REACH Activity Report 2016 - REACH Resource Centre

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In May 2016, the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) called for a New Way of Working by humanitarian actors to face a global
REACH Activity Report

2016

REACH 2016 Activity Report

Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................. 1 About REACH............................................................................................................................. 2 The REACH Partnership ......................................................................................................... 2 REACH Vision and Mission ..................................................................................................... 3 Why REACH?.......................................................................................................................... 4 What We Do ............................................................................................................................ 6 Our Pillars................................................................................................................................ 7 Where We Work ...................................................................................................................... 8 REACH Products................................................................................................................... 10 Programme Highlights from 2016 .......................................................................................... 13 1. Coordinated Multi-sector Assessments ............................................................................. 14 2. Sector-specific assessments ............................................................................................. 19 3. Displacement and Migration .............................................................................................. 26 4. Information Management Support ..................................................................................... 33 REACH Partners ...................................................................................................................... 34 Founding partners ................................................................................................................. 34 Bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies ............................................................................ 34 UN agencies and international organisations ........................................................................ 34 Cluster partners ..................................................................................................................... 35 H2H partners ......................................................................................................................... 35 REACH in Numbers ................................................................................................................. 36 People ................................................................................................................................... 36 Budget ................................................................................................................................... 37

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Foreword In May 2016, the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) called for a New Way of Working by humanitarian actors to face a global context of accelerating needs and insufficient resources to meet them. In the ensuing Grand Bargain discussions, donor governments, UN agencies and NGO networks agreed on a series of commitments to promote more effective and efficient humanitarian response. Among them is the commitment to Improve Joint and Impartial Needs Assessments, which calls for the implementation of ‘impartial, unbiased, comprehensive, context-sensitive, timely and up to date’ need assessments in order to ‘provide a sound evidence base for humanitarian response plans and prioritised appeals’. REACH has been closely involved in the WHS and Grand Bargain discussions, and welcomes this renewed focus on evidence-based planning. Building on its operational presence across all major crises, expertise on assessments and analysis, and on established partnership frameworks with key humanitarian stakeholders, we believe that REACH can play a catalytic role in the application of the Grand Bargain commitment on need assessments, ensuring that, in all crisis, good evidence is available to inform humanitarian decision-making and planning. Throughout 2016, REACH has continued to inform evidence-based planning by humanitarian actors in protracted and sudden onset crises. In the course of the year, REACH has facilitated assessments in 24 countries, consolidating its presence in the MENA region and in Africa, while also launching new programs in Yemen and Afghanistan. REACH has also reacted to natural, sudden onset disasters, as was the case in Haiti following Cyclone Matthew, and strengthened its work on mixed migration across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, in close cooperation with UN Agencies and INGOs. We are pleased to present in this report some highlights from REACH’s activities in 2016. We would like to renew our thanks to our dedicated staff and to our partners for their commitment and support. We look forward to your continued cooperation with REACH.

Luca Pupulin Executive Director IMPACT Initiatives

Einar Bjorgo Manager UNOSAT/UNITAR

Marie Pierre Caley Chief Executive Officer ACTED

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

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About REACH The REACH Partnership REACH is a joint initiative of two NGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH builds on the expertise and experience of the three organisations to develop information products that enable more effective humanitarian action.

IMPACT Initiatives is a Geneva-based think- and do-tank created in 2010 with the aim of influencing policies and promoting best practices among aid actors. In addition to hosting the REACH global team in Geneva, IMPACT supervises REACH activities at country level, hires international staff, provides backstopping to field teams, defines country interventions, and validates all REACH products. At global level, IMPACT engages with REACH’s global partners and oversees rapid deployments. IMPACT is also responsible for REACH’s global communication, resource centre, webmaps and dashboards. UNOSAT supports the core purposes of the United Nations system through applications of technology for sustainable development, respect of human rights and towards international peace and security. Specifically, the programme makes satellite imagery analysis and geographic information data, tools and methods accessible through mapping of current events, such as humanitarian disasters and conflict situations, as well as training & capacity development. UNOSAT brings to REACH its unique remote sensing expertise and mandate, as well as backstopping in terms of GIS and data management. ACTED is an international relief and development NGO and a sister organisation of IMPACT. Present in over 30 countries, ACTED hosts REACH’s field-based teams, providing them with operational and grant management support. ACTED is also responsible for hiring national staff, and provides security and logistics support.

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REACH Vision and Mission

REACH was created in response to critical information gaps that characterise many humanitarian responses. In contexts of conflict and disaster, aid actors face serious challenges in collecting data in a systematic and comprehensive way. As a result, there are often significant gaps in the information required for designing and planning aid, and a limited understanding of crisisaffected communities. To contribute to addressing these gaps, REACH strengthens evidence-based humanitarian decision-making through efficient data collection, management and analysis before, during and after an emergency. In all its interventions, REACH is deployed in support of humanitarian coordination platforms or agencies. REACH in action: displacement monitoring in Iraq

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Why REACH? In contexts as volatile and dynamic as those that characterise natural disasters and complex emergencies, timely access to high quality information is a critical pre-condition for effective aid delivery. Unfortunately, recent crises have exposed the continued shortcomings of the humanitarian community in its capacity to rapidly gather, analyse and effectively use information on the key needs and priorities of affected populations. REACH addresses three common issues encountered in humanitarian response in order to enable evidence-based humanitarian planning and decision-making.

1. Reducing the gap between demand and supply of information in a crisis In the aftermath of a sudden-onset crisis, humanitarian actors often face significant gaps between availability and demand of data to facilitate the planning, targeting and coordination of aid:



Gap 1 is in the emergency phase of a crisis, when insufficient information is available to meet demand. As data products become increasingly available, demand for them decreases as humanitarian actors increasingly focus on their operational priorities.



Gap 2 is in the recovery and development phases, when the availability of information products exceeds demand. Eventually this leads to a decline in the supply of information products and in a resulting lack of preparedness once a new crisis occurs.

In the immediate aftermath of a crisis, REACH increases the rapid availability of information products that add value to the emergency response. In the recovery phase, REACH promotes the continued use of information products among aid stakeholders, making key data more accessible and useful for decision making purposes.

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2. Ensuring that evidence is available for all areas affected by a crisis Humanitarian planning requires comparison of vulnerabilities and resources across all areas affected by a crisis, whereas information is often available only in areas where humanitarian actors operate or intend to become operational. Without coverage of all affected areas, there is a tendency towards prioritising areas where aid is already available, rather than those where it may be most needed. Gaps between data availability and demand for certain areas can be particularly acute in protracted crises. Globally, humanitarian needs are increasingly in conflict zones with restricted access, leaving large swathes of conflict-affected populations unidentified and without support. Shrinking humanitarian space requires a renewed focus on information management to enable more effective identification of vulnerability, response planning and monitoring. Through adapted methodologies and effective use of technology, REACH enables data collection and analysis for all crisis areas, including the most difficult to reach. As such, REACH promotes a humanitarian planning which takes in consideration the needs of all crisis affected communities.

