Remote Management Somali context Partner Conference 18 October 2011 – Bruxelles.

Remote ManagementRemote ManagementSomali contextSomali context

Partner Conference Partner Conference 18 October 2011 – Bruxelles18 October 2011 – Bruxelles

General features General features

People in crisis: 4 million (50% of total population). : 4 million (50% of total population). 750,000 famine affected. IDPs: 1.46 million. Somali 750,000 famine affected. IDPs: 1.46 million. Somali refugees in the region: over 900,000 refugees in the region: over 900,000

Worse humanitarian indicatorsWorse humanitarian indicators: GAM <5 above : GAM <5 above 30%, high child mortality (U5MR) 30%, high child mortality (U5MR)

Multifaceted causes of the crisesMultifaceted causes of the crises: Conflict, lack of : Conflict, lack of Governance, External interferences, Extremism – Governance, External interferences, Extremism – Djihad, Piracy, recurrent climate shocks (drought), Djihad, Piracy, recurrent climate shocks (drought), inflation, insecurity, eroded coping mechanism, inflation, insecurity, eroded coping mechanism, market failure.market failure.

Several actors involvedSeveral actors involved

Major ChallengesMajor Challenges

Limited access in AOG (Al Shebaab) controlled areasLimited access in AOG (Al Shebaab) controlled areas: : Population acceptance remained good but there was a change in local Population acceptance remained good but there was a change in local perception by de facto administration (al Shebaab). Occidental aid workers perception by de facto administration (al Shebaab). Occidental aid workers were targeted for what they represented, not for what they were doing. Various were targeted for what they represented, not for what they were doing. Various INGOs evicted since 2008 and humanitarian workers seen as legitimate INGOs evicted since 2008 and humanitarian workers seen as legitimate targets. Looting of humanitarian assets, taxation requests, extortion..targets. Looting of humanitarian assets, taxation requests, extortion..

Insecurity, transport.Insecurity, transport. Counterterrorism: Counterterrorism: domestic legislations (US..)domestic legislations (US..).. AccountabilityAccountability (Reports / allegations on aid diversion). (Reports / allegations on aid diversion). The risk of The risk of “blurring” of the lines“blurring” of the lines and respect of the and respect of the

humanitarian principles. humanitarian principles. Expats presence not acceptedExpats presence not accepted in Central South: in Central South: Remote control Remote control

& Remote management& Remote management

Limited access: limited Limited access: limited coveragecoverage

Remote managementRemote management““Stay and deliver paradigm”Stay and deliver paradigm”

Different definitions leading to a common element: Different definitions leading to a common element: A modalityA modality that responds to an that responds to an insecure insecure

environmentenvironment and enables existing programmes and and enables existing programmes and projects projects to continue. to continue.

Withdrawing presenceWithdrawing presence of International staff of International staff.. Authority (decision making) delegatedAuthority (decision making) delegated to national to national

staff requiring staff requiring skills transferskills transfer and and capacity building.capacity building. Remote control, management, support & Remote control, management, support &

partnership.partnership. Suggested ECHO definition: « An approach Suggested ECHO definition: « An approach

allowing a humanitarian agency to deliver aid to allowing a humanitarian agency to deliver aid to people in crisis zones when access for its staff is people in crisis zones when access for its staff is hindered or blocked ». hindered or blocked ».

What were the main reasons for What were the main reasons for applying remote management?applying remote management? 2008, 33 humanitarian workers killed making Somalia 2008, 33 humanitarian workers killed making Somalia

the most dangerous places in the world.the most dangerous places in the world. High risk of kidnapping of international staff.High risk of kidnapping of international staff. ECHO/EC flight stoppage.ECHO/EC flight stoppage. Heightened political tensions and conflicts in the area Heightened political tensions and conflicts in the area

operations. operations. Appropriate approach to maintain live-saving Appropriate approach to maintain live-saving

activities for the most vulnerable.activities for the most vulnerable.

