OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq OCTOBER 2016 – DECEMBER 2016 Implementing Organization: Mercy Corps, Iraq Donor: OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE Project Reference: AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 Grant period: July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017 Report period: October – December 2016 Contact information: Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Program Overview 4 Performance Summary Tables 4 Implementation 7 Challenges and Lessons Learned 12 MERCY CORPS Second Quarterly Report: Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq 2 Agreement Number AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 October 2016 – December 2016 Executive Summary Following the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) operation to retake key areas from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), displacement has escalated. Looking to retake the city of Mosul and surrounding areas in Ninewa Governorate, the largest ISIL stronghold in Iraq, ISF and allied forces launched their latest offensive on October 17, 2016, which has led to the displacement of 125,568 largely to the South and East of Mosul City. The International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) noted 3,034,614 displaced individuals by the end of 2016.1 Since December 29, 2016, military operations have intensified in Mosul causing displacement of over 9,000 people in four days. Nearly 160,000 people have been displaced since the operation to retake Mosul began in October 2 2016; nearly 3 million IDPs are displaced across the country. Military blockades and damage to infrastructure as a result of the offensive have contributed to an increase in fuel costs and food prices. Food and non-food items remain a key priority for newly 3 displaced households, returnees, protracted displaced and host communities. To meet vital and immediate humanitarian needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with support from Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) under the Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq program, Mercy Corps is providing Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), emergency non-food items (NFIs), and WASH support (water supply, sanitation, and hygiene) to IDPs in non-camp settings. The program’s goal is to facilitate conflict-affected households and communities (to meet their critical basic needs. This response is targeting Individuals: 113,950 (85,710 IDPs, 3,350 returnees, and 24,890 host community) individuals. Subset specifically for Mosul response: 66,400 IDPs. During the reporting quarter, significant gains were achieved in terms of MPCA and NFI distributions. In total, Mercy Corps carried out twelve cash distributions reaching 3,0144 households representing 16,706 individuals. Please see table a.1. below for further details: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 (one-off payment) 16,058 individuals 694 individuals 648 individuals (2,886 households) (145 households) (128 households) Table a.1 1 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM)’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) accessed: 28 January 2017. 2 IOM 2017. Displacement Tracking Matrix. Mosul Portal. http://iraqdtm.iom.int/. 3 UNHCR Mosul Crisis Appeal, July 2016 and Joint Humanitarian Contingency Plan, 2016 4 This includes individuals from Round 1 and Round 3. Round 2 beneficiaries are a subset of Round 1. MERCY CORPS First Quarterly Report: Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq 3 Agreement Number AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 October 2016 – December 2016 Distributions took place in Tikrit, Shirqat and Baiji in Salah Al-Din, Ramadi in Anbar and Qayara in Ninewa. Mercy Corps also reached 34,909 individuals with 8,260 NFI kits (including 300 winterization kits). Mercy Corps has positioned the program to scale up implementation quickly over the upcoming quarter, conducting assessments, targeting activities, signing contracts, and conducting area specific project activities A change in approach by the ISF in how screening for affiliation with ISIL is conducted has affected the intended outcome of our WASH strategy. As a result, Mercy Corps will reduce interventions with transient populations and focus more on settled displaced and host communities. This strategic decision was taken in response to a change in context with regard to spontaneous settlements, transit centers and collective centers, which has negated the need for intensive WASH support for populations in transit. ISF have moved screening sites closer to the front line and are also assessing populations on the move. This reality, coupled with increased displacement within host communities, has informed our decision to intervene at school, household and municipal level. Program Overview Goal: Conflict-affected households and communities are able to meet their critical basic needs. Performance Summary Tables Sector: Logistics Conflict affected families in Iraq, including newly displaced IDPs, protractedly