global strategy

Transcription

1 global strategy danchurchaid ı nørregade 15 ı 1165 copenhagen K ı telephone ı [email protected] ı nødhjælp.dk ı danchurchaid.org partnership for change in the world

2 The Global Strategy is the overall strategic tool to guide our international work in the years to come. It addresses our development work, humanitarian assistance, mine action and advocacy globally and sets the direction for future development within programmes, geographical presence and partnerships. The organisational development and capacity to implement this strategy is described in the work plans within DanChurchAid Vision and Plan challenges in a changing world 3 partnership for change 5 partnership strategic objectives 7 0ur goals 9 strategic change objectives 11 programme and project focus and overview 17 dca focus countries and regional perspective 19 right based development and gender equality 31 programme management 35 assumptions and risks 37

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4 3 Challenges in a changing world 1The world in which we operate is undergoing dramatic change. Power is shifting to the rapidly growing economies of the global east and south and the power of governments to act as agents and change is eroding. In almost all nation states, internal inequality is increasing as the world economic expands. It is now too simplistic to talk about a rich global north and a poor global south. The number of poor countries is declining, but globally inequality is still rising. Across the 21st century world chronic poverty often exists side by side with grossly excessive wealth. Most people in poverty now live in middle-income, emerging economies. The richest 1 per cent today controls 40 per cent of the world s wealth while the poorest 50 per cent own just 1 per cent. Within DanChurchAid s (DCA) five thematic areas of work, there have been improvements. As examples million people are no longer living in extreme poverty; women continue to gain representation in parliaments; and more people than ever are living with HIV - due to improved access to treatment for HIV and fewer AIDS-related deaths. The beginning of the 21st century witnessed how coalitions and individual citizens in the Arab world mobilised and challenged repressive governments. In Myanmar, there has been a gradual opening of political space. However, despite these advances, the consolidation of democratic governance remains fragile. The shallowness of past reforms in formal democratic institutions is also increasingly evident - in the growth of restrictions to any form of opposition from citizens and civil society, the media and other actors. NGO framework laws have been introduced around the globe, north and south, threatening to filter out groups that are critical of government policies. There is a global decline in key areas such as press freedom, the rule of law and the rights of civil society. Only 43 per cent of the world s population lives in countries assessed as free by Freedom House. Hunger remains a global challenge, despite the fact that the number of people living in extreme poverty and poverty rates have fallen in every developing region. Even at the current rate of progress, estimates indicate that about 1 billion people will still be living on less than $1.25 a day in Four out of every five people living in extreme poverty will live in sub-saharan Africa and southern Asia. Despite global food production continuing to exceed global food requirements, and increasing opportunities for communication, trade and transport at the global level, approximately 923 million women, men, and children are still denied access to a stable supply of the most basic calorie and nutrient requirements. At the global level, food insecurity is thus a matter of unequal distribution and unjust food systems, in addition to production constraints at the local levels. Food insecurity poses immense human suffering and seriously undermines the potential for utilising human resources. Every night, one person in seven goes to bed hungry. The HIV and AIDS agenda is changing rapidly as prevention efforts are reducing the number of new infections. Acquiring HIV is no longer a death sentence and a person with HIV does not need to ever develop AIDS. Access to treatment for people living with HIV has increased in all regions. At the end of 2010, 6.5 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy in developing regions. This constitutes an increase of over 1.4 million people over December 2009, and the largest one-year increase ever. However, the 2010 target of universal access was not reached. For this to happen will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure sufficient funding, attention to key populations and marginalised groups and not least to address the key social drivers of the epidemic - in particular gender inequality, discrimination and stigmatisation and lack of sexual and reproductive rights. Only a third of those in need of treatment have access to it. Climate changes lead to extreme and unpredictable weather patterns. This poses a particular challenge to poor countries and marginalized areas, and in particular the most impoverished in those areas. The impact of climate change and environmental decline is seen in both more frequent natural and man-made disasters - such as floods, droughts and famine. Their impact on poor communities can reverse years of progress in development. 70 per cent of disasters are now climate related, affecting some 260 million people each year. Armed conflict and violence uprooted more than 4 million people in 2011, either inside or outside the borders of their countries. At the end of 2011, an estimated 42.5 million people worldwide were living in a place to which they had been forcibly displaced due to conflict or persecution. Governments have provided a record level of funding to rid the world of landmines, and in 2011 more contaminated land has been cleared than ever before. But anti-personnel mines continue to be laid by governments and non-state parties, and 72 countries are mine-affected, even though 80 per cent of the world s nations have signed the Mine Ban Treaty. Cluster munitions are still being produced, transported and used with significant negative impact on local populations despite the 2008 Cluster Munitions Convention. 70% of all landmine victims are civilians.

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6 5 Partnership for change 2A partnership is based on mutual ownership, accountability and participation - a strong mutual relationship based on shared values. Partnership is a founding principle of DanChurchAid - not just a way of working but fundamental to our values and identity. Our emphasis on working in partnerships is our most important comparative advantage. Since 2010, DCA has been a leading member of the global Action by Churches Together (ACT ) alliance. Our partners are on the front line, interacting with rights holders every day. Our partners are critical actors who implement activities which turn our policies into every day practice. DCA partners enrich and inspire our work, and they enable us to understand the problems of poverty and marginalisation. DCA recognises the need to be more systematic about our partnership approach in the period We want to strengthen partners to become stronger civil society actors in their own contexts. We will be more transparent about whom we work with, why and for how long. We will work from baseline data and have minimum objectives for all partners. Beginning in 2013, Regional Offices will monitor activities against these objectives. From 2013 onwards, DCA will prioritise joint programming, joint advocacy strategies and organisational development work, with 1-2 key partners annually in each focus country (10-12 focus countries in all). By the end of the period , DCA s goal is to have at least 100 key partners. For each, we will have clear objectives and expectations for organisational development, and quality and accountability improvements reflected in accountability frameworks which go beyond project activities and funding contracts. All partner organisations will be supported, motivated and monitored on six benchmarks in accountability and quality management with the ultimate aim to significantly improve their organisational sustainability, quality and accountability. Some partners may themselves also opt for external verification. The commitment to the ACT alliance will continue to be strong and our added value as a faith-based organisation will remain central. Most people in developing countries engage in some form of spiritual practice and believe that their faith is important and enables them to relate to the world. Faith groups feel they are motivated by values which are grounded in their religious beliefs and they can have a distinct understanding of development and a different relationship with poor people. Often there can be a lack of understanding between faith groups and governments, donors, secular development organisations and other parts of civil society. In the past, many development agencies have avoided the issue of faith and religion and its role in development. However, DCA as a member of the ACT alliance believes that development actors need to have a basic understanding of what a faith group is and the role played by faith in development - in order to better achieve shared objectives. This includes an understanding of how faith relates to development issues, in the lives of communities, the role of religious institutions and leaders in public life, and faith-based development and relief organisations. An improved understanding helps to build trust and identify greater opportunities for collaboration on policy development and programming. It is important to acknowledge the crucial role of faith-based organisations and faith groups in providing services and relief to poor people, particularly to marginalised communities and in fragile states. DCA will draw more on its particular access to Christian and other faith-based actors to help activate their potential as agents of active citizenship. Many of the 100 key partners for DCA will be ACT partners. In the coming years, DCA will strengthen programmatic cooperation with other ACT members in all DCA focus countries and in humanitarian response activities. One benchmark for ACT alliance cooperation will be having realistic and up-to-date contingency plans in place for all humanitarian response partners in all DCA focus countries. We will ensure that resources are shared and used in the most effective and cost-efficient way, increasing the quality and financing of programmes in the field. DCA partner interaction with ACT Forums and external sustainable advocacy networks will be increased to strengthen the analysis, strategic decisions and coordination of initiatives. A DCA partner group (PG) consisting of elected representatives from DCA s partners was re-established in The PG has an advisory function to the DCA Board as well as day-to-day management (Senior Management). The PG gives inputs to DCA s overall strategic directions (Vision & Plan parts I and II), new policies, major revision of existing policies and other DCA key documents. All DCA partners in each focus country elect a representative to the DCA Partner Group. We will continue to seek critical, constructive advice from the PG in regard to all new policies and strategies.

