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CPMSMAINSTREAMINGCASESTUDIESSERIES

ChildProtection,Protection,CampManagementandWASH:“Mainstreamingthroughcapacitybuilding:Collaborationtoincreasesafetyin

RakhineState,Myanmar”

Inemergencies,girlsandboysfaceincreasedrisktoviolence,abuse,neglectandexploitation.Thewayinwhich humanitarian aid is delivered can further increase these risks. Childrenmay be exposed to harmduringthechaosofadistributionoratwaterpointsorexperienceabuseincrampedevacuationcentres.Sometimesharmiscauseddirectlyduetohumanitarianworkers’actionsornon-actions.Manythreatstothe safety andwellbeing of children can bemitigated or even eradicated through timely and sensitiveprovisionofhumanitarianaidacrossallsectors.Allhumanitarianactorshaveanimportantcontributiontomaketotheprotectionandrecoveryofchildren.

To mainstream child protection means to ensure child protection considerations inform all aspects ofhumanitarian action. It also minimizes the risks of children being violated by programmes designedwithout proper consideration for children’s safety or wellbeing.Mainstreaming child protection is anessentialpartofcompliancewiththe‘donoharm’principlethatappliestoallhumanitarianaction.1

Goingbeyondmainstreaming,integratedprogrammingallowsforactionsbetweentwoormoresectorstowork together towards a common programme objective, based on an assessment of needs. Whereintegratedchildprotectionprogrammingisnotpossible,childprotectionmainstreamingisessential.ThiscasestudiesserieslooksatbothexamplesofintegratedprogrammingandmainstreamingandtheCPMSmainstreamingstandardsareapplicableforboth.

InearlyJune2012,andagaininOctoberthatyear,inter-communityviolenceeruptedinpartsofRakhine State, Myanmar, displacing over 100,000 people. Rakhine State is one of the leastdeveloped parts of Myanmar, characterized by high population density, malnutrition, lowincome, poverty andweak infrastructure, aswell as being vulnerable to recurrent floods andstorms.Thustheimpactofviolencewassignificant,notonlycausinglargenumbersofpeopletobedisplacedbutalsoadverselyimpactingaffectedpopulationsinisolatedandhostcommunitiesas well. Humanitarian organizations responded with the provision of life-saving assistance,includingestablishingtemporaryIDPcamps.2

ThiscasestudyexploresanumberofWASH-relatedincidentsoccurringinSittweandPauktawtownships,including some significant safety incidents involving children and highlighting the lack of a protectiveenvironmentforchildrenandcommunities.These incidentsaswellasthestrongrelationshipsbetweenactorsinvolvedintheresponsepromptedasignificantandlong-termcollaborationbetweenWASH,CampCoordinationandCampManagement(CCCM)andChildProtectionactors,workingwithinacoalitionwith

1ChildProtectionWorkingGroup,MinimumStandardsforChildProtectioninHumanitarianAction:Briefingnotetoensurechildprotectionmainstreaming,“Standard23:Water,SanitationandHygiene(WASH)andChildProtection”,15December2014,http://cpwg.net/minimum_standards-topics/mainstream.2UNOfficefortheCoordinationofHumanitarianAffairs,RakhineResponsePlan(Myanmar):July2012-December2013,12August2012,http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/rakhine-response-plan-myanmar-july-2012-–-december-2013

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broaderprotectionandgender-basedviolence(GBV)actors.Withinayear,thisinteragencyinter-sectoralcollaboration led to a wide-scale protectionmainstreaming capacity-building project that trained over1,000WASHactorsinRakhineState.

For the purposes of analysing the collaborative activities undertaken in this case study, it is helpful tounderstandthehumanitariancoordinationstructuresinRakhineState,Myanmar.TheProtectionWorkingGroup is ledbyUNHCR;UNICEF leads theChildProtectionSub-sectorWorkingGroup3;andUNFPAandInternationalReliefCommittee(IRC)leadstheGBVWorkingGroup.TheWASHclusterinSittwe-RakhineisledbyUNICEFandUNHCRleadstheShelter/NFI/CCCMclusterinSittwe-Rakhine.4

ThiscasestudyisbasedoninterviewswiththreekeyactorsinRakhineState:LindsayShearer,thenSavethe Children Child Protection Manager; Maria Makayonok, then Danish Refugee Council ProtectionProgrammeManager;andMélissaAdoum,thenWASHClusterCoordinator.5

WASH incidents highlight the importance of child protection (and broader protection)mainstreaming

An increasing number of safety issues, including those that involved children, were causingconcernsforchildprotectionandWASHactorsalike.Thedeathsoftwochildrenfallingthroughapitlatrineinlate2014wasthemostsevereandtragicincidentwhichhighlightedthenecessityfor a wide-scale collaboration involving not only child protection but all protection actors toworkcloselywiththeWASHclustertoaddresstheseissues.

