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Oxfam GB West Africa Annual Report 2012-13

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2 FOREWORD OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

2012 once again showed that thepath towards a West Africawithout poverty and injusticewould be a winding one,traversed by challenges andopportunities.

In a context of fragile progress,growing inequality and recurrentcrises, Oxfam GB’s mission is tohelp protect the region’s mostvulnerable women and men frompoverty and conflict. We aim tohelp them claim their rights asactive citizens, and benefit fromthe wealth and opportunities theregion has to offer.

This report provides a summary ofhow Oxfam GB worked to addresschallenges and opportunities inWest Africa, between April 2012and March 2013. In total, wedirectly helped over 2.4 millionpeople move out of poverty.

We have been focusing onempowering some of the poorestand most vulnerable people,especially women, by demandingmore responsible andaccountable behaviour from theirpolitical leaders, private sector

companies, and global economicinstitutions. Oxfam-GB is also supportingcommunities and helping build sustainablelivelihoods through strengthening farmers’agricultural practices, and helping themcreate and manage small businesses.

As part of our humanitarian work, we made asignificant effort to protect the right tolife and security of communities hit by theSahel food crisis, which threatened over 18million people. In 2012, Oxfam reached over1.3 million people who urgently neededsupport by providing water, sanitation andfood that helped protect livelihoodsthreatened by the crisis. One of the mainlessons from this humanitarian interventionis that the only way for communities in theSahel to overcome the challenges ofrecurrent food crises is to build theirresilience – the ability of households tobenefit from their rights and improve theirwell-being in the face of shocks anduncertainty. This has become a concreteworking model for Oxfam with the goal ofbreaking the cycle of hunger once and forall.

We also worked with civil societyorganisations from across the region. Theirvibrant campaigns and movements forchange provide a platform for citizens’demands for access to essential servicesand the right to food to be heard. Thesemovements aim constantly to put the rightsof women at the heart of their action.

Important changes have also been madewithin Oxfam, with the organization workingin closer harmony with other members of theOxfam International family. By developing a‘Single Management Structure’ bringingtogether all members of the Oxfamconfederation, we are increasing cost-effectiveness and the impact of ourprogrammes throughout the region. Thisreport should therefore be regarded as areflection of Oxfam GB’s contribution towork being accomplished by the entireconfederation in the region.

Foreword


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 FOREWORD 3

This future will be built together, so I wouldlike to thank all our partners, staff anddonors for their valuable supportthroughout the year. Without this supportnone of our work would be possible.

Aboubacry TALL, Regional Director

Despite our progress, there arestill challenges to be overcome,and in many parts of our region,these are becoming ever morecomplex. We will learn from ourwork and never stop believing thata future of peace and prosperityin West Africa is attainable.

Oxfam GB is a member of the Oxfam family. Important changeshave also been made within Oxfam, with the organization workingin closer harmony with other members of the Oxfam Internationalfamily through the development of a ‘Single ManagementStructure’. This report should be regarded as a reflection ofOxfam GB’s contribution to the work being accomplished by theentire confederation in the region.

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)4 CHIFFRES CLÉS DES PROGRAMMES OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

people reached in 7 countries2,400,000

spent on programmesUSD 50,592,510

programmes implemented in West Africa20

projects initiated in the region

Over

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OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 CONTENTS 5

APPROACH AND OBJECTIVES Oxfam collaborates with a variety of partners to overcomepoverty and suffering. In order to achieve the greatestpossible impact, we works at community, national and globallevels. We combine humanitarian assistance, long-termdevelopment, and advocacy campaigns to tackle the rootcauses of poverty. Oxfam GB is an independent organization,affiliated with Oxfam International, a global confederation of17 independent Oxfam organizations that share the samepurpose and rights-based approach. We are all part of a globalmovement to build a fairer, safer world.

CONTENTS

Foreword 2

Strengthening Livelihoods 6

Promoting Access to Essential Services 12

Defending Rights in Crisis 16

Supporting Gender Justice 20

Financial Resources 22


6 RENFORCER LES MOYENS DE SUBSISTANCE RAPPORT ANNUEL D'OXFAM GB 2012-13

A. LIVELIHOODS IN THE REGIONOxfam GB is working for a world inwhich every person has enough toeat, a dependable income andthe opportunity to be sustainablyemployed in dignified conditions.

