This month’s update highlights children and armed conflict concerns and provides recommendations for the protection of children in the situations of Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali. The update additionally provides information regarding the status of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict conclusion negotiations on the Secretary-General’s reports on the situation of children and armed conflict in Colombia and Somalia.

AFGHANISTAN

The Afghan National Police (ANP), including the Afghan Local Police (ALP), and three armed groups (Haqqani Network, Hezb-i-Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and Taliban forces) are listed for recruitment and use of children. All three armed groups are also listed for killing and maiming, while the Taliban is further listed for attacks on schools and/or hospitals and abduction. In March, the Council will renew UNAMA’s mandate and receive the next progress report by the Secretary-General (SG) pursuant to SCR 2274 (2016). UNAMA’s 2016 Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan documents the highest ever number of civilian casualties in a single year since 2009 when UNAMA began systematic documentation of civilian casualties, specifically reporting 923 child deaths and injury of 2,589 others. Children comprise 31 percent of all-conflict related civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2016, according to UNAMA’s findings. The Security Council should:

• Ensure the continuation of and support for the implementation of UNAMA’s child protection mandate; and to that end, request the SG to maintain dedicated child protection capacity within UNAMA, and to continue to include information and analysis on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan in all his future reports;

• Urge all parties to end indiscriminate attacks and use of weapons as prohibited under IHL, and to urgently prioritize marking and clearing of explosive remnants of war which contribute to the increase in child casualties;

• Reiterate strong condemnation of attacks on education and health care facilities, including the burning and forced closure of schools and health care facilities, and the intimidation, abduction, and killing of education and medical personnel, particularly those attacks targeting girls’ education or vaccination campaigns by armed groups, including the Taliban; and specifically to this end, call upon the Government to report to the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, on measures taken to implement SCR 2286 (2016) related to protecting health care in conflict;

• Urge the Government to transfer all children from prisons to Juvenile Rehabilitation Centers in accordance with the national and international juvenile justice standards.

KAZAKHSTAN IS THE LEAD COUNTRY ON AFGHANISTAN, AND IT ALSO CHAIRS THE 1267 ISIL AND AL-QAIDA SANCTIONS COMMITTEE AND THE 1988 TALIBAN SANCTIONS COMMITTEE.

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA — Three suicide bombers killed four people and injured eight others in a village near the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, a police spokesman said Sunday.

A man and two women blew themselves up when they were challenged by a member of the Civilian JTF, a government-approved militia group, just outside Maiduguri, the city worst hit by jihadist group Boko Haram's eight-year insurgency.

The blasts, in the village of Umariri about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the city, occurred Saturday around 9 p.m. (2000 GMT), said Maiduguri police spokesman Victor Isuku.

"Four people which include a Civilian JTF, a woman and her two children died while eight others sustained injuries," he said.

It is the latest in a string of attacks in the last few days that bear the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has killed about 15,000 people and forced more than 2 million people to flee their homes in Africa's most populous nation since 2009.

A man claiming to be the group's leader appeared in a video circulated Friday in which he claimed responsibility for bombings in Maiduguri and a raid on the nearby town of Magumeri last week. He also denied that 5,000 hostages held by the group had been freed.

Boko Haram, whose attacks have increased since the end of the rainy season in late 2016, wants to create a state adhering to a strict interpretation of Islamic laws in northeast Nigeria.

It also carries out cross-border attacks in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Foreign aid groups are facing pressure in several African countries to hire more local workers. But South Sudan's recent move to increase work permit fees to up to $10,000 could spell disaster for the war-torn country.

After South Sudan sharply raised fees for foreign workers at the beginning of the month, the UN stepped in to plead for an exemption for aid workers. The East African country is facing a devastating famine and one-third of the population depends on foreign aid for basic nourishment. Burdened with such fees, some aid organizations may not be able to continue operations.

"I've never heard of such a drastic increase," Elizabeth Deng, Amnesty International's South Sudan researcher, told DW. "The fee is clearly exorbitant, and it could violate the government's obligation to work with aid groups."

A 'right' to hike fees?

The South Sudan Ministry of Labor, which proposed the hike, has argued that it is not unusual. "Any country in the world has a right to impose work permits on foreigners," said government spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny in a statement. "If you can't pay $10,000, then you hire a local person instead." The ministry has raised "casual worker" visa fees from $100 (93 euros) to $1,000; "blue collar" visa fees from $150 to $2,000; and "professional" visa fees from $300 to $10,000.

Fee unusually high

Work permit fees are certainly a global norm. But rates around the world rarely top $1,000. In Europe, temporary work visas range from 60 euros ($65) in Germany to 230 euros in Great Britain. In the US, a temporary work permit comes with a $190 fee, comparable to the fee in China.

In some African countries where foreign aid makes up a large part of the economy, the price of a work permit can be higher. Employees of NGOs can expect to pay $1,500 for a work permit in Uganda. Kenya is one of the most popular destinations for foreign aid workers in Africa, and it is also one of the most expensive. Employees of NGOs who are not Kenyan citizens must acquire the most expensive class of work permit, which costs $1,900 per year.

Aid groups under pressure

Kenya has put other forms of pressure on foreign aid workers to leave the country. In June 2016, Kenya's NGOs Board, a government body, issued a memorandum that claimed there was "a growing trend of career expatriates who have made a habit out of hopping from one organization to another in exploitation of [Kenya's regulations]." It declared that it would not issue work permits to foreign NGOs unless they could prove that the job would eventually be turned over to a Kenyan.

Dr. Ishbel McWha-Hermann, a professor at the University of Edinburgh who studies fairness within the international aid sector, cautioned against comparing the situation in Kenya or Uganda with that of South Sudan.

McWha-Hermann's research showed that in Uganda, like in Kenya, the pool of skilled aid workers is competing with expatriate aid workers for jobs and wages and is losing out. The result is a "dual-salary system" where expatriate aid workers earn on average twice as much as their native colleagues. "In the long term, it undermines the work of providing aid to the country," she said.

A different case

South Sudan is in a very different situation from Kenya. Embroiled in a civil war and a deteriorating famine situation, the East African country is more dependent on foreign aid than its southern neighbor. "Putting pressure on NGOs to hire more local workers is not a bad thing in general," said McWha-Hermann. "But in an emergency situation, you don't want too much bureaucracy to get in the way of helping those who desperately need it."

For Elizabeth Deng of Amnesty, South Sudan's latest move was motivated by a number of reasons not at play in Kenya. The fee hike, as the Ministry of Labor admitted, is meant to fill a budget deficit at the expense of foreign companies. Deng notes that the fee hike applies to the private sector as well, and, with the recent loss of oil revenue in South Sudan, the government is looking toward taxation as a source of revenue.

