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WFP CONGO DEPARTMENT OF POOL HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN AND EARLY RECOVERY FEBRUARY 2018

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WFP

CONGODEPARTMENT OF POOL

H U M A N ITA R I A N R E S P O N S E P L A N A N D E A R LY R E C OV E RYFE

BRUA

RY 2

018

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Date of creation: 24 jan 2018 Sources: UNCS, ESRI, GAUL, NGA Contact: [email protected] www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

50 Km

International boundaries

Department capital

District capital

Capital

Department boundaries

District boundaries

!\

GABON

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICOF CONGO

Ngabe

IgnieMayama

Vindza

Mindouli

Kimba

Boko

Kindamba

Loumo

Kinkala

GomaTsétsé

LouinguiMbandza Ndounga

PLATEAUX

BOUENZA

LEKOUMOU

Brazzaville

POOL

!\

TOTAL POPULATION OF POOL

300,000PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

114,000BUDGET (US$)

70.7M# HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS

16CONGO: DEPARTMENT OF POOL

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Date of creation: 24 jan 2018 Sources: UNCS, ESRI, GAUL, NGA Contact: [email protected] www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

50 Km

International boundaries

Department capital

District capital

Capital

Department boundaries

District boundaries

!\

GABON

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICOF CONGO

Ngabe

IgnieMayama

Vindza

Mindouli

Kimba

Boko

Kindamba

Loumo

Kinkala

GomaTsétsé

LouinguiMbandza Ndounga

PLATEAUX

BOUENZA

LEKOUMOU

Brazzaville

POOL

!\

TABLE OF

CONTENTSPART I

PREFACE ...............................................................................................................................5

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN AND EARLY RECOVERY OVERVIEW ........................................6

OVERVIEW OF THEHUMANITARIAN CONTEXT ..........................................................................7CONTEXT ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7A MULTISECTORAL IMPACT.......................................................................................................................................... 7

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................10

RESPONSE STRATEGY ..........................................................................................................11PLANNING FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................... 11RESPONSE STRATEGY AND SECTORAL APPROACH................................................................................................... 12IMPLEMENTATION AND UPDATING OF THE PLAN ..................................................................................................... 12

OPERATIONAL CAPACITY .....................................................................................................13

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS ......................................................................................................14

MONITORING OF THE RESPONSE AND COORDINATION ...........................................................15DIRECT AND DISTANCE MONITORING ........................................................................................................................ 15CALENDAR AND REPORTING ...................................................................................................................................... 15UPDATING THE PLAN ................................................................................................................................................. 15

SUMMARY OF NEEDS, TARGETS AND BUDGETS ......................................................................16

PARTII: PLANS DE RÉPONSE OPÉRATIONNELSHEALTH ...............................................................................................................................20

NUTRITION ..........................................................................................................................21

FOOD SECURITY ..................................................................................................................22

EDUCATION .........................................................................................................................23

PROTECTION .......................................................................................................................24

SHELTER & NFIS ..................................................................................................................25

WATER, HYGIENE & SANITATION ...........................................................................................26

EARLY RECOVERY ................................................................................................................27

COORDINATION ...................................................................................................................28

ANNEXESGUIDE TO DONORS ...............................................................................................................30

AND IF...WE DON’T RESPOND? ...............................................................................................31

WFP

PREFACE

55

PREFACE BY

H.E. THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION AND THE RESIDENT COORDINATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

In 2018, humanitarian action will benefit from a favorable operating context following the signing of the cease-fire and cessation of hostilities of 23 December 2017 in Kinkala. This agreement has led to an effective ceasefire that should facilitate the deployment of humanitarian actors in the Pool Department, especially in areas that have not yet received assistance. The humanitarian assessment mission conducted in early November 2017 allowed gathering of additional elements for planning the humanitarian response in 2018.

After a difficult year in the Pool Department in 2017 and despite the mobilization of the international community to meet the needs of thousands of people, the humanitarian and recovery challenges remain immense. As in 2017, the year 2018 will be just as difficult for thousands of people in this department. However, we must acknowledge the efforts of the international community by providing the necessary resources since the beginning of the crisis. We were able to mobilize 57.06% of the expected funds for the year 2017. Therefore, we convey our thanks to all the donors who have been kind enough to assist the Republic of Congo in expressing their solidarity with the families in need.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, the United Nations system and other humanitarian partners have worked to update the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan to produce this plan, which will cover the entire year of 2018 before a new update during the year.

Considering the potential for return of the displaced populations, (which has already started in some villages), this new response plan will focus on early recovery while continuing emergency response in an initial phase, especially in areas that have so far been inaccessible. Thus, this plan will pursue the goal of saving lives and strengthening the resilience of people in respect of their rights. It should also have synergies with the DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) initiatives, particularly on the issues of post-conflict recovery, to restore communities’ confidence to live peacefully on their land and resume their normal social and economic life.

H.E. Antoinette Dinga Dzondo MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION

Anthony Kwaku Ohemeng-Boamah RESIDENT COORDINATOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IN THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO

PART I : HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN AND EARLY RECOVERY OVERVIEW

6

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN AND EARLY RECOVERY

OVERVIEWSTRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1

Coordinated and integrated emergency assistance

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2Protection and respects for human rights of people in an emergency situation

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3Reinforcing capacity for resilience and recovery

PEOPLE IN NEED / HUMANITARIAN AND EARLY RECOVERY

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

114,000BUDGET (US$)

22.9m (humanitarian)

47.8m (early recovery)

k

POOL

NIARI

PLATEAUX

LEKOUMOU

KOUILOU

BOUENZA

BRAZZAVILLE

POINT-NOIRE

Sibiti

Ngabe

Ignie

Mayama

Zanaga

Komono

Vindza

DivenieBambama

Kibangou

Loudima

Mayoko

Mindouli

Kimba

Moutamba

Banba

Louvakou

Boko

Nkayi Kinkala

Yaya

Tsiaki

Kingoue

Nyanga

Kimongo

Mayeye

Kindamba

Yamba

Moungoundou-Sud

Madingou

Louingui

Goma-TsetseMabombo

Loumo

Boko-Songho

Mfouati

Mouyondzi

Mbinda

Makabana

Londela-Kayes

Moungoundou-Nord

Mbandza-Ndounga

2 314

1 436

777

1 578

27 872

817

616

4 782

29

5 684 3 336

186

1 301

5 69337 296

DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF

CONGO

GABON

AtlanticOcean

2 398

396

Date of creation: 13 February 2018 Sources : ESRI, UNCS, GAUL for geodata Feedback : [email protected] Name of the document : cog_A4_L_180213_V3_pool_Bouenza_IDP-ENThe boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. This map is designed to be printed in landscape and A4 size

*More than 1,000 people are displaced in the Pool department, in districts not yet identified. Registrations are ongoing in Pointe Noire department

Number of displaced people38 000

4 000

100

Sub-prefecture affected by violence

50km

CONGO: # OF DISPLACED PEOPLE BY SUB-PREFECTURE (02/18)

PART I : OVERVIEW OF THE HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

7

OVERVIEW OF THE

HUMANITARIAN CONTEXTThe resurgence of hostilities in the Pool since April 2016, seventeen years after the end of the first conflict in that department, resulted in a serious humanitarian situation in terms of food security, nutrition, health, education, protection in general and of women and children in particular, loss of shelter and non-food items.

By the end of 2017, the number of people in need was estimated to be 160,000, including the displaced, the

people who remained in their villages of origin and host families. Humanitarian assistance in 2017 was unable to reach people in the hitherto inaccessible districts of Goma Tse-tse, Kindamba, Vindza and Kimba, as well as people in several localities along the railway line. Complementary assessments in these administrative districts will be crucial to gain a better overview of the overall situation in 2018.