In West Africa, Oxfam GB’sstrategy is to help communitiesimprove their capacity to faceexternal shocks, build theirresilience to cope in difficulttimes, and give small farmers andpastoralists a greater voicewithin decision-makinginstitutions. Oxfam also providespractical support to enable

people to become stronger economic actorsin local markets; promoting diversificationof agricultural crops, teaching methods toadapt to changing environments, andcreating wealth through income generatingactivities.

In order to achieve lasting changes inpeople’s lives, Oxfam combines long-termwork on livelihoods with advocacy andcampaigning.

B. THE GROW CAMPAIGN FOR FOOD JUSTICE INA RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED WEST AFRICA

Launched worldwide in June 2011, the GROWcampaign deals with four key issues – thevolatility of food prices, land-grabbing,climate change and support for small-scalesustainable agriculture – with a view toensuring a fairer future for a growingglobal population.

GROW targets regional institutions in WestAfrica, such as ECOWAS, and aims toinfluence the policies and practices of fourspecific countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana,Nigeria and Niger. Regional and nationalnetworks of farmers, consumers and women'sorganizations are our partners in thiscampaign.

In 2012, GROW focused on the structuralcauses of food crises, and the challengerelated to the resilience of populations.More than five studies have beencommissioned and published, which addressthe capacity of the regional market torespond to, and emerge from, crises in theregion. These studies were shared in NorthAmerica and Europe during two lobbyingmissions held in April 2012. In June 2012,the studies were also presented to Daniel

Strengthening Livelihoods

Most poor people in WestAfrica live in rural areas andrely on agriculture. Manypeople are affected by theimpacts of climate change,erratic rainfall, droughts andfloods, and yet investment infood production across theregion is low. Governmentsoften lack the resources orcapacity to implement policiesthat will help poorcommunities adapt to theirchanging environment.

In 2012, the impact of afailing food system on theworld’s poorest people wasbrought sharply into focus.In addition to directlysupporting communities, Oxfamis working to create long-termchanges in policy, practiceand thinking at national,regional and global levels.


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOODS 7

The GROW week in Burkina Faso included:

• the “Koudou du Faso”Second cookery competition with localproducts:2,000 people, 32 chefs preparing 60,000dishes, 7,500 votes, 15 exhibitors for theGROW market. Many tons of local productswere sold in one day and the participationof the Minister for the Promotion of Womenand a number of ambassadors attended.

A meeting about promoting local productsheld between the winners of the “Koudoudu Faso” and the President of theNational Assembly, to promote localproducts.

• an exhibition of 10 photographs on thefood crisis to inform the general publicabout the need for states to invest insmallholder agriculture.

Kablan, Executive Secretary ofECOWAS.

This work contributed to theadoption of a regional strategyto ensure food security throughfood reserves by ECOWASMinisters of Agriculture inSeptember 2012.

The GROW campaign focuses inparticular on the situation ofwomen working in the agricultureand livestock sectors. In order tobetter understand the challengesthey face, a booklet entitled “10facts about the inequalitiesbetween women and men in ruralWest Africa” was published andwidely disseminated.

Public facing

At regional and national levels, Africancelebrities committed themselves to thecampaign. They helped educatethousands of young people about a rangeof issues, including food security,investment in agriculture and theconsumption of local products in WestAfrica. The activities carried outincluded:• the “Let’s Tackle Hunger” campaign, in

which four national football federationsand 29 international players fromcountries affected by the food crisis inthe Sahel participated;

• the commitment of African musicians andactivists, such as Ismael Lo, Vieux FarkaTouré, Smockey and the movement Y’ena Marre;

• a video contest called “Generationwithout hunger,” in partnership with thePan-African Film Festival ofOuagadougou, FESPACO. 40 videos werereceived for this contest. They havebeen viewed 4,300 times and generated2,400 votes online

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Facebook: Let's Tackle Hungerwww.flickr.com/photos/letstacklehungerwww.youtube.com/user/Letstacklehungerwww.generationsansfaim.com


8 STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOODS OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

The 2012 general election wasconsidered as an opportunity forthe GROW Campaign members inGhana to influence politics andpolicy in favour of smallholderfarmers.

In collaboration with farmersorganisations and civil societyallies, the GROW campaigntargeted the Presidential andParliamentary elections to securepolitical parties’ commitment toinvest in smallholder agricultureand ensure the rights of small-scale women and men farmers.

