CO-UG COVID-19 Response Support-SW Oxfam will integrate Covid-19 response initiatives and strengthen its operations in WASH, Protection and livelihood programs in South Western Region of Uganda. These interventions target DR Congo refugees in Kyaka II settlement in Kyegegwa, Rwamwanja Settlement in Kamwenge, Nakivale settlement in Isingiro and Kyangwali settlement in Kikuube Districts respectively.  In addition to ongoing interventions, Oxfam through this project will further target 31,000 beneficiaries (13,500 in Kyangwali and 17,500 (8000 in Kyaka, 5000 in Nakivale and 4,500 in Rwamwanja) and will be integrated within the ongoing WASH, Livelihood and Protection activities under UNHCR, DGD and ECHO funding and will specifically look at community engagement and risk communication pillar.

In Kyangwali, Oxfam will work with Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) who is a current Oxfam partner under the UNHCR 2020-2021 PPA and ECHO HIP Integrated WASH and Protection Project. HIJRA is strong in community engagement and protection activities and which will necessary during community engagement and risk communications interventions. The project will further consolidate their current hygiene promotional and sanitation activities by making them COVID 19 sensitive. Oxfam will provide the necessary technical support and continue to implement the Infrastructural activities and O<(>&<)>M.  Oxfam will coordinate with Health partners, Ministry of Health (MOH), WHO and the various COVID-19 task Forces under the Risk Communication, Social Mobilization and Community Engagement Pillar to ensure hygiene promotional strategies and approached are well aligned to the current priorities and harmonized across response areas. The Village Health Team (VHT) approach promoted by the MoH will be employed by Oxfam to ensure sustainability of interventions. Measures willbe taken to ensure they are well trained (in line with MOH/WHO guidelines) and they are appropriately facilitated with necessary PPEs.


Specific activities will include;

 Pipeline extensions and repairs in the quarantine/Isolation centres
 Hand pump rehabilitations/repair
 Household level handwashing support – provision of 5l jerricans and strings for making tippy taps
 Training/capacity building of Village Health Teams, Refugee Welfare Council, Partners staffs on COVID-19 preparedness and response actions in line with the Ministry of Health SOPs and Protocols). The training will focus on COVID 19 Sensitive Risk Communication, Community Engagement, community-based disease surveillance (for VHTs) and IPC. The training will stress the importance of ensuring that in their message sharing and dialogue with communities, actors take into account different ways in which men and women access information and share their concerns and suggestions.
 Gender and Protection analysis, and risk mapping
 Mapping and updating information on protection referral pathways including GBV referrals and awareness of services and referral pathways
 Community awareness creation and sensitization on COVID-19 and its prevention (observing physical/social distancing, good respiratory and hand hygiene etc), nonviolent conflict resolution, and available GBV services and referrals pathways. Community awareness will be through digital and other social media platforms, including two-way communication channels that goes beyond just sharing messages and into actual dialogue and engagement radio talk shows where listeners call in and ask questions to enhance community engagement).
 Support installation of bulk Handwashing facilities in isolation/quarantine centres, markets and other community meeting places
 Procure and distribute dignity kitsfor women and girls in isolation centres as per their preferred needs, shared through the gender analysis development process
 Support to personal health safety of VHTs and water point caretakers through provision of PPEs (re-usable facemasks and pocket size sanitizers).