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Mine Risk Education Project in Western Sahara

Mine Risk Education Project in Western Sahara. Funded by UNMAS. Background. NPA executed Mine Risk Education Project in Western Sahara from 1998-2000 After 2001 former NPA staff established Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines (SCBL)

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Mine Risk Education Project in Western Sahara

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  1. Mine Risk Education Projectin Western Sahara Funded by UNMAS

  2. Background • NPA executed Mine Risk Education Project in Western Sahara from 1998-2000 • After 2001 former NPA staff established Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines (SCBL) • SCBL executed a variety of projects with regards to MRE and advocacy since then, but they were sporadic and on ad-hoc basis, due to funding situation in Western Sahara. Projects included partnership with ICRC and Geneva Call.

  3. Background • In 2011 NPA was contacted by UNMAS to do an assessment to again support SCBL in execution of MRE • NPA executed the assessment and submitted a project for execution of the MRE activities to UNMAS in August 2011 • In September 2012, the contract with UNOPS was signed for execution of the MRE activities in Western Sahara – executed by SCBL, with NPA providing technical, financial and managerial support and oversight

  4. MRE Project Summary • Execution of MRE activities by 5 MRE teams – 3 teams working in the camps and 2 teams in Liberated areas • Employing total of 17 staff • NPA providing technical support in MRE (KAPB, training, monitoring and evaluation), assistance in administrative and managerial issues

  5. Start-up • Execution of the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Behaviour survey (KAPB) in December 2012, to ensure appropriate and tailored MRE messages are developed and executed by NPA MRE TA and SCBL Manager • In December NPA also assisted SCBL to set-up administrative, logistics, finance procedures and systems for implementation and execution of this grant

  6. Preparation - KAPB • A questionnaire of 26 questions was formulated and a pilot test using 11 questionnaires was conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. After minor alterations to the questionnaire, the KAP survey was conducted • The 71 individuals interviewed included 37 females and 34 males of ages ranging between 6 and 70 years. • The majority of the interviews were conducted in the houses of the interviewees in the camps and in the liberated territories. In addition to the questionnaires, 2 focus groups with school children were conducted in the schools of Smara camp and BirLihlou.

  7. Preparation - KAPB

  8. KAPB Results • Both interviewed individuals and representatives of local actors that were also met during KAPB survey, strongly emphasized that mines and ERWs continue to impose danger on civilians indicating an urgent need for MRE. • The individuals identified as most at risk werethe nomadic population residing inside Western Sahara and those who travel frequently from the camps to Western Sahara. These people mostly raise cattle for livelihoods and regularly commute between the areas of Western Sahara (East of the berm) searching for greenery for their cattle. Some people take calculated risk knowing that area might be mined (as most greenery is inside the restricted 5 kilometers area), or venture inside because they are not aware. In both cases MRE is needed (in addition to advocacy that these areas need to start being marked and cleared for civilian population).

  9. KAPB Results • Individuals above the age of 40 are generally more aware of the problem of mines and ERWs and their dangers as they experienced the war. Individuals of ages ranging between 15 and 40 years showed some basic knowledge about the topic that they acquired either from the news or from MRE received previously. Children of ages younger than 15 years were mostly unaware of the problem of mines and ERWs. • The level of awareness on mines and ERWs among the camps’ residents was higher than the level of those residing inside Western Sahara. This was mainly due to the fact that the camps’ residents were subjected to more systematic MRE campaigns than the residents of Western Sahara.

  10. Identified Target Groups • Shepherds inside WS • School-aged Children in the camps and in WS • Commuters between camps and WS

  11. MRE Training • Based on the findings obtained from the KAP survey, an MRE training plan was designed for Western Sahara by NPA MRE TA in consultation with SCBL Manager. • The training plan was based on the International Mine Action Standards on MRE and on the NPA MRE training manual • The trainees were selected by SCBL from SCBL members, trainees ages ranged between 24 and 61, and were already previously trained wither by NPA (1998) or ICRC (2010).

  12. MRE Training • Training executed on the MRE curriculum • Training executed on reporting: MRE IMSMA activity report, TL trained on weekly reports • Training also used to discuss and develop MRE materials to be used: Flyers, Pamphlets, Pens and Pencils for school children, Tea pots/tea cups for women, Stickers for Shepherds

  13. MRE Teams • 5 teams of 3 facilitators each were formed and deployed end March 2013. • Two mobile teams operating inside WS and three teams in the 5 camps:

  14. MRE Activity Plan

  15. MRE Activities The following activities were completed up to this date: • Community presentations: More than 236 presentations (135 in the camps and <101 in WS) for a total of 4469 beneficiaries (2950 in the camps and 1519 in WS) • School Presentations:194 presentations (191 in the camps and 3 in WS) for a total of 5875 beneficiaries (5839 in the camps and 36 in WS)

  16. MRE Activities

  17. Beneficiary distribution • Significantly more women then men were reached in the period (especially in the camps). This is mainly due to reasons more females than males are in the camp, where difference is the biggest. Mobile teams especially are trying to ensure also equal coverage and this will be discussed again with the teams before their deployment in September. • In the second period there will also be more focus on children in the camps as school were closed as of June.

  18. MRE Activities MRE Teams execute the evaluations after each of the sessions, and the summary of the results is as follows: • The results of the evaluations ranged between average and good improvement in the level of awareness. • The target audience highly benefitted from the sessions with many misinformation corrected. • Large interest from teachers and students in MRE; we should look into possibility to include MRE in school curriculum in the future.

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