Developing an “accountability culture” among humanitarian responders

Ethiopia | 2021 | CBPF

‍Ethiopia. The Ethiopia Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Network is funded by the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF). The Network is establishing a common approach to strengthen humanitarian workers’ knowledge and ability to prevent and respond to PSEA.

Central to this goal is capacity building. Service providers need to recognize the consequences of sexual exploitation and abuse on affected communities, and understand how to prevent and respond in a survivor-centred way.

“The capacity building and awareness raising initiatives supported by EHF… empower front-line responders,” says Maria Kjersem, the Inter-Agency PSEA Coordinator.

With EHF funding in 2021, the Network trained national and regional focal points in Somali, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray, Afar, Amhara and Gambella regions. EHF funding supported an online and in-person PSEA Network Training Package as well as reference materials.

“The training [was] contextualized to our culture and current situation. This made it easy to understand the concepts and [apply them] to the displacement shelters where I work,” said Dawit Argawi, a Social Worker with OSSAD, a national NGO.

The Ethiopia PSEA network is working with IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix team to include PSEA risk assessment and mapping in site and village assessments. A sample report is here. The data is being collected through focus groups with affected communities. This will establish baseline for risk and mitigation, further strengthening principled response in Ethiopia.

The Network, says Dr Catherine Sozi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, is “developing an inter-agency accountability culture from the top down that protects and supports survivors. “

2021

For more information on the Ethiopia PSEA network, see here.

More information on the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund:

OCHA -POOLED FUNDS DATA HUB – By Country (unocha.org)

https://www.unocha.org/ethiopia/about-ehf

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