Strengthening Protection, WASH and Nutrition support for internally displaced persons and host communities in Central Rakhine State More than one year into the escalation of clashes between the Arakan Army and Tatmadaw that caused the displacement of over 32,000 people, the needs of displaced population remain alarmingly high, as new critical needs are emerging. Consortium partners are proposing this multi-sectoral integrated project that would build on the achievements of developed communal relationships, provided aid and established community structures under MHF funded MM-19/DDA-3415/RA1/E-WASH-P-SNFI-N/INGO/13141 project. The consortium of 2 international and 3 national NGOs will ensure high operational reach of Mrauk-U (ZOA, PIN and PfP), Minbya (PfP and CC), Ponnagyun (CERA) and Kyauktaw (ZOA) townships. The intervention will predominantly focus on offsetting WASH, Nutrition and Protection (CP and GBV) risks that are emerging from protracted setting of displacement. Protection mainstreaming will be introduced as a crosscutting element in administering the aid, by working with communities to limit the risks of intercommunal conflict and risk-factors faced by vulnerable groups. Moreover, this action includes elements that builds on the Rakhine state Nutrition and Shelter sector priorities. On behalf of the protection sector PIN will lead MUAC campaigns/coordination in Mrauk-U, Minbya, Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun. At these location, consortium members have past and current experience providing support to the displaced population and host communities. PIN’s consortium approach has proven successful in working around access restrictions and offering high degree of experience and expertise sharing across the consortium partner. Utilizing uniform activity designs, enables consortium partners to step-up and step-in, if other consortium partners are subjected to access restriction, thus offsetting the project delivery risks associated with access restrains. In-tun this project will high offer value for money as technical capacities will be shared across the partners. Much, like in the on-going project the consortium will aim to off-set costs and increase reach through utilizing in-kind provision from UN and other actors.Overall, the consortium will target 18 IDP sites and 15 host communities (depending shifting access and conflict dynamics) 

Protection activities are expected to reach up to 33 communities and will focus on the implementation of community based child protection activities activities through the training/continuation of support of community volunteers. Additionally, positive parenting session will focus on improving the care given to children by their parents and relevant family members to promote children’s well-being. Identification and referral of cases of vulnerable women, girls, men and boys, unaccompanied and separated children, the elderly and persons with disabilities to life-saving services will form integral part of the action through the training of community-based committees. The consortium will strengthen community resilience through formation of protection groups that will be mandated to conduct community protection audits and equipped with the tools to respond in a fashion that respects the unique community dynamics and needs.  

WASH activities will reach 1783 households (6056 people). Activities under this sector will continue focusing on improved hygiene awareness and practices through hygiene promotion activities, item provision, rehabilitation of existing WASH structures. Synergizing with WASH, Nutrition activities will reach all WASH covered sites, as well as most sites covered by protection component. Training of community volunteers and establishment of mother support groups, series of IYCF community awareness raising events will be held. Detection and referral of SAM/MAM cases. 

Shelter/NFI activities will reach approximately at least 390 households with item provision largely provided by UNHCR.