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8 Partnership strategic objectives 3In the period we will prioritise a revision of our Partnership Policy, including a strategic plan for working with partners and a more systematic portfolio management of our partnerships in each focus country. Partnership Policy To increase the transparency of DCA s different relationships with partners, the Partnership Policy will be adjusted to categorise the range of relationships with partners, including defining the purpose, criteria and mutual requirements for these partnerships. For all partnership relations DCA will work to strengthen, Rights-Based Commitments and Gender Equity standards, including the six benchmarks within the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership Indicators The current Partnership Policy from 2006 is revised to meet recommendations from the Added Value evaluation (COWI, 2009); the HAP certification and the Thematic Review and Capacity Assessment of DanChurchAid (Intrac, 2011). The Policy will be approved by DCA s Partner Group and Board in August Indicator Core partners cooperating with DCA in approved programmes have a signed long-term partnership agreement with DCA in accordance with the revised Partnership Policy. Partner portfolio management DCA will ensure that programmes have a strategic, balanced and mixed partner portfolio based on different criteria; a balance between members of the ACT alliance, or potential ACT members versus secular partners; human rights organisations and gender equity organisations; advocacy versus service delivery partners; short term and longer term partners, etc. In each focus country the nature of the relationship with each partner is based on a systematic and mutual discussion between field offices and HQ staff, including regular assessments of partners organisational strengths and weaknesses, and relevant organisational development plans will be agreed upon. In all DCA programmes, two annual partner platform meetings will be conducted to share learning and experiences with programme implementation, reviews and evaluation, capacity building training; advocacy campaigns, etc. Chairing of the partner platform meetings will be on a rotational basis Indicators From 2013, at least one to two partnership agreements will be signed in each DCA focus country per year, including a long-term organisational development plan for each partner. By July 2013 in each focus country, DCA will institute work plans and reports of activities to improve partners practice and how to put relevant parts of the Humanitarian Accountability Framework into practice; and present a roll-out plan how DCA intends to work with its partners and how they implement and monitor their staff code of conduct Indicator By 2016, all approved country strategies (with a regional focus) have clear partner relationship criteria and are monitored annually in twice annual partnership meetings against mutually agreed accountability benchmarks. ACT alliance In the period , DCA will strengthen programmatic cooperation with other ACT members in all DCA focus countries and ensure that resources are shared and used in the most effective, coordinated and cost-efficient way, as well as increasing quality and financing of programmes in the field. DCA partner interaction with ACT Forums and external sustainable advocacy networks will be increased to strengthen the analysis, strategic decisions and coordination of initiatives Indicators DCA is active in each in-country ACT Forum and we document number of meetings and activities each year Indicators Within the ACT alliance, DCA has facilitated capacity building with one or more ACT partners in each focus country. External coordination and networks DCA facilitates strategic linkages with external networks and institutions beyond the ACT alliance in programme countries with the purpose of exchanging information and best practices, improving overall coordination and impact of technical and advocacy activities. This will include theme-specific national networks, NGO Forums, research institution and the UN, as well as international networks. DCA will strive to place resource persons on the governance bodies of SPHERE, HAP, NGO Forum, ACT board, Aprodev (the Association of World Council of Churches related Development Organisations), ICBL/CMC (International Coalition to Ban Landmines/Cluster Munition Coaltion), and LWF (Lutheran World Foundation) Indicator Conversion of humanitarian standards and accountability mechanisms (Joint Standard Initiative - JSI) through external consultation has progressed significantly against benchmarks Indicator All DCA programme strategies specify the strategic relevance and type of network, and how DCA and partners can benefit from it. 7

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10 9 Our goals 4In the period , DanChurchAid will contribute to the fulfilment of the fundamental human rights of the world s poorest and most marginalised people. Five global goals outline the thematic focus where DCA will work to strengthen: the right to take part in and influence social, political and economic changes; We will work to remove the barriers that prevent men and women from equal participation in society at local, national and international levels. We aim to strengthen democratic structures and processes and further the implementation of civil and political rights, allowing poor women and men and civil society organisations to enjoy their equal right to participate. We focus on changing the institutions and actors that abuse the participation rights of certain population groups, especially women, indigenous people, minorities and religious minorities. the right to food through better access to sustainable livelihood activities; In all of our areas of activity, we will strengthen and secure the right to food. We commit ourselves to achieve a higher level of equality, food security and an increasing standard of living by changing the structures that cause hunger and malnutrition and prevent people from escaping from it. We promote sustainable and climate-friendly methods of agriculture that are adapted to the new challenges caused by climate changes, and also to reduce vulnerability and marginalisation by promoting microfinance, income-generation activities and access to markets. We support mobilisation and organisation to advocate for the right to food. the right to basic health services with particular focus on the fight against HIV and AIDS; Our work focuses on the right to basic health services, in particular in relation to HIV and AIDS. We want to strengthen women and men s access to contraception and support the rights of women and men to be able to freely decide when to have children, to be free from sexual coercion and from harmful cultural practices. As a faith-based organisation, we focus specifically on ensuring that other faith-based organisations fight against stigmatisation and discrimination, and address the gender inequality that is the main driving force of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. the right to a life in dignity and thus the right to humanitarian assistance and protection; We work within existing international humanitarian law and standards in disaster response. When responding to a humanitarian crisis, we address basic needs, in particular food security, with a focus on gender issues as well as strive to eliminate the underlying causes of the crisis. We prioritise accountability to the local population and develop its response in collaboration with ACT partners, networks and the affected population. The response includes disaster risk reduction, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. Wherever possible, we will link our response to ongoing development activities. the right to protection against the negative effects of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war; We conduct humanitarian mine action to remove the barriers that mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war pose to socio-economic development in post-conflict countries. The DCA response includes demining, survey, mine risk education, armed violence reduction and victim assistance.

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12 5 11 Strategic change objectives DCA will continue its work within five programme areas, including via local, national and global advocacy: Active Citizenship Right to Food HIV and AIDS Prevention Humanitarian Assistance Humanitarian Mine Action Advocacy DCA works according to the rights-based approach. Complementing DCA s humanitarian and development work, advocacy is seen as an equal and integrated activity. For DCA, advocacy means a series of actions strategically designed to increase the influence of rights holders on public policy decisions and implementation that affect their lives. The overall objective of DCA s work with advocacy is to address power imbalances and increase achievements of rights for the most impoverished and marginalised. This implies addressing the structural causes of poverty and injustice and active support towards sustainable and equitable development. The right to take part in and influence social, political and economic changes In 2012, DCA s Political Space Programme policy was revised and the name was changed to Active Citizenship. The revised policy has a sharpened focus on the human right to participate, including freedoms of association, assembly and expression, and the right to information. As with the previous programme, we will support work against discrimination. The new policy is centred on supporting poor men and women to engage in decision-making structures and processes, particularly at the local level; further their equal rights to participation in electoral processes. The policy will more systematically monitor and advocate for an enabling environment for citizen action, as per international human rights standards. While DCA is prioritising an engagement in local governance, we are also committed to addressing national level advocacy for changes in discriminatory laws, policies and norms that limit the participation of poor women and men. Recent programme evaluations have pointed to the need for DCA to further build partner capacity on strategic advocacy, including facilitating improved skills in political economy and power analysis. Stakeholder analyses must therefore be stronger on assessing power and interests. Based on these analyses, DCA and partners need to be more strategic in taking opportunities within political processes for addressing governance gaps. Experience also suggests that DCA must maintain a flexible strategic framework for these programmes, enabling them to adapt to different political contexts and quickly respond to changing political contexts. In view of the increased risks faced by partners, we will need to step up our networking with protection-specialised agencies (e.g. Frontline Defenders)

13 and increase our support, where relevant, to human rights defenders mechanisms in its focus countries. DCA will also explore making more explicit a focus on promoting dialogue and constructive engagement between conflicting groups. This will include supporting initiatives at the local, national and international levels for promotion of peaceful coexistence and reconciliation e.g. through interfaith dialogue and consensus building among ethnic and religious groups. We will continue to support work on access to justice as a cross-cutting intervention to respond to abuses and violations against women and discriminated groups, as an inhibiting factor to their enhanced participation in their societies. DCA will undertake advocacy activities at Danish, EU and global levels aimed at ensuring political space and enabling environment for civil society action with a special focus on the right to association and assembly. These activities will, to a very large degree, be carried out in cooperation with DCA partners, first and foremost in Aprodev, ACT alliance and Concord (the European NGO confederation for Relief and Development) in Denmark and Europe. Indicators 2013 Strategy Indicator In 3 out of 10 fully-fledged Active Citizenship programmes, 60 per cent of partners have developed long-term advocacy strategies and report increased skills in political economy and power analysis in Strategy Indicator In all Active Citizenship Programmes, 60 per cent of partners have institutionalised long-term advocacy strategies and show evidence of increased political analysis and strategic advocacy skills Effect Indicator Number of new laws and policies introduced with partner contributions and the documented increase in resources for more equitable service delivery and poverty-reducing programmes due to partner-supported lobby and advocacy interventions Effect Indicator Documented impact of the increased participation of women and men and representative civil society organisation within local and national decision-making structures and processes in terms of increased budgets and their effective disbursement, equitable service delivery, improved policies, laws and practices, etc. The right to food through better access to sustainable livelihood activities DCA will upscale sustainable livelihood activities in rural areas and facilitate linkage at national and international levels. This entails working within the UN Global Strategic Framework and Guidelines In Agriculture, this entails i.a. capacity development and organisation of farmers and pastoralists; improved food production and storage; marketing of agricultural and other produce; and advocacy to keep national duty bearers accountable to commitments to right to food. DCA will work to mainstream climate change adaptation by including Disaster Risk Reduction in all Right to Food programmes. It is our strategy to improve disaster resilience by linking humanitarian efforts more firmly to long-term development, through vulnerability analysis and vulnerability scenarios and strengthening local efforts where disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation are integrated. The local population, particularly the most vulnerable groups and the local authorities will be involved in prevention and preparedness to a much greater degree for maximum effect. The rural poor hold great potential for contributing to the achievement of the right to food if given the opportunity to access resources and influence. We will continue to support the rural poor in improving productivity, generating income and gaining influence on the political processes that define the framework for their right to food. We will focus on reducing discrimination of vulnerable groups that may include farmers with little or poor quality land, marginalised pastoralists, landless labourers, girls and women with no land rights, HIV and AIDS affected and indigenous peoples. Giving women the same level of access to knowledge and natural resources as men would in itself lift 100 to 150 million people out of hunger. DCA will strengthen poverty alleviation activities by facilitating the removal of barriers to access to sustainable and green livelihoods. We will focus on various aspects of agriculture (capacity building and organization of farmers, increased food production, food storage, food marketing and advocacy to keep national duty bearers accountable to uphold food security laws), and other rural income generating activities to ensure household food security including the most vulnerable e.g. landless and casual labourers. DCA will continue the strategic use of microfinance to support the formation of village savings and loan groups. In relevant areas Advocacy issues in our Right to Food programmes will be climate change adaptation, land grabbing and integration of development and humanitarian aid policies. We will continue to focus on consumer protection and advocacy in connection to microfinance. In areas where mines and Unexploded Ordinances (UXO)s hinder food production or access to agricultural land, DCA will integrate the work of Humanitarian Mine Action and Right to Food programmes. Indicators 2013 Strategy Indicator By 2013, more than 50 per cent of the partners in each Right to Food programme have included strategic work on structural causes of food insecurity, disaster risk reduction and the effect and impact of climate change in their policies and plans, and show evidence of implementation of these policies in projects Strategy Indicator By 2016, more than 50 per cent of the partners in each Right 12