3. Informing settlement-based planning Humanitarian response is too often planned and conducted in a linear way, whereby sector-specific assistance is targeted to individual beneficiaries. The development of the cluster system and minimum humanitarian standards have reinforced this idea, often at the expense of a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple vulnerabilities and resources of affected communities.

In context of crisis, socio-economic and spatial dynamics are often redefined, and need to be correctly understood in order to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of aid. An understanding of community-level vulnerabilities through a settlement-based approach can help aid actors to respond to the multiple needs in a given community, while an understanding of existing community structures can facilitate more efficient planning and aid delivery. REACH promotes humanitarian action that goes beyond the need—beneficiary dichotomy by ensuring that this is complemented by an understanding of the territorial and community dynamics of a given crisis. This includes understanding of community dynamics; promoting multi-sector approaches; and using maps to understand spatial trends.

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What We Do 1. Supporting evidence-based planning, everywhere  Field based primary data collection and analysis: REACH teams are able to collect quantitative and qualitative data in order to inform humanitarian planning. Underpinned by a thorough review of secondary sources, primary data helps aid actors to make decisions based on timely and reliable evidence.  Remote data collection in hard-to-reach areas: REACH has developed tools and methodologies to monitor humanitarian situations in areas where access is challenging, providing granular data on crisis-affected populations, their changing vulnerability and access to resources.  Informing humanitarian milestones: REACH provides information throughout the Humanitarian Programme Cycle to inform flash appeals, humanitarian needs overviews, strategic response plans, cluster strategy, and response evaluations. 2. Enabling partnerships for a better response  Support to coordination platforms: Through its work, REACH supports humanitarian coordination teams, clusters, technical working groups, NGO coordination platforms, OCHA, UNHCR and other UN-coordination agencies, with information, analysis and technical expertise to identify and address information gaps in each context.  Inclusion of all humanitarian actors: REACH systematically encourages the participation of humanitarian actors in its work, in order to maximize the use and impact of its programmes. REACH seeks the input of relevant actors in defining research questions, collecting data and analyzing findings, and building capacity where needed.  Global partnerships: REACH partners with humanitarian coordination platforms at global level, providing a rapidly deployable assessment capacity at the onset of a crisis; providing training to build technical capacity; and contributing to the creation of guidance and standards. 3. Promoting innovation  Data collection: REACH uses and promotes innovative approaches for data collection. With the support of UNOSAT, REACH makes extensive use of remote-sensing, derived primarily from satellite imagery. REACH has also piloted the use of crowd sourcing, as well as extensively using social media as a data source. REACH is at the forefront of mobile data collection, which it uses for the vast majority of its assessments.  Data analysis and dissemination: Since its outset REACH has made systematic use of interactive platforms to display and present its data, including dashboards and webmaps. This enables a more tailored access to information, as well as outreach to a wider audience. 4. Providing a better understanding of settlements:  Use of spatial data: REACH conducts spatial analysis to understand how vulnerability and resources vary across different settlements, and the factors that affect them. Participatory mapping is used to better understand communities, in order to enable holistic multi-sector planning which builds on the local response.  Use of key community informants: An understanding of settlements allows the identification of community-level key informants, who have valuable knowledge about their sector of expertise. In addition, in areas which are difficult to access, qualified community key informants are able to gather detailed information on key humanitarian trends pertaining to their community.

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Our Pillars REACH interventions respond to information needs in a specific context. Over the years, we have developed a range of products, which are grouped into three pillars:

1. Planning in Emergencies Promoting better planning among humanitarian actors in contexts of sudden and protracted crisis. In 2016 REACH has supported planning in emergencies by:  Facilitating coordinated assessments  Analysing the humanitarian situation in hard-to-reach areas  Strengthening humanitarian information management

2. Understanding displacement Supporting aid actors to better assist displaced communities and target the most vulnerable. In 2016 this has included:  Assessing needs and vulnerabilities in camps and informal sites  Understanding needs and vulnerabilities of displaced people outside camps  Monitoring displacement, migration and intentions

3. Assessing Community Resilience Understanding social cohesion, access to services and markets, community tensions and shared priorities that could bridge the gap between the humanitarian response and development planning. In 2016 this has included:  Assessing markets in times of crisis  Mapping hazards and vulnerability  Understanding access to services and pressure on resources

Community-level data collection in Maban County, South Sudan

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Where We Work

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REACH Pillars:

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REACH Products REACH information products respond to the differing needs of partners at different stages of the humanitarian programme cycle.

Total information products published in 2016

422 Factsheets

45 Reports

579 Maps

67 Situation

10 Interactive Dashboards

7 Webmaps

Overviews

The REACH Resource Centre www.reachresourcecentre.info is an online library of all REACH products, live since 2014. REACH products are also available in other global, regional and country specific humanitarian portals such as Relief Web and HR.info.

Reports REACH reports provide in-depth analysis on a specific topic, to inform response planning by humanitarian actors and decision-makers. Reports commonly include detailed sector analysis, triangulated with secondary data to examine trends and vulnerability.

45

reports were published in 2016

Situation Overviews REACH Situation Overviews provide a timely context or situation analysis at a specific time of a crisis, to inform strategic planning. Situation overviews include cross-sector analysis and are specific to the crisis timeline in a given context.

67

situation overviews were published in 2016

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Factsheets REACH factsheets present key indicators and their values at a glance for easy reference. Factsheets inform operations planning and joint analysis, providing granular information across specific geographic areas.

422

factsheets were published in 2016

Maps REACH maps present spatial data related to a specific geographic area or theme. Teams combine remote sensing data and analysis with spatial data collected on the ground to inform operations, response planning and strategic planning.

579

maps were published in 2016

Interactive Dashboards REACH interactive dashboards present key indicators and their values in an easy-to-use web page, allowing partners to select the information they need for response and operational planning.

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interactive dashboards were published in 2016

Webmaps REACH webmaps present spatial data in a format that is easy to use and allows partners to visualise only the values or areas they want. Webmaps inform response and operational planning, providing data directly to partners in an accessible format.

7 webmaps were active in 2016

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“The work of REACH has been foundational for humanitarian coordination in Iraq.” —Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq

“As a member of MMP, REACH’s work has supported a better understanding of mixed migration trends across the Middle East and towards Europe. REACH analysis and technical expertise have made an important contribution to MMP and enhanced important research on topics related to mixed migration.” —Robert Dolan, MMP Coordinator

“REACH data is vital in providing periodic situation update in terms, for example, of market functionality, availability of food products, population movements, etc. REACH provides excellent service and the degree of authenticity, transparency, and clear analysis is first rate in South Sudan. —Ross Smith, WFP Head of Programmes in South Sudan

“REACH mapping products consistently address critical gaps in knowledge that inform humanitarian response, DRR, and recovery efforts. They are especially useful in supporting promotion of the integrated, multi-sector Settlements Approach, particularly in urban settings, where more and more humanitarian activities will occur in the coming years.”

