2) Impeded access due to logistical hurdles and insecurity as recently experienced by the attack on a UN convoy on its way to Mindouli; (3) Lack of data regarding needs, location and priorities of vulnerable populations; (4) Reduced humanitarian presence on the ground. Consequently, humanitarian partners must turn their attention to resource mobilisation and response strategies based on the evolving security situation and conditions of access that could have considerable impact on the type of aid as well as the locations where such assistance is most needed. The main priorities defined in the original 2005 CAP were to improve and rehabilitate basic social services, to re-launch farming activities, enhance access and promote a culture of peace. They remain relevant, but some of their short-term implementation strategies have been revised to ensure that the various constraints are fully taken into account. For this purpose, six new projects have been added to the CAP 2005, eight revised and three removed. The revised CAP 2005 increases the funding request from US$ 21,960,437 to US$ 24,110,476. US$ 7,282,363 has been contributed or committed to date, leaving unmet requirements of US$ 16,828,113. 1 REPUBLIC OF CONGO 2. CHANGES IN THE CONTEXT AND HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES On the political front, the President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and the ruling Parti Congolais du Travail (PCT), together with its allies in Forces Démocratiques Unies (FDU), dominate the political scene. Together, they hold 70% of the seats in Parliament and new legislative elections are not due until 2007. The Ceasefire Agreement signed in 1999, renewed in 2003, is still holding. Despite their efforts to find a common ground, the Government and the Conseil National de la Resistance (CNR) have not yet managed to implement measures that could foster peace. The first half of 2005 has been characterised by some progress on the political front, with several governmental communiqués reasserting its willingness to find a final settlement with Pastor Ntumi. In December, the government announced legislative elections in