'Hostile environment'

Deng also suspects that the South Sudanese government is "reluctant to have observers document what's going on" in the country, and impeding the work of NGOs would slow the flow of information. South Sudan cabinet minister Martin Lomuro recently told the AP that he believed "most of the [humanitarian] agencies are here to spy on the government."

Deng says that South Sudan is a "hostile environment for aid workers in general" with instances of government soldiers looting humanitarian goods and arresting NGO employees.

"The fees are part of a general failure to respect humanitarian workers," said Deng.

Hoping for compromise

The increase in permit fees took effect this month, but fees are not due to be paid until the end of the month. Several NGOs have declined to speak with the media, leaving room for the government to backtrack on its plan. The UN is in talks with South Sudan to have aid workers exempt from the fee hike and is awaiting a response.

Deng is hopeful that no aid worker will see the fee increase cut so deep into their paycheck. "Reasonable minds may prevail," she said.

Pour les « Prix Producteurs »

Les prix collectés ce mois de Février 2017, nous indiquent que :

• Riz Gambiaka : le prix le moins cher est 275 enregistré à Kléla dans la région de Sikasso, Siengo et Niono sont à 300 FCFA/kg et 350 le plus cher toujours à Sofara dans la région de Mopti. Tendance à la hausse.

• Riz Adny11 : il est à Niono et Siengo à 300 FCFA/kg contre 350 à Baguineda dans la région de Koulikoro. Tendance : stabilité.

• Riz local BG : il se vend à 350 à Baguinéda (Koulikoro) et à Sofara (Mopti). Tendance : hausse à Mopti.

• Riz Local étuvé : il est vendu à 400 FCFA/kg maximum à Niono et Siengo, Sofara (Mopti) enregistre 350 et enfin 250 à Klela (Sikasso).

• Tendance : Hausse.

• Paddy : le prix des différentes variétés varie entre 140 et 150 à Niono et Siengo toutes variétés confondues ; le moins cher étant 135 Fcfa à Sofara dans la région de Mopti. Tendance : stabilité.

• Les Semences : les prix des différentes variétés restent stables à 300 FCFA/kg à Niono et Siengo sauf pour les variétés Kogoni 281 et Adny R2 275 à Siengo. Tendance : stabilité.

**Marie-Elodie est volontaire de l'aide de l'Union européenne avec ACTED au Sénégal pour les projets agriculture et sécurité alimentaire. Dans ce cadre, elle participe aux discussions du collectif CORRIANS pour le renforcement du partage de l'information sur l'insécurité alimentaire au Sénégal : **

En 2015, quatre organisations (ACTED, ACF-E, CECI, Croix Rouge Sénégalaise) ont créé le Collectif pour le Renforcement de la Réponse à l’Insécurité Alimentaire et Nutritionnelle au Sénégal – CORRIANS – dans le but d’améliorer l’harmonisation des interventions et la capitalisation des bonnes pratiques. Dans ce cadre, les membres du collectif ont adopté la méthodologie dite « HEA » (Household Economy Approach), afin d’harmoniser leurs méthodologies de ciblage des ménages très pauvres bénéficiant des activités de leurs projets. Ils tentent aussi de combiner les points forts de cette méthodologie avec celle du « RNU » (Registre National Unique) utilisée par le gouvernement sénégalais.

Qu’est-ce que la méthodologie HEA ?

La méthodologie HEA est basée sur l’analyse des moyens d’existence des familles. Elle met en évidence la manière dont les ménages subviennent habituellement à leurs besoins, afin d’évaluer ensuite l’impact d’événements sur leurs moyens de subsistance, puis de planifier des interventions pour soutenir leurs stratégies de survie. Il s’agit d’une approche dynamique qui permet de répartir les ménages en 4 groupes socio-économiques, à savoir les « très pauvres », les « pauvres », les « moyens » et les « nantis ».

Une analyse basée sur l’économie des ménages

Afin d’évaluer la vulnérabilité de la population face aux chocs ou risques, l’analyse se base sur :

• La détermination de « zones de moyens d’existence » (ZME) où les populations partagent globalement les mêmes stratégies de survie

• La décomposition de la population en classes socio-économiques

• L’accès de base à la nourriture et à un revenu

• La capacité des ménages à réagir face à un aléa

• La dépendance des populations à l’aide extérieure pour survivre et/ou conserver leurs moyens d’existence

Une sélection communautaire des ménages les plus vulnérables

La particularité de cette méthodologie de ciblage réside dans le fait que la pauvreté est définie de manière participative par la communauté au sein des différentes ZME. Par exemple, ACTED procède de la manière suivante :

• Définition et sélection des critères d’identification des groupes socio-économiques (critères HEA et critères spécifiques à la ZME) : en Assemblée Générale (AG), avec à la mise en place d’un comité de ciblage homme, d’un comité de ciblage femme et d’un comité d’écoute (réceptionnant d’éventuelles demandes)

• Catégorisation des ménages selon les groupes socio-économiques : par les 2 comités, grâce à un système de notation distinguant les différentes classes. Ils confrontent ensuite leurs résultats

• Vérification au porte à porte : par des enquêteurs auprès de 100% des ménages classifiés « très pauvres » par au moins un des comités, 50% des ménages classifiés « pauvres » par au moins un des comités, 20% des « moyens » et « nantis »

• Identification des bénéficiaires : en fonction du profil du ménage, résultant de l’étape de vérification, adapté aux critères spécifiques à la ZME.

• Validation communautaire des listes : en présence de l’ensemble du village et des comités. L’AG valide la liste des bénéficiaires proposée.

Au vu de la fiabilité des ciblages réalisés précédemment, l’équipe d’ACTED au Sénégal a décidé de continuer à se baser sur cette approche HEA dans le cadre de ses projets menés dans le nord-est du pays. Ainsi, cette année, plusieurs milliers de personnes particulièrement vulnérables à des crises nutritionnelles chroniques, seront sélectionnées grâce à cette méthodologie et bénéficieront à la fois d’une aide d’urgence et d’un accompagnement à plus long terme dans l’optique de renforcer leur sécurité alimentaire.

UNMISS “Protection of Civilians” (PoC) Sites

· As of 16 March 2017, a total of number of civilians seeking safety in six Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 223,019 including 120,607 in Bentiu, 30,559 in Malakal, 38,942 in Juba UN House, 1,976 in Bor, 681 in Melut and 200 in Wau, in Western Bahr El Ghazal adjusted area 30,054.

Highlights of the week:

Juba: RRP continuous providing support and coordination with UNICEF, Education Cluster and UNMISS to facilitate the IDP students writing their National Secondary Examinations in the government designated Examination Centers in town.

Unity/Juba: Presence of Unexploded Ordinance (UXOs) noted in the PoC sites of Bentiu, Juba and in Nimni primary school in Bentiu where children got injured while playing with these weapons.

