Provision of timely and appropriate access to WASH services for  IDPs, returnees and host communities members and specific WASH interventions for GBV mitigation and WASH-related diseases risk reduction for outbreak control. According to the South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview 2019, almost six million individuals are in need of urgent water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance, while a similar number require protection assistance. The situation is exacerbated by the gender based violence (GBV) related risks that arise from limited access to safe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene awareness. As a leading protection agency, DRC works to enhance the protective environment of individuals and communities, and identify, prevent and address protection risks and adopts a protection and gender-sensitive approach across all interventions. Considering this, DRC proposes to implement rapid WASH EPampR interventions, including WASH/GBV and/or WASH/Health services, to vulnerable populations through time sensitive integrated WASH assessments and integrated EPampR/ERRM WASH. In addition, the mobile nature of the proposed response means that DRC is well poised to implement a rapid WASH intervention to meet acute vulnerabilities related to Protection or Health. 

The project will target a total of 30,000 IDPs, host communities and returnees, and will include three main components: 1) ensuring the centrality of protection by targeted WASH action to mitigate GBV 2) targeted action to mitigate public health hazards and disease outbreak as well as 3) rapid response to unforeseen acute vulnerabilities. DRC proposes to intervene in the following states: Jonglei, Upper Nile, Central Equatoria, Unity and Lakes, however, as this intervention will utilize an Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPampR) modality, the exact locations will be determined based on urgent needs and following agreement with the WASH EPampR Partners led by the WASH cluster. 

Under this project, DRC will deploy rapid integrated WASH and Protection teams to provide timely and appropriate access to WASH services for IDPs, returnees, and host community members in remote and underserved locations affected by new and/or protracted population movements. The project will focus on rapid WASH interventions that mitigate against GBV risk and respond to or mitigate against disease outbreaks, which will ensure newly displaced populations are better able to address their immediate needs. 

The project objective is closely aligned with the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and WASH cluster objectives as it will provide immediate life-saving assistance and protect vulnerable women, men, girls and boys, through the provision of specialized and integrated WASH and Protection services. The project will also support at risk communities to promote and sustain their resilience to acute shocks and chronic stresses in hard-to-reach areas, through an integrated mobile WASH response. Furthermore, DRC will capitalize on the existing multi-sectoral mobile capacities to respond to the needs and will work to complement the intervention with Camp Management and Camp Coordination (CCCM), Shelter/Non Food Items (NFI), and protection support where possible. If the scale of need to these locations is multisector and requires coordination mechanisms, DRC will further pull the mobile S/NFI as well as Mobile CCCM team.

DRC adopts an integrated, multi-sector approach, linking protection with other sectors including Shelter and Non-Food Items (S/NFIs), Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM). DRC will continue to engage with other humanitarian partners and the relevant clusters and coordinating bodies to ensure proper coordination and aid effectiveness. DRC will put a focus on the centrality of protection, ensuring the safety and dignity of persons of communities affected by displacement are prioritized and a do-no-harm approach is mainstreamed during all aspects of the project cycle. Accountability to affected populations will be ensured through equal participation of communities.