Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall objective of the programme is the increased resilience and self-reliance of institutions, communities and vulnerable individuals to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 in an inclusive and gender responsive manner in the sectors Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Psychological Social Support (PSS) and livelihood in South Omo, West and East Arsi, West Hararghe and Arbaminich in Ethiopia.

Expected results

Result 1: Increased inclusive and gender responsive COVID-19 preparedness and response on institutional and communal level focusing on WASH and pre-hospital care needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups in targeted regions.

Result 2: Improved ability of predominantly girls and women, including girls and women with disabilities, to cope with COVID-19 induced and/ or aggravated psychosocial and social protection needs.

Result 3: Ensuring access of vulnerable groups and targeted communities to timely, gender responsive and inclusive information related to COVID-19 and provide in a way that respects their safety, dignity and rights a two-way line of communication through feedback mechanisms in targeted regions.

Result 4: Affected vulnerable groups and communities have access to short and medium-term livelihood support to cover their basic food and non-food needs and develop their own strategies to preserve their livelihoods.

Result 5: Increased knowledge sharing and trainings of consortia partners on inclusion, gender and risk communication in relation to COVID-19 informing the design and implementation of the project results.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The direct target group are 332.000 people, 830.000 people will indirectly benefit from the programme. The intervention has a focus on the most vulnerable groups, in specific girls and women and people with disabilities. It is estimated that out of the total direct target group 5% are people with disabilities. The intervention is targeting the entire population of the focus regions, which makes up a male/female ratio of 49% to 51%. However, under Result 2 and Result 4 girls and women are particularly addressed making up to 70% of the target group.

The programme will be implemented in Oromia and SNNP Region in the following districts: East and West Arsi, West Hararghe, Arbaminich, South Omo.

Activities

The programme aims to increase the resilience and self-reliance of the target population in the long run while at the same time providing immediate support to bridge gaps for covering their most urgent needs. Activities include:

1.1 Construction of new and/ or connection to existing water infrastructure in health centers, schools, and communities, including respective operation and maintenance mechanisms, 1.2 Construction and installation of mobile/ emergency latrines and waste disposal and management facilities in schools and health centers, 1.3 Provision of handwashing stations at key locations in health institutions and schools, 1.4 Distribution of WASH supply provisions for schools and health institutions and targeted households, 1.5 Hygiene promotion and awareness-raising campaigns on community and institutional level, 1.6 Provision of quality ambulance services ensuring minimum standards of infectious transports. 2.1 Training of facilitators, teachers, volunteers, staff and health care workers in Mental Health and Psychological Social Support (MHPSS), 2.2 Provision of MHPSS support and Psychological First Aid to vulnerable groups, 2.3 Provision of Home Care through volunteers to vulnerable groups, 2.4 Strengthening of Gender based violence (GBV) referral pathways. 3.1 Production and distribution of information education communication (IEC) materials, 3.2 Design and carrying out of targeted inclusive and gender aware COVID-19 campaigns in the focus regions, 3.3 Training of volunteers and staff in COVID-19 Risk Communication and epidemic control, 3.4 Support health authorities in testing and possible vaccination campaigns and operations, 3.5 Support local capacity building initiatives in the area of Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction. 4.1 Support of vulnerable groups with unconditional cash and voucher assistance accompanied by a feedback mechanism, 4.2 Establishing and supporting Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with a specific focus on the membership of women and people with disabilities, 4.3 Supporting youth with disabilities in developing technical and entrepreneurial skills to access the labor market. 5.1 Knowledge sharing and training of all consortia partners on COVID-19 relevant risk communication and community engagement, 5.2 Knowledge sharing and training of all consortia partners on gender, 5.3 Knowledge sharing and training of all consortia partners on inclusion, 5.4 Continuous support on inclusion to all consortia partners through Disability Inclusion Facilitators.

Context

The year 2020 was unprecedented in the scale and complexities of issues arising in Ethiopia. The April 2020 countrywide shutdown of schools and institutions has impacted the most vulnerable nationwide, particularly women, girls, and people with disabilities. Although the restrictions have now eased, the COVID- 19 pandemic continues, and the economic, physical, and psychological impact is increasingly being felt. The programme aims to increase the resilience and self-reliance of the target population in the long run while at the same time providing immediate support to bridge gaps for covering their most urgent needs. Girls, women and people with disabilities were identified as one of the most vulnerable groups and thus in need of urgent support. The areas of WASH and pre-hospital care, psychosocial and social support, risk communication and livelihood were identified as the most pressing areas for immediate and continuous assistance.