On 1 July 2005, UNHCR and NGOs, both operational and advocacy, involved in protection activities met to discuss issues related to the strengthening of protection partnerships. This session in part was follow-up to a two-day retreat held in December 2003 in which UNHCR and NGOs held indepth consultations on the role of NGOs in protection and their partnership with UNHCR in this regard.
The December 2003 retreat produced an Action Plan, which highlighted issues to be addressed and the suggested action and follow-up. Many of these protection activities have been implemented and the attached Action Plan is updated to reflect this. We may now consider this Action Plan 'closed'. Action points that still require follow-up are included in the attached plan of activities that, together with new elements, stemmed from the July 2005-meeting.
The plan of activities, which is a joint undertaking with DIP and DOS, should be considered as a work-in-progress and not as a comprehensive description of all UNHCR-NGO activities aimed at improving protection partnerships. The table should guide ongoing discussion between NGOs and UNHCR and allow us to measure progress in our collaboration.
We hope that this initiative will provide a solid basis on which to enhance UNHCR-NGO partnerships in protection and we welcome any comments you may have at NGOUnit@unhcr.org.
| ISSUE | ACTION |
|---|
| Protection Assessments |
| There is a need for clear and concise information on how UNHCR's country level assessments and planning exercises envisage systematic involvement of NGOs, and how other participatory initiatives are linked to this. | - NGO Unit, DIP, and DOS to organize a separate session on UNHCR's programming cycle, which includes participatory planning and assessments, with interested NGOs.
- Investigate the impact of the IOM/FOM on Partnerships for Protection - The importance of regular dialogue with our NGO partners, which called for appropriate UNHCR-NGO coordination mechanisms to be established in the Field.
- The Annual Protection Report to include a separate sub-heading on UNHCR-NGO partnerships.
- Relevant job descriptions to include reference to the incumbent's responsibility to promote and develop UNHCR-NGO partnerships.
|
| Efforts must be made to ensure that all agencies' field staff are well informed of policy developments and new initiatives at the HQs level. In particular, NGO field staff should be made aware of how they can take part in joint assessments and planning exercises. UNHCR field staff need to be well versed in the organisation's priorities as regards field coordination issues and the involvement of NGOs (beyond Implementing Partners). | - UNHCR to promote awareness to field staff (including through training, the AGDM roll-out, and Protection Management Workshops in the field).
- NGOs to inform staff through training and awareness raising (e.g. incorporating IOM/FOMs or UNHCR guidelines in to their training or staff induction campaigns).
|
| The importance of country level UNHCR representatives and NGO directors to promote gender equality and the rights of children. While some are quite active, there are many which are not sufficiently aware of the importance of these issues. | - Joint UNHCR and NGO leadership by country representatives of participatory assessments with people of concern and age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in programmes.
|
| The Strengthening Protection Capacity Project has included NGOs throughout all stages of the SPCP pilots, and was proven particularly valuable in the initial gaps analysis. Some NGOs are using the Framework for Assessing Gaps in Protection Capacity for their protection assessments. | - Publish and promote the Framework in 2006.
(See point below on SPCP on building protection capacities.) |
| Protection Assessments in emergencies are particularly relevant to UNHCR-NGO partnerships on the ground, and this issue would require further focused discussion among involved agencies. | - UNHCR NGO Unit, ESS, DOS and NGOs to consider whether it would be useful to organise a separate discussion on this issue.
|
| Agenda for Protection |
| There is broad support for the compilation of a joint progress report on the implementation of the Agenda for Protection. UNHCR should propose a format for such a reporting exercise on the basis of requested consultations with states and NGOs. | - UNHCR DIP to propose a format for a joint reporting exercise.
- NGOs to provide additional ideas and suggestions.
- Explore how to do this within existing mechanisms with ExCom members and NGOs.
|
| Further dissemination of and training activities on the Agenda for Protection is required. In particular, field based staff of UNHCR and NGOs should be made aware of how the Agenda can be used as a strategic framework for protection activities. | UNHCR to promote the use of the Agenda in COP planning.
