Fabrice Zawa, 22, learns to read, write and count in a vocational training center set up in Hombo Sud thanks to UNICEF. UNICEF / Benoit Almeras-Martino, 2014.

PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

Improving communities resilience using Participatory Approach in Bunyakiri

In the South Kivu territory of Kalehe, the latent insecurity has caused massive population displacements. Displaced families in search of stability and peace have relocated in Bunyakiri over the past two years.

Wishing to rebuild their lives, these families arrive in a state of acute vulnerability: they do not have the financial means to meet their basic needs. Access to education, healthcare, drinking water is tremendously difficult.

As part of its Programme of Expanded Assistance for Returnees, UNICEF decided to strengthen social cohesion in the villages of Bunyakiri area, through the use of the Community-Based Participatory

Approach.

This approach seeks to ensure the participation of the entire population, with a focus on children and women, in order to find local solutions to provide sustainable access to basic social services for families.

The approach also aims at improving local communities preparedness to future shocks, at improving their self-reliance and at encouraging their sense of ownership of their own development.

CONTEXT

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Womens and childrens participation is one of the key elements of the Community-Based Participatory Approach used in Bunyakiri. A woman participates during a planification meeting of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities in Mayibano village. UNICEF / Benoit Almeras-Martino, 2014.

A REPRESENTATIVE ROLEEach Chikembe is a part of the community it represents. The community elects its members, determines its organization and attr ibutions by itself. The Chikembe must ensure the r ight representation of chi ldren and women.

A COORDINATION ROLEElected members of the Chikembe are often inf luential community members1 or members of already-exist ing community organizations2. They keep track of the development activit ies led in the vi l lage, especial ly in the pr ior ity areas of education; chi ld protection; health; water, hygiene and sanitat ion.

AN INFORMATION ROLEEach Chikembe organizes regular information meetings for the vi l lagers; the meetings mention the activit ies undertaken by community organizations, state services and active organizations (UN Agencies, NGOs) in the vi l lage.

1 IHealth centers nurse, villages customary chiefs...2 COPA (education / schools), RECOPE (Child Protection), CODEVI (Water, Hygiene and Sani-tation activities), CODESA (health facilities)

A PLANNING ROLEThe Chikembe conducts r isk assessments of the exist ing social services3 in the vi l lage (schools, health faci l i t ies); and develop simple action plans to address identif ied r isks.

A COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION ROLEThe Chikembe mobi l izes the community to complete the r isk-reduction action plans. Chikembe have also a sensit izat ion role in order to improve chi ldrens l ives: thy focus on the promotion of the Chi ldrens Rights and the key family practices.

AN ADVOCACY ROLEIf the communitys capacit ies are insuff icient to address the identif ied problems, the Chikembe are to ask for the support of government organizations or partners (UN agencies, NGOs).

3 schools, health facilities, water, hygiene and sanitation infrastructures

UNICEF supported 20 vi l lages in sett ing up Chikembe, community-based organizations in charge of planning pr ior ity activit ies in each target vi l lage; informing communit ies on the activit ies conducted; and contacting potential partners to support their activit ies.

DESIGN:HOW IT WORKS

PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS Improving communit ies resi l ience using Part icipatory Approach in Bunyakir i

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With the help of the Norwegian Refugee Council, UNICEF set up the YEP1 Training Center set up in Hombo.

This vocational training center targets vulnerable young people2 aged from 14 to 25 years, especially those who were unable to attend regular classes because of the widespread insecurity in South Kivu.

Since you dont seem to know how to spell it, I can write my name directly for you!

Sitting behind a desk in the classroom, Annie-Marcelline grabs a notebook and writes her name - she stumbles on the letters, the pen trembles slightly in her hand... but she proudly shows the result.

1 YEP = Youth Education Pack2 Young mothers, Children and Adolescent formerly associated with Armed Groups, Internally Displaced Children

Annie is 18 years old. As the eighth child within her family, she never had the opportunity to go to school.

My parents chose to educate our two older brothers - I stayed to help in the fields, because they couldnt pay for my education.

I had my first child, Kineti, at 17. His father is gone and I stayed at my parents. When I heard the youth center, I rushed to enroll because I wanted a better life.

During classes, Kineti and the other children spend the day in the daycare which was set up within the center.

I discovered a lot of things here, I like to learn new things. Later, I want to make a living by sewing, so Kineti can have an education when he grows up!

Annie and the other learners will follow literacy courses, computing and learn essential skills and a profession for about ten months.

Opened in September 2014, the center is temporarily housed in an elementary school of Hombo. For now, it hosts 240 students, including 193 girls, who were encouraged to register by three Chikembe.

Volunteers have been mobilized by the Chikembe to build the new YEP center. Among them, Furaha Mutula sees the new center as a chance, because it will reduce problems in Hombo, such as prostitution or delinquency. The whole community mobilized for the center, because we want these young people to be useful to society!

Y.E.P. CENTER, ANNIES SECOND CHANCE

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20 Chikembe have been set up in the 20 vi l lages targeted by the second phase of the Programme of Expanded Assistance for Returnees (PEAR + 2). The local communit ies elected their members (f ifteen per Chikembe on average).