CONTEXTThe population of the Pool Department is estimated at about 300 000 inhabitants, 51.2% of whom are women (2014 projection based on the 2007 census of the National Institute of Statistics). The population of the areas affected by the humanitarian situation is estimated at 160,000 people. In this department, 62% of households depend on agriculture as their main livelihood. According to a registration exercise conducted at the end of 2017, it was established that the displaced population is mainly found in Brazzaville as well as in the departments of Kouilou, Pool, Bouenza, Niari and Lékoumou.

The Republic of Congo has been shaken by a humanitarian crisis since the resumption of hostilities in the southern department of Pool in April 2016 until the ceasefire signed on December 23, 2017. The rate of malnutrition exceeded the emergency threshold of 15 % established by the United Nations System and reached 17% in 2017. The Humanitarian Response Plan launched on 18 July 2017 for US $ 23,700,000 enabled the Government and the UN System and its partners to provide humanitarian assistance to 138,000 people in distress in and around the Pool Department. Strategic, technical and operational coordination mechanisms have been put in place with the support of the United Nations system.

Humanitarian action is conducted through sectoral groups on nutrition, food security, water, hygiene and sanitation, health, protection, shelter and non-food items, education, early recovery, coordination and support services.

As of December 31, 2017, the humanitarian response plan received $13,524,093 representing 57.06% of the total amount required. However, the needs remain immense as observed by the joint evaluation mission by humanitarian partners in October 2017, which indicates a total number of 158,717 people in need located in Brazzaville, Pool, Bouenza, Lékoumou, Niari, Kouilou and Pointe-Noire.

The cessation of hostilities agreement of December 2017 has led to an effective ceasefire in the Pool Department, which could lead to an enhanced deployment of humanitarian actors with the aim of refining assessments and providing the required humanitarian assistance. However, while this ceasefire provides some peace in the department, some areas and villages remain inaccessible and unauthorized by the Government (especially Kibossi village in Goma Tse-tse district).

However, logistics constraints are also a challenge in areas where roads are no longer used since the beginning of 2016.

It should be noted that the DDR process guaranteed by the cease-fire agreement should also allow the implementation of humanitarian and recovery actions covering the needs of the returned populations.

On the economic front, the sharp drop in oil prices since 2014 have continued to affect the Republic of Congo in 2017 with a worsening of the national economic situation. The economic crisis has led to a slowdown in economic growth and non-oil GDP from 7.9% in 2014 to 5.3% in 2015, followed by a sharp contraction in 2016 (-3.1%) and 2017 (- 5%). This crisis affects the social sectors and decreases the country’s capacity to finance humanitarian action in the Pool Department. Most humanitarian assistance remains dependent on the external support of its partners.

A MULTISECTORAL IMPACTSome families were separated because one of their members was threatened while others preferred to go to the capital Brazzaville, or to Niari, Bouenza, Lékoumou or Kouilou where they have relatives. Some villages have

In January 2018, four districts remained inaccesible due to security reasons in the Pool Department: Goma Tsé-tsé, Kindamba, Vindza and Kimba

PART I : OVERVIEW OF THE HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

8

been completely destroyed and the return prospects of displaced populations are low in the short term. Indeed, despite the lull observed following the conclusion of the cessation of hostilities agreement, it will be necessary to rehabilitate the roads, to rebuild the houses and to clear the fields to facilitate return and reintegration. Security for these families is, however, the top priority.

The populations left behind in their villages or localities of origin have been particularly exposed and have seen their living conditions deteriorate for the past 20 months. Displacements to or from these remote areas have been very difficult due to the presence of armed men and military controls. Although fighting has stopped, banditry and the risk of ambush continue to pose plausible threats, especially in remote areas.

In general, access to health services remains problematic for both displaced and host populations as well as those remaining in affected areas. Most of the health facilities visited at the time of the October 2017 mission were either closed, non-functional or dysfunctional due to a lack of staff and drugs. It is also very likely that the health situation in areas not visited because of inaccessibility is worse than that prevailing in areas that have already been assessed. Health care, where it exists, requires payment both for the host populations and the displaced (500 to 1000 FCFA per consultation). Immunization coverage remains low in the departments of Pool and Bouenza.

The food and nutritional situation remains precarious. Displaced households face great difficulties in accessing food and markets. There is a high volatility of staple food prices in the affected areas, with an upward trend. The price of basic foodstuffs has doubled in some localities. In May 2017, the nominal price of the kilogram of foufou (staple food obtained from cassava flour) increased, compared to November 2016, by 85% in the Mindouli market and 10% in the Loutété market (IDP reception area in the department of Bouenza). The same trends are observed with regard to the nominal price of rice, which recorded, during the same period, an increase of 55% in the Mindouli market and 25% in the Kinkala market. In most localities visited by the joint mission in late 2017, WFP food assistance is the only aid received so far. In most of the sites visited, the army has established a security perimeter (an average of 5 km) around the villages. Displaced and host populations therefore no longer have access to their usual livelihoods (agriculture, fishing, hunting and gathering). In many cases, displaced people lack agricultural tools and seeds to carry out agricultural activities.

Access to drinking water, both in quantity and quality, is a problem that affects both host populations, displaced persons and populations that remain in the affected areas. According to the results of the MICS1 Congo Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014-2015, the

percentage of populations using water from improved sources was 44.9% for Pool and 72% for Bouenza. In other words, access to water was already experiencing structural problems in the departments of Pool and Bouenza, and these difficulties were aggravated by the humanitarian situation. Traditional unprotected rivers and wells remain the main sources of water supply in most of the villages visited. With regard to sanitation, open defecation is general practice in the localities visited.

In the Pool Department, the situation of education is also worrying. 50% of primary schools are not functional. It is estimated that there are some 18,000 boys and girls who are no longer present in school districts (having left for other districts or departments) and whose schooling is likely to be disrupted. 65 schools were partially or totally damaged by the violence. In some cases, the roofs were blown by the maneuvers of combat helicopters, in others, furniture was turned into firewood. Classes remain sparse especially in the villages not only because of uncertainty about security but also because of the parents’ inability to meet the needs (school supplies and uniforms) and to cope with school fees. Teachers in regroupment schools (in district capitals) lack any educational support to ensure quality education.

Shelter conditions and non-food items are deplorable. The displaced have often fled leaving all their belongings behind. Houses and fields were ransacked and looted during the conflict. People lack shelters and essential household items (blankets, mattresses, buckets, cooking utensils, soap, etc.). Housing conditions are often precarious and many houses have been abandoned with roofs in poor condition. Displaced women face daily violations of their rights. Many people have fled without extra clothes and basic items (hygiene etc.). Many women fled without their husbands, finding themselves alone with children, sometimes sleeping on the ground. The risk of sexual and gender-based violence is particularly high in the context of displacement. In addition, displaced women tend to be targeted by such violence every day, especially those with little or no income.

Most health sites in conflict-affected areas are either closed or non-functional

KEY PROBLEMS

Protection / violences

Loss of means of subsistance

Limited access to basic services

Population movement

Early recovery

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

April 2016: following attacks on public buildings in the southern districts of Brazzaville, attributed by the Government to Ninja militias, people fled their villages in the districts of Goma Tsé Tsé, Vindza, Kinkala and Mayama.

May 2016: attacks on security forces and transporters, and ongoing military operations, lead to further displacement and destruction of property and homes, including in Soumouna (Kinkala).