Upper Nile: Movement between the PoC site, Malakal town, and surrounding villages increased with average record of 3000+ women having undertaken routine movements related to search for complimentary livelihoods. Some women have also been noted for arrival to the PoC after the curfew time. The increase in traffic between the PoC, Malakal and the surrounding villages could most likely be attributed to the reassurance and commitment by the new Governor of Upper Nile to improve relationship between the PoC inhabitants and those in Malakal town.

Jonglei: IDPs welcomed plan of UNHCR led Solutions Working Group to assess Fangank as a potential IDP return destination.

Highlights

• A joint WFP/UNHCR sensitization mission took place in Intikane ZAR for the newly relocated Malian refugees from Tazalit ZAR on the implementation of assistance on the basis of needs and capacity.

• Critical funding gap is having extremely negative consequences on planned resilience and hunger season activities. New contributions are urgently needed to avoid losing achievements gained over the past three years.

• Coupled with the effects on school meal activities of severe underfunding, the consequences of the 2017 pastoral crisis is increasing pupil dropout rates, in particular amongst children of nomad communities.

Operational Updates

• Distributions of commodity vouchers for school meals activities started. This type of assistance helps to create a direct connection between local production, education, nutrition and women empowerment. Food goods were delivered by farmer organizations in four communes (Falwel and Sokordé in the Dosso region, and Djirataoua and Guidan Amoumoune in Maradi) and by WFP providers in all other communes. Awareness raising sessions were carried out alongside distributions.

• Multiple discussions took place between the Ministry of Education, WFP and UNICEF to identify solutions for the increasing drop-out rate of pupils in nomadic areas.
  Communities of these areas are the most affected by the pastoral crisis developed as a consequence of the fodder deficit during the 2016-17 agro-pastoral campaign.

• The final phase of the joint WFP-Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education mission presented the Adolescent Strategy to national technical services at the regional levels.
  The Adolescent Strategy, which aims at improving nutrition and education of adolescents of very poor households, will be launched in March in all communes where WFP implements integrated activities.

• WFP contributed to the finalization of the budget/costing plan of the National Multisector Policy on Nutrition Security for 2017. This policy will be finalized and officially launched in March and will involve all government sectors with the aim of eradicating malnutrition in Niger.

• The first Steering Committee meeting of the "Fortification of Processed Food Products in Niger" project took place. The aim is to improve the quality and availability of nutritional food in Niger by promoting the consolidation of local food chains derived from "primary" processing, in particular those resulting from the milling of cereals, legumes and the extraction of seed oil.

• A meeting with the government 3N Initiative reviewed and planned the scale up of community-based participatory planning (CBPP) activities for at least 80 integrated sites in 2017. During the meeting focal points were designated amongst government, partner and UN representatives who will hold the role of trainers for the CBPP sites.

• A boot-camp on asset creation techniques took place during the last week of February involving both WFP staff and national technical services, providing tools to produce high quality assets and strengthen national capacities.

• WFP provided policy advice and technical assistance on the finalization of the Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth Strategy 2035, with a special attention on integrating the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 agenda.

• WFP continued its efforts to capitalize on lessons learned by identifying and publishing best practices on Rome-based Agencies integrated approach in Dargué and Maradi.

• UNHAS continues to provide air transport services to the humanitarian community in all five regions of Niger. In February, UNHAS transported 1,370 passengers and 2,218 mt of cargo.

Highlights

• WFP donated protective and production equipment to salt producers in the Fatick region to contribute to government efforts in fighting against iodine deficiency.

• The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative team shared lessons from their pilot program on climate services at the Fifth International Conference on Climate Services.

Operational Updates

• Nutrition: On 24 February, the Country Director visited iodized salt producers in the Ndiemou exploitation site, in the Fatick region. He handed over USD 60,000 worth of protective and production equipment purchased through the Unit for the Fight against Malnutrition (CLM). This support came in response to producers groups’ complaints about their precarious working conditions. WFP works in partnership with CLM, the Micronutrient Initiative and UNICEF to support the Government under the universal salt iodization programme.

• Resilience and Rural Development: WFP participated in the fifth International Conference on Climate Services, jointly organized by the Climate System Analysis Group at the University of Cape Town and the Climate Services Partnership secretariat at the Climate Service Center Germany. The conference focused on capacity strengthening and on forging connections between climate services, governments, and weather dependent businesses. WFP presented on the lessons learned from the Rural Resilience Initiative – a comprehensive risk management approach to help communities become more resilient to climate variability and shocks – under its risk transfer component.

• The country office was also involved in the elaboration of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Biennial work plan (2017-2018) and in the annual review for the 2012-2018 UNDAF.

• Cash-based transfers (CBT): The cash and voucher Working Group held a meeting on 16 February and recommended that the country office develop electronic transfers in support of the initiative of establishing an integrated cash platform. This multipurpose platform will enable a greater synergy between WFP's interventions and that of other partners including the government social protection transfer programmes.

• Targeted Food Assistance: WFP and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) held a meeting on the integrated nutrition and food security activities for 2016. An after review workshop to discuss lessons learned, challenges and capitalize on the pilot phase will be organised.

• School meals: WFP participated to the evaluation of school meals in Senegal by the African Union. The assessment of school meals costs, in accordance with the School Meals Transition Plan, is currently ongoing with support from the Consortium pour la recherche Economique et Sociale in Senegal and the WFP Center of Excellence in Brazil.

This bi-monthly update brings together innovative policy, practice and partnerships from the Southern and Eastern African region that aim to strengthen the engagement of disaster-affected communities in humanitarian action. The aim of the publication is to create awareness about these initiatives and share good practice. Readers are encouraged to forward this email through their own networks and to share their contributions.

South Sudan: How sunshine is bringing radio to remote parts of South Sudan

In South Sudan, most people rely on radio to get information. But limited access to power means entire communities are left in information darkness for days at a time, especially in remote areas. One man is turning to the sun to change that. More

Kenya: Peaceful Coexistence: Media Outreach and Mass Awareness in Kalobeyei

FilmAid is producing docu-dramas targeting refugees and host communities using film to support delivery of key messages on peaceful co-existence in Kalobeyei, Turkana County. Community engagement and outreach is paramount to maintaining peace in the area. More

Madagascar: Involving communities in program planning and design process

Despite its best efforts to include all community members in its programs, the Malagasy Red Cross noticed that many groups were still being underrepresented in community decision-making processes. A pilot project was initiated as part of an ongoing programme in Fanamby, to create a more contemporary and equitable system of participation and decision-making. More

Lesotho: Women don't just raise poultry; they also spread hope and care for children at-risk

It started as a savings group that grew into an income-generating venture through a poultry project. Now, it is not only making profit for its members but provides care for children at-risk. More

Rwanda/Burundi: Training teams on Mobile Cinema for community engagement

When Rwanda and Burundi Red Cross Societies decided to implement mobile cinemas and regular radio chat shows, the National Societies, with support from the IFRC, developed four-day training courses for each activity. More

Partnerships: Kenya Red Cross Society and Kenya Private Sector Alliance hold key workshop on Disaster Risk Management

In February 2017, the Kenya Red Cross Society and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance held a workshop to explore practical and effective mechanisms in reducing and managing disasters in Kenya. More

Partnerships: Read the the latest Humanitarian Private Sector Partnership Platform (HPPP) Newflash highlighting private sector engagement in various activities. More

Other Reports

Putting People First-Community Engagement in Humanitarian Practice: The P-FIM methodology is advocating for a starting point with people and communities, not projects or agencies.