“REACH is an increasingly central partner to gFSC, both at global and field level, on issues related to urban crises and humanitarian analyses” —Cyril Ferrand, global Food Security Cluster Coordinator

“REACH’s work is a significant support for the establishment of strategic tools, such as the Humanitarian Needs Overviews, which in turn are essential for the management of our humanitarian response in Syria.” —Swiss Cooperation Office (SDC) Amman

—Charles A. Setchell, Senior Shelter and Settlements Advisor, USAID Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)

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Programme Highlights from 2016 In 2016, REACH has supported evidence-based decision making and planning by humanitarian stakeholders in 23 countries. This report presents highlights from REACH 2016 programmes, structured around:

1.

Coordinated Multi-Sector Assessments: REACH facilitates inter-agency multi-sector needs assessments in support to humanitarian response planning. Multi-sectoral assessments conducted by REACH have informed key humanitarian milestones in many major humanitarian crises, including Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plans.

2.

Sector-specific Assessments: REACH partners with cluster and other sector-coordination bodies to support better sector-level response planning. In 2016, REACH has conducted various sector-level assessments on food security, shelter and non-food items (NFIs), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) as well as various Cash Working Groups.

3.

Displacement: REACH has worked with numerous partners in 2016 to understand displacement and migration trends across the Middle East, in Africa and Southern Europe. REACH outputs have enabled a better understanding of displacement and migration patterns and routes, enabling humanitarian actors and policy makers to better target related aid responses.

4.

Information Management Support to humanitarian planning: REACH continues to strengthen humanitarian Information Management (IM) systems in support of key humanitarian partners (OCHA, UNHCR) and coordination mechanisms (RRM, HCTs, Clusters, etc.) across its countries of intervention.

“Data is at the heart of good decision-making. Only with accurate information can we make the right decisions on how to support displaced people in Niger and elsewhere. (…) Throughout my visit, our team in Diffa provided me with a wide range of information on each site we passed or visited. In Diffa town, a Data Centre on Forced Displacement was established in 2013, funded by UNHCR, and implemented by our partner REACH”i —Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Filippo Grandi consults REACH Factsheets during a field visit to UNHCR team in Diffa, Niger, in December 2016.

iSource: Filippo Grandi: “Data is at the heart of good decision-making”, UNHCR Niger.

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1. Coordinated Multi-sector Assessments The Grand Bargain: improving joint and impartial needs assessments One of the key outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit was the Grand Bargain - an agreement between key donors and aid agencies, to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian aid. One of the 10 areas that the Grand Bargain singled out for improvement focuses on joint and impartial needs assessments. The Grand Bargain calls for ‘needs assessments that are impartial, unbiased, comprehensive, context-sensitive, timely and up-to-date, providing a sound evidence base for humanitarian response plans and prioritised appeals. The needs assessment process must be coordinated, impartial, collaborative and fully transparent. The involvement of specialists supporting data collection and analysis can strengthen the collective process. Independent reviews and evaluations can contribute to learning and improvement of practice.’ As a key global assessment actor, REACH wants to directly contribute to achieving the Grand Bargain Needs Assessment commitment. REACH has been facilitating joint and impartial needs assessments since its creation in 2012. In 2016 alone, REACH assessments informed key humanitarian milestones in over 18 countries affected by crises. By facilitating coordinated multi-sectoral assessments, REACH has directly informed prioritisation and planning in countries like Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia.

Somalia Somalia Rapid Needs Assessment (SIRNA), March and April 2016 Cumulative and prolonged droughts in Somalia in 2016 and 2017 have been exacerbated by the breakdown in civil administration over the last 25 years in many areas of the country, and more recently by the changing global environment, especially the el-Nino weather system. Most recently, three seasons of below average rainfall in Northern Somalia in 2015 and 2016 contributed to an emerging drought situation, especially in the Somaliland and Puntland federal states, leading to an upscale of humanitarian action. In response to lack of granular information on multi-sectoral needs and existing service infrastructure, REACH was requested to implement a needs assessment in March 2016, to enable efficient resource mobilisation. REACH initiated the SIRNA on behalf of and in support to OCHA and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group, collecting data in March and April 2016, through a sampled household assessment covering 1210 households in Somaliland and Puntland, 124 Key Informant interviews and mapping of 649 facilities and services. Analysis was conducted to allow comparison between Somaliland and Puntland states, and regions within each state. The assessment highlighted the need for livelihood support to enable recovery, with pastoralism dependent communities having reported high rates of livestock loss, as well as limited water resources available to community leading to potential health impacts. Findings from the report contributed directly to the 2017 Somalia Humanitarian Needs Overview and Drought Operational Plan.

REACH SOMALIA 2016

8 assessments 25 partners 2,427 households 446 key informants 14

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REACH HAITI 2016

2 assessments 29 communities

Haiti Multi-Sector Needs Assessment, October and November 2016 On the evening of October 3, 2016, Tropical Hurricane Matthew affected the southwestern part of Haiti. Affecting more than 2.1 million people, the hurricane has led to the largest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake. The damage was mainly concentrated in the departments of Sud and Grand'Anse, where nearly 800,000 people were stricken. To provide quality, up-to-date information on the situation in Haiti, enable cross-sectorial planning by settlement and assist humanitarian actors in making better-informed decisions in terms of scale, scope and location in their response, REACH conducted a Multi Sector Needs Assessment in Grand’Anse and South departments of Haiti between October and November 2016. The assessment methodology was based on key informant interviews and participatory mapping techniques. A selection of 29 communities, sampled by distance from the hurricane and type of settlement, was accessed in Grand’Anse and Sud departments to assess priority needs and support a better understanding by humanitarian actors on the impact of the hurricane. Overall, findings pointed to significant humanitarian and reconstruction challenges and a high level of unmet needs, particularly in remote rural communities which found themselves isolated. Findings from the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment fed directly into the Haiti 2017 Humanitarian Needs Overview.

Categorisation of areas in Sud and Grand Anse and distance from the hurricane path

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Ukraine Inter-agency Vulnerability Assessment, July and August 2016 Two years after the start of conflict in Eastern Ukraine, the UN estimates that more than 1.7 million individuals have been displaced as a result of fighting in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. In 2016, at the request of the Humanitarian Country Team, REACH facilitated an inter-agency vulnerability assessment in Eastern Ukraine involving more than 30 partners including clusters, UN and NGOs. The assessment provides a comprehensive, multisector needs overview for over 2 million conflictaffected people, including 250,000 IDPs living in the Government Controlled Areas (GCA) of Donetsk and Luhansk. Data was collected in July 2016 through more than 2,500 household surveys and 32 focus group discussions. The research design enabled comparison between IDPs and non-displaced populations, rural and urban areas, and proximity to the line of contact separating the warring parties. The assessment underlined the specific challenges affecting populations living close to the active conflict zone in terms of protection and shelter, but also the difficulties facing IDPs after more than two years of displacement in securing decent livelihoods and income. This was the most comprehensive data collection and analysis exercise conducted in Ukraine since the start of conflict by its scope, size and contributions. Findings were used as a basis of the Ukraine 2017 Humanitarian Needs Overview, which refers to the Inter-agency Vulnerability Assessment over 30 times, and quoted in numerous strategic documents and HRP projects to identify needs and priority areas.