Initially, this involved an immediate rapidinteragencyassessmenttoidentifyphysicalrisksforchildren in the Sittwe and Pauktaw camps andprovide recommendations for immediateimplementation. This exercise involved agenciesfrom the Child Protection sub-sector workinggroup: Danish Refugee Council, Save the ChildrenInternational, International Rescue Committee,Plan International, and Relief International. 6Lindsayexplains, “Aschildprotectionactorsweknewunsafe latrinesweren’t theonlydangerfor children in the camps.Wewanted to also look at howwe could improve the camp as awhole.Andwewantedtoknowfromthecommunitywhatweredangerousareasforchildren.”

WhileWASHactors tookresponsibility forconductingstructuralassessmentsof latrines in thetwocamps,childprotection(andbroaderprotection)actorssoughttounderstandtheviewsand

3MembersoftheCPsub-sectorinRakhineStateinclude:SavetheChildrenInternational,DanishRefugeeCouncil,IRC,PlanInternational,ReliefInternationalandLutheranWorldFederation.4MyanmarInformationManagementUnit,OverviewofCoordinationTeamsinMyanmar,March2016,http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/overview-coordination-teams-myanmar-march-20165Conductedon17May,9Juneand13June2016respectively.MélissaAdoumsuppliedallphotographsinthiscasestudy.6SavetheChildrenInternational,InteragencyAssessment–PhysicalSafetyincampsforChildren,October2014.ReportsharedbyLindsayShearer.

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perceptions of dangers from five selected communities through focus group discussionswithchildrenandadults.Overall, themaindangers identified forchildrenwerewatersources (e.g.creeksandponds), latrines,mainroads,constructionsites,opendrainage/ditchesandisolatedor unlit areas. GBV colleagues identified similar safety risks for women and girls, particularlybathingareasforwomenandgirlsinpublicareasandlatrineswithoutlightingatnight.

Foranumberofreasons,includingsafetyincidents,childprotection,protectionandGBVactorsdetermined to initiate a wide-scale interagency protection mainstreaming process with theWASH Cluster and WASH actors in the field. As CCCM actors had already participated in aprotectionmainstreamingtrainingledbytheDanishRefugeeCouncil(DRC), itwasagreedthatthey would be valuable contributors to this process. This process was led by the ProtectionWorking Group, working with the Child Protection Sub-sector working group and the GBVworking group and involved a range of activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of actorsinvolvedintheWASHsectortosupportchildprotection,protectionandGBVneedsandimprovesafetyandaccessforthosemostvulnerable.

WorkingwiththeWASHCluster

Thedevelopmentofachecklist7

TheWASHclusterwaswellawareofthechallengesitfacedandwaseagertoaddressthem.Toprevent further safety incidents from arising, Child Protection, Protection, CCCM and WASHactors collaborated to identify relevant indicators to prevent and address protection issues,including child protection. To do so, they consulted all the relevantmainstreamingmaterials,including the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in humanitarian Action (CPMS)8, andreviewed them with WASH colleagues to determine which were the most appropriate anduseful for their context.9The end result was a short list of indicators that theWASH clusterwould use to monitor and evaluate WASH activities. For example, ensuring water collectionmaterialswereofasizeandshapethatchildrencouldcarrysafely;andensuringthatvulnerablechildrenhaveaccesstosafewatercollectionpoints.10Melissanotesthatwhilethefinalchecklistmaynothavebeenextensivelyutilised in the field, itsdevelopmentwasa veryusefulwayofhighlighting the importance and valueofmainstreaming child protection, protection andGBVissuesandbuildingcapacityamongstWASHagency leadstodoso. Italsocreatedmomentumforfurtheractivitiesinthisarea.