May 2016: Caritas conducts initial assessments in some of the areas affected by the violence.

June 2016: populations begin to return home to Mayama, Kindamba and Vindza.

June 2016: first joint multi-sectoral evaluations by the Government, the UN and NGO partners. 12,986 people in need of assistance are identified (inhabitants of Soumouna and some of Mayama).

End of June 2016: nearly 13,000 displaced people are identified.

August – September 2016: increased attacks and increased number of security forces killed or injured. The Pointe Noire - Brazzaville railway line is cut off following acts of sabotage and attacks.

October – December 2016: assistance provided to some of those displaced by the Ministry of Humanitarian Action

November 2016: US $ 2.3 million is allocated by the Central Emergency Fund (CERF) to meet the needs of 12,986 displaced people. Multi-sectoral assessments are conducted in Kinkala, Mindouli in Pool and Loutété, Yamba, Madingou and Nkayi in Bouenza. A deterioration in the living conditions of the displaced is noted.

End of November 2016: the number of displaced persons exceeds 15,000.

December 2016: Caritas starts a census of IDPs in Brazzaville.

March 2017: alert on cases of severe malnutrition in Kibossi. In April, the Government evacuated 22 children and their parents by helicopter.

April 2017: the number of displaced people increases to 29,860.

May 2017: a nutrition and food security survey reveals global acute malnutrition rates well above the emergency threshold among displaced people from Pool in Kinkala and Bouenza.

May 2017: the figure of 81,000 displaced persons is reached and confirmed by the Government and partners.

June 2017: the results of the nutrition survey are officially presented by the Government and the UN.

July 2017: official launch of the 23,7 million dollar Humanitarian Response Plan for the Pool.

July 2017: second allocation of CERF funds amounting to US $ 4.4 million followed by other donors

October 2017: second Joint Multisectoral Evaluation (Government / UN System).

October-November 2017: financial contribution from China ($ 6 million), the USA ($ 1.6 million), ECHO (EUR 300,000), France (EUR 200,000) and Italy (EUR 200,000).

December 2017: cease-fire agreement between the Government and Pastor Ntumi.

January 2018: DPKO / UNOCA technical support mission for the development of a DDR program in the Republic of Congo.

February 2018: preparations for a third joint assessment mission in the 3 districts of North West Pool (Kindamba, Kimba et Vindza) not yet visited.

9

PART I : STRATEGIC OBjECTIVES

10

STRATEGIC

OBJECTIVESThis response plan aims to provide emergency assistance, and to reinforce the protection and resilience of vulnerable populations in the affected areas and in the context of returns.

These three strategic objectives have guided the elaboration of this response plan. The plan does not only involve the provision of emergency essistance, albeit vital, but also the protection and respect for fundamental rights of populations in an emergency situation. With regard to the reinforcement of resilience in the context of early recovery, these activities target principally the affected districts in the Pool. In fact, the Pool has not really enjoyed a period of stability and development for the past twenty years. Long-standing structural and social problems need to be addressed in a practical manner in the context of this plan, which, even if it is unable to address all needs in the long-term, it should at least launch activities and programmes that will have a more durable impact.

Since the cease fire of 23 December 2017, the possibility for displaced populations to return to their villages of origin has become a reality. A plan for the DDR of ex-combatants is also under development. The eventual success of both the humanitarian response and the

DDR will depend on their close coordination and careful implementation to ensure that both processes support conciliation within the affected populations throughout the process.

The humanitarian response and early recovery plan 2018 is a revision of the 2017 plan and comprises two phases:

1. Continuation of humanitarian assistance in areas of displacement and in areas in the Pool that had hitherto been inaccessible.

2. The second phase anticipates progressive returns towards villages of origin where early recovery activities will support the reintegration of returning displaced populations as well as those remained throughout the conflict. The reintegration of ex-combatants will be covered under the DDR programme.

1EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Provide to people in an emergnecy situation with coordinated and integrated assistance adapted to their needs.

2PROTECTION AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Enhance protection and respect for fundamental human rights of people in an emergency situation and reinforce national capacity (at both central and local levels) to protect the affected population (including the reintegration of ex-combattants into their communities of origin).

3EARLY RECOVERY & STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE

Ensure capacity building in terms of the resilience and the recovery of affected populations and assist them to re-establish and consolidate their means of subsistance in light of progressive returns to villages of origin.

PART I : RESPONSE STRATEGY

11

RESPONSE

STRATEGYThis 2018 humanitarian and recovery plan targets the emergency response for populations displaced as a result of the crisis in the Pool as well as those remaining in affected areas who have been newly accessible since October 2017.

This plan focuses especially on the return of displaced populations, on their reintegration and on the early recovery and strengthening of resilience of those living in areas affected by the conflict.

The most vulnerable amongst them will be targeted, taking into account the evolution of the policital and security situation as well as the capacity of humanitarian actors on the ground. The plan will allign with interventions planned by the Congolese government and its partners at all levels. It will also be carefully coordinated with the plan for the reintegration of ex-combatants following their disarmament and demobilisation.

PLANNING FIGURESAs noted earlier, the joint evaluation of October 2017 was able to reach four districts that had recently become accessible: Kinkala, Mindouli, Mbandza-Ndounga et Mayama. In order to ensure a global humanitarian response covering the Pool department, and considering the positive developments since the cease-fire, the population of the eight districts affected by the conflict are covered on the basis of the 2017 estimated figures. Three of the four districts still not covered - Kindamba, Vindza and Kimba – have been assessed by a UNDSS security evaluation mission at the beginning of February 2018. On the basis of the findings, a multisectoral humanitarian evaluation mission is under preparation for the first quarter of 2018.

At the time of preparing the response plan for 2017, access to reliable disagregated data for the purposes of planning was a challenge from the outset. The most recent population census had been conducted in 20071 and the figures used in the plan were extrapolated from the census data for the eight affected districts in the Pool with an annual growth rate of 1% per year (Departmental

1.  The next census of the population is planned in 2018

Director of Statistics). This provided the baseline figure of 166,000 for the affected population. In the absence of disagregated data from the census, a registration list of displaced people was used to further extrapolate the estimated proportion of men and women of different age groups.

In the case of the 2018 response plan, figures used are those provided by departmental directors of social affairs responsible for the registration of the displaced. These indicated a total of 158,717 people displaced, of whom 114,086 were registered in the Pool and Bouenza departments. These figures remain provisional given the high mobility of the displaced population. Nevertheless, for planning of the emergency response activities in 2018, the targeted population is thus 114,000 out of a total population in need of 160,000. In the case of early recovery activities, the initial population of the eight affected districts – 166,000 – will be used as the population in need, and those targeted will vary according to the sector of intervention. The plan will be revised once reliable sex and age disagregated data are available.

People targetedout of 160k in need114k

PART I : RESPONSE STRATEGY

12

RESPONSE STRATEGY AND SECTORAL APPROACHThe response strategy targets not only emergency needs for displaced populations but also early recovery in two phases. This will involve on the one hand income-generating activities for displaced populations wherever they are, and on the other hand support for the reconstruction and re-establishment of health, education and agriculture structures in support of returns to affected districts when the time comes.

Displaced people in Brazzaville who are potentially in need (and their host families) are not included in the response at this stage. Their needs will be assessed in ad hoc assessments as required and they will benefit from support in the return phase.

This response plan pays particular attention to cross-cutting issues including protection, age and gender which are taken into account in all sectors: Health, Nutrition, Food Security, WASH, Shelter and NFIs, Education and Early Recovery.

