International Rescue Committee Cameroon Reducing Risk and Meeting Needs of Conflict-Affected Communities in the Far North Region, Cameroon Final Report - Grant Agreement 720FDA18GR00281 INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE CAMEROON PROGRAM Final Performance Report Reducing Risk and Meeting Needs of Conflict-Affected Communities in the Far North Region, Cameroon Agreement No: 720FDA18GR0028 Reporting period: September 1, 2018 – August 31, 2019 Presented to: THE USAID OFFICE OF FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE Collaborating Partner: Agency Headquarters: International Rescue Committee Cameroon International Rescue Committee c/o Hannah Gibbin, Country Director c/o Amelia Hays, Regional Program Officer Tel: +237 651.26.28.56 Tel : 212.551.0954 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Date submitted: December 5, 2019 1 International Rescue Committee Cameroon Reducing Risk and Meeting Needs of Conflict-Affected Communities in the Far North Region, Cameroon Final Report - Grant Agreement 720FDA18GR00281 I. Contextual Update According to the 2019 Humanitarian Response plan, Boko Haram’s incursion into the Far North region of Cameroon from northeastern Nigeria over the past several years has left 50% of people living in the Far North (1.9 million) in need of humanitarian assistance. The security situation in this region continues to deteriorate. Following large scale displacements in August 2019, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that there are nearly 428,289 displaced people in the Far North. Newly displaced people in the region (both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Nigerian refugees) are highly vulnerable given the loss of property, limited access to services and general mistrust and stigmatization of them by community members due to suspicions of affiliation with Non-state Armed Groups (NSAGs). During the last six months in particular, the situation in Cameroon has worsened, especially in the Logone et Chari Department. In January, 2019, more than 35,000 people were displaced from the Nigerian city of Rann into Goura in Cameroon. Despite the official announcement of this population’s return to Nigeria, more than 15,000 displaced persons preferred to settle in the surrounding communities in Cameroon. Recurrent attacks by NSAGs have been ongoing during the project implementation, sometimes leading to the suspension of humanitarian activities. The longest halt occurred from April 6 to June 9, 2019, due to an attack by on a convoy of Cameroonian security forces on the Fotokol-Sagme axis. Some humanitarian actors, including the IRC, temporarily suspended activities in and around the affected area for the safety of personnel and equipment. Another challenge during implementation was the prolonged and heavy rainy season, which affected access to and activities in program sites. From August to October, 2019, heavy rains caused major floods in the Far North, resulting in population displacement and the isolation of several villages – affecting 23 localities in total. The floods have caused severe damage to dwellings, and have left inhabitants homeless. II. Summary of overall performance The proposed project was implemented by the IRC to provide support to people in the Far North region of Cameroon who had been affected by the Boko Haram crisis, and to tackle the interconnected and widespread challenges they face. Through this intervention, the IRC provided life-saving activities to 24,819 beneficiaries by reducing safety risks in communities, helping beneficiaries meet their basic needs, and providing support services when they experienced harm. Activities were provided across the sectors of Protection, Health, Economic Recovery and Market Systems, Agriculture and Food Security, Multipurpose Cash Assistance, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). To best meet project objectives and ensure they were rooted and applicable to the local context, the IRC integrated various community structures (e.g. leaders, women, IDPs, host communities, government structures and services) in the project design as well as in discussion about the methodologies to apply and implementation throughout the project. Through the protection component specifically, the IRC fostered community discussions to better identify safety issues, identify available protection services, report abuse, and combat reticence, and raise awareness on the prevalent culture of impunity and intolerance facing the most vulnerable beneficiaries, mainly women and girls. To strengthen the economic conditions of communities, the IRC supported 120 households to access non- agricultural income generating opportunities, and 600 households to access agricultural income generating activities. The IRC also provided multipurpose cash assistance to 720 households – 5,924 individuals – to enable them to meet their basic needs. To address environmental health needs, the IRC led activities to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation, and to ensure good hygiene practices in communities. While the IRC planned to reach 20,000 people, 24,819 people were supported through sensitization on hygiene practices, distribution of soaps, kettles and flashlights, and improvements to sanitation through the construction of 150 emergency latrines and 150 emergency showers, the establishment 10 garbage pits and the rehabilitation of 20 previously non-functional water points. III. Activity Summary Goal: Vulnerable conflict-affected people in Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone et Chari face fewer risks to their safety, are able to meet their basic needs, and receive support services when they experience harm. 2 International Rescue Committee Cameroon Reducing Risk and Meeting Needs of Conflict-Affected Communities in the Far North Region, Cameroon Final Report - Grant Agreement 720FDA18GR00281 Total number of People Targeted (Individuals): 32,230 beneficiaries (with overlap between sectors, as some beneficiaries may have received services from multiple sectors); 17,500 with no double counting Number of IDPs Targeted: 18,384 with overlap between sectors, 9,600 with no double counting Total number of beneficiaries reached during the implementation period: 49,119 beneficiaries; 24,819 with no double counting Number of IDPs Targeted: 30,676 with overlap between sectors; 14,892 with no double counting A. Sector 1: PROTECTION Objective: Increase access to quality protection services for survivors of GBV and persons with special needs to support their recovery and healing from violence Number of people targeted: 8,627, including 6,883 IDPs Number of people reached since September 1, 2018: 7,373 individuals, including 4,532 IDPs Geographic areas of intervention: Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone et Chari departments, Far North region 1. Sub-sector 1: Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence a) Reduce GBV risks through a community-based approach From December 2018 to August 2019, the IRC’s Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Manager led eight coordination meetings with 26 community leaders (including 11 women) in Mozogo and Igawa. These meetings focused on educating community leaders on their role in preventing Gender Based Violence (GBV), how they could become more involved in community protection activities and hold discussions on security issues. During the project implementation period, the 15 IRC staff working as community mobilizers sensitized 3,099 people, including 1,405 women, 708 men, 566 girls, and 420 boys on the causes and consequences of GBV, available services related to GBV case management at the IRC’s safe spaces, and the advantages of accessing psychosocial services in a timely manner. These sensitizations also focused ways to break the silence and fight against impunity, physical abuse, management of menstrual and body hygiene, and tolerance in the community, the consequences of harmful traditional practices, and available services at the IRC’s safe spaces. Following community mobilization activities carried out by community volunteers, 93% of the 330 women and girls interviewed were able to identify at least three available services. During the project period, the IRC participated in the celebration of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”, an event that took place from November 25 to December 10, 2018, and the commemoration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019 in Logone et Chari, Mayo Sava, and Mayo Tsanaga. During the commemoration of these events, the IRC conducted several activities to promote gender equality and the importance of empowering women and girls, including sensitization sessions on GBV and advocacy with community leaders on the promotion of women’s rights. On June 16, 2019, the IRC celebrated the African Child’s Day at the Centre de Protection de la Femme et de Famille of Mora with humanitarian actors including Intersos, Plan International, International Mercy Corps and ALDEPA on the theme of “Humanitarian Action in Africa, Children Human Rights foremost”. These events enabled 21 new women and girls to be integrated in socio-recreational activities organized by the IRC. These events enabled the women and girls who usually participated in safe spaces activities to showcase their sewing, baking, basket weaving, and other products. Additionally the teenage girls engaged in the IRC’s activities sensitized their communities about the GBV services available in their community, the consequences of early marriage and the importance of education for girls. b) Distribute 500 dignity kits In April 2019,