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An interagency quality and accountability review with special consideration for protection against sexual exploitation and abuse

A collaboration between the In-Country Network on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and the Joint Deployment of Joint Standards Initiative (The Sphere Project, HAP International and People In Aid)

Section 1: Introduction

1.1 Joint Deployment to Kenya

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) International, the Sphere Project and People In Aid, in a bid to work more closely together, made an agreement in July 2011 to collaborate for a joint deployment in response to the Horn of Africa drought. An initial assessment mission1 was undertaken in August 2011 in which various stakeholders such as national, international NGOs, UN agencies, inter-agency networks and donors were consulted. A joint deployment followed at the end of October 2011, under the banner of Joint Standards Initiative (JSI) with the aim to: support the humanitarian system in providing accountable programming that meets accepted standards of quality, both in the immediate humanitarian response, and in the development and implementation of organisational and operational strategies for short and long-term recovery and the prevention of future crises.

A central objective of the joint deployment was to ensure that the voices of those affected by disaster are amplified and brought centre stage to ensure greater action on accountability and quality. Under the objective of collaborating with and supporting existing networks, and building on the on-going processes, an interagency mapping exercise was conducted during the joint deployment in collaboration with the In-Country Network (ICN) on Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (PSEA).

The ICN has been set up under the auspices of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator. It has taken steps to ensure enhanced coordination and communication relating to the prevention of, and response to cases of abuse and exploitation by personnel working for the UN, its affiliated partners, international NGOs as well as other humanitarian assistance workers. In October 2011, the Network in an attempt to better understand and analyze the measures in place for the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, initiated a nation-wide baseline study to identify the existing gaps and areas for further improvement (Annex 1). Previous studies and reviews on PSEA had been centered on Kenya refugee camps with significant work since 2003; however, this had not filtered across agencies or informed the work of other humanitarian and development aid.

The commencement of the ICN of PSEA review coincided with the joint deployment to Kenya. The two teams agreed to collaborate and undertake the study in the drought affected areas of Lodwar and Kakuma. For the ICN, this exercise is part a larger nation-wide baseline, in which other contexts, as identified by the Network’s Steering Committee, will be examined independently by the ICN for a more comprehensive study on the overall state of PSEA in Kenya, the scope of which will include contexts such as:

a) Drought affected areas: Lodwar and Kakuma
b) Post-election violence hotspots: Eldoret, Kitale, Kapenguria
c) Cross border movements: Moyale / Garrisa
d) Refugee Camps: Kakuma / Dadaab
e) Urban settlements: Nairobi

While the In-Country Network concentrated on the current status of PSEA implementation, the joint deployment team focused on additional and other aspects of quality and accountability. This joint effort was seen as an opportunity to build capacity on quality & accountability, and PSEA with programme staff in the region and to gain a better understanding of the challenges and recommendations as perceived by programme site staff, GoK representatives and affected communities. This report consists of a collection of perceptions and recommendations from a variety of key stakeholders from the region. The findings of this mapping exercise provide a needs analysis from which organisation can learn, adapt and improve the quality and accountability of their interventions.

The mapping exercise was kindly hosted and facilitated by UNICEF in Lodwar and UNHCR in Kakuma.