CRAFT AN INTEGRATED RESPONSE WHICH SUPPORTS PEOPLE IN NEED IN SITUATIONS OF DISPLACEMENT, WHILE ENSURING SUPPORT FOR REINTEGRATION, RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FOR THOSE RETURNING TO THEIR VILLAGES OF ORIGIN.

The response strategy for displaced people prioritises the amelioration of their living conditions wherever they are. Up to two thirds of all people displaced from the Pool are living with host families and hence it is important to address their needs in terms of sanitation, nutrition, shelter and disease prevention. This approach necessarily takes into account the needs of the host families who carry a major burden.

Support for the early recovery of the returnee population will depend to a large extent on the improvement of the security situation and the progressive return of populations to their villages of origin. A particular focus will be placed on rehabilitating basic health and education services, reconstructing houses and clearing fields to permit a return to agriculature. This part of the plan will be reviewed and revised in detail one the process of registration has been finalised and all areas of origin have been assessed. Progress in the peace process and return of security conditions in areas of origin will also be key determinants for significant returns and for the launching of generalised early recovery activities.

IMPLEMENTATION AND UPDATING OF THE PLANThe response plan covers a period of twelve months. The plan will be subject to revision once the additional multisectoral evaluations that are urgently needed in some of the zones of return not yet assessed have been undertaken. Implementation of these activities will require support of decentralised services such as the departmental directions in Pool and Bouenza, humanitarian partners based in these departments or intervening from Brazzaville.

TARGETED POPULATION IN NEED

64,086 displaced people (of whom 40 543 are women and girls)

5,571 host families (25,000 people)

25,000 people remaining in the affected area

114,000 total population targeted

KEY SECTORS

Protection

Health

Nutrition

Food security

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Shelter and non-food items

Education

Early recovery

Coordination

PART I : OPERATIONAL CAPACITY

13

OPERATIONAL

CAPACITYAlthough the situation in the Pool is showing signs of moving towards greater stability in early 2018, the humanitarian needs remain a major concern for the department. The national humanitarian community has increased its capacity by reinforcing its presence at field level to enhance coordination of assistance. The operational capacity of humanitarian partners

nevertheless remains directly linked to the issue of access to the affected communities, to their capacity to deploy the necessary staff to wherever the greatest needs are, as well as to the support of donors. New developments on the ground have opened new possibilities for deployment and for response.

Given the extent of the crisis in 2017 and its evolution, humanitarian organisations have taken the necessary steps to reinforce their presence at field level, in collaboration with organisations already present in the Pool and neighbouring Bouenza. Concerned that the deployment capacity of these organisations in these two departments might reach their limits, the Resident Coordinator launched an appeal to other humanitarian and development agencies working elsewhere in the country, notably with refugees from RCA in the north of Congo.

In 2018, in a constantly evolving context, implementation capacity will depend on a limited number of partners including seven UN agencies1, four international NGOs 2 and six national NGOs 3, working together with the different decentralised government services.

The relative proximity of parts of the Pool to Brazzaville, where UN agencies are based, allows for missions or

1.  UNICEF, WFP, HCR, UNFPA, FAO, WHO, UNDP2.  ACTED, Croix-Rouge Française, ALIMA, ICRC3.  Caritas, Médecins d’Afrique, Croix Rouge congolaise, CEMIR, AARREC, EAA

for distributions to be conducted during the course of a day. More distant districts, such as Kindamba, Vinza and Kimba as well as some localities along the railway line that are not yet open to traffic, require more sustained logistical arrangements.

Under the coordination of the Ministry for Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action, the humanitarian partners will continue to provide emergency assistance, protection and basic social services to vulnerable populations in the most affected areas and to support the operationalisation of coordination mechanisms at different levels.

While Humanitarian Coordination with the support of OCHA continues in fund-raising efforts, access to affected communities in remote localities where insecurity remains a concern, continues to be a challenge.

WFP

PART I : HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

14

HUMANITARIAN

ACCESSOf thirteen districts that make up the department of the Pool, four remained difficult to access in January 2018.

The major challenge for implementing the response plan until January 2018 was the difficulty of accessing four districts in the Pool which remained totally inaccessible (Goma Tsé-tsé, Kimba, Vindza et Kindamba). The improvement in the security situation since the ceasefire agreement of 23 December will now allow the different multisectoral evaluations to be carried out in order to support a global response to the needs of all the affected population.

Nevertheless, certain localities along the railway line as well as where bridges have been damaged or roads destroyed, remain hard to reach. In the case of Kimba, Vinza and Kindamba districts, access through the Bangou

forest carries the risk of ambush which is likely to persist until the implementation of a formal DDR programme.

Complementary multisectoral evaluations to be carried out should permit the establishment of access modalities in accordance with humanitarian principles in a way that will improve this situation to some extent. Alternative approaches also need to be explored, for example, the more systematic use of telephone contacts to conduct distance evaluation and monitoring as well as the training of the Direction of Humanitarian Action teams and those of Caritas and the Congolese Red Cross. A network of focal points in hard to access areas has been established.

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Kikembo

Moutele

Bantsielissi

Zabata

Loutete

Kingoue

KimpoloMokoumo

Mouyondzi

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DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF

CONGO

ANGOLA

LEKOUMOU

PLATEAUX

POOL

Brazzaville

BOUENZA

Niari

Boko

Vinza

Nkoue

Loumo

Kimba

Mayama

Madzia

Kibouendé

Goma-Tsétsé

Mouyami

Missafou

KinkalaLinzolo

KimanikaKimanika

Louingui

Mbandza-Ndounga

Kingouala

Mindouli Matoumbou

Kinkakassa

Kindamba-Ngouedi

Massembo-Loubaki

Sibiti

Ngabe

Ignie

Mayama

Zanaga

Ngo

Komono

Loudima

Djambala

Nkayi

Kinkala

Tsiaki

Mpouya

Kingoue

Kimongo

Mayeye

Kindamba

Louvakou

Mabombo

Madingou

Boko-Songho

Mfouati

Bambama Lekana

Londela-Kayes

Km

!

!

!(

!(

Accessible roads withmilitary escort

Accessible roads witha convoy

Roads with free access

RiversInternational boundariesDepartment boundariesDistrict boundaries

Districts with limited access

Accessible districts withmilitary escort Districts prohibited to accessby the army

25

!\ Capital

Districts prohibited by the army

Districts with limited access

Accessible districts

Accessible districts underprotection

Creation date : 17 Cct 2017 Sources : UNCS, DevInfo, OCHA for geodata, UNDSS. Feedback : [email protected] www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. This map is designed to be printed in landscape and A4 size

!\

Districts visited undermilitary protectionAccessible visited districtsDistricts visited withlimited access

CONGO: ACCESSIBILITY MAP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POOL (02/18)

PART I : MONITORING OF THE RESPONSE AND COORDINATION

15

MONITORING OF THE RESPONSE AND

COORDINATIONFollow up and monitoring of the humanitarian response will require combining resources available on the ground, and the regular deployment of specialised teams.

DIRECT AND DISTANCE MONITORINGThe department of Pool is vast and has a very low population density of approximately 7 inhabitants per km2. This means that having to make the most of available resources for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation by reinforcing the capacity of teams present on the ground. Monitoring of the response however should not only rely only on humanitarian partners to deploy to the eight affected districts, but also on well-established local networks.

More systematic use of local networks for evaluation and follow up from distance, as well as training of teams from the Director of Humanitarian Action, Caritas and Congolese Red Cross will be prioritised. It is also foreseen to systematise the consolidation of disagregated data on the displaced population by providing the Departmental Directorates for Humanitarian Action and their partners with appropriate tools and standard forms.