Under the coordination of the Chikembe, these 20 vi l lages have conducted r isk analysis for 20 primary schools and 8 health organizations. In the f ie ld of Water, Hygiene and Sanitat ion, 13 of these vi l lages were engaged in the Water and Sanitat ion programme Vi l lage Assaini. The other seven wil l consol idate their exist ing water and sanitat ion faci l i t ies.

Thanks to UNICEF and its partner AVSI, several dozens of chi ldren from returned famil ies received school kits and remedial classes before enrol l ing back to school.

240 vulnerable youths aged from 14 to 24 years old attend l i teracy, numeracy, and l i fe ski l ls classes at the YEP training center in Hombo. They were enrol led thanks to the work of the Chikembe with the local communit ies. Members of the Chikembe and communit ies members are currently involved in bui lding the new training center.

DELIVER: WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED

In the village of Bututa, the risk analysis conducted at the primary school and at the health facility pushed the local Chikembe to advocate for an improvement of the existing infrastructure. Leon Balangane, head of Bututas Chikembe, describes how he involved the local community:

Behind the school, there was a field with holes. The children could have hurt themselves while playing in it. We mobilized parents to fill the holes and now there are fewer risks for them. It was also decided to build a fence around the schools premises so the kids do not play on the road.

When the situation got better and the families returned, we sought children who

had not been at school last year. We found 66 children. They had remedial classes during the summer and were enrolled back in September.

Our health center is in a rented house. To lower health care costs, it was decided to build a new building for the health center. We were given lands by the villages chief and health officials advised us on how to prepare the area for construction.

Each family of the community could contribute: they could give 1000 francs or five kilos of cassava or do some work.

We havent finished building yet, but the positive side is that we have worked together with the authorities.

I N B U T U TA , WO R K I N G TO G E T H E R F O R A B E T T E R F U T U R E

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GREATER PARTICIPATIONGreater participation of women and children is the major change brought by the Chikembe. This led to greater consideration for childrens rights and protection. In addition, the entire community is now informed and consulted for every matter, such as local schools management.

GREATER TRANSPARENCYPublic information meetings have resulted in the creation of a de facto consultation framework between communities and the local organizations. Problems that occur in the village can easily be addressed. Chikembe are also considered as a bridge between the government authorities and the communities.

BETTER PLANNINGThrough the risk analysis of the local social services, communities identify problems and potential solutions themselves.This is considered as a first step towards communities preparedness against potential risks; and the gradual withdrawal of the governments partners (UN agencies, NGOs).

COMMUNITIES INVOLVEMENTChikembes work led to a better community mobilization, which can be seen in the general interest works performed by the inhabitants (construction of South Hombo training center, construction of health centers, schools securitization).

DISCOVER: WHAT IS WORKING

WO M E N S PA RT I C I PAT I O N , F I R S T S T E P S TOWA R D S E Q UA L I T YThe scene takes place during the planning meeting remediation activities of the village of Mayibano. The women speak. Pleasantly surprised by this unusual event, we want to know the reasons for this change.

The scene takes place during a community meeting at Mayibano village, during which womens participation is greater than usual. Eager to know more about this, we ask what has changed.

Before women did not know anything, so

they did not want to participate in meetings of the barza! says one of the men. This obviously raises reactions among the women until another man summarizes the new mindset of the people Mayibano.

Our old customs encouraged men to reject womens participation in community life. Yet, as of today, you live in the past if women cant participate. All decisions should be taken with women, because their opinion is important!

A woman speaks during a public meeting in Mayibano village.

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In the short term, Chikembe intend to rely on external partners to complete the projects developed by the community.

TOWARDS A SNOWBALL EFFECTThe Chikembe have been created within the twenty vi l lages targeted by the Programme of Expanded Assistance for Returnees. However, the init iat ive has met a certain echo in the surrounding vi l lages, which also wish to set up the same organizations.

TOWARDS SOLIDARITY MECHANISMS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLEThe frequency of populat ion movements Bunyakir i has weakened the posit ion of many households. Community sol idar ity mechanisms could be set up through the development of microfinance activit ies, which could be managed by the Chikembe. These mechanisms may contr ibute to the education of vulnerable chi ldren, to publ ic construction works, or healthcare costs mutual isat ion.

EXTENDING RISK ANALYSIS AND PLANNING TO OTHER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Chikembes members want to put their knowledge to use to enhance other development activit ies, such as agriculture.

DREAM: VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Destin Kitchengele, 10Mashere Chikembe

In my school, the teachers used to beat the students who did not give good answers. But with the Chikembe, I know childrens rights. I used my knowledge to educate the community

against mistreating children. We have banned violence against children from our school.

Neema Lubombo, 13Hombo Libration Chikembe

I want vulnerable children not to be driven out of school; when they cant afford the schools fees, the Chikembe tries to find solutions with them. My father is very happy that I work for

the community. He really encourages me for that!

Nabintu Mitingi, 16Mayibano Chikembe

I am proud to serve within Chikembe, because I think children can now express themselves and be listened. Since weve been elected, parents respect childrens point of view. I would like to

become a member of the parliament so I can advocate for people in my village.

Childrens participation and taking into account their views on the future of their villages are some of the major changes induced by the implementation of Chikembe.

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Chikembe members are mobilized to build the new YEP Center in Hombo Sud (Sud Kivu), in october 2014.UNICEF / Benoit Almeras-Martino, 2014.