Early Warning &
Community Protection Project
Protecting Communities from Violence
Through Improved Communication
(BPRM, U.S. Gvt.)
Catholic Relief Services - Caritas
Julien Marneffe, Programme Manager CRS
Kigali, 28 March 2012
Project Background
• Emergency
• ICT4D to enhance community-based protection
• Partnerships
– NGO: 4 diocesan Caritas (see below)
– GOVT: indirectly through MONUSCO/Civil Affairs
– Private sector: AIRTEL (cell-phone network
provider)
Project Goal
Provide the civilian populations of 40 isolated
communities (about 250,000 people) in Eastern
DRC with increased capacity to:
 Mitigate the impact of violence associated with the
presence of armed groups
 Send regular monitoring information and alerts on the
humanitarian and security situation to receive timely
and quality assistance from protection actors
1
Partners Map
ORIENTALE (HAUT UELE)
1. Dungu-Doruma
2. Isiro
SOUTH KIVU
3. Bukavu
+ Shabunda
4. Uvira
2
DUNGU
BUKAVU
3
4
UVIRA
Context in the Kivus and Haut Uele
 Various armed actors threatening and preying on the
civilian population: FDLR, Mai-Mai and other “selfdefense groups”, (ex-)CNDP, LRA,…
 Attacks for supplies, abduction of children and women,
reprisal, or to control the land by instigating fear and
forced displacements
 Widespread sexual violence
Context in the Kivus and Haut Uele
 Lack of government presence/control, corruption and
impunity
 Congolese security forces - Army (FARDC), police (PNC)
and intelligence agency (ANR) are responsible for
50% protection incidents and abuses against civilians
 Limited capacity and presence of humanitarians and
MONUSCO – particularly in Haut Uele
Project Overview
2 STRATEGIC APPROACHES:
1. Developing Community-based protection
structures
2. Developing an emergency communications
system as part of an Early Alert and Response
System (EARS)
Early Warning & Community Protection
1. Local
Committee
PROTECTION PLAN
2. COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN
3. EARS
Early Alert and Response System
1. Local
Committee
PROTECTION PLAN
2. COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN
3. EARS
The Choice for ICT4D
ISSUE TO ADDRESS:
• Communities isolation – vulnerable to armed groups
• Poor state of roads and communication infrastructures
• Protection actors without timely information on
humanitarian and security situation
• Example: LUVUNGI
The Choice for ICT4D
ICT4D SOLUTION:
Create an emergency communication system between
isolated and vulnerable communities and protection
actors
• Using cell-phones where cell-phone network existing
(3/40 communities)
• Using HF where no network (37/40)
ICT4D Solution (HF)
Hardware: Barrett 2050
- Transceiver with dipole antenna
- Powered by a solar panel and battery
ICT4D Solution (HF)
Advantage: allows communications for free
Disadvantages: high cost of equipment & technical
difficulties for users and maintenance
Tech. Support: service provider installed HF and trained
radio operators on use and maintenance
Partnership: MONUSCO and Humanitarians (HCR, OCHA)
HF-based EARS
•Civil society
+Caritas
+FARDC & PNC
+Congolese Gvt.
----Risk mapping,
Action Planning
Monitoring,
Advocacy
Community
?
(37)
Focal
Point*
?
?
CLA*
(3) Reference Diocesan
Caritas
Point*
Local
Committee
for Community
Organization
Community
FARDC?
PNC?
Focal
Point*
(6) Humanitarian
Focal Point*
(12) MONUSCO
Base (COB)
OCHA/
UNHCR/
Protection
Cluster
Humanitarian
Protection
Actors
ICT4D Solution (Cell-Phone)
• Advantages: low cost, easy for users & allows EWS
throughout community with several focal points
• Disadvantages: dependent on cell-phone network
quality; communications for a cost
• Tech. Support: using ‘group sms’ options
• Partnership: AIRTEL network provider (free
communication within closed network)
Cell-phone-based EARS
MONUSCO
Relay Points
1
2
4
5
7
8
3
COMMUNITY
‘A’
Focal
Point
6
Diocesan Caritas
Reference
Point*
9
COMMUNITY
‘B’
?
Focal
Point
CLA*
HUMANITARIAN
PROTECTION ACTORS
OCHA
UNHCR/
Protection Cluster
Emergency Cells
Challenges (I)
SAFETY
• Staff on mission in areas
with armed groups presence
• HF-radio equipment
• Do No Harm
PROGRAMMATIC
• Logistics – access despite poor road infrastructure
• Benevolent participation of phones and radio operators
• Dependence on external actors to respond to alerts
• Loss of confidence by communities
Challenges (II)
TECHNICAL
• Training villagers as radio operators
• Weather
• Maintenance of HF-radios
PARTNERSHIP
• AIRTEL – no-cost communication with Cell-phone EWS
• MONUSCO – M.O.U. on response & maintenance
• Caritas – sustainability (Diocesan Ref. Point &
Maintenance)
Lessons learned
• Need strong logistics support
• Need to develop intra-agency technical expertise with HF
communications (and radio in general)
• Communications/Alert Data management (iFormBuilder?)
• System does address community isolation, and its
vulnerability to the consequences of armed groups threats or
violence
• Contributes to increase agency competitiveness
– Assist/facilitate needs assessments for future projects
– Increase CRS visibility
– Pilot project - developing CRS expertise in a new and cutting edge
emergency & protection kind of projects
Sustainability
• Capacity – training local CRS/Caritas HF technicians
• Support – develop agreement with MONUSCO CITS to assist
CRS/Caritas on maintenance issues
• Cost – making private (social or commercial) communications
for a (low) cost in the villages
• Addressing Needs – expanding system to new communities,
already in Bas Uele (June 2011) and to North Kivu and Ituri
• How partnerships help address issues
– Caritas : ensure diocesan reference point after project ends
– MONUSCO: assist Caritas and CRS with relations to Congolese government
– AIRTEL : continue to provide cost free communications within EWS
Impact of project
• Reduced isolation of communities
– Family talking through radio for first time in over a year
– Opening access for other humanitarian organizations
• Recent mass displacements from Shabunda
– CLOC in 2 communities informed of mass arrival of IDPs
– Information was then shared with Cluster, HCR and OCHA
CONCLUSION
Early Alert/Response System (EARS) cannot be implemented
without partnerships
for implementation, support and sustainability
ICT4D in EARS project consists in using technology
(HF radios & cell-phones)
to empower and provide the tools necessary
to address the protection needs
of vulnerable civilian communities
Questions & Answers
THANK YOU