“Radio has the potential to play a far more immediate role in emergency response situations”: Radio plays a vital part in relaying information in crisis such as extreme weather, epidemic or conflict, displaced population to foster recover.

Blog: “We’ve Opened Pandora’s Box!” Responding to Unsolicited Feedback: The blog addresses the practical challenges related to analyzing, responding to, and utilizing open-ended feedback from communities.

South Sudan Journalists Trained In Conflict Sensitive Reporting: A three-day training, under the Communicating with Communities project by UNESCO/UNDP equipped journalists with conflict sensitive reporting skills to promote peace building.

Blog: Stop saying you want to give voice to the voiceless!: Isn’t it ridiculous to think that we (humanitarians) have the power to give people a voice, as if our inability to listen defines their ability to speak?

RADIO ACTIVE! The story of interactive radio in Africa: Radio stations across the continent are involving people in exciting discussions that matter to them.

PORT SUDAN – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), today welcomed the second of two recent shipments carrying urgently required food assistance for Sudan and South Sudan.

The ships, Maritime Faith and Liberty Grace, docked in Port Sudan and discharged over 47,880 metric tons of sorghum, over 20,000 metric tons of which will be transported through Sudan into South Sudan. In March and April, WFP will receive additional ships carrying 47,500 metric tons of sorghum, more than 5,000 metric tons of lentils and nearly 1,700 metric tons of vegetable oil. The commodities on these ships, also donated by the United States, will feed South Sudanese refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Sudan.

“This food assistance comes at a critical time when continued conflict has resulted in life-threatening hunger in Sudan and famine in South Sudan. The United States and WFP are pleased to be working with the government of Sudan to ensure safe and secure transport of the majority of this assistance to South Sudan,” said US Chargé d’Affaires Steven Koutsis. “We hope to overcome obstacles that impede timely delivery of urgently needed food assistance and urge all parties to allow food and other humanitarian aid to reach those who need it the most.”

The United States continues to be a long-standing partner and the largest single donor to WFP in Sudan, contributing nearly US$1 billion to WFP Sudan’s operations since 2012. These contributions of cash and commodities, including U.S.-grown sorghum, lentils, and vegetable oil, donated by the American people, has enabled WFP to provide critical food assistance to severely food-insecure populations in Sudan in a timely and professional manner.

“WFP is grateful to the United States and the American people for their continued support to our operations,” said WFP Sudan Representative Matthew Hollingworth. “The arrival of these two ships could not have been more timely, given the situation in both Sudan and South Sudan. This again proves the generosity of the U.S. Government and its people, who have always been willing to extend a helping hand to those in need of assistance.”

In 2017, WFP plans to assist more than 4 million vulnerable people in Sudan—IDPs, refugees, climate-affected populations, and host communities—through a range of activities, including emergency food aid, cash-based transfers, nutritional support, and resilience-building activities to help communities become independent.

For more information please contact:
John Nelson, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 183248001 (ext. 2107), Mobile: +249 912167197, email: john.nelson@wfp.org

Abdulaziz Abdulmomin, WFP/Khartoum, +249 183248001 (ext. 2123), Mob. +249 912167055, email: abdulaziz.abdulmomin@wfp.org

U.S. Embassy Public Affairs, +249 187022000; http://sudan.usembassy.gov; https://www.facebook.com/khartoum.usembassy

The state of famine was declared at the end of February in South Sudan. 4.9 million South Sudanese - 42% of the county’s population - need food aid. 100,000 people are in direct mortal danger. Beyond providing a vital emergency help, a long-term assistance will be unavoidable.

Present in South Sudan since 2006, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s teams provide for populations needs in emergency situations and also helps to anticipate them. In the north, our teams offer a vital access to drinking water, hygiene and sanitation to tens of thousands of displaced people, as priority actions in the fight against malnutrition.

A population dependent on humanitarian assistance

In refugee and displaced people camps, the population is entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, with the food assistance families receive each month. It is the only solution for the displaced since they don’t have access to fields nor to the fruit of their labour. The problem is the same for those who run away from battle zones and seek refuge in the bush.

“Forced to flee almost every month, even though they had the resources, they wouldn’t have time to sow, nor grow, explains Catherine Hiltzer, Manager of Operations in the area. Not to mention the security risk of venturing without protection in the fields. 4.9 million people suffer from food insecurity, three months before the hunger gap.”

Drought and conflicts impede on the ability to bounce back

For these populations, caught between a particularly harsh dry season with temperatures up to 50°C and a rainy season that causes massive floods and catastrophic water-related sanitary issues; have no escape. “Today, we are going to try to provide for their needs in emergency, tells Arthur Maurus, Field Coordinator in Malakal in the north-east, a particularly affected area. The problem with drought and the conflict that lasts, is that it is going to impede on their ability to bounce back on a mid to long term perspective. We are in a situation where aid workers are going to have to support the populations for a long time since there is no possible solution for now, that would allow us to withdraw from the country. This bleak outlook doesn’t leave much room for hope.”

International Development Secretary Priti Patel today visited the offices of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in Euston to meet aid workers from six of its member charities recently returned from the crisis areas.

Aid workers from CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Plan International UK and Tearfund discussed the impact of the generous donations of the British public, UK Aid and the life-saving work that the DEC’s 13 member charities carry out on the ground.

Ms Patel also met with volunteers working on the appeal, including those taking phone calls from donors.

Ms Patel said:

“I’m delighted to be here at the DEC appeal’s headquarters today where so far, thanks to the generosity of the British public, we have helped to raise £24 million for the East Africa Crisis Appeal.

“I’ve met the amazing team at the DEC, volunteers and some inspiring aid workers who have just come back from South Sudan and Somalia.
“My plea is very simple: don’t delay, please donate and the UK government will double what you give up to £10 million.”

Drought and conflict have left 16 million people on the brink of starvation and in urgent need of food, water and medical treatment.

