Welcome to the first issue of the HCSP Newsletter

Transcription

1 27 November, 2013 Welcome to the first issue of the HCSP Newsletter * * * communities have responded by Kingdom has a long history of displaying incredible generosity providing safe refuge to those of spirit in the face of crisis. Welcome to the first edition of forced to flee their homeland. the monthly Host Community Today the Government and the Support Platform- Secretariat people of Jordan are welcoming Newsletter. We hope that it will Syrians into their country, their serve as a valuable source of communities, and even their own information on our current and homes. planned initiatives. With this letter we will keep you updated on the work of the HCSP to support Jordanian host communities impacted by the Syrian crisis. and families in Jordan. The We hope the newsletter will be informative and serve as a base to create a dynamic platform. Please do not hesitate to give us your feedback so that we can make it even better next time. The pressure placed on Jordan s national and local economy, as well as on those communities hosting large refugees is numbers immense, of and threatens to rollback Jordan s The aim of this newsletter is hard won development gains. furthermore to showcase stories Over the coming months, we will about the impact of the Syrian present challenges born out from crisis on the lives of individuals the crisis and how host * * *

2 2 Achievements Of The HCSP To Date Launch of Platform on 10 September Secretariat operational and working from within the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and staffed by a Senior Coordinator, two Information Management Officers, and a Communication Officer. 12 Task Force meetings conducted under the leadership of line ministries and supported by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, donors, NGOs and the UN System. Needs Assessment Review validation workshop completed under the leadership of Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation with more than 100 participants from line ministries, donors, NGOs and UN System. Needs Assessment Review report presented at the second Platform meeting on 28 November Next Steps The Government of Jordan is aiming to present the National Resilience Plan at the High- level Pledging Conference for Syria scheduled for 15 January 2014 in Kuwait. With the finalization of the Needs Assessment Review the Platform, Secretariat and Task Forces are envisaged to perform a central role in the preparation of the National Resilience Plan. Deployment of a technical team by early December working under the leadership of the Platform to support the preparation of the National Resilience Plan. First draft of the National Resilience Plan compiled and shared by end of December Final draft of the National Resilience Plan shared by the first week of January Presentation of the National Resilience Plan at the High- level Pledging conference for Syria in Kuwait scheduled for 15 January The HCSP An Overview Introducing the HCSP The Host Community Support Platform was launched on the 10th September 2013 by HE Dr. Ibrahim Saif, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, to serve as the main coordination mechanism to address the emerging needs of host communities in Jordan impacted by the Syrian crisis. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and comprising Government representatives, donors, the UN system, international and national non- governmental organisations and development partners, the HCSP provides strategic guidance for the elaboration of an integrated framework to support communities severely affected by the impact of the Syrian crisis. The Platform ensures the alignment of assistance to the Government s main development priorities and harmonization with national systems for planning, programming and implementation. HCSP Task Forces Within the HCSP framework, five sectoral Task Forces - Municipal Services, Livelihoods and Employment, Water and Sanitation, Health, and Education were established to coordinate and follow- up on interventions and address gaps in funding and service delivery.

