JIPS Technical mission Sudan April 2017

JIPS Technical mission Sudan April 2017 Participants: JIPS Field Support Manager and JIPS Durable Solutions Project Coordinator Dates: 2 14 April 2017, visiting Khartoum and El Fasher GENERAL BACKGROUND JIPS engagement with the Sudan operation was initiated by a support request from the office of the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator to support the Government and international partners that are working towards durable solutions through the Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG) and RRR Information Management Working Group (IMWG). JIPS undertook a scoping mission in December 2016 with the objective to facilitate discussions on the existing data and to look at the potential need for a profiling exercise to inform comprehensive durable solutions planning and strategy development. The mission recommended areabased durable solutions analysis that could generate replicable tools and methodologies to inform durable solutions programming in Sudan. In April 2017, JIPS undertook a joint mission (Annex 1:Mission ToR) with the World Bank and the Global Cluster on Early Recovery s Durable Solutions Advisor to provide support to partners with developing this profiling approach. MISSION OBJECTIVES The overall objective of the mission was to provide support to the RRR IMWG and DSWG partners for developing an areabased durable solutions profiling approach to be carried out in pilot return/local integration areas in El Fasher (North Darfur) and Um Dukhun (Central Darfur). More specifically, the mission aimed to: Support partners in Sudan to solidify the coordination mechanism for profiling in order to ensure a collaborative approach to the profiling, to benefit from the expertise of different stakeholders, and to ensure that the profiling findings will be widely accepted and used; Support the facilitation of a profiling workshop with partners in Khartoum in order to foster better joint understanding of profiling and in order to start concerted discussions on a way forward in the Sudan context; To undertake a field mission to El Fasher and Abu Shouk IDP camp and meet with key stakeholders from Um Dukhun in Khartoum to work with partners on identifying the most relevant profiling approach; 1

To support the development of an agreed upon profiling methodology, based on the agreed objectives, existing data and input from relevant stakeholders; To support the profiling partners in producing a work plan for the profiling exercise, including clearly defined roles and responsibilities of different partners. MISSION ACTIVITIES During the mission, JIPS jointly with the World Bank and the Global Cluster on Early Recovery s Durable Solutions Advisor conducted meetings with representatives of the Sudanese Government and international partners working on durable solutions. JIPS also facilitated two technical meetings with the Information Management Working Group of the Durable Solutions Working Group and representatives of the Government s Joint Mechanism on Sustainable Solutions. Along with a HAC representative and the IMWG partners JIPS undertook a field mission to El Fasher, including a technical meeting with local authorities, community discussions with IDPs in Abu Shouk camp and a field visit/walk around the camp. The mission ended with debrief sessions with the HAC Commissioner, RC/HC, UNCT/HCT, and the Durable Solutions Working Group. For more details, see mission schedule in Annex 2. Community discussions with the elders (L) and visit to Abu Shouk (C and R) MISSION LIMITATIONS The mission was limited to a field mission to El Fasher and there was not enough time to undertake a visit to Um Dukhun. However, Um Dukhun was considered as part of technical discussions when looking at methodology and themes for profiling and key actors working in Um Dukhun locality were invited to the technical discussions in Khartoum. 2