CALENDAR AND REPORTINGAdditional multisectoral evaluations conducted in October 2017 have permitted the establishment of sectoral

follow up mechanisms and enhanced coordination at departmental level.

An updated inter-agency Situation Report will be issued on a monthly basis by the Office of the Resident Coordinator and will serve as a joint monitoring tool based on regular analysis of sectoral indicators (see sectoral response plans in Part II).

UPDATING THE PLANThe response plan can be updated on a regular basis according to the availability of key complementary information and data arising from forthcoming evaluations and response monitoring.

Following the ceasefire of December 2017, additional joint evaluations will be conducted in the first quarter of 2018 and these will be reflected in the revision of the plan once consolidated disagregated figures of the displaced population are available by mid-2018.

WFP

PART I : SUMMARY OF NEEDS, TARGETS AND BUDGETS

16

SUMMARY OF NEEDS, TARGETS AND

BUDGETS

1. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene *Children (<18 years old), adult (18-59 years), elderly (>59 years)

**Total figure is not the total of the column, as the same people may appear several times

160K** 64.1k** 25k** 25k** 4k**TOTAL 114K** $70.7M50%

DIVISION OF TARGETED PEOPLE

160.0 K

160.0 K

114.1 K

28.3 K

160.0 K

45.0 K

160.0 K

39.9 K

90.0 K

94.1 K

91.3 K

28.3 K

114.1 K

28.0 K

68.5 K

19.5 K

61.0 K 4.0 K 25.0 K -

54.1 K 18.0 K 22.0 K -

51.1 K 20.1 K 20.1 K -

15.9 K 4.5 K 8.0 K -

64.1 K 25.0 K 25.0 K -

5.0 K 18.0 K 1.0 K 4.0 K

60.0 K 4.5 K 4.0 K -

9.0 K 6.0 K 4.5 K -

55%

60%

55%

72%

38%

64%

64%

48%

17%|75%|8%

16%|75%|9%

16%|82%|2%

66%|34%|0%

17%|77%|6%

18%|74%|9%

17%|74%|9%

100%|0%|0%

47.8 M

9.0 M

4.4 M

3.0 M

2.5 M

1.6 M

1.4 M

0.9 M

0 .1 M

17| 76 | 7%

Early recovery

Food security

WASH¹

Nutrition

Health

Shelter/NFI

Protection

Education

Coordination

IDPs Host communi-

ties

Local population

Other %female

Total% children. adults.elderly*

BY STATUSTOTAL BY GENDER & AGE BUDGETS

People.targeted

Peoplein need

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

114,000BUDGET (US$)

70.7m

0M

10M

20M

30M

40M

50M

Early rec.Food sec.WashNutritionHealthShelter/NFIProtectionEducationCoord.

100K 900K 1.4M

47.8M

9M

70.7M1.6M 2.5M 3M4.4M

REQUIREMENT BY SECTOR

WFP

WFP

PART II: OPERATIONAL

RESPONSE PLANS

HEALTH

NUTRITION

FOOD SECURITY

EDUCATION

PROTECTION

SHELTER & NFIs

WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE

EARLY RECOVERY

COORDINATION

PEOPLE TARGETED BY PRIORITY SECTOR

Early recoveryWASHFood securityHealth

114K 94K 91K 90K

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > HEALTH

20

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATIONDuring the course of 2017, the UN agencies provided significant support to the displaced population from the Pool both in accessible parts of the Pool itself and in the districts across the border in the neighbouring department of the Bouenza. Essential medication, materials and medical equipment were distributed to functioning health posts (FOSA). The operational capacity of health workers and community networks were strengthened. Effective referrals were made for cases of infectious diseases, pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum follow up. A measles vaccination campaign was organised.

Results achieved remain modest. The following factors served to undermine the impact of these efforts: (i) the continuation of the crisis; (ii) mounting insecurity in areas declared as inaccessible; (iii) the abandonment of their posts by a number of health workers; (iv) the weak performance of the health system as a whole; (v) the closure of approximately 35% of health posts as a result of looting, destruction and disrepair; (vi) the precarious conditions of hygiene and basic sanitation in accessible areas.

The inadequacy of health infrastructures, hygiene and sanitation services and low vaccination rates in the affected populations are factors favoring the resurgence of epidemics, especially measles and cholera. In this context of instability, the majority of pregnant women are at high risk in terms of adequate management of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum follow-up.

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe first goal of the health sector response is to increase access of vulnerable populations to quality essential health care. Health posts will be provided with essential drugs and their technical capacity enhanced. Priority will also be given to strengthening the capacity of health personnel to manage cases of common diseases, diseases with epidemic potential and emerging diseases, medical response to survivors of sexual violence, as well as infection control in cases of infectious diseases, basic hygiene and sanitation. It will also strengthen the capacity of health personnel in the medical management of cases of severe-acute malnutrition.

The second objective is to improve the living conditions of people affected by the crisis, including the displaced and those remaining in affected areas, with priority given to the most vulnerable. This will involve providing quality health services and facilitating access to essential community services for beneficiaries, targeted by gender and age. Thus, the goal is to increase access to basic health care for children, pregnant and lactating women, including emergency obstetric and neonatal care (SONU). Targeted FOSAs will be equipped with reproductive health kits (delivery kits, women’s hygiene supplies and other essential medicines) and equipment for SONU. The provision of care through the community networks must be consolidated to ensure better support for the promotion of primary health care, dissemination of messages on essential health practices, family empowerment to administer first aid at home in case of diarrhea or fever and recognition of other signs of danger of diseases.

The third objective is to increase the capacity of the health districts of the Pool and Bouenza departments in the prevention, detection and response to epidemics and other emergencies in public health, while ensuring the continuity of curative care for priority conditions. This will include prevention activities, early warning systems and event-based surveillance response.

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

114,086BUDGET (US$)

2.5m# OF PARTNERS

8

HEALTH OBjECTIVE 1

1To reinforce the capacity of health actors and structures to respond to the health needs

of a population in the context of an emergency and provide support to the early recovery of the health system in districts affected by the crisis in the Pool and in the Bouenza.

HEALTH OBjECTIVE 2

2Ensure access to basic health services by children and by preganant and lactating women

within the vulnerable populations residing in the affected areas or areas of displacement including host populations.

HEALTH OBjECTIVE 3

3Reduce the risk of outbreak of epidemics linked to avoidable diseases by vaccinating against

potentially epidemic diseases.

CONTACT

DR LAMBERT KITEMBOGeneral director of Epidemiology and Disease [email protected]

DR EDOUARD NDINGA [email protected]

HEALTH

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > NUTRITION

21

# OF PARTNERS

5

SITUATION AND PRIORITIESIn determining targets for both IDPs and the host population, an average prevalence of 11.8% of acute malnutrition in children under 5, of which 4.9% severe forms were used. Based on these data, the nutrition cluster will target 100% of the needs for acute malnutrition management and nutrition prevention interventions. Thus, the sectoral group expects to reach 28,313 people, including 3,076 under-5 children suffering from acute malnutrition (1,089 cases of SAM and 1,987 cases of MAM), 15,745 children at risk of malnutrition and 9,492 pregnant women and breastfeeding women who need support for infant and young child feeding as well as nutritional supplements.

The target populations are those of the affected communities of the Pool and host families in the Bouenza.

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe response of the Nutrition Cluster will be implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health. It will revolve around four main strategies:

1. The management of MAM and SAM cases by health providers trained according to the national guidelines of the PCIMA, in health facilities and in mobile clinics to improve access to treatment.