14 to Food programme have included strategic work on structural causes of food insecurity, disaster risk reduction and the effect and impact of climate change in their policies and plans, and show evidence of implementation of these policies in projects Effect Indicator By 2013, the combination of agricultural production, income generation and accessing rights has contributed to a reduction of food insecure months of 10 per cent within DCA programme areas Effect Indicator By 2016, the combination of an integrated approach to humanitarian assistance, climate change adaptation and agricultural production, income generation and accessing rights has contributed to a reduction of food insecure months of 50 per cent within DCA programme areas. The right to basic health services with particular focus on the fight against HIV and AIDS HIV prevalence is declining in many countries and world focus on HIV is decreasing. However, the challenge of HIV remains huge. Still only a third of those in need of treatment have the access to treatment. The social and cultural issues around HIV is worsened by a real set back on sexual and reproductive rights in many countries, both in relation to women s rights and sexual minority rights, making HIV prevention even more challenging. A review of DCA s HIV and AIDS programme will take place in Based on its recommendations a new programme policy on HIV and AIDS will be developed. DCA has long experience in combating the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Focus has been on supporting organisation giving care for people living with HIV and AIDS, support for orphans and vulnerable children and prevention. An important part of the work has been advocacy in Denmark, internationally and in the countries in the South. During , DCA will continue to focus on HIV and AIDS intervention but direct the work into high prevalence countries in Africa. Areas will include HIV and AIDS prevention, advocacy, empowerment and changes of attitude towards people with the disease to reduce stigma and discrimination. DCA will shift focus away from service provision to more rights-based approaches with advocacy for increased government support in favour of the groups most vulnerable to the infection and strengthening of people living with HIV own organisations and networks. Supporting sexual and reproductive rights including sexual minority rights, and fighting against criminalisation of HIV transmission will be given more focus in the programmes in the planning period. A strategy for Danish, International and Danish advocacy will be developed in DCA as a faith-based organisation will continue to work to support the rights of the most marginalised and especially how to involve the faith-based community in creating an enabling and constructive environment for HIV prevention. Indicators 2013 Strategy Indicator By 2013, all DCA HIV and AIDS programmes document active steps to strengthen advocacy focus on programme by capacity development initiatives or by including advocacy resource organisations in the partner base Strategy Indicator By 2016, all DCA HIV and AIDS programmes have participated actively in national level advocacy Effect indicator By 2013, 2 out of 3 HIV and AIDS programmes document increased access to gender sensitive and rights based prevention and treatment of HIV for the most vulnerable women and men Effect indicator By 2016, all DCA HIV and AIDS programmes document increased access to gender sensitive and rights-based prevention and treatment of HIV for the most vulnerable women and men. The right to a life in dignity and thus the right to humanitarian assistance and protection The priorities in our humanitarian work are: respect for humanitarian principles; protection of conflict and disaster affected people; greater inclusion of local civil society in conflict mitigation and peaceful co-existence activities at community level; and reconstruction work in countries and areas caught up in complex crises. DCA and our humanitarian assistance partners are firmly committed to the Humanitarian Charter and the Sphere Project Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, both in principle and in action. DCA is likewise committed to the benchmarks of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership. Together, these two initiatives form the foundation for delivering humanitarian assistance that is accountable and of high quality. In this regard, the Rights- Based Approach plays a fundamental role in our approach to humanitarian assistance. From 2013 and onwards, there will be increased activity by DCA and partners within the ACT alliance to advocate for local populations where core humanitarian principles and standards are not respected. DCA will work to strengthen partner staff knowledge of Sphere Standards and HAP benchmarks, especially the development of complaints mechanisms, the provision of adequate information, and the fostering of meaningful participation of disaster and conflictaffected communities. Through delivery of humanitarian assistance via local partner organisations, DCA plays a unique role in humanitarian actions. Our partners often have access to the most marginalised and vulnerable populations, and often have a unique perspective on the disaster and responses to it. DCA will continue our focus on beneficiary involvement in decision-making and improved visibility efforts to increase accountability and we will work to increase partner 13

15 staff knowledge of SPHERE minimum standards and HAP benchmarks, especially the requirement to have complaints mechanisms for local communities which will be a valuable contribution to the humanitarian community at large. We will continue to prioritise addressing food crisis response in the delivery of timely and effective humanitarian assistance. As mentioned above under the right to food, a revision of the Humanitarian Assistance Policy will take place in During , DCA will develop medium to longer term strategies for all humanitarian crisis situations where DCA engages for more than 12 months and which are not covered under another programme strategic framework. The strategies will include disaster risk reduction with an emphasis on disaster preparedness measures, define exit strategies, and outline DCA s role and added value in relation to the implementing partners and affected communities. We believe that disaster resilience can be strengthened considerably by linking humanitarian action with long-term development, through local efforts where disaster risk reduction measures and climate adaptation are integrated. Between 2013 and 2016, DCA will prioritise Disaster Risk Reduction by allocating specific funds to all five regions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Apart from the recommendation to secure a stronger link between humanitarian assistance and development, the review will take into account, the experience and lessons learned from the Cash and Risk Conference in During the period , DCA will increase the use of cash programming in its activities. Additional emphasis will be given to understanding and supporting local protection skills and methods. DCA will utilise the findings of its Local to Global Protection project through awareness raising and training for partners, in particular in Myanmar, Sudan, South Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as through developing and implementing methods which reflect the findings in our humanitarian work generally and within the ACT alliance. DCA s research and experience demonstrates that local populations capacity to survive and protect themselves is often more important than external protection. Local communities capacities will be prioritised through increased support for local self-protection activities. One important element is to protect civilians from war remnants and large quantities of weapons through humanitarian mine action and mine risk education. DCA will work proactively with the ACT alliance in order to create synergy and increased international funding to humanitarian response between ACT donors and ECHO. DCA s humanitarian response funds will be used strategically to attract funding for emergencies. Further, emphasis will be placed on strengthened cooperation with the ACT alliance, CONCORD, VOICE, and with Nordic ACT Organizations to increase international funding from ECHO and USAID specifically. DCA accountability and procurement specializations will be further promoted within the ACT alliance, demonstrating DCA added value. Indicators Strategy indicator 2013 By 2013, all ACT alliance forums in DCA focus countries and countries with significant DCA supported humanitarian response have realistic and up-to-date contingency plans in place. Strategy Indicator 2016 By 2016, all DCA supported humanitarian projects provide adequate information, ensure meaningful participation by rights holders and actively use feedback from complaints mechanisms to ensure quality improvements. Effect Indicator 2013 By 2013, medium to long term strategies are in place for all humanitarian crisis situations where DCA works more than 12 months and which are not covered under another DCA programme strategic framework. At least three humanitarian project evaluations document reduced vulnerability and increased resilience among rights holders as a result of strengthened focus on self-protection; disaster preparedness and cash programming. Effect Indicator 2016 By 2016, all DCA humanitarian projects document reduced vulnerability and increased resilience among rights holders as a result of strengthened focus on self-protection, disaster preparedness and cash programming. The right to protection against the negative effects of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war DCA s Mine Action programme will expand the scope of engagement in south east Asia, with focus on Myanmar and Laos. Existing activities in Africa and the Middle East will be maintained and strengthened where funding allows. DCA s Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) programme will also diversify activity, by strengthening our risk education expertise and expanding our engagement in Armed Violence Reduction (AVR). DCA HMA will strive to make mine clearance activity more efficient, through use of innovative technology and effective land release techniques. DCA will ensure better understanding of beneficiaries needs and our impact by systematic use of task impact assessments and the establishment of a robust operational database. Future focus for HMA will centre on developmental impact: where explosive ordnance and mines affect freedom of movement and right to a life with dignity/right to food. This approach will focus DCA HMA prioritisation at the global level, and inform work at Regional Offices to ensure mine action enables other DCA focus country programme activity and output. DCA, being one of only five major mine action organizations worldwide and the only ACT alliance member with this capacity, will continue to strengthen collaboration where possible with ACT partners, including significant work to combine psy- 14

