Afghanistan GP20 Concept Note
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Thematic Priorities |
Durable Solutions / IDP Engagement / Law and Policy |
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Timeframe |
2018 |
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Stakeholders |
Ministries – Donor agencies – UN agencies – INGOs – NGOs – ICCT members – IDPs – Host communities |
Problem Statement
Afghanistan’s National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons (NPIDP), adopted in 2013 and closely following the Guiding Principles, has yet to be implemented in areas controlled by the Government. Despite the country’s petition system, local authorities lack capacity to address internal displacement comprehensively and in accordance with the NPIDP. This has resulted in an over dependence on humanitarian actors, who in turn do not sufficiently inform and consult communities in the design and implementation of their response. Participatory based programming is limited. This can (and sometimes does), in turn, result in situations where the projects are rejected by communities in the implementation stage, as they do not correspond to what the communities actually need.
Objectives
In view of the foregoing, UNHCR aims to enhance awareness of the Guiding Principles and Afghanistan’s NPIDP among IDPs and their host communities, government authorities and humanitarian partners. In doing so, it will work system-wide to establish a robust system of meaningful communication with affected communities, thereby contributing to strengthened accountability by humanitarian and government actors. It will also ensure consultations with communities are used to design and implement programmes.
The main objective of the abovementioned initiative is to enhance the protection lens of humanitarian interventions and government interactions with the affected communities, by operationalizing the NPIDP and Guiding Principles and making sure that the communities themselves are aware of their rights, understand the mechanisms in place to access these rights and are involved in decisions that affect their lives. Another objective is to strengthen the accountability of humanitarian and Government actors in upholding the rights of IDPs. Both objectives should contribute to a more enabling protection environment and have a positive impact on the lives of affected communities in Afghanistan.
Activities
- One day roundtable, broadcast in the media, on the Guiding Principles and NPIDP with participation from government, humanitarian partners and members of the donor community (August).
- Public information campaign, in partnership with INGO INTERNEWS, as well as TV channel ZAN (addressing women specifically) and other TV channels broadcasting in Dari and Pashtu, using the newly established VoX-Af Inter-Agency Information Centre for affected communities, primarily on the petition system procedures and eligibility criteria; IDP rights as per the Guiding Principles and NPIDP; promotion and dissemination of the Guiding Principles and NPIDP (June).
- Trainings and awareness raising on the Guiding Principles and NPIDP for local authorities and communities with an emphasis on the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriations and the Provincial Governors’ offices, in support of developing provincial strategies and action plans on responding to displacement and durable solutions, as well as in support of the implementation of the national action plan on same, as per provisions of NPIDP. (September and November).
- HCT protection strategy will emphasize the importance of community participation, building on the abovementioned activities.