Enhancing Dignified and Improved Living Condition of IDPs in Rakhine State, Myanmar through Shelter, WASH, Education and Protection This project addresses urgent Shelter, WASH, Education and Protection needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups in Sittwe, Pauktaw and Ann Townships, Rakhine State. Implementation will take place in LWF-managed camps and new displacement sites, with multi-sectoral interventions targeting areas of greatest need reaching a total of 49,747 IDPs. This includes 10,616 men, 12,544 women, 13,603 boys,12,984 girls and 2,288 people with disabilities (PWDs). These target areas are among the most affected in terms of new arrivals of IDPs with substantial needs. This burden is on top of the ongoing development, human rights and security crisis in Rakhine State. This project aims to contribute to the reduction of the immediate and life-threatening suffering of IDPs in these target areas. It is well aligned with the Shelter/NFI/CCCM, WASH, Education and Protection SRPs and the priorities of this call. 

A conflict-sensitive approach will be followed towards the inclusion of vulnerable people in camps and new displacement sites. Specific vulnerable groups among the IDP population, such as PWDs, PSNs and female headed households will be prioritised according to cluster/sector guidelines. The project will consider women’s specific needs. Gender balanced staff will be recruited where possible, women will be separately engaged in all consultations/training and gender disaggregated data will be collected.

Lutheran World Federation Myanmar (LWF) and MA-UK Myanmar (MA-UK) are well positioned to implement this project in partnership with Swanyee Development Foundation (SDF) and Arche NoVa (AN) due to their combined experience in Shelter/NFI/CCCM, WASH, Education and Protection in the target locations. LWF has been present in Myanmar since 2008 and in Rakhine State since 2013. The LWF program in Rakhine focuses on camp management and protection (including GBV, Shelter and NFIs), education, livelihoods, DRR, community infrastructure and rights-based empowerment. LWF acts as the Camp Management Agency (CMA) for the 8 target IDP camps and Focal Agency for the targeted new displacement sites in Sittwe, Pauktaw and Ann. LWF will lead the consortium and be ultimately responsible for all project implementation and management. LWF’s role as CMA is particularly advantageous and will ensure the interventions of all partners add value while avoiding duplication of efforts. 

Co-applicant MA-UK has been present in camps and villages in Rakhine State since 2012, working across Shelter/NFIs, WASH, EiE, health and livelihoods. MA-UK is currently implementing a MHF-funded project to reconstruct 40 shelters in Pauktaw, in partnership with national NGO SDF. On this new project, MA-UK will continue to implement activities jointly with SDF, this time in Sittwe and Pauktaw camps and displacement sites, utilising SDF’s experience related to access and strengthened capacity from previous work implementing MHF projects. 

Co-applicant AN focuses on WASH, DRR, food security, education and health in humanitarian and development settings. AN has been supporting communities in central Rakhine since 2016 and has built strong relationships with communities, local authorities and other stakeholders. UNHCR recently handed over 2 new displacement sites in Ann Township to be managed by LWF with support from AN. MHF funding will be complementary in providing a holistic response to IDP communities, including Protection, CCCM and WASH.

LWF, MA-UK, SDF and AN all have a good reputation and competent staff with the capacity to manage allocated funds. All partners are aware of the safety and security situation in the target areas, as well as possible impacts on the project due to COVID-19 and have relevant mechanisms in place to safely operate in this context.