Libya Multi-Sector Needs Assessment, February and June 2016 Following years of political instability, armed conflict and the collapse of the Libyan economy, the UN estimates that 2.4 million individuals are affected by conflict. The ongoing conflict has led to deteriorating living conditions and reduced access to essential services for a significant part of the country. To address the continuing need to inform multi-sectoral humanitarian planning in Libya, REACH, supported by ECHO and FAO conducted two rounds of Multi-sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) in February and June 2016 on the humanitarian needs of communities across the country. The assessments provide an overview of humanitarian needs of conflict affected populations across Libya, including internally displaced persons. Both assessments draw on community level data collected from ‘People with Knowledge’ (PwK). In total, 630 PwK were interviewed for both assessments, covering more than 27 municipalities across the country. The information collected enabled comparisons between the situation and needs of communities in the East, West and South of Libya, and comparison between the two MSNA rounds. Data collected in the two rounds of MSNA fed directly into the Libya 2017 Humanitarian Needs Overview. The information collected provided one of the primary data sources upon which sector analysis was based, facilitating the joint prioritization of needs for the humanitarian community.

REACH LIBYA 2016

4 assessments 874 people with knowledge

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REACH IRAQ 2016 24 assessments 22 partners 20,806 households 972 key informants

Iraq Multi-Cluster Needs Assessments III, March and April 2016 The vast majority of Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq reside outside of formal camps. To identify gaps for the provision of humanitarian assistance, REACH has conducted yearly Multi-Cluster Needs Assessments for IDPs residing in non-camp settings in Iraq since 2014, the latest of which (MCNA III) was conducted in March-April 2016. The assessment is aligned with the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) cycle, for which it is a primary source of humanitarian needs‘ data and analysis. The MCNAs are coordinated through relevant cluster and OCHA focal points and designed in close collaboration with cluster partners to make sure the assessments respond to the information needs identified by coordination mechanisms in Iraq. During the MCNA III, 16 out of 18 governorates in Iraq were covered, with a total of 4,573 IDP households interviewed. As households are representatively sampled at both governorate and district levels, findings allowed aid sectors to understand geographic differences in humanitarian conditions and need, and to inform planning, sector prioritization and target group identification. The MCNA III assessment captured key trends, such as the increase of negative coping mechanisms to afford basic needs, or a rise in households’ indebtedness. Access to food and health services were reported as key priority needs. The MCNA III also allowed for in-depth nation-wide longitudinal analysis, enabling the identification of mid- to long-term trends and shifting needs over time. Example of MCNA III findings: Coping strategies employed by IDP households in the 30 days prior to the assessment

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Syria Humanitarian situation analysis in Hard-to-Reach areas

REACH SYRIA 2016 82

Community Profiles

777

HSOS

15 Rapid Assessments

Besieged and hard-to-reach communities in Syria face unique and acute vulnerabilities due to access and movement restrictions, as well as a high intensity of conflict. Given limited access, an accurate understanding of needs and vulnerabilities remains paramount to ensuring that the limited opportunities to deliver aid adequately match community needs. Through the monthly Community Profiles, REACH, in partnership with the Syrian NGO forum – SIRF, provides information about the needs and vulnerabilities of such communities. Data is collected from over 40 communities, through Community Representatives residing within the assessed communities, and focuses on several indicators, including freedom of movement, movement of commercial/humanitarian vehicles, health, food security and prices, and access to basic services. The data is used by both operational and strategic actors, including the Humanitarian Task Force, to identify priority communities, review the definition and criteria for besieged and hard to reach areas and to advocate for access and assistance. Ongoing since 2013, REACH’s Humanitarian Situation Overview in Syria (HSOS) uses the Area of Origin (AoO) methodology to expand and enhance the quality and reliability of data gathered in less accessible areas due to conflict. This information source quickly became one of the primary reference points of the current humanitarian situation inside Syria and continues to be used as a basis for informing strategic priorities in the Humanitarian Needs Overview and Whole of Syria Coordination platforms. Through Rapid Assessments, REACH provides crucial information on the humanitarian situation in Syria within three to five days from a trigger event, such as sudden besiegement, mass displacement, severe weather or an escalation of conflict. Upon the onset of a crisis, REACH teams monitor media and proceed with compiling existing data related to the crisis, contacting enumerators to scope out the current situation to inform the design of indicators to assess needs. The indicator list is shared with relevant counterparts at OCHA, clusters, and NGO for review and input. The tools are then developed to be administered to existing networks of key informants at the location. Among the rapid assessments conducted by REACH in Syria were the bi-weekly updates for Aleppo, released during the ongoing besiegement from August to December 2016 and after first aerial strikes in Hasekeh.

REACH’s Area of Origin Methodology Hard-to-reach or conflict affected areas are often those where needs are greatest, but also those where restrictions on access to goods, people, and information mean that data on needs and vulnerabilities is systematically lacking. First piloted in Syria in 2013, REACH’s Area of Origin (AoO) methodology is a flexible means of collecting primary data, which is adapted to different levels of access. The AoO methodology is based on the participation of displaced persons or refugees, who remain in contact with family or friends in their area of origin and are able to collect up to date information about on a regular basis. Information collected via their contacts, known as “key informants,” is then consolidated and triangulated with available secondary data. Findings are given a confidence score, so that information provided by participants with the best community-level knowledge is given the highest weighting. The use of standard, sector-specific questions enables changes to be monitored over time.The AoO methodology has now been applied as best practice in other settings where direct and regular access is not feasible.

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2. Sector-specific assessments SHELTER REACH has provided global and country level support to the Shelter Cluster since 2010. As its global assessment focal point, REACH provides surge capacity to conduct needs assessments, monitoring and evaluation for country-level shelter clusters, and was deployed in 2016 in Nepal, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the occupied Palestinian Territories. At global level, REACH provides global-level assessment and M&E expertise through technical support, and support to training of Shelter Cluster coordinators.