Based on extensive nationalconsultations with farmer’sorganisations across the country,the GROW Campaign developed acomprehensive ‘FarmersManifesto’ to highlight farmer’sdemands to aspiring politicalcandidates. The manifestoincluded demands for:

• greater quality publicinvestment in agriculture infavour of small-scale farmers;

• greater access to productiveagricultural land by small-scalefarmers;

• special attention for small-scale farmers in theimplementation of existingagricultural policies;

• sustainable economic development andinvestment plans;

• acknowledgement and support of thecentral role of women in agriculturalproduction.

The manifesto was used as a basis for anational campaign in which the manifestowas presented directly to three Presidentialcandidates, 17 Regional Directors of theMinistry of Food and Agriculture, as well asdistributed to the public and widely coveredin the media. Local forums were organisedwhere candidates met community membersand signed ‘pledge cards’. In addition,there were questions raised during thePresidential debates. A Women’s Dialoguewas organised with senior members of eachof the Political Parties to raise specificchallenges faced by women farmers.

A number of the demands of farmers wererepresented in party manifestos, and theGROW Campaign has been organising followup activities to ensure that promises madewill be kept.

GHANA FARMERS MANIFESTO

CAMPAIGNING 2.0

The GROW campaign took advantage of newtechnologies to target and mobilise youngpeople, including:

• a petition, called “Stop the AfricanHunger Games”, launched in collaborationwith the singer Baaba Maal and Avaaz. More than 520,000 signatures werecollected and officially submitted toValerie Amos (Under-Secretary forHumanitarian Affairs for the UnitedNations) and Kristina Georgieva(European Commissioner for HumanitarianAffairs) at a donor summit in Brussels inJune 2012.

• an online social network campaign called“Day of Action #Sahel2012” which wentviral on Facebook and Twitter. Almost1,500 tweets were sent in one daypotentially seen by almost 10 millionfollowers!

©Pablo Tosco - Oxfam Suzanne Ouedraogo, 60, lives in Fanka village, andreceives cash-for-work as part of the 2012 Sahel foodcrisis response (Burkina Faso)



“I produce enough rice that we can eatsome. I’m able to sell some at themarket, and pay my children’s school feeswith the money I earn. I’m happy becausenow I don’t have to go to anybody to begfor anything. My plan for the future is togrow enough rice, make a business andsupport my children.”

Mrs Lucy Tarlue, 40, member of the Amenurice cooperative, partner in Liberia

MaliIn Mali, Oxfam secures access to food forpoor and very poor households in cottongrowing and pastoral areas. Theorganisation’s livelihoods work covers sixdistricts in the Sikasso and Koulikororegions. Our programme empowers farmersand pastoralist organizations locally,nationally and regionally to promote genderequity, food security, social safety nets,resilience to climate change, and access tomarket and business development services.The programme works with more than 100farmers’ co-operatives comprising nearly10,000 members, of whom more than 50% arewomen. Oxfam has contributed to increasingand diversifying people’s income sources,and reducing their dependency on cotton.

ChadOxfam supports over 114,000 people inpastoral and agro-pastoral communities ofBarh el Gazal. Through generous grants fromvarious donors, Oxfam is working to improveanimal health, boost income and improveveterinary supplies for populations whodepend on their animals for their livelihood.As part of its integrated programmeapproach, Oxfam has also been addingelements of recovery and resilience to itsshorter-term projects.

GhanaThe Enhancing Livelihoods through ClimateChange Adaptation and Learning Project(ELCAP) is helping community members toimprove their living conditions across 10farming communities in the East Mamprusi,Garu Tampane, Nandom and Nadowli districts

NigerFollowing the promising results ofthe first projects implemented inthe Banibangou region in 2010-2011, the water resourcemanagement programme in agro-pastoral areas was extended tosurrounding villages. Thisinnovative project isstrengthening the capacity andknowledge of communities,especially women, on issues ofwater management. There havebeen training sessions on theinfrastructure-building (such asdams and irrigation systems),reforestation and installation ofcommunity tools for measuringand monitoring rainfall andgroundwater levels.

Oxfam is in the final phase of athree-year project onstrengthening the livelihoods ofvulnerable farmers in the Maradiregion. It has been supportingthe most vulnerable farmers,related to the sale of animals,animal health, and access towater and feed grains. Oxfam hasalso worked to improve theposition of farmers in decision-making and policy developmentrelated to livestock.

LiberiaOxfam has been working toincrease livelihood opportunitiesand food for rural families inGrand Gedeh and River Geecounties, as well as in parts ofthe semi-informal settlements ofMontserrado. 1,200 rural-basedfarmers received support withincreasing swamp rice cultivation,commercialisation, collectiveaction and increasing the valuechain.

COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS: LIVELIHOODS


10 STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOODS OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

in northern Ghana. Adaptationstrategies are leading toincreased yields and incomes,thereby enhancing the foodsecurity of households in thecommunity. These strategiesinclude dry season gardening,drought resistant and highyielding crop varieties, animalhusbandry and Village SavingLoan Associations.

NigeriaOxfam supports 4,000 smallholderfarmers improve their marketlinkages and commercialisation byexpanding the rural economythrough private sectorengagement. This is in threestates across the country,creating greater employment andgenerating income.

We facilitated forums betweenprivate sector stakeholders, thegovernment and farmers toincrease farmers’ opportunitiesto access markets and better

make their voice heard. Oxfam and partnerscarried out advocacy and campaignactivities that increased the National andState Assembly’s recognition of the rolethat small-scale farmers play in ensuringfood security.

GROW gained further visibility and isrecognised as a national campaign with anincreasing number partners and activitiesspread across many parts of the country. Thecampaign engaged celebrity ambassadorssuch as 2face, Sound Sultan and Lami.

”Good crop harvest here is everything. Ifyou have food, you do not have problemswith health, education and socialactivities. You will eat well and sell thesurplus to get incomes to take care ofother needs.”

Mrs Jaratu Dasmani from Gbanterego inGaru Tempani District of Ghana. She is abeneficiary of the ELCAP project and hasincreased her yield from approximately 1to 5 maxi bags thanks to the project

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their environment; building systems to helpprotect and replenish water and landresources; delivering training on improvingfarming techniques; and working to reduceintercommunity conflict around naturalresources management.

Oxfam is implementing anintegrated development andrehabilitation programme toimprove the resilience of pastoraland agro-pastoral populations inNiger. One notable success is theCommunity-Based Integrated WaterResource Management Project inthe Banibangou area. Thisproject is designed to benefitthe poor population living in awater-scarce environment. Ithelps them develop theirresilience with a focus on waterresource management. Keycharacteristics of the projectinclude adaptive management ofwater resources (which allowsmultiple uses of water - domestic,livestock and agriculture) andutilising the appropriatecatchment of water resources.

The programme involves:providing training and equipmentto help communities monitor theirresources and assess the risks to

“The last harvest of cereals was poor. Wehave already exhausted our reserves ofmillet. Without the garden we would notbe able to survive – what my husbandearns as a healer is not enough. We usedto rely on the money my son sent homefrom his job in Menaka in Mali working onother people’s land. But he has had toreturn home this year because of the warin Mali. But thanks to the garden, wehave been able to help our families. Wehave been eating the vegetables andstill have enough to sell and earn moneyto buy cereal grains.”

Mrs Maka Djibo, President of the co-operative, that brings together 346 othergardeners (mostly women) in Banibangou

CASE STUDY: COMMUNITY-BASED INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCEMANAGEMENT PROJECT IN NIGER

©Fatoumata Diabaté Cash for work to build the half-moon structures on bare soil(Niger)


Promoting Access to Essential Services

A. ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN THE REGION

West Africa has the world’s lowestliteracy and education levels andlimited political participation,particularly for women. Oxfamrecognises that access to goodquality basic social services(education, healthcare, waterand hygiene) is a crucialcomponent in tackling povertyand inequality. The EssentialServices work encompassesprogrammatic, advocacy andcampaign perspectives.

Oxfam’s view is that governmentsin developing countries should bethe main provider of high qualitypublic services for all, and thatthese should be free at the pointof delivery. Although NGOs canplay a role, the primaryresponsibility for serviceprovision lies with governments.

In 2012, we worked with partnersto push for state investment infree public services, whichmillions of people desperatelyneed. Through the EssentialServices campaign, we supportedactive citizenship and socialmovements to strengthenengagement and investment inimproving health care in Ghana,education in Niger and Mali, andwater, sanitation and hygiene inLiberia and Sierra Leone. Oxfam’sEssential Services work hasdirectly benefited over 442,000people in the region.

B. CAMPAIGNING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICESVoting for Justice: using elections in WestAfrica to achieve basic rightsA major project “Voting for Justice” wasimplemented in 2012 within the EssentialServices campaign. The Project targeted thepresidential, parliamentary and localelections in Ghana and Sierra Leone. Itaimed to guarantee long-term commitmentfrom both the ruling and opposition partiesto improving the delivery of basic servicesfor education, health, water and sanitation.

