Addressing Urgent Needs, and Reduce Health and Environmental Risks in IDPs and Host Communities in Rakhine State through effective WASH support. The proposed project addresses urgent WASH needs of IDPs and host communities in Sittwe in Rakhine State. Implementation will take place in 2 IDP camps and 6 host communities including 6 schools with WASH sector intervention targeting areas of greatest need, reaching a total of 10930 people. This includes 3363 men, 3408 women, 1968 boys, 1883 girls and 308 people with disabilities (PWDs) including 66 men,81 women, 81 boys and 80 girls. The target areas are among the most affected by the ongoing humanitarian, human rights and security crisis in Rakhine. This project aims to contribute to the reduction of the immediate suffering of IDPs and host communities in these target areas by aligning with the WASH as the priorities of this allocation. 

A conflict-sensitive approach will be followed towards the inclusion of vulnerable people in all project sites. Specific vulnerable groups such as PWDs, PSNs (Program Strategy Note-WASH)  and female headed households will be prioritized 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 consultations/training and gender disaggregated data will be collected. Swanyee Development Foundation well positioned to implement this project due to the combined sectoral experience in the target locations. Swanyee has experiences in implementing a similar intervention in the target locations with funding from MHF’s Standard Allocations since 2020 in partnering with MAUK and LWF. 

Swanyee has been present in IDP camps and host communities/villages in Rakhine since 2010, working across Shelter/NFIs, WASH, and Livelihoods partnering with UNDP, UNOPS, IRW, WJR. Swanyee completed the MHF-funded project to reconstruct over 100 shelters in Sittwe and Pauktaw in partnership with MAUK in 2020. On this new project, Swanyee will continue to implement in Sittwe camps and host communities, utilizing its experience related to access and strengthened capacity from previous MHF projects. Swanyee will deal with oversee overall project implementation and management. Swanyee has strong reputations and competent staff with the capacity to manage allocated funds. All staff 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 the evolving political situation, and have relevant mechanisms in place to safely operate in this context.

Swanyee will ensure the targeted crisis-affected people in 6 host communities and 2 IDPs in Sittwe Township have access to WASH facilities and services. Swanyee will conduct a series of community consultations on re-identified needs of WASH facilities and services. Swanyee will provide 90 latrines in 6 host communities 12 hand washing stations in 6 hostcommunites and 6 schools one (3-unit latrine) in one school. The project will conduct awareness raising and hygiene promotion in 6 host communities, and school children and PTAs in 6 school, including COVID-19 risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) related IEC materials, and provision of hygiene kits will be in 2IDPs, 6 host communities and 6 schools.  Swanyee will deal with only hygiene kits distribution in 2 IDPs as the consultation of WASH cluster in Sittwe. Swanyee will deal with regular water testing for safe drinking water and reduce the health and environmental risks through effective functional excreta disposal system in 6 host communities.