16 cho-social support with mine action, and will remain the only ACT alliance member with humanitarian response capacity in mine action. DCA HMA will continue to advocate for universal accession to both the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. In addition, DCA HMA will advocate for effective wording within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Indicators Strategy indicator 2013 AVR and Psychosocial elements have been introduced in two programmes, supported where possible by ACT partnerships for delivery. Strategy indicator 2016 Publically accessible annual programme reporting per country has been instituted, documenting goals, progress, and overall output, and including the developmental and humanitarian impact of DCA HMA and Armed Violence Reduction activity. Effect indicator 2013 The effect of HMA interventions has broadened beyond clearance to introduce protection of those most threatened by proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and strengthened support to those traumatised by the effects of conflict. Effect indicator 2016 Clearance efficiency increased by 10 per cent over 2011 levels, development effect ( including improved livelihoods through release of land for farming) and contribution to sustainable national capacity demonstrated for all DCA HMA interventions. 15

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18 Programme and project focus and overview 6From 2013 to 2016, the number of programmes under each programme policy will be changed to reflect an increased focus on the right to food and a shift towards working with HIV and AIDS only in high prevalence countries in Africa. The right to food programmes will be scaled up and adjusted according to the new policy. The programmes will ensure that regionally connected disaster risks are systematically integrated when developing (regional) right to food and/or humanitarian assistance programmes in Asia, Africa and Central America. Currently DCA has nine approved food security programmes either as stand-alone programmes or integrated into country programmes: India, Cambodia, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia and Central America (regional). Moreover, food security is integrated into the country programmes in Palestine, South Sudan and Zambia. In 2013, a Myanmar food security programme will be approved, and in the longer term Kyrgyzstan will also focus on food security. If it is decided to establish Zimbabwe as a DCA focus country, a food security programme will also be developed here. In 2013, work on the right to basic health will focus on HIV and AIDS prevention only in high prevalence countries in Africa. Separate HIV and AIDS programmes are approved in Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia and Uganda. HIV and AIDs programmes in Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia will be phased out. It is not envisaged to increase the number of HIV and AIDS programmes in Africa, but closer cooperation with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) managing the Zambia country programme is planned. This will clarify future ambitions in regard to HIV and AIDS. We will continue the current level of democracy building with a focus on access to justice and citizens participation as described in the revised Active Citizenship policy. For the time being, DCA has Active Citizenship programmes in 12 countries, either as separate programmes or as integrated components in a country programme: Ethiopia, Malawi, South Sudan (country programme), Uganda, Zambia (as a part of a Norwegian Church Aid country programme), Myanmar, Cambodia, India, South Asia (regional), Palestine (country programme), Honduras and Kyrgyzstan. Should Zimbabwe be defined as a DCA focus country, an active citizenship programme/programme component will be developed. Humanitarian assistance and protection will continue to be a strong component in DCA s international work. With an increased emphasis on disaster risk reduction measures, linkages to longer term right to food programmes will be strengthened. Moreover, based on the findings of the localto-global project, support to local self-protection building will increase. Currently, DCA has Humanitarian Assistance programmes in South Sudan (country programme) and in South Asia (regional disaster risk reduction programme). Disaster risk reduction and emergency response is also addressed under the Right to Food programmes in Ethiopia and Cambodia and the country programme in Palestine. In addition to these programmatic interventions, DCA s humanitarian assistance is responding to humanitarian crises through shorter term stand- alone projects. In 2011, DCA had approximately 27 humanitarian projects in 13 countries outside a longer term programme framework. In the medium term, DCA foresees a need to continue humanitarian assistance in 8 of these countries (Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan) and in 2013, medium term humanitarian strategies will be developed for these countries. The scope of DCA s humanitarian assistance in terms of people targeted and projects implemented will depend on the need to respond, but it is foreseen that at a minimum the scope will remain the same as in Humanitarian mine action and mine risk education is currently taking place in seven countries. By 2013, we will complete our work in Albania. In the future, we will explore opportunities to increase co-operation with ACT sister agencies who are working with development in mine contaminated areas. We will continue the current level of our work with our crosscutting commitments to the rights-based approach, including gender equality and special attention on accountability towards rights holders (HAP certification). 17 Year Active Citizenship programmes Right to Food programmes HIV and AIDS Programmes Humanitarian Assistance programmes and projects outside programmes Humanitarian Mine Action programmes total programmes 27 projects 4 programmes 27 projects The number of programmes in 2016 indicated above is based on an assumption that Zimbabwe will develop into a DCA focus country. The future number of humanitarian stand-alone projects outside programmes is difficult to predict. 27 projects is the 2011 level of engagement.

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20 7 19 DCA Focus countries with regional perspective Geographical focus DCA s international engagement is based on strategic and sustainable support in focus countries with a regional perspective. The principles and rules for DCA engagement are outlined in DCA s Regional Policy and made specific in individual strategies for all our focus regions. The commitment to work with a regional perspective comes from experience that issues are interlinked across borders and sometimes require a broader response. Other issues can be purely national in nature and are therefore more focussed. DCA could work with a much larger geographical spread and greater technical reach. But we have made a conscious choice to harness our significant resources behind local partners in a limited number of programme types (5), focus countries (10-12) and regions worldwide. Important selection criteria include: levels of poverty and food insecurity, freedom of movement, power imbalances, and levels of discrimination, HIV and AIDS prevalence and disasters. These factors are then assessed against the windows of opportunity for influencing decision-makers, availability of funding and most importantly, availability of strong local partners, legitimately rooted in local society and able to make a difference in improving livelihoods, enjoyment of basic human rights, freedom of movement, and access to basic social services. In 2012, DCA was engaged in 11 focus countries: Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Honduras and Palestine. In the strategic period , DCA will increase its activities in Zimbabwe with a view to establish it as a new focus country. A focus country is where a DCA Regional Office is located and is the centre of DCA s engagement in the focus region. This focus is maintained to ensure that long-term and substantial support is maintained within the country to facilitate sustainable institutional and social changes. Together with a focus country the focus region can consist of countries in the region where the mandate and engagement is more limited, be it Programme Country, Humanitarian Response Country, or Humanitarian Mine Action Country. The rationale behind a focus country with a regional perspective is to secure: a flexible but strategic framework for combining different types of donor funding in countries in the focus region; a framework which can help identify and strengthen linkages between different countries and partnerships in the focus region for learning and advocacy; a framework for responding to cross-border issues e.g. climate change, certain disasters, regional-level advocacy, etc.; and long-term commitment.

21 photo paul jeffrey/actalliance 20 Africa DCA will further intensify our interventions in Africa. Assessments should identify the opportunities to strengthen and increase our interventions in Zimbabwe based on a close cooperation and coordination with ACT alliance members present in the country. Overall, and as part of a general DCA strategic drive to enhance the work on disaster risk reduction, specific plans are being implemented to coordinate such efforts between the DCA Regional Offices in Ethiopia, South Sudan (also covering Kenya) and Uganda, in particular as regards the more or less nomadic pastoralist groups that all three offices work with in these countries. In the southern part of the continent the focus will be placed on reducing the effects of the recurring droughts on the rural insecure households. The plan is to increase programme synergies as well as possibilities of additional fundraising. Ethiopia DCA s activities in the long-term focus country Ethiopia are focused in two clusters of districts in the small-scale agriculturalist eastern highland parts of the Amhara region (Wag Hamra, N&S Wollo, Oromia), and in the mainly pastoralist lowland southern parts of Oromiya region (Bale, Borena). Ethiopia has approved programmes for both Active Citizenship and HIV and AIDS ( ), and for Food Security ( ). By increasingly focusing in the same geographical areas we hope to enhance synergy effects among the different programmes. The Active Citizenship programme faces special challenges because of the restrictive Ethiopian NGO legislation. The programme focuses on enhancing female participation in decision making at all levels (household and upwards). The HIV and AIDS programme aims to empower vulnerable groups, particularly among women and youth, to better protect themselves from HIV and AIDS infection. The Food Security programme, DCA s largest in Ethiopia by far, aims to enhance food security at community and household level as well as to build resilience to climate induced hazards. Thus, this programme also provides the strategic framework for humanitarian interventions with a risk reduction perspective, which vary according to the situation in individual years. Linked to this, DCA further closely supports international and domestic climate change advocacy of Ethiopian partners, both financially and technically. The programme objectives for Ethiopia for are: Target communities food security enhanced through community and household level interventions to increase food availability, access, and utilization. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Empowered target communities and enhanced collaboration among communities, local government, and DCA partner organizations.

