Providing multi-sectoral life-saving assistance for displaced persons in Chin and Magway The Northwest (NW) region of Myanmar, has seen a sharp increase in conflict and displacement, resulting in critical and timely humanitarian responses to be set-up in the region. As per the last humanitarian update, the NW, has been hosting approximately 583,100 IDPs after February 2022, of which there are 79,200 IDPs in Magway and 33,900 IDPs in Chin (UN figures as of 25 July 2022) this is due to the increase in clashes between Tatmadaw, CDFs, and PDFs. This project will target the wider IDP population with focus on people with specific vulnerabilities, including those linked to age, gender, disabilities or other characteristics of marginalization. As such, the overall objective of the project is to address the most urgent and unmet humanitarian needs of conflict-affected IDPs in hard-to-reach and underserved areas in Chin and Magway, through the provision of lifesaving multisectoral assistance in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter/Non-Food Items (NFI), Protection, and Education in Emergencies (EiE). The intervention will further build on the MHF funded projects of PIN in Northwest (in particular in Chin state: MM-21/DDA-3415/SA2/E-P-SNFI-WASH/INGO/20764), and will utilize the already existing human resources and humanitarian access pathways to deliver immediate assistance to the vulnerable communities (this project has been carefully designed to ensure there is no overlap in activities).  
 
To provide holistic, humanitarian programming, and to manage the critical access and security concerns in the NW, a consortium has been formed between People In Need (PIN), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Karuna Mission Social Solidarity - Hakha (KMSS-Hakha), Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), and Servant of Agape Love (SOAL), who are currently operational and present in NW. In particular, both KMSS-Hakha and CHRO have been long-standing organizations in the region. As such, this project will leverage the consortium’s expansive, existing network, relationships with communities, access to hard-to-reach places, and local knowledge in order to provide life-saving responses to IDPs in the states of Chin and Magway.  
 
Using an integrated multi-sectoral approach, this intervention will contribute to the reduction of a wide range of immediate and life-threatening risks, as well as improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of vulnerable conflict-affected populations. The consortium’s approach allows the project to benefit from the sectoral expertise and geographical reach of each partner to maximize value for money, experience-sharing, and operational capacity. 
 
The WASH intervention aims to cover gaps in urgent access to, for example, safe drinking water, access to gender and disability friendly sanitation facilities, and promotion and the application of hygienic practices. Shelter/NFI focuses on providing critical support for shelter and NFI needs of these newly displaced populations. The education work aims to address the severe education gaps for children, including through the provision of learning materials, educator incentives and teacher training, and activities to improve students’ well-being. Finally, the protection component strengthens communities’ capacities to promote safety and support persons with specific needs through, for example, training Protection Volunteers, conducting protection awareness raising sessions (including PSEA, MRE, MHPSS) and protection monitoring, and referral and cash support. 
 
Using a conflict-sensitive approach, the project aims to reach the most vulnerable groups (e.g., women, children, Persons with Disabilities). Addressing the needs of children will be ensured through the project’s protection and education components. Gender equality and women and girls’ specific needs will be addressed, for example, by aiming for 50-50 gender balance between Protection Volunteers.Cross-cutting themes are mainstreamed throughout the project., including Due of Care (see Word doc).