2. The most vulnerable groups (children under 2, pregnant and lactating women) will be specifically targeted by the activities of prevention of malnutrition through the promotion of essential practices in nutrition and health in connection with the health sector and WASH as well as the multi-micronutrient supplements.

3. Strengthening the coordination mechanism of the inter-agency sectoral group on nutrition for an effective response to emergencies. It will provide information on the roles, responsibilities and accountability of its action to ensure that all deficiencies are addressed without duplication of activities.

4. Strengthening the nutritional, monitoring and evaluation system. Special attention will be given to cross-cutting issues such as gender, community participation, especially of women, and protection against exploitation and sexual violence.

PEOPLE IN NEED

28,313PEOPLE TARGETED

28,313BUDGET (US$)

3m

NUTRITION OBjECTIVE 1

1Provide nutritional support through access to appropriate services for the treatment and

prevention of malnutrition for children under 5 years of age and women and adolescent girls, both among the displaced and the host population.

NUTRITION OBjECTIVE 2

2Contribute to the resilience of communities to cope with food insecurity through activities to

prevent malnutrition.

CONTACT

DR LAMBERT KITEMBOGeneral Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control [email protected]

DR RICHARD NEMANAN NINAMOU Nutrition Specialist, [email protected]

NUTRITION

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > FOOD SECURITY

22

FOOD SECURITY RESPONSE STRATEGYThe Food Security sector plans to develop two components simultaneously, namely food assistance and agricultural production, led respectively by WFP and FAO. The intervention planned by these two agencies aims to significantly reduce the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition of affected households but also to restore productive assets for greater resilience.

The assistance foreseen under this humanitarian response and early recovery plan will consist, on the one hand, of continuing to support IDPs through cash transfers or food in the appropriate modality over a six-month period in the affected areas. Caritas will continue to support the Ministry of Social Affairs’ field staff and local authorities in identifying beneficiaries.

PRINCIPAL INTERVENTIONSAs of January 2018, WFP will begin the transfer of validated lists to SCOPE (secure biometric database for beneficiary management, programming and delivery of assistance via tamper-proof magnetic cards known as SCOPECARD) in collaboration with Caritas, ACTED, AARREC and CEMIR for an efficient response. Partnerships with a microfinance agency and local merchants will also be concluded in order to offer the affected populations electronic SCOPECARD vouchers in exchange for food.

On the other hand, in the return areas, returnees and the remaining populations will be assisted to restore their means of production and strengthen their resilience through agricultural revival and income diversification.

Support will be provided by FAO for agro-pastoral and fishery production kits to help the target beneficiaries to gradually supplement their food intake with locally produced agricultural products and improve their income. This support will be reinforced by an action-training session for learning about good practices in sustainable production.

Awareness-raising activities for social behavior change (SBCC) will be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs at the same time as the implementation of the food security activities themselves. This awareness will aim to share with beneficiaries the tips essential to composing a healthy and nutritious diet.

Coordination of sector activities will be led by agencies and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action which have already gained experience in implementing cash transfer programs via mobile money (CBT), and the Ministry Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Training will be given for staff of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action and Caritas to strengthen their emergency distribution capacities.

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

94,086BUDGET (US$)

9m# OF PARTNERS

5

CONTACT

JEANINE DIBA Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and [email protected]

KOFFI AKAKPO [email protected]

MARIUS SAYAMABA [email protected]

FOOD SECURITY OBjECTIVE 1

1Provide food assistance to displaced people affected by the conflict in the Pool (affected

populations receive cash transfers or food every month).

FOOD SECURITY OBjECTIVE 2

2Revive and strengthen the capacities of the affected populations (displaced

populations, returnees, host families and population remaining in the affected areas), in agricultural production (food production and short cycle breeding) and fisheries by providing agricultural inputs of quality and ensuring the necessary technical support.

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > EDUCATION

23

EDUCATION

# OF PARTNERS

3

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe humanitarian situation that has prevailed in the Pool Department since the post-election crisis of 2016 and which has intensified in 2017 is particularly unfavourable to education because of the closure of schools in certain school districts and acts of vandalism against school buildings in other school districts, thus limiting access to school for students and causing massive school dropouts.

Faced with this situation, the strategy advocated by the education sector is to prepare the start of the school year for 19,500 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 among the affected and displaced populations in the departments of Pool and Bouenza. More specifically, it aims to ensure the continued education of girls and boys and to improve the academic performance of students with learning difficulties to enable them to succeed in school.

To this end, collaboration with the Child Protection, Water Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH) and Food Security sectors is foreseen and this will facilitate the provision of psychosocial support to students who are victims of crisis-related violence, to set up water points and separate toilets for girls and boys, and to provide food for displaced pupils in order to improve school retention.

The following priority localities have been selected because of the presence of a large number of displaced persons: Mbanza-Ndounga, Mayama, Kindamba, Mindouli, Loulombo, Vindza in the Pool Department; Kingoué, Yamba, Loutété, Kimouanda in the department of Bouenza.

MAIN INTERVENTIONSThe access of these children to school will be effective at the beginning of the school year and continued schooling will be made possible by the following actions:

• Sensitization of local communities and physical identification of children and adolescents of school age to have reliable data on beneficiaries.

• Purchase of school supplies and endowment of student beneficiaries in school kits to enable them to attend school and drastically reduce school drop-outs.

• Construction / rehabilitation of classrooms and their bench-table equipment in school districts to increase and improve their capacity to offer educational services.

• For students with learning difficulties, the following actions will help improve their academic performance:

• Capacity building of teachers in school support and education in emergencies.

• Organization of psychosocial support sessions and tutoring courses for students with learning difficulties.

Coordination of interventions will be provided by the Ministry of Primary, Secondary Education and Literacy, in collaboration with members of the UNDAF Education Results Group.

PEOPLE IN NEED

39,930PEOPLE TARGETED

19,500BUDGET (US$)

0.9m

EDUCATION OBjECTIVE 1

1Ensure continued education in Pool and Bouenza for girls and boys aged 6 to 19 who are

most vulnerable and affected by the humanitarian crisis.

EDUCATION OBjECTIVE 2

2Improve the pedagogical supervision and academic performance of displaced pupils

with learning difficulties.

CONTACT

PIERRE NGOUALAGeneral Director of Basic Education [email protected]

ACHILLE OLLOY [email protected]

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > PROTECTION

24

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe sectoral group, in addition to putting in place and strengthening mechanisms to better identify protection issues, will observe the movements of the populations through monitoring activities of the protection situation of the displaced and host populations affected by this humanitarian crisis in the departments of the Pool and Bouenza.

The strategy of the Protection sector, to reinforce the prevention, the response and the protective environment for women, men, girls and boys from the affected population in Pool and Bouenza is mainly based on the following priority interventions:

• Collect IDP data through profiling and registration in order to have a reliable database to facilitate planning of protection activities and other areas of intervention;

• Support / develop systems for identifying and referring protection cases, by setting up monitoring mechanisms for community-based protection (committees, networks, etc.);

• Strengthen advocacy with the government and other actors for respect of humanitarian law and human rights, including access to civil status documents (birth certificates) and identity documents;

• Organise sensitization campaigns on gender-based violence (GBV) for displaced and host population men and women;

• Strengthen the system of coordination and information management in child protection and community mechanisms for child protection, including through the development of a Child Protection Network and Child Friendly Spaces.

• Ensure actions to prevent and respond to violations of the rights of women and children, including violence against children through sensitization, support and medical and psychological care adapted to their needs;

• Strengthen the system of identification, documentation, research and family reunification of unaccompanied children while ensuring their placement / temporary care and follow-up in temporary foster families.