Nepal Shelter Preparedness Assessment, May-June 2016 Ahead of the 2016 monsoon season in Nepal, humanitarian actors feared that the destabilization in terrain conditions caused by the 2015 earthquakes could significantly increase the risk of landslides during monsoon rains. To prepare for this, the Nepal Shelter Cluster decided to develop a contingency plan spanning 14 earthquake affected districts in the mountain region, in addition to 22 districts historically affected by widespread flooding in the lowland region. REACH was mobilised to inform the contingency plan by leading and facilitating an interagency monsoon preparedness assessment across the districts. The 6-week long assessment included macro-level secondary data analysis to identify risk areas and estimate potential caseloads, along with collection and analysis of micro-level primary data to understand expectations of assistance, level of preparation and potential coping strategies. The analysis identified settlements most at risk of landslides and flooding. Within these, caseloads were estimated using a methodology derived from IASC’s Humanitarian Population Figures ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up approaches’. The number of households most likely to need assistance in the event of monsoon impacts was estimated at 66,975 in lowland districts and at 46,894 in the earthquake affected districts; these estimations informed not only the Shelter Cluster’s but also other humanitarian clusters’ contingency planning ahead of the monsoon.

Density of co-seismic landslide trigged by earthquakes April-May 2015 (number of landslide locations per km2)

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REACH NIGER 2016 6 assessments 322 Key Informants 3,410 households

Niger Shelter Assessment, 2016 Following the June 2016 attack on the city of Bosso, which resulted in an unprecedented wave of internal displacement in Niger, the humanitarian community lacked an evidence-based understanding of existing humanitarian needs on the ground. In the framework of the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) and in cooperation with the IRC, UNHCR and other shelter actors, REACH undertook a rapid needs assessment in locations most affected by recent waves of displacement to inform shelter programming in response to the crisis. To this end, a representative (on regional level) household survey was carried out across 72 randomly selected displacement sites in Diffa. Aside from assessing shelter needs, this survey covered intentions of displacement in order to enable humanitarian actors to adapt their interventions to rapidly changing displacement dynamics. The assessment provided information on prevailing needs in areas where no recent assessments had been done and, more broadly, helped to nurture the understanding of negative mid- and long-term effects of displacement on affected communities. In particular, it provided robust evidence on two levels: on the one hand, it established a baseline of shelter and NFI-related needs in affected regions; on the other hand, it disclosed the prevailing fragile security situation as the main driving force of displacement in the region. It also provided evidence on how displacement has negatively affected the social tissue between and inside affected groups by generating increasing demographic pressure on already strained basic service infrastructure. Map of assessed sites, Niger

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REMOTE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT A lack of humanitarian access causes serious limitations to understanding the situation and needs of affected communities. Remote damage assessment using satellite imagery offers enormous potential for understanding the extent of damage in such areas, movement of people, and functionality of key infrastructure and services.

Using satellite imagery to compare damage over time: in Aleppo, Syria Top in 2014, bottom in 2016

Through UNOSAT, REACH conducts detailed remote damage assessments in conflict-affected areas. The assessments use high-resolution remote sensing imagery to better understand the situation in areas with limited humanitarian access, through comparisons with earlier imagery of the same areas. Satellite image analysis allows visible damage (from above) to be geo-located and classified as moderate, severe or destroyed. Key benefits include the provision of objective and timely information, particularly in conflict situations, which can serve as a baseline for all humanitarian stakeholders. In Syria, remote damage assessments were conducted in 6 cities in 2016. Remote sensing analysis has supported humanitarian action by providing an indication of the damage inflicted over time in the various neighbourhoods of assessed cities. Damage analysis has also served as an important source of data for other assessments, allowing for the triangulation of data and informing participatory mapping.

Remote Damage Assessment in Damascus, Syria Areas of southern Damascus were assessed for the first time in April 2016. Damage is shown in red (destroyed), orange (severe damage) and yellow (moderate damage). This assessment recorded damage to 5,418 buildings.

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

WASH In 2016 REACH formalised its global level partnership with the WASH Cluster. Through this partnership, REACH provides dedicated assessment and Information Management capacity to the global WASH Cluster and provides technical support to global and country cluster teams. In the course of the year, REACH has provided surge capacity to country-level WASH clusters to facilitate needs assessments, including in Mali, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Niger.

South Sudan Supporting the WASH response The outbreak of South Sudan’s civil war in December 2013 sparked a complex humanitarian emergency in the country. The UN estimates that 3.2 million individuals remain displaced, of whom 1.9 million internally displaced and 1.3 million as refugees. Most IDPs live in difficult conditions with limited access to basic services including food, water, hygiene and sanitation services (WASH). REACH has been actively supporting the WASH Cluster in South Sudan since 2014, through mapping, assessment, and IM capacity. In 2016, REACH conducted a series of inter-agency mapping exercises to allow WASH actors to understand the spatial distribution of cholera caseloads, evolution of partner cholera-response activities over time, and residual chlorine levels in trucked water supplies. WASH data was collected through Key Informant interviews and focus groups discussions in the Greater Upper Nile and Greater Equatoria States. Following the outbreak of violence in Juba in July 2016, REACH supported the WASH Cluster and other actors by supplying daily IDP caseload maps to help target the WASH-related response. In early 2016, REACH led the development of a WASH Common Baseline Assessment Methodology and Toolbox, and the subsequent two inter-agency assessments to pilot the baseline methodology and toolkit in Akobo East and Akobo West. Over the span of 7 days of data collection, 550 households – an estimated 4,417 individuals – were assessed. Overall, findings highlighted a need for activities aiming at inducing behavioural changes with regards to WASH practices and attitudes in Akobo East and West, particularly with regards to hand washing practices, open defecation and treatment of water, coupled with distribution of WASH items such as soap and most importantly water containers.

REACH SOUTH SUDAN 2016 39 assessments 86 partners 17,927 interviews

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Photo credit: SNTDCI

Somalia Water Price Monitoring System In Somalia, cumulative and prolonged drought conditions in 2016 and 2017, along with conflict and breakdown in civil administration over the last 25 years, have had severe impacts on the population. In addition, limited infrastructural investments and large levels of internal displacement have increased vulnerability to environmental change. The WASH Cluster Somalia, recognising the lack of sufficient information on variations in water price between different areas and over time, requested REACH support to establish an interagency Water Market Monitoring System. The activity aimed to establish a data collection, monitoring and reporting system on water market prices in Somalia, enabling a comparison between rural and urban areas, wet and dry seasons, and general longitudinal trends. Initially, the monitoring focused on the Gedo region of Somalia, monitoring 191 individual water points on a monthly basis, with further expansion to Kismayo, Baidoa and Eyl districts together with Middle Juba and Afmadow regions planned in 2017. This initiative adds to REACH’s global and ever-developing work on market monitoring, and further improves information gathering that will strengthen the response to essential humanitarian needs in areas challenged by conflict, instability and environmental change. It has also allowed the WASH Cluster to map the presence of water points in drought-affected areas of Somalia. Location of assessed waterpoints, per type, Gedo and Doolow districts, Somalia, December 2016

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

FOOD SECURITY & LIVELIHOODS REACH has conducted a number of food security assessments since 2012, in coordination with WFP, FAO and other humanitarian actors. REACH has been working closely with the global Food Security Cluster since 2014, co-chairing the Global Food Security Cluster Program Quality Working Group and actively engaging in global partners meetings.