MISSION FINDINGS AND OUTCOMES Coordination platform strengthened: Since the first JIPS mission, joint coordination platforms have started to progress substantively in Sudan. The aid community established a Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), which includes organisations that represent the UNCT/HCT to move forward with a coordinated durable solutions agenda jointly with the Government s Joint Mechanism on Sustainable Solutions. This forum hosts an Information Management Working Group (IMWG)which includes the HAC, VRRC, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, OCHA, UNHABITAT and the INGO Forum. The Sudanese Government s Joint Mechanism on Sustainable Solutions had also further defined its membership, including the addition of the Voluntary Return and Resettlement Commission. During the second JIPS mission, it was agreed that a group of representatives from the Government s Joint Mechanism on Sustainable Solutions, the IMWG under the Durable Solutions Working Group, and the World Bank will oversee the joint profiling process. There was a strong sentiment among the partners that the RRR coordination platforms be active and drive the process in the areas where profiling would be carried out, along with local authorities and civil society partners. During the field visit to El Fasher, discussions were already initiated with local partners, and a similar process needs to be initiated in Um Dukhun. There was also strong agreement among the partners that the significant amount of technical work and coordination among different actors at Khartoum and local levels would require a dedicated coordinator to successfully carry out the work. As none of the profiling partners currently have the opportunity to dedicate existing resources to this work, it was agreed that an Information Management Coordinator would be recruited to coordinate the daytoday work. Agreement on objectives and methodological approach: During the mission the partners agreed that the two pilot exercises should aim to provide comprehensive information that can inform humanitarian and development planning in support of durable solutions both in areas where displaced populations reside and in areas of return or potential resettlement in line with the IASC Framework on Durable Areas)of)displacement)(IDPs)and)host)) Popula'on) profile) (age,)gender,) socio4economic) profile,) livelihoods,) vulnerabili'es,) coping) mechanisms)) Future)plans) (future) preferences,) obstacles)and) opportuni'es)) Basic)services) (infrastructure,)services,)policy) environment)) Figure 1Types of thematic issues to be covered by different data collection tools Areas)of)return)(returnees)and) host)) Popula'on) profile) (age,)gender,) socio4economic) profile,) livelihoods,) vulnerabili'es,) coping) mechanisms)) Basic)services) (infrastructure,)services,) policy)environment)) 3

Solutions. Ahead of the JIPS mission, the IMWG convened a meeting and produced an overview of the types of tools and methods that would be required to achieve this (see figure 1 above). It was also agreed that these tools should produce inter- sectoral analysis linking both existing and new data into one joint analysis process, and to cover both IDPs/returnees and the host community in the areas targeted for profiling. It was also agreed that the profiling methodologies would combine a samplebased household survey, collection of qualitative data at community level and urban/village assessment, which would analyse the infrastructure, services and policy environment in these contexts. For the service and infrastructure analysis the profiling would always aim to comprehensively understand their availability, accessibility, quality and sustainability. Mapping of key thematic areas: During the technical meetings and discussions with different partners, a set of initial themes for the profiling tools to cover were identified. It was specifically emphasised that out of the identified topics, particularly data on infrastructure and services was currently lacking and would require a specific focus for primary data collection. Overall, the following themes were highlighted as most relevant for durable solutions analysis in Sudan: Population profile Demographic data Skills and capacities of populations Access to basic services, infrastructure and goods Livelihoods and income, assets Housing and tenure, access to land Social cohesion (IDPs/returnees and host) Durable solutions preferences, obstacles and opportunities Village/urban assessment Availability, quality, sustainability and cost of services and infrastructure Livelihood opportunities, labour market analysis Risks and shocks (e.g. rainfall, floods, temperature, price fluctuation, security levels) Community Engagement: During the field visit to Abu Shouk camp in El Fasher, the mission members had an opportunity to engage in discussions with the community. These were introductory meetings to hear the communities concerns and perceptions regarding durable solutions and future plans. This community meeting gave insight into how the three durable solutions options were understood in Abu Shouk. These discussions clearly highlighted that any durable solutions analysis in this type of contexts will need to go beyond simply asking about people s preferences in relation to physical movement (stay, return or resettlement), and to aim to more comprehensively understand the ways in which communities perceive durable solutions and potential obstacles to achieving them. To this end the methodologies and tools should be developed and 4