7TheDistributionandChildProtectionCaseStudyinthisseriesalsodiscussesthedevelopmentanduseofachecklist.8ChildProtectionWorkingGroup,MinimumStandardsforChildProtectioninHumanitarianAction(2012),Standard23:Water,SanitationandHygiene(WASH)andChildProtection,http://cpwg.net/minimum-standards/9Othermaterialsconsultedwere:GlobalProtectionCluster,WASHPrograms:TipsforProtectionMainstreaming,May2014,http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/en/areas-of-responsibility/protection-mainstreaming.html;WorldVision,MinimumInter-agencyStandardsforProtectionMainstreaming(2013),http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/en/areas-of-responsibility/protection-mainstreaming/external-resources.html;IASC/GPC,GuidelinesforIntegratingGender-basedViolenceInterventionsinHumanitarianAction(2015),http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/en/tools-and-guidance/essential-protection-guidance-and-tools/gender-based-violence-essential-guidance-and-tools.html.10ThefulllistofindicatorscanbefoundbelowinAnnexA.SharedbyLindsayShearer.

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Broaderresponsetochildsafetyissues

Following the deaths of the two children in the pit latrine accident in 2014, and under somepressurefromdonorstopreventfurtherincidents,discussionswereheldbetweenWASHactors,theCampManagementCommittees and theProtectionWorkingGroup to seewhat couldbedonetoensureanoverallmoreprotectiveenvironmentinthecamps.

Followingtheresultsoftheinteragencyinter-sectoralcampsafetyassessmentdescribedabove,anumberofoutcomesandactionswereundertaken:WASHdesignswerechangedandregularmonitoringwasinstituted,includingdailychecksonthequalityofconstruction.Childprotectionactors began determining safe spaces for children to play, monitoring unsafe areas, andengagingmorewith children to determineways to communicate unsafe areas, talking aboutcampdangersandprovidinginformationandadviceonwhattodoifachildwashurt.Crucially,CCCM established incident reporting and recording mechanisms and collated this data tomonitor safety issues.Theactions takenbegantowork.AsLindsaynotes,“Weusedthisdatatocheck if things were improving…And actually,theywere.”

Capacity-BuildingforWASHactors

Over the period 2013-2015, a number ofcapacity-building initiatives with WASH, CCCMandProtectionactorswereundertaken.At theinteragencylevel,staffwereintroducedtobasicprotection concepts and using complaints and referral mechanisms to identify and supportbeneficiaries, includingchildren,withprotection issuesandneeds.Andat the field level, staffwereintroducedtothenewlydevelopedWASHindicatorsandwhatthiswouldmeanfortheirprogrammes.

Building on this ongoing work with the WASH sector, the Protection Working Group,collaboratingwiththeChildProtectionSub-SectorWorkingGroupandtheGBVWorkingGroupaswellasWASHandCCCMactors,developedaProtectionMainstreamingTraining-of-Trainers(ToT)programme,aimingatcapacitatingacadreoftrainerstoworkatthefieldlevelwithWASHactors to strengthen theprotectiveaspectsof theirworkandensure thatWASHactivitiesdidnotcreateanythreatsfortheaffectedpopulation,includingchildren.

Theparticipants of the ToT (futureprotectionmainstreaming trainers),were all national staffwith expertise in either CCCM, gender-based violence (GBV), child protection or protection.They were then divided into teams of 4, mixing the 4 different areas of expertise. Thiscollaboration improved their working understanding of each other’s specific areas of work.WASHactorssupportedtheToTbyteachingparticipantsmoreabouttheWASHsector.

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After completing the ToT, the new training teams were required to run approximately 10trainingsintheirrelevantcamporareawithinacamp.ThetrainingswereattendedbynationalfieldbasedWASHactorsfromallagenciesandorganisations.