Jordan Comprehensive Food Security Monitoring Exercise (CFSME) More than 655,000 Syrian refugees have been registered in Jordan as of December 2016. For the third consecutive year, REACH and the World Food Programme (WFP) have partnered to conduct a Comprehensive Food Security Monitoring Exercise (CFSME) of the registered Syrian refugees in Jordan. It covered all 12 governorates, as well as Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps, and a total of 3,253 households (20,067 individuals) were surveyed in the 2016 monitoring exercise. In order to inform WFP programming and support the prioritisation of assistance to the most vulnerable refugees, REACH assessed current levels of food security among Syrian refugees in Jordan, as well as other cross-sector needs and vulnerabilities. As similar monitoring exercises were conducted in 2014 and 2015, REACH and WFP were able to identify key trends in needs and vulnerabilities of Syrian refugees over the past three years. In 2016, REACH found that the most vulnerable Syrian refugee households were those receiving lower levels of WFP assistance, households living in informal tented settlements and households facing economic pressures stemming from healthcare requirements. More than 60% of households in host communities still resorted to emergency livelihood coping strategies, suggesting that they are poorly equipped to deal with economic shocks and reduced access to resources. In informal tented settlements, the percentage of households using emergency livelihood coping strategies has even risen to 38% in 2016, from 32% in 2015. Overall, despite general improvement of food security for Syrian refugees in Jordan since 2015, food security remains well below 2014 levels: 12% of Syrian refugees living in Jordan host communities are food insecure and 60% remain highly vulnerable to food insecurity.

WFP/Mohammad Batah

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

CASH AND MARKETS As an outcome of the World Humanitarian Summit, the UN Secretary-General's called for cash-based assistance to become the default method of support for people in emergencies wherever possible. While cash assistance can be a more efficient and dignified modality for aid delivery, such a shift towards multi-purpose cash grants should be accompanied by a strong understanding of the local context, markets and value chains, ensuring the feasibility and enabling a monitoring of the impact of cash programming. Within this framework, REACH has been providing assessment, analysis and Information Management support to cash actors and cash working groups in numerous countries - including Syria, Iraq, Somalia - through market monitoring and assessment activities.

Market and Price Monitoring in Syria and Iraq In Syria and Iraq, humanitarian actors are increasingly relying on cash-based programming to support local markets and alleviate the financial burden on households. In order to do so, cash actors need reliable, up-to-date and very granular information about market functionality and the cost of living, to calculate the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB), which represents the culturally-adjusted minimum amount of funding needed to sustain a household of six members for one month. In Syria, REACH coordinates the monthly Syria Market Monitoring Exercise, launched in January 2015 in partnership with the Cash-Based Responses Technical Working Group (CBR–TWG) for northern Syria. Data on food and NFI prices, currency exchange rates, commodity shortages, and supply chain difficulties in markets across ten governorates of Syria is collected by 17 NGOs, using unified REACH data collection tools and methodologies. Data collected is then analysed by REACH which produces the Syria Market Monitoring Exercise, a central planning document used directly in response planning by members of the CBR–TWG, the South Syria Cash Group and the Food Security Sector’s Jordan hub. Cash actors’ widespread participation in REACH’s Market Monitoring Exercise has helped to standardise and harmonise price monitoring efforts across Syria. In Iraq, REACH has developed a Joint Price Monitoring Initiative (JPMI) in 2016 in partnership with the Cash Working Group in Iraq (CWG), in response to a lack of coordination and methodological consistency for price monitoring. Data is collected on a monthly basis by partner agencies of the CWG, using a harmonized Kobo-mobile tool during the same week each month. Subsequently, data is cleaned and analysed, and findings are presented in a monthly factsheet, which provides an overview of price ranges and medians for key foods, NFIs and types of fuel across the areas assessed. A key success of the JPMI has been the high level of coordination between different humanitarian cash actors and the resulting standardization of a cash monitoring methodology.

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

3. Displacement and Migration Understanding displacement and migration Conflict, climate change and poverty are leading to increased displacement and migration across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In 2016, millions of people have been seeking safety and improved life quality in other areas within their own countries, while many have been obliged to leave their country with the hope to find a better future in neighbouring countries or Europe. In order to better understand intentions of internally displaced people, refugees, migrants and returnees, REACH has been working with key partners such as the CCCM Cluster, UNHCR and UN-OCHA to gather a better understanding of the intentions and vulnerabilities of displaced people in camps, informal sites and rural/urban areas across countries of origin, transit and destination.

Displacement in Camps and Informal Sites Jordan The Za’atari Camp Home to 79,900 refugees, Za’atari is the largest and oldest refugee camp in Jordan. REACH has been present and active in Za’atari since its opening, supporting humanitarian actors with regular mapping of infrastructure and camp construction, monitoring of the WASH network, and a variety of other assessments, Geographic Information System (GIS) and information management activities. In 2016, REACH has continued producing static humanitarian maps of the camp (169 map requests were answered in 2016), as well as facilitating two rounds of interagency Post-Distribution Monitoring and specific thematic assessments including on winterisation and on youth participation. REACH also began production of a live webmap of Za’atari camp showing the water network and health facilities that can be downloaded onto mobile devices, to be used by both refugees and operational actors in the camp. General Infrastructure map of Za’atari Camp October 2016

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Iraq Camp Profiling, 2016 Of the over 3,000,000 IDPs identified by the CCCM Cluster in Iraq as of February 2017, 746,475 individuals are registered as living in 77 formal camps across Iraq. To monitor these camps comprehensively and inform a more effective humanitarian response, REACH has supported the CCCM Cluster to conduct Quarterly IDP Camp Profiling since 2014. The overall aim of the partnership is to inform humanitarian response to IDPs living in camp settings at an operational and strategic level, by providing regular and updated information on developments, needs and gaps in all accessible IDP camps across Iraq. In total, REACH has conducted seven rounds of IDP camp profiling and mapping from October 2014 until December 2016, using a mixed-method research methodology which incorporates householdlevel sampling in each assessed IDP camp, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with each camp manager and satellite imagery analysis. The most recent round started in December 2016 covered 56 formally recognized IDP camps with a total of 5,389 households assessed across camps in Anbar, Baghdad, Dahuk, Diyala, Erbil, Kerbala, Kirkuk, Missan, Najaf, Ninewa, Salah al-Din and Sulaymaniyah governorates. This information is used as the basis for the planning, strategy and response of the Iraq CCCM cluster and its partners throughout 2016.

