The Reach Out Training Kit

Foreword

Instructions to Trainers

Introduction to a Reach Out Workshop

This module is designed to introduce participants to the objectives of Reach Out and the workshop. It provides an overview of the content of the workshop and format. Participants will get an early opportunity to share their experiences in refugee protection through a discussion. Most importantly, they will understand how training can enhance their ability to do their refugee protection work. Learning objectives

• Outline the purpose of the Reach Out project;
• Appreciate the importance of refugee protection training;
• Share some of their experiences on refugee protection.

Module 1—What Is Refugee Protection?

In Module 1, participants will be introduced to the international standards that make up the framework for refugee protection and will see that protection includes a range of activities. Through group exercises, participants will define what refugee protection means to them and will brainstorm on refugee protection activities. Learning objectives

• Identify the international standards that make up the framework for the international protection of refugees;
• Outline refugee rights in international refugee and human rights law;
• Articulate how assistance programmes can enhance refugee protection.

Module 2—Refugees and Displacement

Module 2 provides a broader context for the many reasons that people are forced to flee their homes and why they have a right to protection. It aims to sensitise participants to the phases of the refugee experience—from flight to return or integration in a new community. The key messages of the module are introduced in a plenary session, and there are group exercises and case studies that draw on the field experience of participants. Learning objectives

• State some of the reasons why people flee;
• Describe the different phases in the refugee experience;
• Discuss why refugees are of international concern and why they are entitled to international protection;
• Describe the differences in the refugee definition in international and regional standards.

Module 3—Refugee Situation in Context

Module 3 introduces a tool for participants to use to help fully analyse the particular refugee context in which they are working and to determine protection roles and responsibilities. After introducing this tool for refugee protection analysis, participants work in groups to apply it to their context. This module uses the first part of the tool to look at the context for the refugee situation in the country in which they work and to begin to examine the protection needs of refugees in that distinct context. After a brief introductory presentation, the participants work in small groups to describe the refugee population in their area and to assess threats/sources of protection. Learning objectives

• Be aware of the main characteristics of the refugee groups in the area;
• Know to what extent protection is afforded to these groups.

Module 4—Refugee Protection: Actors and Roles

This module is a highly interactive group-work-based session that engages the participants in producing actor maps for their area. The actor maps will be used throughout the balance of the workshop to reinforce learning about the complementarity of actors. Learning objectives

• Map the actors that can, and do, provide protection to refugees;
• Describe the mandated roles of some of the international, national, and non-governmental actors working with refugees;
• List the current protection activities of the actors;
• Describe how working in a complementary fashion improves protection for refugees.

Module 5—Programming and Protection

Through case studies, participants will describe some of the negative and positive effects that protection programming can have in a refugee situation. They will also describe some of the factors that influence programme decisions and suggest how to adjust programmes with a view to improving refugee protection. Learning objectives

• Identify some of the negative and positive effects that programmes can have on the protection of refugees;
• Describe some of the factors that influence programme decisions;
• Describe factors that determine the protective character of a programme;
• Identify ways to adjust programmes to improve refugee protection.

Module 6—Individual Arrival

Participants will understand the specific protection concerns arising in individual-arrival contexts and will identify which actors have primary responsibility for refugee protection. This module is trainer-led with a fairly extensive presentation and an immediate opportunity to apply this knowledge through a case study. Learning objectives

• Identify the key protection concerns of asylum-seekers who arrive individually;
• Identify standards for fair refugee status determination (RSD) procedures.

Module 7—Mass Arrival

Based on a role play, this module provides participants with an opportunity to look at how the different actors in a mass-arrival context need to work together to provide refugee protection. The trainer will give a brief introduction to the key protection concepts, and then participants will play a role in a simulated negotiation on the case study of Boringia. Learning objectives

• Identify some of the key protection concerns that arise in situations of mass arrival as opposed to individual arrival;
• Identify who is responsible for protecting refugees in this situation and develop views on how these actors should work together.

Module 8—Vulnerable Groups

This module places an emphasis on group work to raise awareness of, and pool the knowledge of participants on the specific protection issues that arise for women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. The group-work exercise explores the specific protection entitlements of refugee children and adolescents and encourages participants to extrapolate from their own understanding of who has duties towards this population and what makes them different from an adult population in need of protection. The group work on refugee women uses a series of "refugee women statement" cards to get participants to identify why refugee women have special protection needs and what their entitlements are. Learning objectives

• Identify different groups of people who may have specific vulnerabilities;
• Identify some of the specific protection needs of refugee children, adolescents, and women;
• Identify some of the specific rights of refugee children and women.

Module 9—Durable Solutions

The concept of durable solutions is a key one in refugee protection. This module has a fairly detailed presentation on what is meant by the three durable solutions. Following the presenation, the participants build on group work from the Boringia case study in Module 8 and explore options for voluntary repatriation or integration. Alternatively, participants can brainstorm or take part in role plays on the durable solutions that would be preferred by different segments of a refugee population (e.g. a refugee woman) or by the actors (e.g. the host country, UNHCR, etc). Learning objectives

• Identify the three types of durable solutions;
• Recognise the close link between refugee protection and durable solutions;
• Appreciate the importance of refugee participation and provision of information when deciding on a solution.

Module 10—Action-Planning

In this final module, participants are encouraged to bring the lessons learned throughout the workshop on protection standards; protection gaps and opportunities; roles and responsibilities, etc., to develop a plan for future action through group work. The final part of this module includes an opportunity for the participants to decide on how they might communicate and network with each other after the workshop. Learning objectives

• Formulate a list of areas for action to improve refugee protection in their context;
• Create a proposal for the next step(s) they will take immediately after the workshop;
• Commit to circulating the findings of the workshop within their networks;
• Identify a fellow participant they will contact in the near future to discuss how implementation of the action plan is going.

Optional Module—Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

This module is designed to increase field staff awareness, knowledge, and understanding of gender-based violence and aims ultimately to contribute to the effective protection of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Given the level and the targeted audience, facilitators have the flexibility to build a tailored session by using the handouts at this end of this module. These handouts provide practical information, figures, case studies, and lessons learned. Facilitators are encouraged to adapt this module to the needs of the participants and to their specific context. Learning objectives

• To raise awareness of gender-based violence (GBV);
• To get participants to reflect on the link between GBV and protection in a given context;
• To discuss/share responses, strategies, and support mechanisms to reduce and respond to incidents of gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse incidents.

Optional Module—Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

This module was developed by the Norwegian Refugee Council's Global IDP Project in order to address the need identified by the Reach Out project, to provide content on the commonalities and differences between the IDP and refugee protection regimes. The module is divided into three sections: Section 1 explores the UN definition for IDPs and the differences between this definition and that for refugees; Section 2 explores roles and responsibilities in relation to IDPs; and Section 3 outlines the genesis, structure, and status of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. Learning objectives

• Outline the key components of the IDP definition;
• Outline who has a role and responsibility in relation to the protection of IDPs;
• Describe how the Guiding Principles can be used a framework for protection;
• Compare the protection frameworks for refugees and IDPs.

Set of Handouts on Refugee Protection

This document gathers key notions, concepts, and legal tools on refugee protection to further deepen the knowledge and feed the reflection of readers.

Facilitator's Toolkit

This practical toolkit guides trainers to build, with confidence, their training sessions providing helpful tips and advices.

The Senior Managers Pack brochure with handouts and slides

• Module 1—Refugee protection: "From Global..."
• Module 2—"...To Local": Opportunities

The training pack aims to inform the senior managers of humanitarian agencies who have responsibilities for programming at the field or headquarters level, on how to incorporate refugee protection into their work.

All-in-One Files