tested in consultation with the communities to ensure that the selected approach results in data that meaningfully reflects the communities views. Fostering synergies with local level development/urban planning: Discussions with local level authorities in El Fasher focused on highlighting the interlinkages between local integration as a durable solutions and urban planning challenges in the city. Thus, a comprehensive durable solutions profiling aiming to inform concrete programmatic outcomes should not examine one camp or settlement and its population as an island, but allow for analysis of the broader urban context, as well as population profile and durable solutions preferences of displaced communities in other relevant camps, such as El Salam. Similarly, the community discussions clearly emphasised that sustainable return to areas of habitual residence would link to broader local level development outcomes, including investing in service provision and livelihoods, safety and security as well as land access, and analysis of the durable solutions situation should thus take into account both the situation in the areas of current residence and potential return areas. MISSION RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on the observations outlined above, JIPS would like to make the following recommendations for the next steps of the joint profiling process: A joint process throughout: As already highlighted, the coordination structures to facilitate a joint exercise are in place, and through the engagement of a dedicated coordinator the process is ready to move forward. However, JIPS advises that key modalities of this collaboration, including a work arrangement of the group through a TOR and agreement on data sharing protocols, should be agreed upon early on in the process. In addition, specific investment will be required to ensure the engagement of local level partners, including the communities themselves, in the process. Agree on interest to build upon existing data: With a wealth of data already available for the two planned intervention locations, there is great potential to use existing data for a comprehensive durable solutions analysis. However, in order to move the process forward in a timely manner, there needs to be agreement on how this existing data, adequately anonymized, can be shared with the broader group of profiling partners. In addition, how the existing data can effectively be linked to any newly collected data to allow for an intersectoral analysis. For this end, JIPS recommends for a technical review 5

of existing data made available by partners to take place as a prioritized next step in the process in order to identify ways in which existing data can be used and to inform methodology development for primary data collection. Engaging relevant expertise to inform development approaches to solutions: Due to the strong linkages of durable solutions to urban/development plans in return areas and areas where local integration is considered, it is essential to ensure that the tools and methodologies developed allow for capturing data that allows for this type of planning, spanning beyond addressing humanitarian needs. Due to this, strong technical participation from relevant line ministries and development partners is required in the process. With the strong focus on urban planning in many areas local integration including El Fasher, JIPS also strongly encourages for this exercise to build upon existing expertise on combining sustainable solutions to displaced communities and urban planning in other contexts, such as that of the UNHabitat Regional Office. Focusing on actionable information on durable solutions preferences: In the current situation, IDPs preferences for durable solutions are contingent on various elements that will require longerterm planning and investments. This entails that most displaced household may currently not able to make an informed choice about their future plans for durable solutions. Hence, carrying out an intentions survey alone at this point would likely not provide actionable information on the way forward as for most communities a concrete decision on a durable solutions option would be premature. Due to this, JIPS recommends for a profiling approach to focus on understanding preferences of displaced populations, including in relation to selection of a future place of residence, as well as analysis of the opportunities and obstacles that impact these decisions. This approach, well communicated to the communities, would help manage some of the high expectations linked to data collection among the communities, while also enabling the actors supporting durable solutions in Sudan to develop concrete and longterm plans for creating an environment, where communities can be supported in their informed choice of a durable solution. NEXT STEPS JIPS remains available to support the profiling partners in the following ways: Recruitment of the Information Management coordinator: JIPS, through its global partners, has started the process of identifying a suitable candidate to coordinate collaboration around the profiling activities. Developing a comprehensive analytical framework on required data: Following an initial mapping of relevant themes for profiling, the next step is to engage in a round of initial meetings both at the local level and in Khartoum to elicit specific 6

sector data gaps and indicators. Utilizing existing indicator repositories 1 JIPS is available to support this process either remotely or onsite as relevant in order to build an analytical framework that can be used to inform tool development. Supporting the next steps through another mission: While the recruitment of an Information Management Coordinator is still pending, if deemed relevant by partners, JIPS is available to support the next steps of the process, particularly consolidation of indicators, through another mission to Sudan. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS JIPS mission is grateful to: The support and involvement of the Joint Mechanism on Sustainable Solutions, the Humanitarian Aid Commission, the Durable Solutions Working Group and the RC/HC s Office during the mission; The colleagues from the HAC and the IMWG of the DSWG that took part in the joint field mission to El Fasher; The Global Cluster on Early Recovery and the World Bank for excellent collaboration during the mission; UNDP s excellent hosting arrangements and mission support; JIPS staff in Geneva for their remote support. ANNEXES 1. Mission TOR 2. Mission schedule 11 At the global level, an interagency process is underway to operationalise the 2010 IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons by developing a library of indicators that can be used to measure progress towards durable solutions for IDPs. Under the guidance of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, and in collaboration with a broad group of development, humanitarian and peacebuilding actors and the Joint IDP Profiling Service, the project developed an indicator library that is currently being tested. In addition, the World Bank has an extensive poverty and durable solutions indicator list used in many contexts. 7