Before the elections, Oxfam and its partnersorganized citizens and civil society to applypressure on their candidates to commit tocreating effective policy and developmentplans in order to meet citizens’ specificneeds. Presidential, parliamentary and localcouncil candidates were targeted throughlobbying, policy papers and communityplatforms.

Oxfam used innovative ways of engaging thepublic to highlight community priorities,such as mobile phone campaigning andopinion polls.

Specific commitments from parliamentary,presidential and local elections have beengathered and documented through pledgecards. This guarantees that thosecandidates who are elected can be heldaccountable after the elections. Theseelected officials will be encouraged toeffectively engage on legislation, policyformulation and implementation of plansseeking to improve people’s welfare.


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 PROMOTING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES 13

of its health insurance: only 34% ofGhanaians are known to benefit from it,which is half the previous assumption. Thisoffers a first step towards progressivereform.

SIERRA LEONELobbying, media and public educationactivities were carried out across SierraLeone. They focused on presidential,parliamentary and council elections held inNovember 2012.

A national opinion poll commissioned andpublished in December showed that over 90%of the electorate expects the newGovernment to make investment in water andsanitation a priority.

Over 700 candidates signed pledge cardsand advocacy work was done to influencethe contents of political parties’manifestos, supported by a march on WorldWater Day. Following the elections, publicmeetings were hosted with candidates ineight of the 14 districts. At these meetings,candidates were called on to re-affirm theirpledge, and identify specific actions thatcould be taken to fulfil their commitments.

C. COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS:ESSENTIALS SERVICES

GHANAThe Universal Health Campaignlaunched an exciting campaign,including a civil societymanifesto, a women’s march,regional health forums, TVdebates and the signing ofcandidate pledge cards. It helpedpush political parties intoprioritising health in their 2012campaign manifestos, with threeparties committing to freeUniversal Access to Healthcarefor citizens. The opposition (NPP)pledged to spend new oilrevenues on healthcare, andduring the presidential debatethe sitting President made acommitment to introducing freematernal healthcare.

Following sustained pressure andresearch by the campaign, theNational Health InsuranceAuthority admitted that it hadoverestimated the coverage rate

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14 PROMOTING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

Five political parties includedtopics related to water andsanitation in their manifestos andboth the winning political partyand the government that came topower made commitments infavour of an increase in thebudget dedicated to sanitation.The newly-formed Government ofSierra Leone has announced its2013 budget - in which it commits10.5% of the budget to health - asubstantial increase from the7.4% allocated in 2012.

LiberiaAlongside civil societyorganizations in Liberia, Oxfamused the October and November2011 elections to influencepoliticians and increase politicalaccountability and promotecommunity involvement in bringingWASH to the fore of politicalparty campaigns. Forty legislativeaspirants signed the pledgecards committing to deal withspecific WASH issues. Sustainedadvocacy work has also resultedinto the sponsorship of a bill inthe legislative branch for theestablishment of a WaterCommission in the country.

The re-elected President ofLiberia made a public statementsupporting WASH and signed theLiberia WASH Compact in January2012. The Government renewedits commitment to providing‘Sanitation & Water for All’ at theHigh Level Meeting in Washingtonin 2012 and has increased theannual budget for WaterSanitation and Hygiene fromapproximately USD 800,000 toUSD 1,500,000.

NigerA campaign entitled ‘Act forEducation: 2015 is tomorrow’ wasdesigned and rolled-out in Niger.Its major objectives are centered

on increasing transparency in the use ofeducation resources, improving access toschools, especially for girls, and teachertraining, recruitment and retention. Already,the campaign has succeeded in gaining thesupport of the First Lady, who agreed to bethe Campaign Ambassador. Several keygovernment dignitaries have also pointed tothe main gaps in the education sector andacknowledged the significant role of civilsociety in highlighting critical issues andsolutions. The campaign is now focused onfollowing up the national budget and inparticular, the election commitments of thePrime Minister who promised 25% of thenational budget for education and 2500 newclassrooms.

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Emmanuel Tulee was one of the first to havea prototype organic waste treatment toiletinstalled in this home as part of Oxfam’sproject. The innovative technology is ableto break down solid organic waste moreefficiently and up to 30 times faster thanthe traditional septic tanks. For Emmanuel,the toilet system occupies less space, iseasier to set up, is less costly than aseptic tank and also requires littlemaintenance.