WASH participants were trained on how to strengthen projects to support those mostvulnerable, how to avoid doing harm, how to consult with communities on more sensitivematters. Regarding child protection aspects of the training, participantswere taughtways toidentifyexamplesofchildabuseofallforms,includingexploitation.Theywerealsotaughthowtoreportandreferchildprotectionincidentsandissues.Forexample,whattodoifyoucomeacrossachildplayingunsupervised,howandtowhomdoyoureport incidentsandtheroleofchildprotectionandCCCMactors.ForMélissa,oneofthegreatestbenefitsofthetrainingwasthatWASH staff learned “what is a protection problem andwhat are the associated referralpathways.Andthatrelievedthemfromasenseofconfusionanduncertaintythey’dbeenfeelingbefore.”Within a year, teamswho had gone through the ToTs had trained over a thousandWASHfieldstaff.

LessonsLearned

Bottom-upANDTop-downapproaches

Thereweremanyreasonswhytheprocessofimplementingmainstreamingactivitiestookalongtime in Rakhine. One lesson Lindsay learned was that leading an interagency inter-sectoralprocessfromthefieldshouldn’tneglectthoseinthecapitalbutshouldgaintheunderstandingandsupportofhumanitarianactorsatall levels.Intheirdesiretomovequicklyandefficiently,lessattentionwaspaidtoensurebuy-infromthose inseniormanagement.This lackofbuy-increateddelays.“Weneedthatsupportfromabovetobesaying‘weallneedtobedoingchildprotectionmainstreamingsolet’sseehowwecanembeditinourprogrammes’”,Lindsaynotes.

Thevalueofinvolvingotherrelevantactors

The involvement of CCCM actors in capacity-building initiatives was one factor identified ascriticaltothesuccessoftheapproach.Asidefromthegeneralbenefitofinvolvinganadditionalsector, CCCM’s participation also helped to concretise child protection concepts in a campsetting that might otherwise seem abstract for other sectors. Using the functions of thecomplaintsandincidentmechanismwasonewaytoillustratethelinkagesbetweentherolesofallthreesectors:WASHactorscouldreportincidentsinvolvingchildrentoeitherchildprotectionactorsorCCCMactorsandCCCMwouldcollatethedata.

Theimportanceofunderstandingothersectors

Lindsay,Maria andMelissa all highlight the importance of child protection actors taking timebeforeembarkingonamainstreamingprojecttogainareasonableunderstandingofthesectortheywish toworkwith.Maria says, “Ifyou’remainstreamingsomething into theothersector

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youneedtoknowwhattheydoandwhatchallengestheyhaveandhowmuchyoucanexpectofthem.”

Theskillofconsultingwithcommunities

CapacitybuildingandcollaborationbetweenProtectionandWASHfocussedamongstothersonstrengtheningtheskillsandcomfortlevelsofWASHfieldstafftoconsultwithcommunitiesonanumber of more sensitive sectoral issues, for example talking with women and girls aboutmenstrualhabits.ThiswashighlightedascrucialbyprotectionandWASHactorsalike.Melissapointsoutthatchildprotection,protectionandGBVactorshaveskills inraisinganddiscussingdifficultissuesincommunitiesthatWASHactorstypicallydon’thave.Understandingthisrealitycanhelpguidethecapacitybuildingthatmaybenecessaryforchildprotectionactorsseekingtoengageinmainstreamingactivitieswithothersectors.

On-the-jobchildprotectioncoaching

IntheRakhinecontext,theWASHsectorwaswellawareofthechallenges and shortcomings it faced – through their hygienepromoters, the WASH sector met daily with individuals andfamilies. However they were unable to articulate the childprotectionissuesandtoidentifysolutions.Forthis,theysoughttheassistanceofchildprotectionactors.ForMelissa, thebestoutcomes were achieved when child protection, protection,GBVandWASHactorscollaboratedinthefieldinthecourseoftheir every day work, learning about each other’s work andchallenges.ForWASHactors,thebestsupporttheyreceivedwasadvicebasedonfieldrealitiesandwhichhelpedthemunderstandhowtoconcretelyrespondtotheirownproblems.

Thebenefitofbroaderprotectionmainstreaming

Approaching this project as a collaboration involvingWASH aswell as Protection, GBV, ChildProtectionandCCCMactorsprovidedanumberofbenefits:“Ourteamshadtheopportunitytosee how other sectors worked and how they could work together to address the protectionneeds of beneficiaries”, Lindsay explained. By speaking with one voice, they were able topowerfully respond and advocate on issues in the field. They were also able to see greateropportunities for ongoing collaboration in their everyday work. It also reduced the requestsplacedonothersectors–throughcollaborationbetweenprotection,GBVandchildprotectionactorsinthefield,assessments,adviceandrecommendationswereoftenjointlyprovided.

