Accountability to Affected Populations / PSEA
UNICEF Interdivisional Working Group (IWG)
Quarter One 2014
Participants: OED / EMOPS / Child Protection in Emergencies / Department of Human
Resources / Evaluation Office / HATIS / Communication for Development / Innovation
Unit
1. Welcome and opening remarks – Yasmin Haque (Dep Dir EMOPS)
The Deputy Director of EMOPs welcomed all participants to the quarterly meeting of the Working
Group and extended a special welcome to Deputy Executive Director Brandt, who was joining the
IWG meeting for the first time. She noted the high turnout at the meeting as an indication of the
high levels of interest in the topic. She also extended a special welcome to the Communication for
Development team and the Evaluation Office to the Working Group, who were also joining the IWG
for the first time.
2. Senior Champion update – Yoka Brandt (DED)
DED Brandt expressed her appreciation for the work done so far by the Group, and noted that that
AAP and PSEA workstreams had been merged as a result of the review of IASC subsidiary bodies
linked to the Transformative Agenda. She pointed out that the engagement with PSEA issues began
some time ago and AAP efforts should build on the lessons learned by that work. She highlighted the
fact that indicators linked to AAP is now included in the Strategic Plan and encouraged that working
together will enhance AAP/PSEA results at the country level, where they are the most important.
DED Brandt reported that the issue of AAP and PSEA were also raised at the IASC Principals Annual
Meeting and that the Principals intend to remain abreast of the progress UNICEF and others are (or
are not) making on AAP/PSEA issues. She pointed out that it is the responsibility of the DED to report
back to the IASC Principals on the progress UNICEF may be making in AAP and PSEA.
As work on AAP will advance, it is important not to lose sight of PSEA issues due to the merger.
3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA): “The Creative Challenge” – Bintou
Keita (DHR DO)
DHR highlighted its commitment that even though AAP and PSEA have merged, PSEA will not be lost,
especially since there are internal accountability links to the work on PSEA.
The challenge at the end of 2013 remains sourcing sufficient funds to support both the internal and
interagency work on PSEA. A video is available featuring the Executive Director expressing his
commitment to effective PSEA and a contribution of 3000 USD was made by UNICEF to support its
development. DHR stated the importance of prevention efforts not being restricted to humanitarian
settings as these risks are pervasive in development settings as well. Working with Country
Management Teams in support of a PSEA campaign would encourage more general discussions about
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PSEA at country level. It was noted that Director of EMOPS has already circulated an email with a video
link of the presentation ERC Amos had done on AAP when she launched the PSEA video that features
the ED. This should be made widely available.
CPiE suggested the establishment of a monitoring system of the roll out of the screenings to assess
whether the video is actually being watched. Training activities related to PSEA could also be
implemented in conjunction with video screenings.
The Evaluation Office suggested including PSEA in the mandatory basic security trainings that are
offered to all UNICEF staff. Simply adding one or two questions in the training would be a strong step
forward. It was also suggested to include an article on what country offices are doing in PSEA in the
annual report.
The Group emphasized that clear procedures should be in place to address SEA cases. A desire was
expressed for more guidance on how to handle SEA reports and investigations. It was suggested to
create standard SOPs that can be contextualized in the country offices.
DHR clarified that the Department of Investigation, linked to the Audit Office, is responsible for the
investigations of SEA and that these cases normally are given priority. A clear explanation of the
investigation mechanism must be included in the Q and A session which should comprise part of the
screening sessions at country level.
The IASC global campaign on PSEA will be carried out for both humanitarian and development
contexts. The importance of streamlining PSEA procedures, including an interagency committee at
country level was also mentioned. There is a plan to establish a common IASC reporting mechanism
for SEA and organizations are being asked to contribute 5000 USD in order to hire a consultant to
develop it.
4. Introducing C4D in AAP (C4D/PD)
The possible synergies and complementarities between the commitment that undergirds AAP and
the ongoing work on communication for behaviour change and social inclusion have been noted by
the Working Group in the past, and an invitation was extended to the C4D team for this reason.
EMOPS is currently collaborating with C4D/PD in the development of their “Communication in
Humanitarian Action Toolkit” (CHAT), which provides support to the operationalization of several
AAP commitments, including enhancing the participation of, communication with and feedback from
affected populations. It is hoped that the close collaboration between the Humanitarian Policy
Section/EMOPS and the C4D team in PD can continue to maximize the opportunities for
collaboration and cross-fertilization going forward. The CHAT is an interagency effort which
dovetails with the interagency approach to enhancing AAP.