The project seeks to improve communityhealth and will guarantee a lower incidenceof sanitation-related diseases and improvedhygiene practices. Our partner, MonroviaCity Corporation, will replicate the projectin other urban areas.

With 18 percent of all deathscaused by waterborne diseases,such as cholera, there is anurgent need to improve water andsanitation facilities, particularlyin the overcrowded slums ofMonrovia. Oxfam worked inpartnership with government bodyMonrovia City Corporation and withlocal communities to implementcommunity and householdsanitation facilities. Theseincluded an innovative, organicwaste treatment household toiletsystem called biofil, which usesnatural organisms to break downwaste matter.

THE BIOFIL LATRINE: AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO ELIMINATEWATERBORNE DISEASES IN LIBERIA

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West Africa is a region affectedby both chronic and acute foodinsecurity, and it is also facingpolitical uncertainty and risingsecurity challenges. Thefrequency of food crises in theSahel region is increasing, withthree major crises in just thelast 8 years. This is mostlydriven by intermittent rainfall,insufficient local harvests, andhigh food prices. As a result,people's resilience has beeneroded, undermining theircapacity to respond. At its peak,the 2012 food crisis affectedover 18 million people in Niger,Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso,Mauritania, Senegal and theGambia.

Oxfam GB worked with otherOxfam International affiliates inWest Africa to provide supportto some of those most affectedby the crisis.

The humanitarian response In 2012, the main focus of ourhumanitarian work was on theSahel food crisis and theconflict in northern Mali thatdisplaced around 450,000people – both within Mali and toneighbouring countries:Mauritania, Burkina Faso andNiger. Oxfam also investedconsiderable efforts inmanaging the cholera outbreakin Sierra Leone and the floodsin Niger.

A. SAVING LIVES BY RESPONDING QUICKLY TO EMERGENCIES,PROVIDING AID, SUPPORT AND PROTECTION

1- The Sahel food crisisIn all affected countries, Oxfam combinedthe long-term approach and humanitarianadvocacy with an emergency response.Thanks to donors, Oxfam supported over1.3 million people in seven countries. Ourassistance included food distribution,agricultural inputs distribution, animalcare, cash and voucher transfer, watersanitation and hygiene activities, landmanagement and irrigation systems, waterresource management, and more.

Oxfam GB’s humanitarian work in WestAfrica represents almost half of the totalbudget of the region. The past two yearshave seen an intense period ofhumanitarian activities. Oxfam has spentover USD 42 million on humanitarianassistance.

2- Campaigning for Rights in Crisis The response to the Sahel food crisisincluded a significant advocacy and mediacomponent through the Rights in Crisis(RIC) campaign, strongly linked to theGROW campaign. The campaign focused onmobilising funding for the crisis,strengthening national responses inresponses through the Charter for Food

Defending Rights in Crisis

“We had nothing in our stomachs. Now,with the vouchers, I can buy what I want.Last time I got oil, rice, soap and cubes.This time I plan to get some millet andsome sugar. There were a lot of peoplesuffering like me in Mello.”

Mrs Penda Sira Sow, recipient of foodvouchers in Mello – Kayes District Mali


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 DEFENDING RIGHTS IN CRISIS 17

Crisis Prevention andManagement and ensuring thecontinued function of regionalfood markets. This campaignalso aimed to secure long-termcommitments to invest in foodreserves, social protection andsmall-scale food producers, inorder to strengthencommunities’ resilience.

Preventing and managing foodcrises: the Charter for FoodCrisis Prevention andManagementIn February 2012 West Africanstates adopted the revisedCharter for Food CrisisPrevention and Management,intending to better address therecurrent droughts in theregion. Oxfam worked withpartners in the GROW campaignand civil society networks toassess progress in implementingthe charter’s principles in sixcountries, leading to nationaland regional reports andscorecards that served as thebasis for advocacy tostrengthen systems. The nextstep is to concentrate moreefforts on pushing parliamentsat national and regional levelsto adopt follow-up mechanismsto implement the Charter.

The conflict in Northern MaliIn 2012, humanitarian needsacross large swathes of Malireached unprecedented levelsas the country was hit by atriple crisis. With many regionsalready facing a severe foodcrisis, the country fell intopolitical disarray following a

coup d’état and was faced with new levelsof insecurity when armed groups tookcontrol of three northern regions.