22 Dialogue on poverty issues and policy alternatives at local and national levels promoted. Partners capacity for project implementation, collaboration, and networking strengthened. Enhanced female participation in decision making at all levels (household and upwards). Empower vulnerable groups, particularly among women and youth, to better protect themselves from HIV and AIDS infection. South Sudan The new country of South Sudan is a DCA focus country. We continue working mainly in Jonglei state, Central Equatoria state, and in Eastern Equatoria state. However, when the effect of programme activity as well as partner impact can be enhanced, broadening the geographical area of operation will be considered. Also volatile relief situations are likely to require humanitarian interventions, which also includes humanitarian mine action, e.g. through the ACT network, in other parts of the country as well, in particular near the northern border with Sudan. The situation in South Sudan, including the geographical vastness of the country, calls for an integrated approach. The Humanitarian Assistance country programme strategy which has guided DCA s work since the peace agreement between north and south in 2006 is in the process of being revised for the period Within the frame of humanitarian response and protection, the programme will focus on the right to food with an emphasis on linking protection, relief, rehabilitation and development. Furthermore, the programme has strong cross-cutting priorities, with components on peace building and conflict mitigation with gender and conflict sensitivity, and accountability and capacity development of partners and local government, as well as community and church leaders. Programme activities will target vulnerable agricultural and pastoralist communities, vulnerable women and girls, youth, returnees, IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and refugees. Working conditions in Sudan are now such that many years of development as well as mine action activities have been wound up, and at present only humanitarian relief activities are being implemented in different parts of the country with considerable and increasing difficulties. The links between the two Sudans are, however, so strategic that if and when working conditions in Sudan improve DCA expects to resume some longer term development activities there as a regional extension to the South Sudan programme. DCA activities in Kenya are an extension to the South Sudan programme in terms of focusing on the Kakuma refugee camp with its Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee groups which are now again increasing; and in terms of working with the Toposa-Turkana conflicts across the South Sudan-Kenya border. This latter aspect is also linked to the regional disaster risk reduction effort referred to above. To a modest extent, DCA also supports humanitarian relief in Somalia and for Somali refugees in Kenya through the ACT alliance network. The programme objectives for South Sudan for are: Target communities food security enhanced through community and household level interventions to increase food availability, access, and utilisation. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Human security and conditions for safe and sustainable livelihoods for war affected populations in South Sudan is improved through clearance and survey of land contaminated by Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). Empowered target communities and enhanced collaboration among communities, local government, and DCA partner organisations. The Kenya programme objectives for Turkana West District in are: To contribute towards durable solutions for displacement through improved access to basic services, protection, and empowerment for refugee and host communities in Turkana West District, Kenya. Enhanced community resilience to drought disaster through improved access to and management of community resources. The Sudan programme objectives for South and West Darfur in 2013 are: Relieve human suffering and mitigate the effects of armed conflict and displacement on IDPs and communities in South and West Darfur most affected by the violence and unrest and in doing so develop the capacity of national partner agencies. The most vulnerable war-affected population in the SPLM-N (Sudan People s Liberation Movement-North) controlled areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile are able to meet basic priority needs through a combination of relief, local capacity development and improved national and international protection. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Targeted advocacy contributes to safeguard human security and conditions for the most vulnerable war- affected population. Uganda Uganda has been a DCA focus country for many years and will remain so in the foreseeable future, with a further increase in activities and funding expected. The strategic focus of activities in Uganda is on the mainly pastoralist/agro-pastoralist region 21

23 of Karamoja in the northeast of the country (with a small regional extension into Kenya) as well as the neighbouring mainly agriculturalist Teso-Amuria area. Within PT4 some activities remain in the Rakai and Lyantonde districts in the southwest near Tanzania where the HIV and AIDS epidemic first erupted some 30 years ago. Recently approved programmes are in place for Active Citizenship and Food Security ( ) as well as for HIV and AIDS ( ). The Active Citizenship programme aims at increasing political participation of the poor, with special emphasis on women and youth, as well as anti-corruption and transparency for public resources. The Food Security programme focuses on groups whose livelihoods are threatened by cyclical weather-related disasters and protracted food shortages and will thus also participate with Ethiopia and South Sudan (with Kenya) in the regional Disaster Risk Reduction initiative. The HIV and AIDS programme works more strategically than before on empowerment of groups that are particularly vulnerable to the HIV and AIDS epidemic as well as on improving the response of relevant duty bearers. In 2013, DCA will further investigate possibilities for establishing a close cooperation with other ACT members in Burundi in order to remain in close contact with this country, which is considered strategic in terms of humanitarian and development needs in the region. In any case, both Burundi and Rwanda are potential humanitarian response countries. Within the Great Lakes region but in practice unrelated to the focus country Uganda, DCA is further planning to conduct humanitarian mine action activities in South Kivu, DR Congo for some years to come. The programme objectives in Uganda in are: Policy, legal and administrative frameworks are reformed to further electoral accountability and the political participation of women and other excluded groups. Increased participation and influence of marginalised rights holders, particularly women and other excluded groups in Karamoja and Teso, within the social, political and economic decision-making processes. Partner organisations are strengthened and capacities enhanced. Rights holders in vulnerable situations, in particular orphans and vulnerable children, young women, girls and people living with HIV in target areas are empowered to challenge unequal gender roles, harmful practices, stigma and discrimination that predispose them to HIV infection and further vulnerability. Rights holders in vulnerable situations, in particular Oral Vaccination Campaign, young women, girls, fishermen and people living with HIV in target areas have increased access to information, prevention, care and other support services in relation to HIV and SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights). Duty bearers are taking appropriate actions to address structural (social, economic, traditional), political and legal barriers to food and nutrition security. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Vulnerable rights holders in target areas are supported to use available resources in a more effective and efficient manner. DRR (Disater Risk reduction)/emergency response. The programme objectives in DR Congo where work will be concentrated in South Kivu area are: Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Land cleared of threat of Mines and ERW, released and made accessible for community use and reduced threat of mines and ERW. Malawi Malawi has been a focus country for many years. Within Malawi, DCA has no exclusive geographical focus. It is worth mentioning, however, that the Southern tip of the country (Shire Valley) is particularly prone to suffer from extreme climate events (flooding and droughts), hence humanitarian relief aid is often directed this way and it is a focus for disaster risk reduction interventions. In Malawi, DCA has programmes in Active Citizenship, Food Security, and HIV and AIDS. A new Active Citizenship programme will be approved by the end of 2012, with a main focus on local governance, both at the level of promoting more participation friendly laws and in relation to budget monitoring. Women s participation will be specially emphasised. Because of its recent history, Malawi has figured prominently in DCA s broader advocacy for attention to the importance of an enabling environment for civil society organisations; despite promising new developments, attention to this aspect will continue to be high on DCA s agenda. The Food Security programme focuses on rural food insecurity and pilots new approaches in savings and loans associations. This programme is up for evaluation and re-direction in The recently approved HIV and AIDS programme, like in other DCA countries, has a strong focus on empowerment of women and youth in relation to the epidemic. DCA further closely supports the international and domestic climate change advocacy of Malawian partners, both financially and technically. Through support from Bilka, DCA, NCA and our partner CHAM will continue to cooperate to improve health infrastructure at primary health facilities in rural and small towns of Malawi. Emphasis is on maternal health and health care for children under 5 years of age. The future aim is to use the five 22

24 health centres completed in 2013 to further strengthen and improve the nutritional and health of the people of Malawi. The Project will work with the Health facilities to integrate nutritional activities within the existing outreach clinics. The cooperation with Grundfos in providing water for irrigation on small farmers land will continue and is expected to develop further. The project is based on solar powered pumps. Focus will be on securing improved agricultural production and nutrition for a larger group of small and marginalised farmers. In the region, DCA is exploring ways of increasing activities in Zimbabwe in cooperation with the ACT network. Concretely and in the short term, democratisation activities will be supported in cooperation with Dutch ICCO as a regional extension to the Malawi Active Citizenship programme. The programme objectives in Malawi for are: The poor, especially rural women have increased their representation in decision making structures and are empowered to challenge repressive cultural beliefs and practices that limit their participation. The poor, especially women, have increased access to justice from discriminatory and negative cultural practices. Rural food insecure households have increased access to food and improved nutritional status. The rights of girls and young women on their sexual reproductive health are protected through increased empowerment and access to improved services. Churches active role as responsible agents for reduction of stigma and harmful cultural beliefs and practices is strengthened. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. The programme objectives for Angola, where activities are primarily in Moxico Province, are: Release high and medium impacted land through technical and non-technical survey, manual and mechanical demining and EOD (Explosive Ordenance Disposal) spot tasks. Continue to reduce the risk to the mine-affected population through community liaison activities, Mine Risk Education and Task Impact Assessments. Contribute to building long-term national capacities for mine action. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Zambia In Zambia programmes will focus on the poorer provinces and provinces where good partners with good impact have been identified: southern, eastern, western and north western. Positive experiences with joint programme work between three agencies (DCA, NCA, Christian Aid) can be documented in Zambia since the beginning of Five programmes are being implemented based on NCA s programme policies, that all three partners have agreed to follow: 1. Climate Change Adaptation, with a focus on alternative energy sources in rural areas; 2. Livelihoods and Trade with a focus on land rights, micro-finance groups and small-holder farming as a business; 3. Resources Finance and Accountable Governance focussing on accountable governance of public resources and increased revenue from Zambia s rich extractive industries channelled to poverty reduction; 4. Social Mitigation of HIV and AIDS with a focus on children affected by HIV and AIDS; 5. Women in Governance with a focus increasing women s participation in governance issues and structures. However, it is to be tested whether it is sustainable to maintain five programmes in Zambia. This will at least require that more funding is secured. In 2013 or 2014 there will be a need to engage in an assessment of how the model of joint programming under the management of a sister agency has functioned in practice, both in terms of programmatic impact and in terms of management and cooperation under a joint MoU (Memorandum of Understanding). Important advocacy issues which link Zambia programmes with HQ efforts are in the field of climate change, land grabbing and ensuring political space. DCA will continue to base information work and volunteer work on its involvement in the Joint Country Programme. The programme objectives in Zambia for are: Increased women s participation in national decision making processes. People living with HIV, in particular women, benefit from legal social and economic assistance from Joint programme partners. Orphans and vulnerable children benefit from social, psychosocial and physical support from DCA partner JCPZ and partners. Faith-based organisations and targeted communities increasingly adopt HIV prevention measures. Rights holders are organised and empowered to secure sustainable livelihoods especially in rural Zambia. Poor households and communities have adjusted land use practices for increased resilience and food security. Poor communities have implemented DRR to increase resilience to natural disasters. Democratic practices and legal frameworks that are responsive and uphold the rule of law. Partners capacity strengthened in analysis of policies governing resources finance and accountable governance. 23