People are already dying in South Sudan and Somalia. In Kenya, the government has declared a national emergency and Ethiopia is battling a new wave of drought following the strongest El Niño on record.

DEC member charities are already providing help to people across the four countries with lifesaving aid, such as food, treatment for malnutrition and cash, but much more needs to be done to reach those in desperate need.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal for the crisis in East Africa has raised £24 million since it launched on Wednesday, with donations continuing to flood in from the UK public. DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:

“Our East Africa Crisis Appeal has now raised a staggering £24 million thanks to the generosity of the British public, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated so far.

“I also want to thank the UK government for recognising the urgent needs across East Africa and supporting the appeal by committing to £10 million match funding.

“More than 16 million people are on the brink of starvation and people are dying across East Africa. This humanitarian crisis has reached critical levels and we would urge people to continue giving to save lives and reduce suffering.”

What your money could buy:£25 could provide a month’s supply of life-saving peanut paste to a malnourished child
£60 could provide clean drinking water for two families for a month
£100 could provide supplies to a clinic treating severely malnourished children for a week.
To make a donation to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal visit: www.dec.org.uk, call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 610, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.

Media Contacts: 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours)
Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 610
Spokespeople, recent photos and footage are available

STUDY BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

International Medical Corps (IMC) has been working on nutrition in Chad, which ranks 185th on the 2014 Human Development Index , since 2004.

A SMART survey conducted in 2014 in the Abdi district (Ouaddai region) in eastern Chad determined that Abdi had some of the highest acute malnutrition rates (wasting) in the Sahel; 13.7% moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and 4% severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rates were recorded for children under 5 years old.

The experience of IMC in Chad confirmed that the principal factors contributing to malnutrition were linked to structural issues and questions of chronic underdevelopment. There is poor food security in general in the Abdi district. Livelihoods are based on agricultural production of different grains, gardening (which are easily affected by unpredictable rainfalls) and pasturage. The sanitary context is troubling and is particularly connected to reduced access and utilization of the poorly developed healthcare system in the region.

To have a sustainable impact on nutrition insecurity in the region, it was essential for IMC to have an understanding of the principal underlying causes of undernutrition and the local context. IMC decided to implement a Link NCA study, financed by OFDA, to determine the underlying causes and risk factors for undernutrition. After completing the Link NCA study it would be possible to develop appropriate, effective and global program responses, aimed at improving nutrition security in the Abdi district.

METHODOLOGY

To evaluate the causes of undernutrition in Abdi, a mixed method approach was used. The quantitative methodology is designed to objectively evaluate the prevalence of undernutrition and its risk factors, while the qualitative analysis seeks to address questions regarding how or why undernutrition/good nutrition occurs. The two methods are complementary and offer an in-depth, global image of the causes of undernutrition. The information from these multiple sources was then reviewed and triangulated through a participatory process to generate a general consensus on undernutrition causality in the Abdi district.

The Link NCA was conducted over 5 months between September 2015 and January 2016 at the end of the lean season in four phases:

Preparatory Phase

The first step focused on a literature review of existing data sources which was performed by the NCA analyst. There were also preliminary interviews with governmental and non-governmental partners. This was part of the preparatory phase implemented for all potential Link NCAs, to determine the need and feasibility of conducting a Link NCA study.

Developing Nutrition Causal Hypotheses

The next step was to develop hypotheses for the causes of undernutrition in Abdi, with the information gathered from the first phase. These hypotheses were discussed, reworked and validated during a technical workshop in Abeche.

Community Level Data Collection

Qualitative and quantitative studies were carried out in November and December 2015 in order to validate the causal hypotheses and potential risk factors developed during the second phase.

Synthesizing Results and Building Consensus

After the data collection, the hypotheses were ranked according to importance, while paying careful attention to historical variations and vulnerable groups. The results were then presented to the local community and also during a final technical workshop where outcomes were discussed with stakeholders and multisectoral WaSH, health/nutrition and food security experts. A sequential, participatory process was employed to build consensus around the plausible causes of undernutrition.

March 17, 2017

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Chad hosted the third largest number of refugees in sub-Saharan Africa with 369,000 refugees in 2016.

• A joint mission comprising the World Bank, the UNHCR, and the UN visited Chad to identify its future interventions.

• Interventions will aim to provide assistance to not only the refugee population, but also the host communities.

N'DJAMENA, March 17, 2017−Some 8,000 people are desperately trying to rebuild their lives in the Dar es Salaam refugee camp located along the banks of Lake Chad in the town of Baga Sola. Dispersed over several kilometers in endless canvas tents bearing the colors of the United Nations, they are struggling to recover from the trauma inflicted by Boko Haram.

In this camp, as is the case in the other camps that have been springing up all across Chad in recent years, one cannot be unmoved by the plight of these men, women, and children. They lost everything when they fled and now need everything. “We all left behind our jobs, and we no longer fish, farm, or engage in our usual business. Being unemployed is very stressful,” laments Ousmane Mahamat, the head of the camp.

Further away in the far south of the country, the Goré prefecture is also buckling under the weight of the refugees. “Here, all the returnees and refugees who fled the war in the Central African Republic account for half of the local population, with as much as 33% being refugees, excluding the returnees,” explains Augustin Gongtar, Goré’s prefect. The Dar Sila region, which straddles the border with Sudan, has for the past 13 years been sheltering refugees from Darfur and more recently from the Central African Republic (CAR). Here, too, the region’s governor, General Moussa Haroun Tirgo, paints a bleak picture. “Our region is adversely affected by the crises in Darfur and the CAR. We are hosting roughly 54,000 refugees in terrible living conditions, with no access to water or basic social services. We are also cut off for five months of the year because of the floods.”

A joint mission going beyond mere humanitarian assistance

It is against this backdrop that a joint mission comprising the World Bank, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations (UN) traveled to Chad a few weeks ago. “This site visit aimed to continue our strategic dialogue on forcibly displaced persons in Chad with the government and main partners. It was particularly well timed as the discussions were held during the International Development Association (IDA 18) replenishment period, and there is significant funding for aid to refugees and their host communities,” explains Adama Coulibaly, World Bank Country Manager for Chad. The mission also included Xavier Devictor, Program Manager for the Global Program on Forced Displacement, Jose Antonio Canhandula, UNHCR representative in Chad, and Stephen Tull, UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator in Chad, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative.

Xavier Devictor spoke directly to refugees, returnees, and host communities comprising women, men, and children who are now forced to live together under trying conditions, and was “impressed by the words of welcome and inclusion” that, despite the circumstances, were expressed by the individuals with whom he spoke. Wherever the mission visited, host communities and administrative authorities showed extraordinary solidarity and hospitality toward the forcibly displaced persons they were hosting in their region and with whom they have shared everything despite the extreme poverty that they sometimes endure.