Theimportanceofpromotingandsupportingchildprotectionmainstreaming

This case study crucially highlights the necessity of all sectors promoting the importance ofconsidering child protection issues and the importance of collaborating with child protectionactors within their operations. The responsibility for encouraging and supporting child

“WASHpeoplearegenerallyveryreceptiveandopentoimprovingtheirprojectsbuttheyneedtobetoldexactlyhow.Soweneedconcreteexamples,notjustgoodprincipledstrategies.”(Melissa)

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protectionmainstreamingeffortsmustbesharedbyallhumanitarianactors–itcannotbedoneby child protection actors alone. Indeed, the most persuasive arguments are often made bythose in other sectorswho have seen the critical value of collaboratingwith child protectionactorstoensurethesafetyofchildrenintheirresponses.

AnnexA:WASHIndicatorsdevelopedbytheProtectionWorkingGroup,ChildProtectionSub-sectorWorkingGroupandGBVWorkingGroupforRakhineState,MyanmarWATERANDSANITATIONKEYACTIONSFORPROTECTIONMAINSTREAMINGWATERANDSANITATIONWATER¢ Women,elderly,peoplewithdisabilitiesandothervulnerablegroupsarerepresentedon

anywater/sanitationcommittees.¢ Thereisaneffectivemechanisminplaceforindividualsorgroupstoraiseconcernsabout

thewaterandsanitationfacilities.¢ Considerwomen,andchildren’sphysicalcapabilities(includingalldisabledcommunity

members)whendesigningwatercollectionpoints.Personswithspecialneedssuchasmentallyandphysicallydisabled,andelderlyshouldbeconsultedonthedesignandsafelocationofwatercollectionpointssothesecanbeeasilyaccessiblebyall.

¢ Waterpointsshouldbeaccessible,safeandeasytooperatebychildrenaswellasadults,withparticularattentiontothedisabledandelderlyandpersonswithchronicdiseases.

¢ Providejerrycansorotherwatercollectioncontainersofasizeandshapethatchildrencancarrysafely.

¢ Ensurevulnerablechildrensuchasdisabledchildren,childrenwithoutparentalcareorlivingontheirownandstreetchildren,haveaccesstosafewatercollectionpoints.

¢ Ensurevulnerablewomenandgirlscansafelyaccesswaterpointsontheirown.¢ Ensurethatelderlyanddisabledwomenandmenandadolescentgirlshavesafeaccessto

waterpointsandhaveacceptablewaystocarry/transportwaterjugstoandfromwaterpoints(speciallydesignedjerrycans,etc)

¢ Ensurethatwaterpumpsandwellsaredesignedtoaccommodatetheneedsofvulnerablegroups(locationatanappropriateheightfromthegroupandwithoutlargestepstoaccessthesource.)Somewaterpumpsneedtobedesignedandadaptedforusebypeoplewithchronicdiseases,elderly,andpeoplewithdisabilities,andpregnantwomen.

¢ Identifyresidentialschools,orphanages,detentionfacilities,womenandgirlscenters,andothergroupscaringforvulnerablepopulations,andensuretheyreceiveadequatesuppliesofpotablewater.

¢ Ensurethereissufficientquantityofwatertomeetminimumneedsaccordingtototalnumberofpersonsincampsand/orvillages.AWASHcommitteecanbeestablishedtoensuresthereisasysteminplacewhichallowsallcommunitymemberstohaveunhinderedaccesstothewaterpoints(discriminationorfrictionswithothermembersareusuallyfrequentatwaterpoints).Additionalwaterpointsmaybeestablishedfordifferent

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ethnic/socialgroupingswithinacommunityiftheyfeelunabletoaccessthewaterandsanitationfacilitiesinanotherarea.

¢ Ifwaterisbeingtrucked,pumpedorrationed,itisimportanttoensurethatwaterdistributiontimeanddurationareplannedjointlywiththecommunity,accordingtowomenandmen’sconvenienceandculturalhabitsandlimitedtodaylighthours.ThisistobeconsultedwiththegroupthatisresponsibleforwatercollectionortheWASHcommittee.