Oxfam provided assistance to 77,000people in the North, in a highlychallenging situation, and it alsosupported 95,000 refugees in the threeneighbouring countries (Niger, Burkina andMauritania). Oxfam also conductedintensive advocacy work to raiseawareness of the most urgent needs of thepopulation, ensuring that aid reachedthose most in need, whilst alsoencouraging regional actors to promotepeaceful solutions to the conflict.

In addition to sustained engagement atnational level, Oxfam launched a keyreport in January 2013 highlighting theshort-term and long-term needs ofrefugees in countries neighbouring Mali.Oxfam also worked with others to ensureUN Resolution 2085 included keysafeguards aimed to respecting the rightsof civilian populations.

Sierra Leone cholera outbreakIn 2012, Oxfam responded to the largestcholera outbreak in over 40 years in thecountry. Over 500,000 people benefittedfrom Oxfam’s support, which includedproviding cholera prevention and water

“Oxfam trained us on health and hygieneand how to take care of food and waterquality. They also taught us how torecognize hazards, what to do aboutdiarrhoea and cholera, how to mitigateit and many other things about hygieneand prevention.“

M. Saidu Turay, Blue Flag Volunteer incharge of an oral rehydration point in Kroo Bay a slum in Freetown, Sierra Leone


18 DEFENDING RIGHTS IN CRISIS OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

purification kits, buildingemergency latrines and carryingout public informationcampaigns on how to preventand seek early treatment ofcholera in Freetown, Tonkoliliand Koinadugu. Oxfamestablished WASH committeesand a team of trained “BlueFlag Volunteers” to providehealth and hygiene informationto communities.

RIGHTS IN CRISIS CAMPAIGN’S HIGHLIGHTS: SAHEL FOOD CRISIS

The campaigning of Oxfam and its partners contributed to governments, aidagencies, donors and the media recognizing the pending Sahel food crisisearlier. This helped mobilize a better funded and, in many ways, more effectiveresponse than in the past.

Oxfam Ambassadors, such as Baaba Maal, Damon Albarn and Seydou Keita,combined with regular press work and campaign activities, helped mobilise over1,500 media articles and interviews, and encourage over 600,000 people tosign petitions to their governments.

Oxfam’s reports helped shape the debate on both improving the humanitarianresponse and strengthening the resilience of communities, while focusedresearch on community-based food reserves contributed strongly to plans todevelop a region-wide system of food stocks to better prepare for crises of thefuture.

There was tangible impact on the ground. For example, a trip by UK ShadowSecretary of State Ivan Lewis and two Chadian MPs to visit the affectedcommunities in Guera, Chad, followed by coverage by Al Jazeera, contributed tothe Government of Chad significantly scaling up its assistance to thecommunities in the region.

The advocacy work led to a more effective response to early warning systems inmost countries, with government quickly launching appeals and plans, andsome donors making significant early commitments for the crisis.

©Jane Beesley - OxfamAminat Bangura showing hygiene promotion training materials (Sierra Leone)


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 DEFENDING RIGHTS IN CRISIS 19

distributed to over 900,000 people,also stimulating the local market

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of food distributed to over383,000 people

85 000 tons

of seeds distributed to over60,000 households

216 tons

gardening or livelihoods kits distributed to61.000 households

10,000 Kits

vaccinated20,000 animals

Training sessions on good hygiene andnutrition practices, caring for babies,household budgeting

of animal fodder distributed to 59,000 households

566 tons

EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY ANDLIVELIHOODS FIGURES (Oxfam International figures)

Over

rehabilitated and 13 new boreholesor wells built giving access to safewater to over 154,000 people

Over

More than

340 water points

rehabilitated to secure water forlivestock

10 pastoral wells

distributed to 159,000 people20 000 hygiene kits

Community-based ManagementCommittees set up to improvemanagement of water sources

Hygiene practices improved thanks tothe important number and quality ofPHP activities delivered (HP sessions,trainings, household visits)

WATER SANITATION AND HYGIENE (Oxfam International figures)

©Caroline Gluck - Oxfam Oxfam is handing out vouchers to families in FIinigue (Niger)


20 STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOODS OXFAM GB ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

Oxfam focuses on achieving equalrights for women and men, actingon the understanding thatpoverty affects women and mendifferently, and that the majorityof people living in and sufferingfrom poverty are women.

Gender inequality is a majorbarrier to ending poverty. This iswhy we continue to work hard toend all forms of gender violenceand promote the role of women inall our programmes. We do this by

Supporting Gender Justice

changing attitudes, and providing businessopportunities and training to women.