This is reassuring to the mission that is exploring new areas of support for Chad. “We are resolved to support Chad’s efforts, not by duplicating UNHCR work already carried out on the ground, but by going beyond merely providing aid to the refugees, adopting a more comprehensive approach that encompasses a development strategy for the region’s entire population,” notes Xavier Devictor.

Helping refugees without neglecting the host communities

The initial findings of the mission clearly indicated that the host communities “and the natural environment in particular are bearing the brunt of the demographic pressure being exerted by forcibly displaced persons. They receive little assistance in return and, paradoxically, sometimes have less access to basic infrastructure and services than the refugees and the displaced.”

Addressing the mission, Sougnabe Dimougna, the prefect of Baga Sola, stated: “your assistance will be invaluable in helping us promote a more active integration of forcibly displaced persons and reduce the pressure that this situation is exerting on our community. We share everything with them – hospitals, schools, food, and fields without having made proper preparations. The host community therefore also deserves the attention of our development partners.”

The UNHCR has already initiated discussions with refugees with the aim of preparing them for a new approach to the assistance they will be provided. UNHCR Representative Antonio Canhandula notes that “we must ensure that refugees adopt a more active attitude. This is critical to their integration into the local community and their social inclusion, and will require increased involvement in the activities of their host community,” adding that “in this way, we will have tailored our efforts to the situation, because the fact is that we are dealing with a situation where 20% of the problems relate to humanitarian issues and 70% to development issues.”

In addition, the Emergency Food and Livestock Crisis Response Project, which is being financed by the World Bank and implemented by the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has already helped some 70,000 refugees become more independent and rebuild their lives through income-generating agricultural activities. The goal now is to ensure the sustainability of this type of initiative.

17 mars 2017

LES POINTS MARQUANTS

• Avec 369 000 réfugiés en 2016, le Tchad est le troisième pays d’accueil en Afrique subsaharienne.

• Une mission conjointe de la Banque mondiale, du HCR, et de l’ONU s’est rendue sur place pour définir ses prochaines interventions.

• Avec 20% de problèmes humanitaires et 70% de problèmes de développement, il s’agit d’aider aussi bien les réfugiés que les populations d’accueil.

N'DJAMENA, le 17 mars 2017− Ici comme dans les autres camps qui s’accumulent aux quatre coins du Tchad depuis quelques années, le regard des hommes, femmes et enfants ne peut laisser indifférent. Ils ont tout perdu dans leur fuite, et ont besoin de tout. « Nous avons tous laissé nos métiers derrière nous, nous ne pêchons plus, nous ne cultivons plus, nous ne faisons plus nos commerces habituels ; c’est très stressant de rester sans travailler », se plaint Ousmane Mahamat, chef du camp de réfugiés de Dar-es-Salam.

Quelque 8 000 personnes tentent désespérément de refaire leur vie dans ce camp de la localité de Bagassola, sur les rives du Lac Tchad. Eparpillées sur des kilomètres de tentes en bâches, estampillées à perte de vue aux couleurs de l’ONU, elles se remettent difficilement du traumatisme causé par les ravages de Boko Haram.

Plus loin, à l’extrême-sud du pays, la préfecture de Goré croule également sous le poids des réfugiés. « Ici l’ensemble des rapatriés et des réfugiés, ayant fui la guerre en RCA, représentent la moitié de la population autochtone. On compte jusqu’à 33% de réfugiés sans tenir compte des rapatriés », explique le Préfet de Goré, Augustin Gongtar. À l’Extrême-Est, située à cheval sur la frontière avec le Soudan, la région de Dar Sila accueille depuis 13 ans des réfugiés du Darfour, et plus récemment de la République centrafricaine (RCA). Là aussi, le général Moussa Haroun Tirgo, gouverneur de la région, dépeint une situation intenable : « notre région est fortement affectée par les crises du Darfour et de la RCA. Nous accueillons environ 54 000 réfugiés dans des conditions de vie difficiles, sans accès à l’eau et à des services sociaux de base, alors que par ailleurs nous sommes enclavés 5 mois de l’année à cause des inondations ».

Une mission conjointe pour aller au-delà de la seule action humanitaire*

C’est dans ce contexte qu’une mission conjointe de la Banque mondiale, du HCR et de l’ONU s’est rendue au Tchad il y a quelques semaines. « L’objectif de ce déplacement sur le terrain est de poursuivre notre dialogue stratégique sur les déplacements forcés au Tchad avec le gouvernement et les principaux partenaires, dans le cadre de la reconstitution du fonds de l’Association internationale de développement (IDA 18) qui prévoit de dédier une enveloppe importante à l’aide aux réfugiés et à leurs communautés d'accueil » a expliqué Adama Coulibaly, représentant résident de la Banque mondiale au Tchad. La mission comprenait également Xavier Devictor, responsable du programme mondial sur le déplacement forcé, Jose Antonio Canhandula, représentant résident du HCR et Stephen Tull, coordinateur résident du système des Nations Unies au Tchad, coordinateur humanitaire et représentant résident du PNUD.

En échangeant directement avec ces femmes, hommes et enfants réfugiés, rapatriés ou hôtes, désormais obligés de cohabiter dans des conditions de vie difficiles, Xavier Devictor a été « impressionné par le langage d’accueil et d’inclusion » que tiennent malgré tout les différents interlocuteurs sur le terrain. Dans chaque endroit où s’est rendue la mission, populations d’accueil et autorités administratives ont en effet démontré une remarquable solidarité et hospitalité vis-à-vis des personnes déplacées de force, qu’elles ont accueillies dans leur région et avec lesquelles elles ont tout partagé. Et ce malgré la pauvreté extrême dans laquelle elles vivent parfois.

De quoi rassurer la mission qui réfléchit à de nouvelles interventions pour soutenir le Tchad. « Nous sommes déterminés à soutenir les efforts du Tchad, non pas pour dupliquer ce que fait déjà le HCR sur le terrain, mais pour aller au-delà de la seule prise en charge des réfugiés, en englobant une approche plus générale qui établissent une stratégie de développement pour l’ensemble de la population de la région », envisage Xavier Devictor

Aider les réfugiés sans délaisser les populations hôtes

Les premières conclusions de la mission ont clairement établi que les communautés d’accueil « subissent les conséquences de la pression démographique exercée par la présence des déplacés de force. Notamment sur l’environnement naturel. Elles reçoivent peu d’aide en retour, et paradoxalement, elles ont parfois un plus faible accès aux infrastructures et services de base, que les réfugiés et les déplacés », poursuit-il.