25 photo morsi Asia With the majority of the world s poor people living in Asia, DCA works to support their participation, food security and protection against disasters in three focus countries across two of the sub regions. The economic growth in some of the countries in Asia, especially India, means that focus will be further intensified on securing that the poorest groups in the societies get access to the resources and influence. Thus during 2013, it will be decided whether to up scale the partner portfolio and activities in Nepal and reduce and further focus activities in India. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are humanitarian response countries managed from DCA HQ in close cooperation with ACT alliance partners. India India is one of DCA s focus countries in south Asia with sub offices in Nepal and Bangladesh. In India, the geographical focus is on Rajasthan and Orissa for Active Citizenship and Food Security and on Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam for the Humanitarian Disaster Risk Reduction programme. In Bangladesh, the geographical focus is on the North West with the partner RDRS and the south-west and north-east with DSK. In Nepal our interventions are disaster risk reduction in the far-western, western and eastern districts. The programme focus is on four approved programmes managed by the South Asia Regional Office (SARO) in Delhi: One Active Citizenship programme and one Food Security programme both operating in India; a regional South Asia Humanitarian Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Programme that operates in India as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh; and finally an Asia regional Active Citizenship programme on Migrants Rights which is led by the DCA office in India and co-implemented by Cambodia, Nepal and Bangladesh plus several other south east Asian countries. All programmes except the last are under normal revision for approval of new programme phases. The plan is that out of the three programmes to make two south Asia regional programmes for India, Nepal and Bangladesh: an Active Citizenship programme and a Food Security programme with a livelihood and resilience focus including elements of Climate Change Adaptation measures. DCA s south Asia work focuses on India, but includes other countries in the region: Nepal and Bangladesh are development programme countries, each with a sub-office. The programme objectives in India, Nepal and Bangladesh for are: Discriminated groups have increased access to justice systems and legal resources. Food and employment rights from state run schemes are realised by the targeted right holders. Targeted rights holders have increased access to and control over productive resources (land, water, forest and capital). Target right holders practicing low risk sustainable, equitable and diversified use of productive resources, and accessing agricultural extension services. Facilitate strengthening and empowerment processes of targeted rights holders and their associations to take forward issues of the right to food. The Food Security programme brings added value into the Food Security programme partnerships and DCA global, i.e. gradual learning, quality of work, coordination and linkages to wider circles ensured. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Migrants make informed choices based on relevant available information, increased recognition and space for social, economic and political rights of informal workers of migrant background. Pakistan Because of significant natural emergencies and prolonged conflict in Pakistan, and political sensitivities between India and Pakistan, DCA Humanitarian Response activities in Pakistan are currently supported directly from DCA HQ. DCA s main geographical focus is currently centred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces following previous natural disasters (earthquake and floods). Especially in the north-west, on-going activities from the past two years have focused on linking relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD). It is envisioned this support will continue within this period. 24

26 The programme objectives for Pakistan for are: Enhanced resilience and reduced vulnerabilities of the most vulnerable people/communities affected by disasters. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Myanmar Myanmar was approved as a DCA focus country in 2010 and geographically the focus is on the Dry zone located in the central plains of Myanmar (Magwe, Mandalay and Southern Sagaing states) as well as on the conflict affected east and south east (Mon, Kayin, Kayah and Southern Shan states). DCA s work in Myanmar falls under the approved pilot Active Citizenship programme that includes Active citizenship and Food Security activities and under the Asia regional Active Citizenship Migrants Rights programme that has recently been approved. The pilot programme ends in 2012 and the plan for the next phase is to develop two programmes an Active citizenship programme and a Food Security programme, which will include disaster risk reduction, emergency response and mine action objectives. Current and future programme activities are expected to feed into DCA s advocacy on political space, land grabbing and migration. The programme objectives in Myanmar for are: (to be revised by end 2012) Civil society organisations have increased organisational capacity to strategize, manage and implement community owned development projects. Young people in particular from urban communities have increased control over their own and community development processes and access to civil society. Nascent rural community based groups are enabled to organise communities, implement projects, and engage/negotiate with local authorities (in particular in the field of food security and natural resource management). Target communities food security enhanced through community and household level interventions to increase food availability, access, and utilization. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. To work with partners to deliver timely and effective humanitarian response according to international quality and accountability standards. Human security and conditions for safe and sustainable livelihoods for conflict-affected populations are improved through clearance and survey of land contaminated by Explosive Remnants of War. Getting partners involved in the new phase of the Asia regional Migrants Rights programme. A strong cooperation between ACT alliance partners to increase coordination and programme cooperation. The objective for activities in Thailand is: To ensure an adequate standard of living and respect for the human rights of displaced people from Myanmar working in partnership with displaced communities, building capacity, strengthening self-reliance and food security. Much response to the Myanmar needs have originated from the humanitarian response to Myanmar diaspora needs in Thailand (refugees, migrants) with cross border support into Myanmar. Laos is with the Cambodia office assessed for a potential DCA Humanitarian Mine Action programme. Cambodia Cambodia is DCA s other focus country within the South East Asia region (together with Myanmar above) and the geographical focus here is on the northwest of Cambodia, Phnom Penh and surrounding provinces. The emergency response to recent flooding is focused on river-near areas in eastern Cambodia. The DCA-managed joint office for Christian Aid and DCA implements approved programmes under Active Citizenship ( ) and Food Security ( ) as well as leads the implementation of the regional Asia programme on Migrants Rights ( ). All three programmes contribute substantially to DCA s global advocacy around shrinking political space, land grabbing and climate change as well as migration. The programme objectives in Cambodia in are: Target communities have greater participation and influence in decision-making on social, economic and political affairs contributing to more accountable governance and more equitable development. Increased accountability of government for full range of rights, and greater openness to participation of civil society in decision-making. Rural communities affected by food insecurity become more resilient to economic and environmental shocks and stresses that impact on their livelihoods and access to food. Rural communities affected by food insecurity are empowered to claim their rights to land and other productive resources, and to services essential to livelihoods. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. DCA maintains links to other countries in the South East Asia region, notably within the Migrants Rights programme with Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia, as well as with Vietnam (Humanitarian Response) and Laos (Humanitarian Mine Action) The programme objectives in Laos for are: Human security and conditions for safe and sustainable livelihoods for populations improved through clearance and survey of land contaminated by Explosive Remnants of War. 25

27 Central Asia In central Asia DCA has its main focus in Kyrgyzstan. But at the regional level, DCA together with our ACT partner ICCO will seek to utilise the experiences from Kyrgyzstan to also work with migration issues in sending communities in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan. Furthermore, supporting migrant s rights will also include work where the migrants typically seek employment, i.e. in major cities of Kazakhstan and Russia. Kyrgyzstan In Kyrgyzstan, which is DCA s focus country in the post-soviet Central Asia region, the geographical focus is in the regions of Bishkek, Osh, Batken, Khatlon, and Jalabad. In the region, DCA has one approved Active Citizenship programme focusing on migration. The programme was approved in 2012 and is both jointly developed and shall be implemented with ICCO. Under the Humanitarian Assistance programme there is currently a very large EU funded programme, Conflict Mitigation and Peace Building in Kyrgyzstan carried out by the Transition and Rehabilitation Alliance for Southern Kyrgyzstan (TASK). In relation to EU, DCA is the lead agency in TASK. Once DCA has finalised its organisational review of the Right to Food policy, the Kyrgyzstan office will assess the opportunities for developing a new programme within the Right to Food framework, either as part of, or complementary to, ICCO s Fair Economic Development programme in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. There are also plans to support and participate in a programme on Disaster Risk Reduction/Emergency preparedness for Kyrgyzstan and the region in which ICCO has been assigned to take the lead. The programme objectives in Kyrgyzstan for are: Community members vulnerable to migration have access to social services and economic opportunities in their own local environment. Internal Kyrgyz migrants are included in the policy processes and as recipients of public services where they live and work. Social and civic rights of external irregular migrants in Central Asia are considered and recognised by national and regional decision-makers. Political space to monitor and hold authorities accountable is defended. Resilience of vulnerable communities built and strengthened - through disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, and emergency response. Strengthen community capacity for conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution. Reduce underlying sources of tension and promote shared peaceful interests related to economic and social development opportunities. 26 photo lars bertelsen