- NGOs to include the AfP in briefings and trainings for field staff.
|
| What has been the impact of the Agenda for Protection? More information and analysis is needed to obtain a comprehensive picture of the Agenda's influence on protection "space" and activities. | - UNHCR to provide analysis through its input to the planned joint reporting exercise on the Agenda for Protection (see first point under this heading).
|
| Building Protection Capacities |
| Include NGOs in UNHCR training programmes. | - Make available the revised Protection Learning Programme to partners (IRC and NRC are already participating).
- An e-learning Protection Induction Programme on the basic principles of international protection to be made available to UNHCR staff via intranet and partners via CD-Rom.
- Develop an IDP training programme, which will be country specific for UN and non-UN staff.
- Print and distribute the UNHCR Tool for Participatory Assessment in Operations.
|
| Update/revision of Protecting Refugees: A Field Guide for NGOs. The handbook is still widely used by NGOs (and UNHCR staff); however, new developments warrant a substantive review. This would also allow for inclusion of good practices on UNHCR-NGO cooperation in the Field. | - NGO Liaison Unit and DIP to review how the guide was originally developed and establish a work plan with relevant actors, both UNHCR and NGO.
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| Continue to roll out the Strengthening Protection Capacity Project (SPCP) methodology in 2006 to more countries and to ensure NGO involvement in the process. Already important partnerships are in place for activities in the CIS and South East Asia regions. | - Continue building on the results of the SPC Project, which was piloted in four countries in 2005 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Tanzania) into the guide.
- Set up more regular information exchange with NGOs.
|
| The current draft of the Handbook on Strengthening Protection Capacities in Host Countries focuses on developing capacities in building asylum systems. Given the limited scope of the contents, it is proposed to re-title the Handbook to be re-named "A Comprehensive Guide to Developing Asylum Systems" and develop a broader guide on developing capacities to be based on lessons learned at a later stage in the SPC project. | - UNHCR to finalize the guide for staff and partners currently called Handbook on Strengthening Protection Capacities in Host Countries.
|
| NGO's should receive reliable access to UNHCR protection documentation as well as applicable guidelines and information needed for planning purposes. Refworld is an important protection tool that is available to NGOs. | - Promote a wider dissemination of RefWorld to NGOs.
- DIP (PIS) to provide training programmes to NGOs on Country of Origin Information and the use of RefWorld.
|
| Other partnership issues |
| UNHCR to consider the usefulness and feasibility of formalising strategic partnerships on protection with NGOs. | - UNHCR to discuss internally and bilaterally possible options.
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| Agreement to further promote an "intellectual partnership" between UNHCR and NGOs. Early involvement by NGOs in policy discussions at UNHCR is desirable, not only after decisions have been made. | - More frequent consultations organised at HQ level (including at the "working level").
|
| Enhance the role of NGOs in evaluation. In 2004 a note was prepared by EPAU on enhancing collaboration with NGOs on the evaluation function. In line with Point 7 of this note, EPAU held a 2-3 March 2004 evaluation training workshop in which three NGOs participated. | - Follow-up with the evaluation unit on the EPAU March 2004 workshop to ensure that NGOs are systematically considered for inclusion in evaluations.
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UNHCR and NGOs to jointly establish protocols on legal assistance with a specific focus on the following areas:
- Confidentiality;
- Sharing of information on rejection/exclusions;
- Electronic databases on GBV and RSD
| - In order to tackle these issues at a global level, distribute the new RSD procedures so to seek comments from NGOs worldwide.
- Review the confidentiality guidelines in consultation with NGOs.
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| UNHCR to continue the implementation of its age, gender and diversity mainstreaming strategy in close coordination with NGO partners, both international and national. | - Forty countries to be covered in 2006.
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Note: This table should be considered as a work-in-progress and not as a comprehensive description of all UNHCR/NGO activities aimed at improving protection partnerships. The action points may need further refinement. Comments/additions should be sent to the NGO Liaison Unit at NGOUnit@unhcr.org.
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