West Africa, NRC/NORCAP, Strengthened regional and interagency capacity in GBV humanitarian programming and coordination

The Regional Emergency GBV Advisor (REGA) Initiative was launched in the summer of 2014 to improve the capacity of all humanitarian actors and enable the broader humanitarian system to take on the responsibility of adequately addressing GBV. The REGA Initiative deploys senior GBV technical experts which function as inter-agency resources. REGA capacity building activities are developed through regional approaches and target government and UN actors, in particular GBV sub-cluster members, GBV coordinators, HCTs, program staff, NGOs and national partners. The REGA advocate for the recognition that GBV response and prevention is life-saving, and that GBV programming is everyone’s responsibility and needs to be addressed with adequate, comprehensive and coordinated action in humanitarian contexts. The REGAs have provided successful, timely and targeted support to the regional Ebola Response in East Africa, protracted L3s and fragile contexts (Central African Republic, Syria Response, Somalia, South Sudan), new humanitarian emergencies such as Ukraine, GBV preparedness planning ahead of elections (Burundi and Ivory Coast), and emergency responses (Nepal and Afghanistan).

As the intensity and numbers of large scale emergencies have continued to significantly increase, the RRT will provide first-line response to emergencies. The rationale is for the RRT to complement and augment the work of the REGA in crises situations.

Strengthened GBV capacity in interagency prevention and response programming and coordination in West Africa.

Direct (main): UNFPA (hosting agency)

Direct (secondary): main emergency response agencies (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, INGOs)

Strengthened country level GBV capacity in interagency prevention and response programming and coordination in West Africa

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• REGA respond to requests for country missions based on inter-agency priorities
• REGA build sustainable GBV capacities, systems and frameworks at country level
• REGA develop and conduct GBV inter-agency training events, contexualised and based on requests             
• REGA advocate for GBV to be adressed as a life saving issue and for adequtely funding through 1) support to country colleagues for integration of GBV needs ananlysis in HNO and HRP documents in the region; and 2) advocacy to HCTs and donors - to maintain GBV on the humanitarian agenda as a life saving issue
• GBV is succesfully integrated into regional initiatives, networks and  events.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

1. The inter-agency nature of REGA deployments gives the advisors authority and legitimacy as neutral actors and to take on a mediation role and bring humanitarian actors together to effectively address GBV in emergencies.
2. The REGA approach has been successful in building sustainable impact on country GBV capacity, in encouraging ownership and capacity post-mission; targeting national partners with capacity building efforts; contributing to putting systems and structures in place to guide GBV prevention, mitigation and response; and in striving to ensure training projects are replicated or integrated into other initiatives.
3. The REGAs regional scope enables sharing of resources and cross fertilization between country programs.
4. The REGA initiative is gradually transitioning to a stronger focus on longer term efforts, regional capacity building, risk reduction and preparedness.

Protection Cluster, other clusters and sub-clusters, National Ministries Gender, Familial or Social affairs).

Phase 1 15.06.2016 - 14.01.2017   (Completed)