Multi-cluster Assistance in Kayah and East Bago The country context and situation in Myanmar has continued to deteriorate throughout the year of 2022, with a surge in armed hostilities triggering further civilian displacement and soaring inflation rates compounding vulnerabilities, especially in conflict-affected areas. Currently there are 37,415 IDPs in eastern Bago, and 44,030 and 11,427 IDPs in Demoso and Hpruso Townships of Kayah State as of 17 October 2022. Assessments have shown that these populations have limited access to even the most basic assistance such as food, water and health care.
The overall objective of the project is to address the most pressing humanitarian needs and critical service gaps among displaced and conflict affected populations in East Bago (Taungoo) and Kayah (Demoso and Hpruso) through provision of multi-sectoral assistance in education, health, nutrition, protection, food security, shelter/NFI and WASH. The project will target the population currently staying in IDP sites with a special focus on people with unique needs and specific vulnerabilities including those with different gender identities, age and disabilities. This multi-sectoral assistance package is built on KBC-SM’s extensive experience in supporting humanitarian response in emergency situations as well as on the previous MHF-funded projects in which KBC-SM have served as a sub-partner to other partner humanitarian organizations. As a faith-based NGO that has an extensive church network in the aforementioned areas, KBC-SM has superior access to the targeted IDP sites and has the capacity and resources to deliver the proposed assistance package. While designing the project, efforts have been made to ensure that there is no overlap in activities with KBC-SM’s ongoing projects in the area. 
Interventions in education cluster aim to provide safe, inclusive, quality learning opportunities for conflict-affected children through supporting teachers/educators and empowering communities. Health cluster activities focus on provision of essential health services and psychosocial support services to targeted population to improve their overall well-being and strengthen their resilience to cope with adversity. Additionally, nutrition cluster activities seek to improve nutrition status of children and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls (PBW/G) among conflict-affected population through malnutrition screening, referral support and awareness raising. At the same time, activities related to food security will provide food items to affected population to help improve their access to nutritious foods. Shelter/NFI activities, on the other hand, will provide shelter kits and non-food items to enhance security, dignity and privacy as well as improve living conditions in IDP sites. WASH activities will ensure targeted beneficiaries including vulnerable groups have equitable and safe access to basic water supply, hygiene supplies and sanitation facilities. Protection component is central in our assistance package and is, therefore, considered and incorporated in the project design both as a distinct element to a multi-sectoral assistance package and also as a cross-cutting theme. Main activities under this component include GBV, mine risk education and protection awareness raising. Other cross-cutting themes mainstreamed in the project include accountability to affected populations, cash and voucher assistance, Covid-19, disability inclusion and PSEA. The proposed multi-cluster approach, which is also in line with the allocation strategy, will address a wide range of immediate and life-threatening conditions as well as safeguard the dignity of all beneficiaries.