• Restore the dignity of girls and displaced women in the Pool Department through the provision of hygiene and dignity kits.

These interventions will be carried out by all members of the Protection Cluster, including those of the Child Protection and GBV sub-groups under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action.

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

68,451BUDGET (US$)

1.4m# OF PARTNERS

9

CONTACT

CHRISTIAN ROCH MABIALA Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and [email protected]

FERDILA OUATTARA-UCHE [email protected]

PROTECTION OBjECTIVE 1

1Ensure protection of the most vulnerable among the population affected by the crisis, notably

children and women, by reinforcing community mechanisms for prevention and response to protection concerns including violence, abuse, exploitatiion and family separation.

PROTECTION OBjECTIVE 2

2Provide specialised support services adapted to the protection needs of the affected

population, especially with regard to unaccompanied children and women survivors of gender-based violence.

PROTECTION OBjECTIVE 3

3Reinforce local capacity in protection and human rights.

PROTECTION

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > SHELTER & NFIS

25

# OF PARTNERS

2

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe first objective will be to provide essential household items and other basic necessities to newly accessible populations in the affected areas on the Pool in order to improve their living conditions. This population will be targeted primarily due to their situation of extreme precariousness. Where feasible, cash transfers/vouchers will be considered, especially for NFIs, in order to contribute towards the economic recovery in the affected areas.

The second objective also targets the newly accessible populations in the Pool who are likely to be especially vulnerable due to their isolation during the period of the crisis. This will include the distribution of tarpaulins or materials for the construction, rehabilitation or extension of shelters. Some families will need community support for the construction, rehabilitation or extension of housing (families with female heads of households, senior citizens or people with disabilities) while some families returning home and living with host families will receive tarpaulins and other supports to help them cope with the need for additional shelter and avoid promiscuity within these households.

PRINCIPAL INTERVENTIONSThe first objective will be to make essential household items and other necessities available to affected population to ensure the basic condition for life with dignity.

The displaced people without assistance will be targeted as priority to relieve a very precarisous situation, then supoort will be provided to the host families. Cash transfer in form of cash and/or vouchers will also be considered depending on the locality, especially for NFIs to enhance the better dignity of the beneficiaries and contribute to recovery in the affected areas.

The second objective is with regard to families in affected areas, to distribute to communites, tarpaulin and materials for construction or extension of community shelters for able-bodied families and individual tarpaulins for the most vulnerable households, for the construction of family shelters, in accordance with the norms. These families will need support from the community for the construction of these shelters. Some displaced families in community and host familites will receive tarpaulins to help them cope with the need for additional shelter and alleviate problem of overcrowding in these households.

The collection and regular analysis of the needs of the targeted population will continue to guide cross-sectoral interventions and fill gaps in needs and priorities identified by humanitarian actors as much as possible through working with affected people.

PEOPLE IN NEED

45,000PEOPLE TARGETED

28,000BUDGET (US$)

1.6m

SHELTER & NFIS OBjECTIVE 1

1 Provide assistance for essential non-food items to vulnerable populations in affected areas.

SHELTER & NFIS OBjECTIVE 2

2 To distribute to communities, materials for the construction or extension of family shelters

and individual tarpaulins to the most vulnerable households, for the construction of shelters, in accordance with the norms.

CONTACT

CHARLES [email protected]

BRICE MALELA [email protected]

JEAN ROMAIN BADINGA [email protected]

SHELTER & NFIs

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > WATER, HYGIENE & SANITATION

26

RESPONSE STRATEGY

SECTORAL ANALYSIS

Access to water and sanitation remains a challenge and a problem affecting displaced populations, residents and host populations. Indeed, the health situation in the areas affected by the crisis in the departments of Pool and Bouenza are very precarious and have contributed to a deterioration of the nutritional status especially of women and children. The reduced access to water services is aggravated by the weakness in the functionality of the structures. Open defecation remains the most common practice with a high risk of cholera. An increasing number of partners are contributing to the improvement of access to water, hygiene and sanitation for the benefit of the affected populations as well as for the educational and health structures, nevertheless WASH needs remain enormous.

SECTORAL APPROACH

The WASH sector strategy is to deliver quality service to all affected populations while enhancing their resilience. Thus, an inter-partner consultation mechanism has been put in place and will be strengthened to provide adequate and harmonized access to WASH services in the villages of origin of the displaced and host communities. This will facilitate their resettlement and recovery of host communities. The inter and multi-sectoral approach will be pursued with other social sectors such as health, education, nutrition and child protection. In order to ensure greater equity and resilience of the affected population, priority attention will be given to the most vulnerable men, women and displaced children for the provision of a WASH service that meets the required standards.

All actions of the WASH response will be planned multisectorally to meet the needs of other sectors. The WASH sector will continue to meet regularly to strengthen the monitoring and harmonization of interventions and will participate in other coordination frameworks, particularly with the Health, Nutrition, Protection and Education sectors.

SECTORAL INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE

Access to water, sanitation and hygiene will be effective and will take into account the specific needs of girls and displaced women, host and resident communities, schools and health centers. The humanitarian response in water hygiene and sanitation will be focused both on improving the supply of services and on increasing the demand for water, hygiene and sanitation services through the construction / rehabilitation of water points, strengthening stakeholder capacities for the management of water and sanitation facilities, strengthening of health systems for the production and distribution of chlorine, support for the development of a departmental WASH response plan, construction / rehabilitation of institutional latrines, the implementation of community-based approaches to total sanitation, the distribution of kits for the treatment of water, particularly for the malnourished, the distribution of menstrual hygiene dignity kits for women and girls. Behavior change communication activities will be conducted to drive social change towards stopping open defecation, adopting good hygiene practices and appropriating interventions for water, hygiene and sanitation.

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

114,086BUDGET (US$)

4.4m# OF PARTNERS

10

CONTACT

DIHOULOU ARIELLEGeneral Directorate of Hydraulics [email protected]

MARIAM TRAORE [email protected]

WASH OBjECTIF 1

1 Ensure access to adequate and quality drinking water for displaced children, men and

women, the most vulnerable hosts and residents, included in health centers and school facilities, taking into account the specific protection of women and girls.

WASH OBjECTIF 2

2 Improve the access of displaced children, men and women, the most vulnerable host and

resident communities to sanitation facilities, included in health centers and school facilities, taking into account the specific protection of women and girls.

WASH OBjECTIF 3

3Improve the knowledge of displaced men and women, hosts and residents on the adoption

of good hygiene practices, including for malnourished children, taking into account the specific protection of women and girls.

WATER, HYGIENE & SANITATION

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > EARLY RECOVERY

27

# OF PARTNERS

10

RESPONSE STRATEGYThe priorities of the intervention focus on maintaining social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in the communities, assisting affected people to access livelihoods and undertake income-generating activities quickly, with a view to removing them from their current state of vulnerability. The intervention strategy is structured around awareness, mobilization and dialogue for social cohesion and peaceful coexistence of communities; stabilization of community livelihoods and local economic integration. In doing so, the project will identify and improve regulatory and cultural bottlenecks affecting activities, assess gender and youth issues to provide appropriate and relevant support, protect the environment, respect human rights and build the capacity of civil society and institutional partners.

INTERVENTIONS

1. Sensitization, mobilization and intercommunity dialogue for social cohesion (peaceful coexistence and reconciliation): (i) Community awareness and mobilization, (ii) Strengthening mechanisms for dialogue and peaceful conflict management, including transitional justice (iii) Support for the establishment of a responsible law enforcement agency.