Support and Relief displaced IDPs, returnees, and host communities, have improved access to essential Commodities non-food items. Program participants 113,950 individuals Budget Target $6,524,764 Targeted Program participants 51,615 Individuals Budget Actual $1,365,435 Reached (and % spent) 21% Geographic Area Anbar, Baghdad, Salah al-Din, Ninewa, Kirkuk and Erbil governorates Sub- Sector 1.1 Non-food items OFDA Indicator Baseline Target Progress Progress Means of verification (Quarter) (Cumulative) 1.1.1. Total # of people 0 5,000 0 0 receiving NFIs, by sex (Hygiene Signed distribution list; site visits and type Kits) 0 102,000 34,909; 34,909; (NFI Kits5) 33,690 33,690 individuals individuals Light Light NFI kits and Signed distribution list; site visits NFI kits and 1,219 individuals 1,219 individuals Winterization Kits 5 17,000 NFI kits based on a family size of six individuals MERCY CORPS First Quarterly Report: Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq 4 Agreement Number AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 October 2016 – December 2016 Winterization Kits 1.1.2. Total # & per item 0 22,0006 8,260 NFIs 8,260 NFIs USD value of cash ($284,524) total; ($284,524) total; distributed for NFIs 7,960 NFI 7,960 NFI ($256,687 ($256,687 USD); Signed distribution USD)7; 300 winterization list; site visits 300 winterization kits ($27,837 kits ($27,837 USD) 8 USD) 1.1.3. Total number of 0 6,515 HH 3,014 HH 3,014 HH people receiving cash 39,090 16,706 (total 16,706 (total and vouchers, by sex individuals individuals) individuals) 8,048 male 8,048 male 8,658 female 8,658 female 0 3,830 HH 2,886 HH; 2,886 HH; One-off 7,751 male 7,751 male Signed distribution ($400) 8,307 female 8,307 female list, Site visits 9 0 2,200 HH 145 HH *1; 145 HH *1; MMCAx2 328 male 328 male ($360) 366 female 366 female 10 0 2,685 HH 128 HH*1; 128 HH*1; MMCAx3 297 male 297 male ($360) 351 female 351 female 1.1.4. Total USD value 0 $6,015,800 $1,252,680 $1,252,680 USD of cash/vouchers total USD USD distributed for NFIs, by 0 $1,532,000 $1,154,400 $1,154,400 USD type One-off USD Signed distribution list, Site visits 0 $792,000 $52,200 USD $52,200 USD MMCAx2 0 $966,600 $46,080 USD $46,080 USD MMCAx3 6 17,000 NFI kits and 5,000 hygiene kits 7 7,960 NFI kits were distributed; 4,260 NFI kits with per unit cost of $35.05 USD and 3,700 light NFI $29.02 per unit costs. Differences in costs are due to different procurement locations and processes. 8 Per unit cost of winterization kits: $92.79. 9 First of two additional cash distributions competed. 10 First of three additional cash distributions competed. MERCY CORPS First Quarterly Report: Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq 5 Agreement Number AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 October 2016 – December 2016 Sector: Water, Sanitation Conflict affected families in Iraq are provided lifesaving WASH and Hygiene services in line with scale and speed of displacement from Mosul, and have improved access to appropriate facilities and hygiene practices. Program participants 63,600 Individuals Budget $4,332,399 Targeted (9,408 families) Target Program participants 0 Individuals Budget $801,922 19% Reached Actual (and % spent) Geographic Areas Anbar, Baghdad, Salah al-Din, Ninewa, Kirkuk and Erbil governorates Sub- Sector 2.1 Water Supply Infrastructure OFDA Indicator Baseline Target Progress Progress Means of verification (Quarter) (Cumulative) 2.1.1 # of people directly 0 63,600 0 0 benefiting from the water HH beneficiaries project supply infrastructure completion list; site visits 2.1.2 # of free residual 0 18,000 0 0 chlorine tests conducted Field activity reports; site NFIs, by type visits Sub- Sector 2.2 Sanitation Infrastructure 2.2.1 # of people directly 0 48,600 0 0 HH beneficiaries project benefitting from the completion list sanitation infrastructure Sub- Sector 2.3 Hygiene Promotion 2.3.1. # of people 0 40,000 0 0 receiving direct hygiene promotion (excluding Hygiene promotion mass media campaigns attendance list; site visits and without double- counting) 2.3.2. # of respondents TBD 28,000 0 0 who know 3 of 5 critical Pre-and Post-KAP survey times to wash hands results MERCY CORPS First Quarterly Report: Humanitarian Response for Conflict-Affected Families in Iraq 6 Agreement Number AID-OFDA-G-16-00273 October 2016 – December 2016 Implementation Staff Recruitment Mercy Corps made significant gains during the reporting period in terms of staff recruitment. To initiate implementation of the WASH program, 21 team members in four governorates were recruited; including WASH engineers, WASH assistants, hygiene promotion Officers and Assistants. The team is in place, assessments are ongoing and contracts are being finalization. The next quarter will see rapid implementation based on target groups and locations identified as per assessments. In line with the program’s expansion of MPCA into Baghdad governorate, as defined in the program work plan, new program and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team members were hired, while existing Anbar team members remained.