« Votre aide nous sera précieuse pour favoriser une insertion plus active des déplacés forcés et réduire la pression que cette situation exerce sur notre communauté. Nous partageons tout avec eux, hôpitaux, écoles, repas, champs sans y avoir été préparés. Par conséquent, la population d’accueil mérite aussi l’attention de nos partenaires au développement » souligne le Préfet de Bagassola, Sougnabe Dimougna en s’adressant à la mission.

Le HCR a déjà entamé des discussions avec les réfugiés afin de les préparer à une nouvelle approche dans leur prise en charge. Selon Antonio Canhandula, son représentant résident, « nous devons faire en sorte que le réfugié adopte une attitude plus active. Cela est important pour son intégration locale et son inclusion sociale ». De la sorte, ajoute-t-il « on aura adapté nos efforts au contexte, car en réalité nous avons affaire à 20% de problèmes humanitaires et 70% de problèmes de développement ».

Par ailleurs, le Projet d’aide d’urgence à l’élevage et à la crise alimentaire, financé par la Banque mondiale et mis en œuvre par le Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM) et l’Organisation pour l’agriculture et l’alimentation (FAO), a déjà permis à quelque 70 000 réfugiés d’être plus autonomes et de se reconstruire en se lançant dans des activités agricoles génératrices de revenus. Il s’agit maintenant de pérenniser ce type d’initiatives.

More than 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are experiencing famine or at risk of famine over the coming six months. UN agencies and humanitarian partners are ready to scale up the response to avert a catastrophe, but the necessary funds and access to do so are required immediately.

NIGERIA - EMERGENCY

An elevated risk of famine persists in the north-east. Some areas remain inaccessible to humanitarians, leaving affected people in life-threatening conditions.

SOUTH SUDAN - FAMINE

Some 100,000 people are already facing famine, while 1 million people are on the brink. Access constraints and insecurity continue to hamper the response.

SOMALIA - EMERGENCY

Due to consecutive and severe droughts, the risk of famine persists in Somalia, especially in agropastoral areas of Bay and Bakool and the Northern Inland Pastoral livelihood zone

YEMEN - EMERGENCY

Yemen is facing the largest food insecurity emergency in the world. Life-saving interventions must continue and be scaled up for a large population now on the brink of famine.

One month since famine was declared in two areas of South Sudan, it is a race against the forthcoming rains to save lives Oxfam warned today.

The annual rainy season, which starts in April or May, will make conditions even more difficult for the people in need of help and the aid agencies trying to reach them. Flooding makes roads and airstrips impassable, communities sheltering from the conflict on islands even more isolated, and causes a rise in cholera and other water-borne diseases.

Oxfam is calling for more funding to help reach those in need before it is too late.

Sara Almer, Country Director for Oxfam in South Sudan said, “The people of South Sudan are doing all they can to support their families and their neighbors, but it’s a daily struggle for survival. Fighting has forced millions of people to leave their homes, livestock, and belongings behind. Other communities have generously welcomed them, sharing what little they have. But they need more support now as the window to save lives is closing.

“Once the rains begin, it is even more difficult to reach isolated communities. It’s hard to keep water sources clean and cases of cholera and diarrhea will needlessly take even more lives. The rainy season is difficult under any circumstances, but this year will likely be worse, as so many people are already malnourished, away from their homes and have fewer resources to withstand this demanding time.”

Ongoing conflict has left 7.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and half the country’s population are expected to be affected by extreme hunger by July, if they don’t receive help now.

Almer said, “Ultimately what the people of South Sudan need is an end to the conflict. Until then, humanitarian organizations need support and safe access to communities in order to continue providing life-saving aid and longer-term assistance. The response from the public has been extremely generous and is saving lives every day, but hunger and the impending rains present a deadly combination and aid agencies needs those funds right now. Lives depend on it”.

Oxfam is distributing food to over 415,000 people as well as providing over 140,000 people with clean water and sanitation which are equally important to keep people healthy and famine at bay. 

Contact information

Lauren Hartnett, South Sudan Mobile: +211 925650327
Twitter: @lhartnett615  Skype: lauren.hartnett6  
For updates, please follow @Oxfam.

20 March 2017: While many resources have been dedicated to Countering Violent Extremism efforts, little attention has been paid to the role women play in the Boko Haram insurgency and responses to it in Nigeria, says Idayat Hassan.

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), popularly referred to as Boko Haram, has been waging a war against the Nigerian state for the past seven years. The insurgency has claimed over twenty thousand lives, displaced over two million people, and destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of personal and public property.

This insurgency and counter-insurgency (COIN) is being waged by three distinct actors: the government of Nigeria, Boko Haram, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). While many resources have been dedicated to Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) efforts, little attention has been paid to the role women play in promoting or participating in the insurgency and counterinsurgency.

Of the aforementioned organisations, only Boko Haram and the CJTF have integrated gender into their terrorism and counter-terrorism efforts. Boko Haram has played on the common perception of women as nonviolent to effortlessly mainstream women into their operations, using them to gather intelligence, as recruiters, and promoters of radical ideologies to indoctrinate abductees and other converts in Boko Haram enclaves. In fact, the sects have allegedly preyed on women’s grievances relating to marginalisation, inequality, and alienation to recruit more women into its folds. In other cases, women are unwilling perpetrators and are forced into becoming suicide bombers, sex slaves, and forced labourers.

There is a growing awareness on the significance of mainstreaming women into Prevention and Countering of violent extremism (P/CVE). The UN Security Council in several of its resolutions has affirmed the importance of including women in P/CVE processes and their implementation. For instance, Security Council resolution 2129 reaffirms the Council’s objective to “increase its attention to women, peace and security issues in all relevant thematic areas of work on its agenda, including in threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.”

The importance of women in the P/CVE process cannot be overemphasised as women occupy several twinning roles within the community, and their perception and reaction differs. However, the counter insurgency strategy in Nigeria so far has not seized the opportunity of women’s unique roles and, importantly, their perspectives in the prevention and countering of violent extremism[1].  

The Civilian Joint Task Force

The CJTF was formed in June 2013 out of necessity. The motivations behind its creation were the frustrations of the people of Bornu, particularly young people. As the government’s campaign against Boko Haram intensified, hundreds of youth were caught in the crossfire of the military and Boko Haram, resulting in the arbitrary detention of several youths by security agencies. Later, the government issued a declaration of a state of emergency in the states of Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa, which resulted in extreme economic hardship for civilians, compounded by rampant killings of the locals by Boko Haram. At present, the CJTF boasts between 25,000 - 36,000 members including both men and women[2] and presently operates as a pro-government paramilitary force, similar to the Sons of Iraq or Afghan Local Police (ALP). The CJTF, with its knowledge of local terrain, language, and intelligence gathering capabilities, has contributed largely to the successes[3] recorded so far in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency efforts.