Niger Mapping informal IDP and refugee sites, 2016 Despite the opening of two formal camps in 2015 by the Nigerien Government and UNHCR in the Diffa region, a large part of the population displaced by conflict (including refugees and IDPs) in Niger continues living in informal sites, increasing the pressure on host communities. Since 2014, REACH has supported UNHCR and other humanitarian actors through regular mapping and assessment exercises of informal displacement sites across the Diffa region, including in host communities and informal settlements. In 2016 REACH facilitated three rounds of data collection in and around 41 displacement sites, interviewing community-level key informant data on the availability and state of basic service infrastructure (such as water access points, latrines, schools, etc.) and on the areas of origin of displaced populations. This assessment helped humanitarian partners track the number and location of informal displacement sites in the Diffa region, and to plan humanitarian response in each site. The several rounds of data collection also enabled a detection of trends on the humanitarian situation in each site, identifying locations most affected by recent displacement and progress made through targeted humanitarian intervention.

Camp infrastructure mapping in Iraq

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

REACH CHAD 2016 3 assessments 1,581 Key Informants

Displacement and returns in out-of-camp settings Chad Understanding displacement in Chad The Lake Chad humanitarian crisis, coupled with instability and restrictions imposed by the state of emergency, have caused significant displacement in the country since January 2015. IOM has recorded the presence of over 100,700 displaced people, identified more than 8,200 refugees, and estimates the presence of over 20,900 unregistered IDPs in the Lake region as of December 2016. To better inform humanitarian action in the Lake region, REACH carried out three Multi-Sector Needs Assessments (in March, June and October 2016) and 24 focus group discussions on protection issues held in displacement sites and host villages (December 2016). The Multi-Sector Needs Assessments surveyed 731 key informants from the communities of the Lake region. The reports shed light on the limited access to basic services and livelihoods, fragile food security and precarious individual security, including the presence of gender-based violence and early marriage practices, and rising inter-community tensions. They informed the Chad 2017 Humanitarian Needs Overview, allowing for better humanitarian coordination and planning.

Jordan Joint Emergency Services and Social Resilience Project (JESSRP) Since 2014 REACH has conducted regular assessments to monitor the impact of the FCO/World Bank-funded JESSRP project. Implemented in nine municipalities throughout the country, JESSRP targets those municipalities that have either seen a considerable influx of Syrian refugees and/or have received relatively fewer funds than other areas. The project takes an innovative approach to improving social cohesion, by channelling funding directly through municipal authorities and giving them considerable leverage to select and direct individual projects. JESSRP supports municipalities to ease tensions that may emerge in communities due to increased strain on services, such as public leisure spaces, sanitation, and infrastructure. In 2016, REACH carried out one monitoring exercise for JESSRP, focusing on tracing links between modalities of consultation, implementation and outcomes, and examining which approaches taken by municipalities have the most positive outcomes in terms of social resilience and cohesion. REACH has identified a number of best practices on the part of municipalities that can be expanded to other contexts and localities, improving the efficacy of the response to urban displacement and urban refugee populations.

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Syria IDP Situation Monitoring Initiative (ISMI), October 2016 - ongoing After six years of civil war, an estimated 6.3 million people had been displaced within Syria as of October 2016 (OCHA HNO). To complement existing efforts to regularly track displacement across the country, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster (CCCM) initiated the IDP Situation Monitoring Initiative (ISMI) in late 2016, which incorporates displacement data collected by REACH, the Syria Relief Network (SRN) and cluster members. Through a network of REACH and SRN enumerators working in northern Syria, ISMI tracks IDP movements across Aleppo, Idleb, Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, Hama and Homs governorates estimated to host 3.6 million displaced individuals. Following a baseline assessment conducted in October and November 2016, weekly data collection cycles monitored IDP arrivals, departures and shelter types across 1,183 communities, with coverage expanding in response to population movement into new areas. In addition to weekly data cycles, ISMI has allowed for the daily monitoring of complex displacements, such as the evacuation of eastern Aleppo city in late 2016. Furthermore, larger thematic assessments have been conducted to assess the displacement and future intentions of hundreds of thousands of people in conflict affected Aleppo governorate. Data collected has informed the preparedness planning and emergency response of CCCM partners working to support displaced populations within Syria. IDP Locations within Northern Syria, November 2016

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

REACH AFGHANISTAN 2016 6 assessments 10,324 households

Afghanistan Informal Settlement Profiling Project, 2016 In 2016, according to OCHA, the number of internally displaced persons and returnees in Afghanistan reached unprecedented records, with more than 623,000 people on the move due to conflict alone. Many of these have joined informal settlements, straining the already limited resources available in these sites. Despite these new trends, very little research has focused on the complex and changing nature of these sites, particularly following the recent forced migration of returnees from Pakistan. To fill this information gap, REACH launched the Informal Settlement Profiling, aimed at identifying, assessing and mapping informal settlements in Afghanistan on an ongoing basis. During the first phase of this project more than 80 settlements in Kabul and Nangarhar were profiled, resulting in the publication of site-specific and combined factsheet highlighting population numbers and profiles, as well as key humanitarian trends. In parallel to this work, a monitoring tool has been developed to allow for a review of each informal settlement on a monthly basis in the future, and capture significant changes and vulnerabilities early and efficiently. Not only does this generate valuable and insightful information on the under-researched locations, but the profiling scheme also provides a lens through which sector-specific studies, such as the REACH-led Food Security assessment, can be conducted efficiently, allowing for the provision of timely information.

South Sudan Rapid Assessments of Displacement in Greater Equatoria On 8 July, fighting broke out in Juba between armed factions of the Government-led Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), and the former opposition SPLA-In Opposition (IO) and spread throughout the Greater Equatoria region over the following weeks. Thousands of people were displaced, many to neighbouring countries, and by the end of August, 97,947 new arrivals were registered in Uganda. To inform humanitarian planning, REACH deployed to northern Uganda to conduct a rapid assessment in Kiryandongo settlement. Through its “Area of Origin” methodology, REACH identified a large population without access to sufficient food and basic services waiting to cross the border to Uganda should security allow. As assessment findings predicted, the following months saw a continued flow of refugees across the border, resulting in 898,138 refugees registered by UNHCR as of May 2017. Limited information existed about humanitarian conditions of populations trapped within the Equatorias, in hard-to-reach areas. Between 9 and 13 October 2016, REACH conducted a rapid assessment in Torit Town and its surrounding villages in Eastern Equatoria to address this gap and provide baseline information to inform humanitarian planning. Using its “Area of Origin” methodology, REACH spoke with recently arrived South Sudanese IDPs from the surrounding counties to gather information about triggers and patterns of displacement, and future intensions. REACH findings about a severe lack of food in Torit contributed to trigger an upscale in humanitarian services provided in the area, as well as WFP distributions. However the situation remains precarious and REACH has continued to monitor the Equatorias remotely from Juba, producing monthly informative factsheets.