2. Upgrading the supply of quality basic social services (health, education, water, sanitation): (i) Development / Rehabilitation of health, education, water and sanitation infrastructure in affected localities, (ii) Improvement of provision of education, health and protection services, including trauma counseling, (iii) Support to participatory management of school and health facilities.

3. Ensure food security and livelihoods for targeted people in affected areas: (i) Stabilization of the livelihoods of conflict-affected groups (creation of rapid and temporary jobs (3 months) for IDPs and returnees, and subsistence allowances to vulnerable people (elderly, people with disabilities, people with serious and chronic illnesses), (ii) Providing food assistance to displaced people affected by Pool conflicts (cash or food transfers each month), (iii) Revive and strengthen the capacities of affected populations in agricultural and fisheries production by providing quality agricultural inputs and the necessary technical support, (iv) Establishment of a social safety net to be favored in these areas (for example integrated project - Canteens / bean production.)

4. Revitalization of local economies in the Pool: (i) Support for the establishment of a small family or individual savings pool by target persons (displaced, returnees) levied on rapid income and/or subsistence allowances, (ii) Support for the investment of savings as a contribution to the creation of income-generating activities and other micro-enterprises, (iii) Rehabilitation of transport and marketing structures including the organisation of distribution channels.

5. Assistance for the rehabilitation of family dwellings: (i) Organisation of populations in cooperatives for the manufacture of local building materials, (ii) supply of brick making kits, (iii) Assistance in acquiring roofing sheets, (iv) support to part of the costs of construction/renovation of homes (masons, carpenters, electricians);

6. Provision of essential household items and shelter: (i) Supporting returnees and residents in affected areas in building up their assets (essential household items), (ii) supporting returnee families in their residential areas while waiting for the reconstruction / restoration of their dwellings (technical support and material for the acquisition of temporary shelter).

PEOPLE IN NEED

160,000PEOPLE TARGETED

90,000BUDGET (US$)

47.8m

EARLY RECOVERY OBjECTIVE 1

1 Restore the authority of the state, the provision of basic social infrastructure and social

cohesion

EARLY RECOVERY OBjECTIVE 2

2Fostering the revitalization of local economies and ensuring food security in affected areas.

EARLY RECOVERY OBjECTIVE 3

3Provide support for the reconstruction of family homes, household items and shelter in

affected areas

CONTACT

CLÉMENT ESSIEKEMinistry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and [email protected]

JOSEPH [email protected]

EARLY RECOVERY

PART II : OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS > COORDINATION

28

Coordination is the backbone of the humanitarian response. It ensures a coherent response to the needs of vulnerable populations, avoids duplication and promotes synergies and partnerships. The overall strategy for humanitarian coordination will focus on the coordination of aid in areas where needs are most urgent, particularly in areas not yet covered and also in areas of return. Among other priorities for national coordination in 2018 is the pursuit of advocacy for strengthening the operational capacities of partners.

AT A NATIONAL LEVELIntersectoral monitoring and reporting required for such a response plan necessitates a temporary strengthening of the United Nations System Coordination Office to fully play its role between authorities, agencies and partners. Some agencies have temporarily deployed staff to support internal coordination for emergencies. The coordination office is also supported by a gender adviser to ensure this cross-cutting issue is taken into account. A humanitarian coordinator, who will soon be posted with OCHA in Dakar, will provide support to the Office of the Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, with ad hoc missions in the field.

The information management capacity of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action has been strengthened with support from WFP. A database is being installed within the Ministry, led by a team responsible for processing and disseminating the data collected.

At the sectoral level, coordination efforts in 2017 will be maintained with sectoral groups co-led by a government focal point and a focal point of a UN agency. Group members also include partners such as national and international NGOs. The work of these groups is coordinated by a small, flexible team composed of the Director-General for Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations System Coordination Office and agency emergency coordinators.

AT THE DECENTRALIZED LEVELThe need for decentralized coordination has become acute in a context of the intensifying crisis. The review of the humanitarian response in 2017 revealed the need to have flexible mechanisms adapted to the specific context. Field experience has demonstrated the limited resources available to the sectors and also their limited capacities that inevitably affect the monitoring, reporting and analytical capacity of the national humanitarian community as a whole. Thus, the Government is formalizing the coordination committees at the departmental level. The mechanism is already in place in the departments of Pool and Bouenza and involves prefects, departmental directorates (social affairs and humanitarian action in particular) and partners. These structures should be a key link in the collection and updating of information and data on displaced persons and other persons affected by the situation. The capacities of these structures will be strengthened in the areas of information management and monitoring of the humanitarian response.

BUDGET (US$)

0.1m# OF PARTNERS

21

CONTACT

CLÉMENT ESSIEKE Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and [email protected]

CYPRIEN BALAYA Coordination Officer. Resident Coordinator’s [email protected]él. +242 06 875 0038

COORDINATION OBjECTIVE 1

1Sectoral and inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms will ensure a coherent, and well

structured response.

COORDINATION OBjECTIVE 2

2Follow up and monitoring to permit efficient modification of the response.

COORDINATION

WFP

GUIDE TO

DONORS

TO DONATE TO THE HUMANI-TARIAN RESPONSE PLAN

To see the overview of the humanitarian needs, the humanitarian response plan and monitoring reports of the country, and to contribute directly to the organisations participating in the plan, please visit:

WWW.HUMANITARIANRESPONSE.INFO/OPERATIONS/CONGO

HRP

TO DONATE THROUGH THE CENTRAL FUND FOR HUMANI-TARIAN INTERVENTIONS (CERF)

CERF provides early initial funding for life-saving emergencies and for critical and underfunded humanitarian operations in protracted crises. The CERF, managed by OCHA, receives contributions from different donors - mainly governments, but also private companies, foundations, charities and individuals - united in a single fund. It is used for crises all over the world. To learn more about the CERF and how to donate, visit the website:

WWW.UNOCHA.ORG/CERF/OUR-DONORS/HOW-DONATE

REGISTERING YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

OCHA manages the Financial Supervision Service (FTS), which records all reported humanitarian contributions (cash, in-kind, multilateral and bilateral). Its purpose is to give credit and visibility to donors for their generosity, and to show the total amount of funding as well as gaps in humanitarian plans. Please report your contributions to FTS either by email at [email protected] or through the online contribution form at

HTTP://FTS.UNOCHA.ORG

AND IF...

WE DON’T RESPOND?THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN SITUATIONS OF ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE

The crisis has caused serious disruptions in agricultural production, markets and prices. Without urgent support to cushion these shocks, the deterioration of food security conditions will affect an increasing percentage of IDPs as well as residents and returnees.

THE ABSENCE OF APPROPRIATE HEALTH SERVICES CARRIES THE RISK OF OUTBREAK OF EPIDEMICS

The large number of health facilities closed and the interruption of vaccination campaigns pose a clear health risk. An urgent health response coupled with hygiene improvement activities for IDPs is critical to preventing epidemics.

STUDENTS RUN THE RISK OF MISSING A THIRD SCHOOL YEAR

Whether residents (staying at home in affected districts) or displaced, many children have lost a second school year. Without support through education in emergencies, they may not be able to participate in the school year started in October and lose a third year of schooling.

This document is produced on behalf of humanitarian partners in collaboration with the authorities.

This document provides an understanding of the crisis shared by humanitarian partners, including the most urgent humanitarian needs, and reflects the joint planning of the humanitarian response.

The designation used and the presentation of the data in this report do not in any way imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the humanitarian partners as to the legal status of the countries, territories, cities or areas, or their authorities, or as to the course of their boundaries or boundaries.

www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/congo

http://snucongo.org