The CJTF was the first to incorporate women into their counter-insurgency operations and currently have between 50-100 female members. Female members’ responsibilities include conducting pat-downs of women in churches, mosques and other public places, gathering intelligence, and arresting suspected female insurgents. The North East has experienced many attacks by Boko Haram, and through the efforts of the female CJTF members, several attacks have been prevented successful intelligence gatherings.

In an expose with female CJTF, members recounted their experiences in intelligence gathering, detecting Boko Haram members, and acting as bait. According to the women, they search women before they enter public places such as mosques, weddings or other festivals, most importantly because of the Islamic religious and cultural system which forbids non related men from entering women’ homes, the female CJTF members easily help in arresting female Boko Haram members in their abode[4].  In an interview with Daily Trust, Murjanatu Umar explained how they have been instrumental to the arrests of potential female suicide bombers and enlightenment campaign they run for women and girls on safety. According to one of the Sectors Commanders of the CJTF in Bornu State, Baba Shehu Abduganiu, women have effectively contributed to prosecuting the war against insurgency.

Human rights violations

Despite reported successes, there have still been over 100[5] suicide bombing so far executed by girls and women in the North East since Boko Haram commenced the use of female suicide bombers around June 2014. The CJTF has also committed grave and serious human rights violations, in particular extra judicial killings, arson, and sexual and gender based violence against women.

There are several reported cases of alleged rape of girls and women as well as reports of coerced sex for food and protection in the internally displaced person’s (IDP) camps. The female members of the CJTF have been singled out for perpetrating violence against other women in the course of carrying out their vigilante duties. In fact, all the actors in the prosecution of the war against insurgency have been indicted for perpetrating egregious human rights violations. It is important for the government to define what accountability for these crimes will look like post-insurgency, as blanket amnesty will not bode well for sustainable peace in Nigeria

Women and counter-insurgency

The Nigerian government has made no discernible efforts to integrate women in counter insurgency operations forgetting the fact that women were reputed enablers of the insurgents’ activities and therefore should constitute strong target in the deradicalisation, disarmament and reintegration processes considering their huge but different power base spanning the socio, economic, cultural and economic bases.

Although the country has developed a National Action Plan to fulfill UN Security Council Resolution 1325, this is not reflected in the ongoing armed conflict between the Nigerian state and Boko Haram. For example, while women and children are most affected by the insurgency, there are few women involved in COIN operations, with government forces estimated to be 98 percent male. This is largely responsible for the gender based violence ongoing in the IDP camps. For instance, there are rife allegations of women and girls being coerced into sex in return for food or other favours, as well as rape and assault, among other vices.

Following a recent report by Human Rights Watch on the molestation of women in the IDP camps, the Nigerian government has deployed 100 female police to Bornu State to protect women in the camps. According to the police commissioner Damian Chukwu, the deployment of the female police officers will ensure the protection of women.

Post-conflict palliatives

Most of the post-conflict plans for the North East do not include the role of women in the rebuilding or specify their needs. For instance, the Recovery and Peace Building Assessment (RPBA) blueprint developed by the government of Nigeria, World Bank, and other development partners, conceptualises gender as a cross-cutting theme and while emphasising the importance of addressing gender-based violence never dedicated a specific portion of the plan to gender despite the impact of the insurgency on women and children.

Similarly, the 714 page Buhari Plan - the working document of the Presidential Committee on the North East (PCNI) - only emphasises gender based violence with palliatives such as economic empowerment and psychological support. The lack of substantial gender inclusion similarly applies to the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST). None of these blueprints have put women at the negotiation table nor do they work effectively at redressing the alarming gap in women’s participation in the governance processes that predates the insurgency. They have also not adequately explored the intersectionality between gender, peace, and security, and the centrality of gender in CVE and preventing violent extremism (PVE).

Furthermore, there is little or no local ownership of the P/CVE process and women have faced many challenges when trying to participate. Challenges include an overall lack of accountability within the process, trust deficit, lack of funding and access to funders, and trouble deciphering what P/CVE means exactly for effective programming within communities. A significant research gap continues to exist on women in CVE processes. It is time for the Nigerian government to take women’s issues and opinions more seriously.

The inclusion of women in P/CVE processes as well as peace and security matters writ large – as policy makers, negotiators, and as crafters of transitional justice mechanisms are valuable first steps towards building sustainable peace in Nigeria.

Recommendations:

1. Immediately prioritise the recruitment of women in the security forces particularly Nigerian Police Forces for post conflict reconstruction in the North East.

2. Define the accountability mechanism for ensuring peace, justice, and reconciliation in the North East. Mainstream women effectively into all government and donor led reconstruction programs, donors should ensure funding is specifically appropriated to women’s participation.

3. Strengthen the participation of women in political processes at local, state and national levels.

4. The Nigerian government, the World Bank, and their other partners should commit to consulting with women around the post-insurgency governance process.

5. International donors, multilateral agencies and the Nigerian government should provide resources to explore the intersectionality between gender, peace, and security, and the centrality of gender in P/CVE in North East Nigeria

6. The Nigerian Government should designate resources to psychological support for women and children.

7. The government must make provide for at least 30 percent women representation in all post conflict reconstruction plans and committees.   [1] The lack of women representation in the P/CVE process itself prevents the messages from reaching the intended beneficiaries.

[2] Interview with CJTF state coordinator Abba Aji Kalil May 3rd, 2016, Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja

[3] The Nigerian government have declared a technical defeat on the insurgents, the areas captured by the insurgents equaling the size of Switzerland have so far been recaptured, ground zero, Sambisa forest, the enclave of the insurgents have also been captured by the government forces.

[4] Interview with CJTF, Centre for Democracy and Development, October 25, Maiduguri, Bornu State

[5] Centre for Democracy and Development Ecowas Counter terrorism tracker, see also Baseline on Boko Haram CDD forthcoming.

• The economic context is dramatic: the crashing currency and out-of-control inflation are not ideal circumstances for relying on markets.

• Traders face difficulties on both sides – importing from Uganda is risky and uncertain, while demand is sluggish.

• Supplies from Sudan may partially offset these challenges, but they are highly constrained by the official border closure and seasonal factors.

• Cautious implementation of CBT may be feasible although it will be extremely challenging given the circumstances.

• Considering forecast local supply and the temporary partial functioning of the trade corridors from Sudan, between 95,000 and 145,000 beneficiaries may be assisted with value-based vouchers.

• A flexible approach is needed when implementing value-based vouchers, including monitoring traders’ stock levels and allowing them to stock in advance as much as possible, adjusting the voucher value to inflation and providing extremely timely payments to traders, combining CBT with nutrition-specific interventions, and defining a contingency plan to switch back to GFD if monitoring reveals that traders have inadequate stocks, or if it is operationally unfeasible to keep up with inflation when adjusting the transfer value and paying back traders.