3 Issue#: Issue 1 #: 1 3 Each Task Force includes representatives from the Issue #5678 Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and a relevant line ministry. They also include focal points from one UN entity, an INGO, and a Donor. The Task Forces are also open to other stakeholders, and include the participation of national NGOs. HCSP Secretariat The HCSP Secretariat supports the coordination of the Task Forces and provides assistance to the HCSP in maintaining a comprehensive understanding of evolving assistance priorities, programmes and financing. It is responsible for providing support to planning and strategy development as well as the facilitation of situation analysis and programming. It also provides expertise on cross- cutting issues including gender equality, Gender Based Violence, children and youth, and environment. In the context of increasing aid needs, the HCSP works to mitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis on host communities, sustain socio- economic stability, and safeguard the Jordanian people s hard won development gains. * * * The Situation in Host Communities Excerpt from the Needs Assessment Review of the Implications of the Syrian Crisis on Jordan Introduction Hosting displaced people, and accommodating their immediate, interim and future needs in a small socio economic landscape has had a profound impact on Jordan, and on Jordanians. During what was already one of the most challenging economic periods in Jordan, increased competition for access to public utilities, schooling, health services, infrastructure, and jobs is putting additional strain on the budget, government services, and on families. Given the fragile fiscal position of the government budget over the past three years (rising public deficit and debt), The Needs Assessment Validation Workshop On the 19th November 2013, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation held a Validation Workshop for the Needs Assessment Review of the Implications of the Syrian Crisis on Jordan at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Amman, Jordan. The Workshop, which was supported by the HCSP, brought together over 100 representatives from various Government Ministries, UN agencies, donor institutions and development partners to consult and provide feedback on the working draft of the review. The report represents the first step towards assisting the Government of Jordan in formulating a National Resilience Plan as a 3 year investment plan for immediate resilience- building interventions and mid- term development needs of Jordanian host communities impacted by the Syrian crisis. Dr. Saleh Al- Kharabshes, Secretary General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation opened the workshop. Since the outbreak of hostilities in Syria over 3 years ago, over 600,000 Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan. Syrian refugees now account for over 10% of the population, and the impact of this influx is reflected across all areas of life. The report provides a resilience- based reading of the impact of the Syrian crisis in Jordan, and provides an in- depth analysis of the pre- crisis and present status of major sectors and subsectors including health, education, livelihood, municipal services and water. A dedicated team of technical experts deployed by UN agencies conducted the review over a three week period in close collaboration with UN agencies, relevant line ministries, donors, and key international and national NGOs.

4 4 the government has had to reallocate scarce capital to meet the sudden and growing demands necessitated by the Syrian crisis. This may threaten not only to derail the development trajectory of Jordan, but also to stunt economic growth and development for years to come, especially if the situation Syrian crisis persists. There is a risk that the Syrian crisis may have a long- term impact on Jordan, with the welfare of host communities undermined as a result of increased pressures. There is an urgent need for the donor community to scale up support in a timely and appropriate manner, at both national and local levels, to help Jordan better cope with the consequences of hosting a large and increasing number of refugees. The Government of Jordan is faced with the challenge of not only meeting the financial gap needed to cover the added costs incurred as a result of hosting Syrian refugees in Jordan, but also with responding to the urgent needs of Jordanian host communities, particularly in expanding services and infrastructure access, and at the same time accelerating efforts to create employment opportunities for Jordanians. In order to cope with and minimize the negative spillover of the Syrian crisis, the GOJ has adopted a diverse set of measures. It is apparent, however, that as the crisis grows and manifests itself in greater challenges within Jordan, increased assistance from the international community is paramount. As the crisis is reaching a point where its impact on the sustainable human development prospects in the sub- region can no longer be ignored, it is critical that the on- going humanitarian response is rapidly complemented by a more sustainable and development- oriented response. This will help provide sustainability to ongoing interventions, address structural issues that affect the host population, and help preserve the development gains achieved so far. This Needs Assessment Review report is the first step towards assisting the Government in formulating the National Resilience Plan as a 3 year investment plan for immediate resilience- based interventions of the host communities. The National Resilience Plan will also include investment requirements in the various productive and service sectors. * * *

5 5 Launch of the HSCP Website The HCSP Secretariat is pleased to announce the launch of our new website which will go live on December 1 st, Accessed via the HCSP link at the web portal serves as a central location for the Platform to publicly share evolving data, research, and analysis about the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordanian host communities, and offers quick and easy access to information on the activities of the Platform and the work of the Task Forces. Boasting a modern, sleek design, the website includes a variety of resources aimed at supporting the work of the HCSP and Task Forces, as well as providing information about the Platform and its activities to a wider audience. Database To support aid coordination, a relational database was developed to store project mapping data and allow users to search for projects by location, sector, organization, and donor. The database will also contain a searchable Document Library with assessments, background information, visuals, and datasets available for download. Maps The website features an interactive map that allows users to explore the location and concentration of Syrian refugees as a percentage of the total population. Clicking on a specific sub- district brings up a pop- up window with additional information. Dashboards Available for download on the website are the latest HSCP Task Force Dashboards that providing a snapshot of the sector specific situation in host communities and the latest facts and figures. The website is part of the HCSP s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency clearly and openly communicating what the HCSP is doing and under what principles it is operating - and accountability, through timely and accurate reporting of its activities. It also provides an invaluable platform to advocate for host community needs.