One specific project to support genderjustice is the ‘Raising Her Voice’ programmeimplemented in Nigeria and Liberia. Thisproject supports female leadership andaddresses attitudes and beliefs about therole of women in public decision-making. Theproject includes networking, lobbying andadvocacy, working with public institutions,and communication strategies to disseminatelearnings and best practices.

©Glen Scott - OxfamWomen in Abala who are part of a credit union funded through the Regional Pastoralist Programme supported by AREN, anOxfam partner (Niger)


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 SUPPORTING GENDER JUSTICE 21

was lacking before the project. Forexample, the project has provided theplatform and legitimacy for CSOs tocollectively advocate for the enactment ofa law that prohibits all forms of GenderBased Violence;

• there is an increase in the number ofwomen reporting Violence against Womencases and a slow but gradual break in the“culture of silence“. With the consistenttrainings and emphasis on women raisingtheir voices;

• increased knowledge of the AU Protocoland its provisions;

• legislative affirmation of the RHV projectthrough strategic alliances withinParliament and Policy structures atFederal and State levels.

The Raising Her Voice projectstarted in Nigeria in 2008. Theproject is funded by ECHO throughOxfam GB and implemented by ourpartner the Women’s RightsAdvancement and Protection andAlternative (WRAPA).

Fundamentally, the VAPP aims toeliminate, or reduce to a minimumthe cases of Gender BasedViolence (GBV), and recognises therights of all to safety at home andtheir workplace. In Nigeria one inthree women aged between 15 and24 are victims of GBV.

WRAPA has tirelessly built up ahead of pressure onparliamentarians to vote in theVAPP Bill. In 2008, WRAPA’s newpartnership with the OGB RaisingHer Voice Programme (RHV) addednew momentum to the push forpoor women’s participation and thedomestication of the African UnionWomen’s Protocol, and breathednew life into campaigning andadvocacy around the VAPP bill. Onthe 14th March 2013 the NationalAssembly passed the (VAPP) Bill.

Key Achievements of the RaisingHer Voice project• gender Based Violence related

laws and bills are operationalacross six states of thefederation due to the RHVproject;

• through the RHV project’sinnovative step of forming acoalition, 17 organizationshave seen improved synergyand ability to organise andtake collective action, which

CASE STUDY: RAISING HER VOICE ANDVIOLENCE AGAINST PERSON PROHIBITIONACT (VAPP) BILL IN NIGERIA

© WRAPAA women demonstration against gender based violence (Nigeria)


22 STRENGTHENING LIVELIHOODS OXFAM GB ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13

Oxfam’s funding comes from arange of sources. In the UK,Oxfam receives regulardonations from around half a

million private individuals, Oxfam shops,emergency appeals, private institutions,governments, other agencies andfundraising events.

HOW OUR FUNDS WERE USED

Financial Resources

West Africa Region

Financialyear

2011-12

USD 000

%

Financialyear

2012-13

USD000

% Investment byother regions

Aim 1 : Livelihoods 10,292 28 11,718 23 25%

Aim 2 : Basic social Services 3,819 10 7,768 15 13%

Aim 3 : Life & Security 17,000 46 23,886 47 47%

Aim 4 : Right to be Heard 2,811 8 2,069 4 6%

Aim 5 : Gender & Diversity 2,785 8 5,152 10 9%

Total 36,708 100 50,593 100

Aim 111,718 USD

23%

Aim 55,152 USD

10%Aim 4

2,069 USD4%

Aim 323,886 USD

47%Aim 2

7,768 USD16%


OXFAM GB WEST AFRICA ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13 FINANCIAL RESOURCES 23

WHERE OUR FUNDS CAME FROM IN 2012/13

DFID

European Union

United Nations

Usaid

OI

Others

Oxfam GB

Sida

Irish Aid

WHERE OUR FUNDS CAME FROM IN 2012/13

Donors Amount in USD %DFID 7,980 16European Union 7,693 15United Nations 5,962 12Usaid 2,081 4Oxfam International 5,875 12Oxfam GB 14,693 29Sida 3,415 7Irish Aid 682 1Autres 2,211 4

Total 50,593 100

29%

16%1%7%

15%

12%

4%12%

4%


Oxfam GB West Africa Regional CentreRue 5XL avenue Birago Diop - Point EPO Box 3476 Dakar SenegalTel.: +221 33 859 37 00Fax: +221 33 824 15 15Email: [email protected]/westafrica


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