Musharaka: Youth-led community development in the Sahrawi refugee camps - Western Sahara Oxfam Musharaka project Musharaka: Oxfam Västsahara Detta projekt kommer att tillämpa en så kallad "community driven development approach" där befolkningen i de fem västsahariska flyktinglägren kommer att bilda kommittéer (där minst 50 % är ungdomar och minst 50 % är kvinnor) som kommer att samråda med befolkningen i lägren, myndigheter och andra intressenter för att definiera behov och sedan utforma projekt som möter samhällets behov. Ungefär 15 miljoner kronor kommer att tilldelas dessa sub-projekt och syftet med tillvägagångssättet är att skapa en hög grad av lokalt ägarskap, att åtgärda en del av behoven för förbättrade samhällstjänster i lägren samt ge ungdomar en plattform för att visa att de kan bidra till samhällsutvecklingen. Ett antal utbildningar och workshops för kommittérna kommer även att organiseras som en del av projektet. 

Projektet kommer att genomföras av Oxfam Solidarité. Oxfam har arbetat med situationen med västsahariska flyktingar sedan 1975 och är således en av de äldsta humanitära aktörerna i lägren och har med tiden skaffat sig legitimitet och respekt hos flyktingarna och myndigheterna. This project will apply a community driven development approach where the community in the five Sahrawi refugee camps will form taskforces, with at least 50 % youth and 50 % female representation, that will consult with the community, authorities and other stakeholders to define needs and then design projects that address the community needs. Approximately 15 MSEK will be allocated for these community projects. The intention with the approach is to create a high degree ownership, help address some of the social service needs in the camps and provide an avenue for young people to demonstrate their contribution to community development. A comprehensive training and workshop package will also be provided to the taskforces to enable the implementation of the project.

The project will be implemented by Oxfam Solidarité. Oxfam has been working on the Sahrawi refugee situation since 1975 and is therefore one of the oldest humanitarian actors in the camps and has over time gained legitimacy and respect among the community and authorities. The contribution will support Oxfam Solidarité to implement their project Musharaka: Youth-led community development in the Sahrawi refugee camps.  In the Letter of Appropriation to Sida for 2018 an assignment was included to support the local situation in Western Sahara under the Strategy for Sustainable Peace 2017-2022. The main objective of the project is to improve the role of youth in community development in the Sahrawi refugee camps. The specific objective is to strengthen the capacities and self-confidence of youth, and their recognition as active participants in community development, by the authorities and other stakeholders.
Main objective: to improve the role of youth in community development in the Sahrawi refugee camps
Specific objective: Strengthening the capacities and self-confidence of youth, and their recognition as active participants in community development, by the authorities and other stakeholders
Result 1: The five taskforces, selected through a participative and inclusive process, are functional, and are aware of their responsibility towards the community.
Result 2: Community taskforces have completed a cycle of training and improved their technical skills
Result 3: Youth, as an important part of the taskforces, have developed and successfully implemented inclusive and sustainable projects that respond to the needs of the community
Result 4: Local authorities and taskforces have developed a relationship of trust.
Since the community projects under result 3 will be designed during the implementation the results framework will be updated by Oxfam when their focus have been agreed. The updated results framework will be submitted to Sida for approval as stipulated in the agreement.