5. Update on AAP and PSEA in current major humanitarian situations
The IASC Emergency Directors Group aspires to put in place AAP plan for all L3 emergencies. These
plans target humanitarian coordinators, humanitarian country teams, cluster leads and
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implementing partners by identifying simple ‘must do’, ‘should do’ and ‘could do’ actions. Country
level AAP Action Plans are a good practice that the Working Group wants to continue to support.
The emphasis of 2014 will be to better operationalise and contextualize the EDG AAP plans. The
existing AAP plans for the CAR and the Philippines are quite similar. There is an identified need for
more information about how to increase AAP and prevent SEA work, specifically in conflict settings.
The Philippines OPR identified several weaknesses with the Philippines AAP plan, including its
generic nature and its exclusive focus on Manila. The OCHA led work on Communication with
Communities (CwC) was also a good practice, which the TT wants to see continue.
The work on PSEA in the Philippines did not get enough traction and buy-in around the humanitarian
table. AAP and PSEA have different modalities and separate ways forward for each must be clarified.
This may be a gap in future emergencies. The DED mentioned that these concerns were raised at the
IASC Principals meeting; while the two work streams may be merged they remain two different work
streams with different approaches.
There has been a request by South Sudan and CAR for extra support to use C4D modalities to inform
the development of local communication plans. In the Philippines, C4D has given support for the
development of ministerial plans in the past. The CDAC network has received funding from DFID in
order to set up country level coordination mechanisms and UNICEF is to play an important role as
co-lead. Possible C4D entry points will be identified to advance the AAP/PSEA agenda, the example
of the upcoming training in the Philippines was given as a suggestion.
AAP plans have been developed internally within UNICEF and AAP has been placed on the agenda
for several technical EMT calls. There will be a dedicated call on AAP for South Sudan. The
organization is currently ‘learning by doing’, worth noting that we are not starting from scratch but
there is much work that still remains to be done.
Focal points designated for work on AAP/PSEA:
There are current PSEA focal points existing in-country and it was suggested that these focal points
become focal points for both AAP and PSEA focal points. The Group agrees that it is crucial that AAP
be demystified on the ground and that establishing a network of in-country focal points is a good
approach.
The evaluation office noted that increased AAP and better engagement with affected communities
ensures that our assistance is provided according to need rather than supply. Using the example of
Goma, the Group recognized that modern technologies and innovative approaches could be used to
improve two way communications with affected populations. A challenge remains to address AAP
and complaints mechanisms at a systems level, rather than piecemeal.
6. Updates from IASC TF (EMOPS GVA)
Update from the first quarterly meeting of the AAP/PSEA Task Team:
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AAP and PSEA advocacy: WFP is looking to develop a common language around AAP/PSEA
with UNICEF
Country level technical support: HAP International has carried out a survey at field level in
order to get feedback to establish a 'helpdesk' mechanisms on AAP/PSEA.
Work to infuse recruitment policies of agencies and performance appraisals with AAP
elements is to be led by UNICEF and WFP. OCHA and UNDP have already incorporated PSEA
in their induction trainings.
Much of the pre-existing work on PSEA was lost when the new workplan was developed.
This issue will be looked at in the next Task Team meeting. A PSEA communication subgroup
is being proposed at interagency level.
All agencies are currently discussing how AAP/PSEA can be included in the guidelines of the
humanitarian programme cycle.
There is a new AAP advisor deployed to CAR
A better understanding of the definitions of AAP/PSEA is needed.
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7. A.O.B
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Suggested that a one pager be drafted on what each department/Division/Office can and
should do with regards to AAP/PSEA, as well as consolidate what is the role of the focal
points. Good to organize a dedicated call on this.
Find offices that have been doing good work on AAP/PSEA and target countries of best
practice –
Identify the focal points globally in 2012 – can go back to pool drafted by DHR in 2012 and
see what can be adapted
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Action points of meeting:
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Video viewing and Q and A session to be organized at the RMT meeting in New York.
Draft a roll out plan for country level screenings
Draft document on investigation mechanisms, alternatives and costing. Presentation of
this at next WG meeting
Prepare a work plan and budget for the AAP/PSEA work
Send info on consultant that the IASC Global Campaign wants to hire. Contribution of
UNICEF of 5000 USD requested.
Draft one pager on each departments/ Division’s role in AAP/PSEA
Develop list of AAP/PSEA focal points dedicated call to be set up on this
Identify countries with best practices in AAP/PSEA
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