Integrated community engagement in a post-conflict situation - A model in Deir-ez-Zor
Summary:
During the peak of the Syrian crisis, Deir-ez-Zor was heavily impacted by the devastation of the conflict ultimately resulting in the interruption of all services critical for child survival, development, and protection. The need to create awareness and demand for the population regarding the available services clearly emerged as a priority to be done. In partnership with Government and other counterparts and through community engagements, UNICEF has implemented a Communication for Development initiative to identify children who missed immunization and children out of schools and refer them to the nearest service center. At the same time, to carry out comprehensive integrated community awareness on issues related to Health (immunization), Nutrition (IYCF), Education (back to learning), WASH (Hygiene promotion) and Mine Risk Education. A total of 160 volunteers were trained to deliver 4,895 household visits, reaching out to a total of 151,962 people. Children identified as missing out education or health received referral cards to be shown at the nearby school or health facility; a total of 5,092 cards for health and 2,074 cards for education were distributed. In addition, group awareness sessions were conducted reaching out to a total of 34,838 people and 401 meetings with influential leaders were also conducted to sensitize them and seek their support. The acceptance and welcoming of such modality among the targeted community was a major pillar for its success whereas connecting the dots between right bearers and right holders resembled the comparative advantage of such comprehensive engagement and mobilization initiatives.
Background/Objectives:
During the peak of the Syrian crisis, Deir-ez-Zor was heavily impacted by the devastation of the conflict between several armed groups, ultimately resulting in the interruption of all services critical for child survival, development, and protection. Deir-ez-Zor current population is made of returnees, as well as of the people that remained during the Islamic State ruling who are not aware of the existing services. Therefore, the aim of the initiative was to create awareness and demand for the population regarding the available services in partnership with Government and other counterparts through community engagements.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The initiative kicked off with consultation meetings with the respective ministries of Health, Education, Religion, and Local Administration as well as of national and international NGOs. Focused training was delivered to community mobilizers on interpersonal communication skills, referral mechanisms, and reporting standards. A pre-assessment was conducted to better understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices related. The outreach modality included house to house visits, awareness sessions in schools and mosques, meeting with key community leaders, and distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. UNICEF implemented the initiative:
The initiative as a model of integration and synergy in a post-conflict situation is sought to increase the active and voluntary utilization of services that protect children's lives and promotes social cohesion. The acceptance and welcoming of such modality among the targeted community was a major pillar for its success whereas connecting the dots between duty bearers and right holders resembled the comparative advantage of such comprehensive engagement and mobilization initiative. Authentic national ownership and sustainable longer-term interventions are advisable for the next stage, aiming at achieving a higher rate of service utilization in the future.
Abstract submitted by:
Mais Allobaidy - UNICEF
Ibrahim Elsheikh - UNICEF
During the peak of the Syrian crisis, Deir-ez-Zor was heavily impacted by the devastation of the conflict ultimately resulting in the interruption of all services critical for child survival, development, and protection. The need to create awareness and demand for the population regarding the available services clearly emerged as a priority to be done. In partnership with Government and other counterparts and through community engagements, UNICEF has implemented a Communication for Development initiative to identify children who missed immunization and children out of schools and refer them to the nearest service center. At the same time, to carry out comprehensive integrated community awareness on issues related to Health (immunization), Nutrition (IYCF), Education (back to learning), WASH (Hygiene promotion) and Mine Risk Education. A total of 160 volunteers were trained to deliver 4,895 household visits, reaching out to a total of 151,962 people. Children identified as missing out education or health received referral cards to be shown at the nearby school or health facility; a total of 5,092 cards for health and 2,074 cards for education were distributed. In addition, group awareness sessions were conducted reaching out to a total of 34,838 people and 401 meetings with influential leaders were also conducted to sensitize them and seek their support. The acceptance and welcoming of such modality among the targeted community was a major pillar for its success whereas connecting the dots between right bearers and right holders resembled the comparative advantage of such comprehensive engagement and mobilization initiatives.
Background/Objectives:
During the peak of the Syrian crisis, Deir-ez-Zor was heavily impacted by the devastation of the conflict between several armed groups, ultimately resulting in the interruption of all services critical for child survival, development, and protection. Deir-ez-Zor current population is made of returnees, as well as of the people that remained during the Islamic State ruling who are not aware of the existing services. Therefore, the aim of the initiative was to create awareness and demand for the population regarding the available services in partnership with Government and other counterparts through community engagements.
Description of Intervention and/or Methods/Design:
The initiative kicked off with consultation meetings with the respective ministries of Health, Education, Religion, and Local Administration as well as of national and international NGOs. Focused training was delivered to community mobilizers on interpersonal communication skills, referral mechanisms, and reporting standards. A pre-assessment was conducted to better understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices related. The outreach modality included house to house visits, awareness sessions in schools and mosques, meeting with key community leaders, and distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. UNICEF implemented the initiative:
- to identify children who dropped out or missed immunization and refer them to the nearest health center.
- to identify children out of schools and refer them to appropriate education pathways.
- to carry out comprehensive integrated awareness on issues related to Health (immunization), Nutrition (Infant and Young Child Feeding), Education (back to learning), WASH (Hygiene promotion) and Mine Risk Education.
- 160 volunteers were trained.
- 4,895 household visits were conducted, reaching out to 151,962 people (51%) including 90,632 children.
- 34,838 individuals were reached through group awareness sessions.
- 401 influential leaders were sensitized.
The initiative as a model of integration and synergy in a post-conflict situation is sought to increase the active and voluntary utilization of services that protect children's lives and promotes social cohesion. The acceptance and welcoming of such modality among the targeted community was a major pillar for its success whereas connecting the dots between duty bearers and right holders resembled the comparative advantage of such comprehensive engagement and mobilization initiative. Authentic national ownership and sustainable longer-term interventions are advisable for the next stage, aiming at achieving a higher rate of service utilization in the future.
Abstract submitted by:
Mais Allobaidy - UNICEF
Ibrahim Elsheikh - UNICEF
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: © UNICEF/Syria2020/Bashar-Al-Kheder