28 photo heine pedersen 27 Central America In Central America, because of the small size and the rather homogeneous structures of the different countries, the regional perspective is even more important than in other parts of the world. High priority will therefore be given to strengthen DCA s regional perspective through closer collaboration between ACT members. DCA is also expecting to get access to the new Danida grant to human rights activities in the region which will further contribute to our involvement in Active Citizenship interventions and to secure the regional perspective. Honduras DCA s focus country is Honduras. Within this country, the geographical focus will remain on the western rural areas as well as the northern mainly coastal plains. Approved programmes exist here for Active Citizenship and Food Security, both for The Active Citizenship programme focuses on enhancing the space for political participation of poor and marginalised people (usually indigenous people), linked with increasing access to justice and combating human rights violations. The Food Security programme seeks to strengthen local economic development in marginalised rural areas with a strong focus on empowering women in their livelihoods, also including climate change adaptation and advocacy on the right to food. Both programmes provide substance inputs to European based Central America focused advocacy networks of which DCA is an active member, i.e. with a focus on land grabbing. Disaster Risk Reduction activities are currently implemented as part of the Food Security programme. However, it is currently being considered to step up work in this field, possibly developing a separate (regional Central American) Humanitarian assistance/disaster Risk Reduction programme. DCA maintains the regional perspective in close cooperation with sister organizations within ACT alliance by supporting activities in Guatemala and Nicaragua on a relatively modest scale, which can be seen as extensions of the Honduras programmes. The further development of this cooperation will remain a strategic focus area in the coming years, with the aim of achieving closer coordination as well as more effective and efficient operations. The programme objectives in Honduras for are: Poor and marginalised population actively influencing dutybearers for the progressive improvement in public response to their needs at local, sector and national levels. The poor and traditionally excluded population making use of their rights to participate and decide their human, social and democratic development. The poor and marginalised population with increased awareness and capacities for human rights defence and claim, and struggle against impunity. DCA facilitates coordination, information, exchange and adequate support for organisational development and partner interventions that add value to the development of the programme. Poor rural communities in Honduras will benefit from their rights to food and to the improvement of a more sustainable livelihood. 80 per cent of the supported communities will count on strategic food reserves, consisting of basic grains and other nutritional necessities, in order to sustain droughts and other forms of natural disasters.

29 photo arne hodalič 28 Middle East Palestine DCA s focus country in the region is Palestine/Israel with activities in Lebanon, Libya and Syria. The focus country programme includes food security, promoting women s rights, advocacy and humanitarian assistance. The situation in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Yemen is volatile. Based upon the dynamics of change in the region DCA must keep informed and continually assess where needs are greatest and where DCA/ACT has a comparative advantage. The focus region has been chosen because of the relatively cultural homogeneity, the identical needs and neglected rights, particularly the rights of women and various other populations living without political and social rights throughout the region. The selected countries also have a shared political and historical inheritance. A regional DCA supported program may be developed, if the security situation allows. Palestine/Israel The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and Israel remain the main focus and priority of the Middle East (ME) Regional Office with a well-established partner platform, ACT forum and an on-going country programme. The ME Regional Office is based in east Jerusalem and the programming in OPT and Israel has been on-going since The Office is implementing a wide spectrum of projects with a strong and diverse partner group including several ACT partners under the country programme. The DCA Middle East Regional Office is responsible for running a joint ACT Gaza sub-office and there is joint ACT advocacy programming in the current OPT appeal headed by the Regional Office. The major strategic challenges in the coming years will be to increase the integration between advocacy/political space programming and the humanitarian response/livelihood projects in order to create conditions where the rights holders resilience is increased. This is in combination with the development and strengthening of particular local protection mechanisms (L2GP) and at the same time improving and creating channels for the beneficiaries to be heard and to advocate internationally. To achieve this it will be important to increase and diversify the humanitarian response and livelihood portfolio in the country programme over the next 2 years.

30 The programme objectives in Palestine for are: Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Third States adhere to their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. The human right to adequate food for groups affected by and vulnerable to the occupation is safeguarded. Women rights, particularly property and inheritance rights and freedom from violence, are protected, respected and fulfilled. Lives are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. Partners capacity for project implementation, collaboration and networking enhanced through DCA facilitation. Lebanon Lebanon is an HMA country with extensive Battle Area Clearance (BAC) and demining operations being implemented. Due to the complicated political situation in Lebanon and the sensitive operation of the DCA HMA programme it has been decided that the ME Regional Office will not expand its projects and programme significantly. Existing initiatives will be followed up on the condition that partners with sufficient capacity for low monitoring can be identified in order to avoid the risks involved in DCA staff based in Jerusalem travelling between countries that are at war with each other. There is not much prospect of ACT cooperation in Lebanon as the only national ACT partner has serious and long standing financial management issues to resolve before they can be considered a viable partner. The programme objectives in Libya until end 2013 are: Human security and conditions for safe and sustainable livelihoods for war affected populations in Libya are improved through clearance and surveying of land contaminated by ERW. The risk for the affected populations in Libya is reduced through Community Liaison and Risk Education activities. The protection and psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and families in Libya are improved through the establishment of children clubs, psychosocial support, and awareness-raising activities. Long-term national capacities for mine action is assisted though support for national clearance plans and capacity building of national Mine Action Coordination Centres and partners. The involvement of women in the public sphere and political decision-making process is improved through forming platforms and networks and advocating at the national and local level. The protection and psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and families in Libya are improved through the establishment of children clubs, psychosocial support, and awareness-raising activities. Potential programme activities in Syria until end 2013 are: Human security and conditions for safe and sustainable livelihoods for war affected populations in Syria is improved through clearance and survey of land contaminated by Explosive Remnants of War. The protection and psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and families in Syria are improved through the establishment of children clubs, psychosocial support, and awareness-raising activities. Lives of internally displaced persons and refugees are saved through the promotion and provision of effective humanitarian intervention. 29 The programme objectives in Lebanon for are: Increase the possibilities of land use and alleviate risk through clearance of cluster munitions and land mines contaminated areas. Build national capacities for the Lebanese clearance efforts. Libya DCA s activities in Libya respond to immediate humanitarian needs after the NATO intervention in 2011, and have a proposed timeframe until end The DCA humanitarian mine action programme has an integrated psycho-social component for children, and a gender programme to stimulate women s participation in political processes is supported through expertise from the DCA Palestine program. Given the volatility of the region, DCA and ACT preparedness capacity may respond in Syria or Jordan.

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32 8 31 Rights based development and Gender Equality DCA is committed to ensure that human rights standards and principles, including gender equality, are an integral part of all its efforts. DCA supports partners that facilitate the empowerment of poor women and men to know and act on their rights; and also partners that through advocacy and/or capacity-building ensure that governments and other actors live up to their obligations and responsibilities to the poor. Women are still under-represented in decision-making processes and in order to challenge traditional gender roles and inequality, it is necessary to strengthen women s skills for participation in leadership and decision-making. PANEL DCA understands a rights-based commitment as ensuring the incorporation of the five PANEL principles in its international work: Participation (P), Accountability (A), Non-Discrimination and Equality (N), Empowerment (E) and Link to Human Rights Standards (L). The following are the specific quality standards in relation to the implementation of these principles: Participation Programmes include activities that facilitate meaningful participation of marginalised women and men in decisionmaking processes, including within project management. In the period , DCA will particularly support capacity-building for DCA staff and partners in participatory methods for facilitating increased influence of rights-holders on partner and programme activities Indicator 30 per cent of focus countries report that partners have been trained in participatory methods Indicator 60 per cent of partners in all programmes have been evaluated or assessed as having effective mechanisms for facilitating rights-holders influence throughout the project cycle (needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation). Accountability Programmes include activities that: a) address the response (or lack of response) of relevant state and non-state actors that have the obligation and/or power to further rights protection for discriminated/excluded groups; b) ensure adequate information to rights-holders on their rights and entitlements; and c) facilitate access to remedies or complaint mechanisms in cases of abuses and violations. In the period , DCA will strengthen the strategic advocacy of partners through targeted capacity-development;