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Iraq Rapid Displacement and Mosul Crisis Overviews, 2016 Since Iraqi Forces began the offensive to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, and its surrounding areas from Armed Groups in October 2016, levels of displacement have rapidly escalated, pushing hundreds of thousands of displaced families into camps and host communities. REACH’s Rapid Displacement Overviews have provided rapid details of displacement trends, intentions, humanitarian needs and assistance levels of these families, whilst the Mosul Crisis Overviews offered a strategic summary of the current crisis, its pull, push and remain factors, and IDP vulnerabilities disaggregated by displacement profile and destination. Both, Rapid Displacement and Mosul Crisis Overviews assessments used a mixed-methodology, drawing upon hundreds of Key Informant interviews including displaced persons, camp managers and community representatives, as well as available secondary data sources. The assessments enabled comparisons between different camps, neighborhoods and villages of Mosul city, as well as between population groups displaced, returning and those who remained. REACH’s Mosul crisis outputs have provided the main data source upon which many partners have based their immediate humanitarian response and program planning. The findings have influenced in-depth cluster-specific assessments whilst also feeding information into the wider humanitarian profile of the current Mosul crisis.

Overview of IDP Displacement Routes from Mosul, November 2016

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Migration

With more than one million refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants arriving in Europe in 2015 alone, a lot remains unknown about their needs, motivations and the validity of the information that has led them to move. Information gaps have resulted in an inadequate response in countries of origin, destination, and transit, putting people on the move at risk and leading them to make misinformed and dangerous decisions. To fill such information gaps a consortium of seven NGOs — ACAPS, Danish Refugee Council, Ground Truth Solutions, Internews, INTERSOS, REACH and Translators without Borders, decided to establish an Amman-based Mixed Migration Platform (MMP), with support from the UK and Switzerland. The MMP aims to provide quality information and protection‐ sensitive analysis to improve decision‐making, both for people on the move through the Middle East and Europe, as well as host governments and humanitarian organisations who are involved in the response. REACH is one of the founding members of the MMP and provided support in 2016 through a migration analyst dedicated to the MMP. Within the MMP framework, REACH is also responsible for the implementation of migration assessments, qualitative as well as quantitative, in the MENA region, Afghanistan and along EU’s migration corridors.

Migration to Europe through the Western Balkans, December 2015 – June 2016 More than a million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe in 2015, sparking a humanitarian crisis as European countries struggled to cope with this large influx of people. Despite its severity, this European migration crisis has been marked in its early days by significant information gaps on the migrant’s intentions, profile and on the factors motivating their choice to leave their place of origin and select a specific destination within the EU. In response to this, REACH established in 2016 a displacement monitoring mechanism to provide real-time information on the trends, the profile and the intentions of new arrivals into Europe through the Western Balkans. Along the “Balkans corridor”, primary data was collected from a total of 1,060 group interviews with migrants at key transit sites and transportation hubs in FYRoM and Serbia, representing a total of over 5,600 individuals. To triangulate the information, in countries of origin monthly Information was collected from up to 370 communities across Syria from December to May, while one-off assessments were conducted in March 2016, drawing on the knowledge of 80 key informants in Iraq, 46 in Niger, 45 in Mali and 14 in Afghanistan. This information provided humanitarian stakeholders and policy makers with a regular update on displacement trends, profiles and main vulnerabilities of refugees, highlighting how those fleeing conflict and violence were more likely to be vulnerable to shocks, delays and setbacks. Refugees cross from Serbia to Hungary

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

4. Information Management Support In a number of crises, REACH supports humanitarian actors with the provision of information management support. Information management support in 2016 includes:

Ukraine: Information Management Hub Implemented in coordination with OCHA and the clusters, the IM hub is a service provided by REACH in support of humanitarian organisations to improve collection, processing and visualisation of data:  Under technical support, partner organizations can use REACH human resources, software and equipment to help with IM challenges ranging from data-basing advice to printing maps. REACH supports organizations to structure information adequately to improve analysis and communication of field data. In 2016, the hub supported the production of three online platforms, 12 maps, four datasets, providing advice to eight partners on improving data management tools.  Under capacity building, REACH organises trainings on i) assessment methods, ii) data management, iii) digital data collection and iv) GIS. In small groups of approximately 10 people, REACH trains local staff members on using open source or widely available software (such as QGIS, Kobo, Excel) to improve evidence based programming through stronger IM capacities. In 2016, the hub delivered seven training activities to more than 70 people.

Central African Republic: Information Management for the Rapid Response Mechanism In the Central Africa Republic REACH supports the UNICEF-coordinated Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) with Information Management capacity. Through the RRM, NGO partners have been able to react to shocks across the country, conducting rapid assessments, providing WASH and Non-Food Item assistance, and conducting post-distribution monitoring. Since 2015, REACH has centralised reporting among partners, tracking situation needs and response and providing periodic updates to all partners through monthly factsheets and an interactive online dashboard. Resulting products have been extensively used to in the framework of the RRM and for broader intersectoral response planning.

Niger: Monthly Overview of the Humanitarian Response Since 2014 REACH has supported UNHCR and other humanitarian actors to better coordinate the response to the Lake Chad crisis in Niger’s Diffa region In cooperation with UNHCR, REACH has developed an online dashboard providing a monthly overview of ongoing activities by humanitarian actors in Diffa, which is presented in sector working groups and widely used by partners. This dashboard enables humanitarian actors to identify gaps in humanitarian aid provision and is used to track progress against Niger’s humanitarian response plan. REACH interactive online dashboard compiling information on the humanitarian response in the Diffa region

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

PART

3

REACH Partners Founding partners

Bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies

UN agencies and international organisations

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Cluster partners

H2H partners

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

PART

4

REACH in Numbers People By the end of 2016, REACH had a total of 235 contracted staff worldwide. These staff members are also supported by over 90 temporary staff in order to conduct large assessments.

Location of programme staff The vast majority of REACH staff are located in field operations.

22% Field

HQ

78%

Field staff by country, December 2016 Most of our field staff are employed locally. Some field staff travel regularly to support programmes in other countries of operation. Syria SSD Haiti Jordan Afg Iraq Ukraine Somalia/Kenya Libya Chad Niger Yemen

National Staff International Staff

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Field staff by contract type, December 2016

158

national staff1

60

international staff

1

The number excludes the national staff with short-term temporary contract.

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REACH 2016 Activity Report

Budget REACH’s estimated provisional budget for 2016 comes to a total of 10,052,820 Swiss Francs (CHF). Actual budgets will be confirmed upon closure of 2016 accounts. Annual budget, by donor REACH’s work was primarily funded by bilateral donors and United Nations agencies. 10% 27%

Bilateral

UN

Other

63%

Annual budget, by region Over half of REACH’s global budget was for the Middle East and North Africa region.

6%

MENA

5%1%

Africa

9% 51%

Global Europe

28%

Asia Central America

Annual budget, by country (CHF): Together, operations in Syria, Iraq and South Sudan account for more than half of REACH’s total annual budget. Syria Iraq South Sudan Somalia Global Jordan Libya Ukraine Afghanistan Niger Balkans DRC Yemen Haiti Chad Kenya CAR Lebanon Nepal Philippines -

1,000,000

2,000,000

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