LATRINESANDSHOWERS¢ Buildseparatelatrinesandshowerfacilitiesformenandwomen/girls.Women’sandgirl’s

latrinesshouldbelessthan50metersfromtheirhousingarea,providelocksandbewelllit,forprotection.Toensureprivacy,providesecondaryenclosuresaroundfacilitiesandprivacyscreenswithinbathing/showerfacilities(stalls).

¢ Increasethecapacityforwomen’slatrines,recognisingthattheywillservebothwomenandchildren.Makeopeningssmallertodecreasetheriskofchildrenfallingin.

¢ Promotelatrineuseamongchildrenandadults.Ensurelatrinesaresafeforchildren.¢ Promotemessagingontheneedtorespectlatrinesegregationsignageandcommunity

engagementtopreventloitering,harassmentandotherintimidatingbehaviorsbymenandboysaroundthelatrinesandbathingspaces.

¢ Providechildfriendlyinformationtoencourageuseoflatrines.¢ Encouragecaregiverstoproperlydisposeofchildren’sexcreta(e.g.providepotties,

encouragecaregiverstoemptyachild’spottyintoalatrineandcleanupexposedwasteinlivingareas).

¢ Latrinesandshowersaredesignedinawaythatelderlypersons,personswithchronicdiseases,andpersonswithdisabilitiescanhaveaccesstothemwithoutanyimpediment.Theyshouldbelocatedatanappropriateheightfromthegroundandwithoutlargestepstoaccessthelatrinesandshowers.Latrinesandshowersshouldhaverampsandhandrails.Insituationswhereitisnotpossibletomakealllatrinesandshowersacceptabletoallgroups,speciallatrinesandshowersshouldbeconstructedorprovidedforelderly,disabledandpersonswithdisabilities(i.e.potties,latrineswithhandrails,facilitiesinsidetheirshelters)

HYGIENEPROMOTION¢ Promotesimplepersonalhygienemessagesforchildrenusingchild-friendlyinformation

(e.g.cartoons)¢ WorkwiththeEducationandChildProtectionClusterstoinitiatechild-to-childpeertraining

programsinschools,inordertoconducthygienepromotionandspreadhealtheducationandsafetymessages.

¢ Ensuresystemsareinplacetomakesurethatgarbageisproperlydisposedof,especiallyinchildren’splayareas.

¢ Providehealthinformationabouttheimportanceofkeepingallanimalsoutsideofthelivingareas,todecreaseexposuretoillness.

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¢ WorkwithPWGandGBVSStodesignandpromoteculturallyappropriatediscussionsessions,messagingaroundmenstrualhealthmanagementanddisposalofsanitarynapkinsforwomenandgirls.

¢ WorkwithPWGandCCCMclustermembers/leadstodevelopdiscussionsessionswithmenandboysre:MHM

¢ Women,men,elderly,personswithdisabilitiesandpersonswithchronicdiseaseswhoareinvolvedinsanitationprovisionreceivetrainingorpropercapacitybuildingonhygienepromotion.

¢ Communitymembersingeneralreceivehygienepromotionsessionswithparticularemphasisonelderly,personswithdisabilitiesandpersonswithchronicdiseases.

FORALLACTIVITIES¢ Speaktowomen,girlsandchildrenabouttheirconcerns,needs,andpreferencesinthe

design,location,anddeliveryofactivitiesandinfrastructure.¢ Ensurethatinformationgatheringisdoneinculturallyacceptableandsensitivewaysthat

facilitateopendiscussion(example–womenHPsspeakwithwomen’sgroups)¢ Useroleplaysandscenariostoillicitmorediscussion,particularlywhenspeaking

about/tryingtogatherinformationonsensitivetopics¢ Communitygroupsshouldbecreatedandtherepresentationandneedsofallmembersof

thecommunityshouldbetakenintoaccount(i.e.diverseandgender-balanced).Thiswillhelpthecommunitiestohaveownershipofwaterandsanitationfacilitiesandwillultimatelyleadtobettercommunitymaintenanceandcontribution.

¢ Waterandsanitationfacilitiesshouldbeavailablewithinorincloseproximitytolearningenvironments,meetingpointsandhealthfacilitiessotheycanbeaccessiblebyeveryone,inparticular,themostvulnerablegroups.