33 and either identify national advocacy partners or develop national advocacy activities in all development programmes Indicator 80 per cent of programmes report that they have identified an advocacy resource partner, developed long-term strategic plans for national advocacy, and/or carried out national advocacy Indicator 70 per cent of programmes document that partners have contributed to policy, legal or budgetary (resource allocation) changes at national level. Non-Discrimination and Equality Programmes include activities that: a) target the most discriminated men and women and address relevant discriminatory laws, norms and practices; and b) use disaggregated data in needs assessments, project design, monitoring and evaluations. In the period , DCA will support partners through capacity-building or networking to address discriminatory practices and norms that reinforce and maintain poverty. DCA will also systematically work to build partners capacity on using disaggregated data to improve the targeting and impact of development and humanitarian assistance. Targeting guidelines will be developed to support this process Indicator 70 per cent of all partners in all programmes have capacities to actively and systematically use disaggregated data in needs assessments, project design, monitoring and evaluation Indicator 80 per cent of DCA focus countries report national gender equality advocacy Indicator All programmes document that partners have contributed to changes in policies, laws, norms and/or resource allocations that further equality, particularly gender equality. Empowerment Programmes include processes where marginalised men and women have increased awareness of their rights and entitlements, have enhanced influencing skills, and have strengthened their organisations and networks for claiming rights and accessing entitlements. In the period , DCA will increasingly include partnerships within all programmes with organisations and networks made up of the discriminated/marginalised groups targeted in programme strategies i.e. Dalit organisations, indigenous people s organisations and movements, small farmer organisations, organisations of people living with HIV, etc. DCA will ensure to include people s organisations or networks which either work for the empowerment of women or take gender interest and concerns into account in their work. DCA will also work to further strengthen interfaces and lobby at the local levels between communities/community-based groups and district authorities and increasingly document the impact of this work on access to government resources and government programmes Indicator 60 per cent of all programmes report support to organisations and networks of discriminated groups who advocate for their rights Indicator All programmes have documented changes at local level as a result of rights-holders dialogue/ advocacy with local dutybearers. Link to Human Rights Standards Programmes use human rights standards and human rights protection mechanisms in their analyses and programme strategies. Currently, only DCA Active Citizenship programmes report on the use of human rights mechanisms to support programme strategies. Africa programmes under all programme types do not utilise these opportunities to the same degree. A special focus in will be to support Africa programmes, through capacity-building and networking, to make more effective use of regional and national human rights mechanisms. In addition, cross-cutting activities aimed at ensuring justice for human rights violations/abuses will be strengthened and will particularly focus on addressing systematic abuses that can have a precedent-bearing effect Indicator 60 per cent of all programmes document that rights-holders have reported violations/accessed justice through courts or traditional justice mechanisms Indicator 70 per cent of programmes document use of international human rights and mechanisms in their advocacy work. Complaints Mechanism and Anti-Corruption focus As a part of our strategy on accountability towards beneficiaries, DCA will continue its self-critical publication of annual complaints and corruption report. Upgrading of training in complaints mechanism development and anti-corruption activities 32

34 will continue with more focus on DCA partners in future. DCA is committed to being transparent about our mistakes and will learn from them. The Sphere Project and the Humanitarian accountability Partnership The Code of Conduct in Disaster Relief, Accountability and Sphere Standards are key principles in DCA s humanitarian response. In addition, DCA supports and promotes the use of the HAP Standard and Sphere globally, including through support to deployment of HAP and Sphere focal points locally at the site of major disasters. DCA established and funded with Danida support such a presence in Haiti in 2010, as well as in the Horn of Africa in DCA also contributes to these initiatives at the executive level, both through chairing the Sphere project board, as well as playing a vice chair role on the HAP project board. DCA will continue to exert influence through these positions to achieve greater coherence of the various quality and accountability initiatives, including HAP and Sphere that may result in the merger of these initiatives Indicator By 2016, all DCA key partners will understand, be using and be certified against one quality and accountability standard in humanitarian response. 33

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36 Programme Management 9Programme monitoring The purpose of monitoring in DCA is twofold: to follow-up on planned project activities and expected outcomes and to learn from experience. Follow-up is necessary in order to adjust interventions or objectives in cases where implementation deviates from plans or the context is profoundly changed. Monitoring activities include project visits, focus group discussions with rights-holders, small surveys, meetings with stakeholders such as local authorities, back donors, sister agencies, networks etc. Monitoring procedures and tools are available to all staff in the web-based programme and project manual. One goal for monitoring in DCA is that all projects are visited by DCA staff at least twice per year regardless of country, distances and programme type. We believe that this is a necessary prerequisite for DCA to add value to project design and implementation locally Indicator 85 per cent of all projects are visited two times per year. Reporting will be aggregated at programme level Indicator All projects are visited two times per year. Reporting will be aggregated at programme level. Programme evaluation Learning and accountability are the two objectives of evaluation in DCA, as described in DCA Evaluation Policy, which was approved by the board in For the first time, the new policy defines an evaluation framework for all of DCA s focus areas.. In the years to come, we will closely monitor the revised policy. Findings from a review of quantity and quality of DCA Evaluations showed that only 70 per cent of the evaluations that should have been made were actually carried out. Clearly, this is not satisfactory and we wish to follow up on this during the coming years. Moreover, we will also monitor the use of the standards set out in the Evaluation Policy Indicator 85 per cent of all evaluations that are required according to the new DCA policy are conducted Indicator 100 per cent of all evaluations that are required according to the new DCA policy are conducted. Programme financing In , funding will be raised through our Global Funding Unit, bilateral and multilateral donors, private sector and voluntary contributions. The diversification of funds will continue and thus follow the pattern of From 2012 more focus has been on increasing the funding base from EU, UN (WFP and UN- MAS) and USAID/OFDA (Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance). Global Funding will continue to build the capacity of fundraising officers in the regional offices. Particular focus will be on local resource mobilisation (sources that require on the ground presence and donor relation building) and a significant increase in regional offices ability to meet international donor standards in project design and implementation. In addition, DCA will continue to develop our Danish constituency as well as strengthen our engagement with the private sector both in Denmark and abroad Indicators Financing is diversified so that contributions from donors other than EU and Danida increase indicator 35 per cent of total turnover come from other international donors than the European Commission indicator 45 per cent of total turnover come from other international donors that the European Commission. Synergy between programmes As part of country programme management, a high priority will be given to further develop synergy between DCA s programmes, or if relevant between countries. Synergy between programmes can have different forms: geographical overlap; common methodologies; partner cooperation or same partners contributing to different programmes; or thematic complementarity. Close cooperation between DCA programme officers will be strengthened to facilitate programme synergy. Measures taken will vary from joint partner platform meetings and staff rotation, to joint monitoring visits Indicator All focus country strategies contain information on specific synergies between programmes, also explicitly reflecting findings from programme reviews and evaluations Indicator: To be discussed with the Regional Representatives. Synergy within a programme In all DCA programme documents DCA s role in adding value to partners work is defined in programme immediate objective 4 (or 5). It is important that partners own programme crosscutting activities Strategy Indicator One programme platform meeting per year discusses progress on objectives and activities listed in programme documents Strategy Indicator Programme reviews and evaluations document relevance and ownership for DCA partners on programme crosscutting activities. 35

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38 10 Assumptions and risks There are a number of global political and financial factors, which could adversely affect the global goals of DCA. These include the impact of the global financial crisis, the emergence of new development actors, insecurity and popular unrest, lack of respect for international law, and security, as well as climate change and rising food prices. Global political and financial changes Global financial crisis New development actors Shrinking political space and lack of security Climate change and rising food prices Corruption Since the onset of the global financial crisis, official development assistance (ODA) from traditional donor countries have fallen sharply - with lasting social, political and economic effects in many countries where DCA operates. The financial crisis, with its epicentre in OECD countries, has also coincided with an unprecedented shift in economic and political power towards emerging economies. New actors such as China and other BRIC countries have surfaced as important trade partners and sources of investment and development assistance in many developing countries, not least in Africa, bringing with them a different set of values and objectives. The new development actors, which also include private actors, add further complexion to the international donor community and represent a potential risk for DCA s emphasis on human rights and governance. This is of particular importance for a rights-based NGO such as DCA, as it poses a risk for DCA partners, especially human rights defenders, women rights defenders and defenders of discriminated groups. Shrinking political space is impacting the scope, nature and risks of DCA s work. During the last few years, we have also witnessed how fear of popular uprisings, as witnessed in Egypt and Tunisia in 2011, has hardened the response of some governments across the globe to criticism. Restrictive and arbitrary NGO framework laws have been introduced, threatening to filter out groups that are critical of government policies. Global declines continue to be registered in key areas such as press freedom, the rule of law, and the rights of civil society. Increasing insecurity for local populations, partners and DCA staff demand a continuous assessment and organisational preparedness to cope with security threats. The impact of climate change is already being felt in many poor countries. Its effects higher temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent weatherrelated disasters pose risks for agriculture, food and water supplies, which could potentially reverse recent gains towards attaining the Millenium Development Goals (MDG). The more frequent occurrence of extreme climate related disasters has the potential risk of shifting the world s attention from other humanitarian disasters. This, in turn, influences the funding opportunities and may pose a risk in terms of straining organisational capacity, including human resources. Corruption disproportionally affects the poor. Besides making the poor poorer, the misallocation of resources deprives certain groups of key services, rendering the provision of public services discriminatory and arbitrary. According to the World Bank, three and a half billion people live in countries endowed with oil, gas or minerals. However, despite this wealth, these countries remain home to some of the poorest communities in the world. Resources are typically drained off, benefitting the few. Also, we see a growing inequality in several middle income countries, which are now host to nearly three-quarters of the world s poor. If the international community is committed to reaching the MDGs and combating poverty a comprehensive response to this challenge needs to be developed. 37

39 russia guatemala haiti honduras nicaragua lybia lebanon palestine sudan south sudan ethiopia uganda burundi syria jordan kenya dr congo angola malawi zambia somalia kazakhstan KYRGYZSTAN tajikistan pakistan india nepal bangladesh laos myanmar thailand cambodia 38 Countries with DanChurchAid field office and/or ACT Alliance partners Countries where DanChurchAid supports individual projects and/or disaster relief Countries where DanChurchAid has humanitarian mine action programmes