Main identified risks/concerns: Main identified risks/concerns: an accountability issuean accountability issue

Misuse of project resources and risk of diversion;Misuse of project resources and risk of diversion; Assistance not reaching intended beneficiaries.Assistance not reaching intended beneficiaries. Interventions not implemented effectively;Interventions not implemented effectively; Limited technical capacities of national staff and interaction Limited technical capacities of national staff and interaction

with international experts.with international experts. Limited supervision and monitoring.Limited supervision and monitoring. Politicisation of aid created Politicisation of aid created additional constraints and pressure additional constraints and pressure

for humanitarian agencies on the ground.for humanitarian agencies on the ground. Perception of aid agencies by local authorities: Perception of aid agencies by local authorities: Adherence to Adherence to

the HP have facilitated community-the HP have facilitated community-protected humanitarian staff and assets.

Reputational risk.

How to cope: a Risk mitigation approachHow to cope: a Risk mitigation approachPARTNERSPARTNERS

Remote management is an option to the completeRemote management is an option to the complete suspension suspension of programs. of programs. Need for gNeed for good risk assessmentood risk assessment before implementation. before implementation. Rules of Rules of engagement: IASC Somalia ground rules + Somalia NGO Consortium red engagement: IASC Somalia ground rules + Somalia NGO Consortium red lineslines

Improve monitoring practicesImprove monitoring practices: Community-based (i.e. involve beneficiary : Community-based (i.e. involve beneficiary monitoring through mobile phones), third party monitoring, opportunistic monitoring through mobile phones), third party monitoring, opportunistic visits by senior national or international staff.visits by senior national or international staff.

Develop local staff capacitiesDevelop local staff capacities: daily contact with key staff for planning and : daily contact with key staff for planning and reporting purposes, training, capacity building. reporting purposes, training, capacity building.

Information analysisInformation analysis: counter checking of information and data with other : counter checking of information and data with other actors (triangulation), pre and post implementation technical surveys and actors (triangulation), pre and post implementation technical surveys and analysis.analysis.

Use of new technologiesUse of new technologies: visual reporting through video, photos and GIS : visual reporting through video, photos and GIS mapping (satellite imagery). mapping (satellite imagery).

OthersOthers: Diaspora, internal complain system, minimize local cash handling, : Diaspora, internal complain system, minimize local cash handling, ex-post evaluation..ex-post evaluation..

How to cope: a Risk mitigation approachHow to cope: a Risk mitigation approachDG ECHODG ECHO

Remote management: part of the tool box or last resort?

Strict criteria for partner selection (experience, local knowledge, acceptance, perception…)

Life saving, “KISS” Actions; Detailed reporting (compensate lack of monitoring) Need for remote management policy Ex post evaluation, audit.

Now let’s debate!Now let’s debate!

Outstanding questionsOutstanding questions

How to balance the dilemma between humanitarian imperative and life saving How to balance the dilemma between humanitarian imperative and life saving (90% of funded operations carried out in CSZ Somalia).(90% of funded operations carried out in CSZ Somalia).

Should we define clear set of criteria/benchmarks (or red lines) and Should we define clear set of criteria/benchmarks (or red lines) and policies/guidance or go for a more flexible approach? (ad hoc decision on policies/guidance or go for a more flexible approach? (ad hoc decision on whether a remote management project should be supported)whether a remote management project should be supported)

Do you support the idea of having a DG ECHO policy on remote management? Do you support the idea of having a DG ECHO policy on remote management? Do you have similar plans within your respective agenciesDo you have similar plans within your respective agencies

Where to fix limits / conditions, on which ground? Against which principles, Where to fix limits / conditions, on which ground? Against which principles, guidelines or regulations? Can we compare different contexts, draw and apply guidelines or regulations? Can we compare different contexts, draw and apply lessons learnt? lessons learnt?

Mutual trust eroding over yearsMutual trust eroding over years

Suggestion for follow upSuggestion for follow up

Develop guidelines / policy on remote management – Donors and international agencies

Develop an exit strategy to remote management with a longer term planning for insecure and hard to access areas – Donors and agencies

Flexibility in allowing additional funds to leverage the use of technology for improved monitoring such as Google, GPS, etc. Donors

Document lessons learnt in remote management in Somalia – donors and agencies Develop minimum operating standards that will guide agencies before engaging in remote management – Each individual agency

Documentations of the M&E techniques in remote management – individual agencies