FEATURED: How EU-funded project empowered local NGOs to respond toemergencies in line with localisation

Before February 2019, Jean-Damascene Nsengiyumva, a staff in ARCT (a non-government organisation that helps people with trauma), had no idea about what an emergency was, and so neither all his colleagues in the organisation. Further, ARCT had no emergency preparedness plan whenever they would embark on a given project. However, today, Nsengiyumva noted that all employees of ARCT know what an emergency is and have the ability to act accordingly whenever a crisis happens, thanks to the SCORE (Strengthening the capacity of local organizations to respond effectively in emergencies) Project. The SCORE which began in 2019, was funded by the EU and was not only implemented in Rwanda, but also in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone under the leadership of Trócaire and Cordaid. Overall, the project has worked with 12 civil society organisations (CSOs) across the 3 countries and in Rwanda the project benefitted two organisations: ARCT and DUHAMIC ADRI. The SCORE project was rolled out with three specific objectives; to strengthen emergency preparedness and contingent planning in local CSOs; to strengthen the capacity and readiness of local CSOs to deliver timely, high quality and needs-based humanitarian assistance; and to promote organisational learning – both within the consortium and with other relevant stakeholders in-country and at European level – by documenting and disseminating lessons learnt and examples of good practice from the project. The project began in February 2019 and ended on 12 November 2020 with an event that brought together Trócaire officials and beneficiaries of the project, to discuss different experiences got from it. The event brought together 22 staff and board members of DUHAMIC ADRI, five representatives of ARCT, and four other individuals from CSOs that work with Trócaire Rwanda. They include CDJP Gikongoro, BIOCOOR, and RCCDN (Rwanda Climate Change and Development Network). According to Nsengiyumva, through SCORE Project, ARCT was supported to review its policies to align them to the national emergency preparedness plans. Like Nsengiyumva, Vestine Mukandayisenga, the Program Coordinator of Duhamic-Adric, noted that she has greatly benefitted from SCORE project. “At first, we thought that because our organisation is just concerned with development, we shouldn’t be concerned with emergency-related issues. However, SCORE proved us wrong because whatever support we give, we should make sure that it is sustained even in case of an emergency,” Vestine said. Vestine Mukandayisenga, Program Coordinator of Duhamic-Adric, sharing the benefits gained from the SCORE project. / Photo: Craish Bahizi Mukandayisenga also noted that the organisation she works for has already started helping families that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In his remarks, Innocent Benineza, the Executive Secretary of DUHAMIC ADRI expressed satisfaction with what has been achieved under SCORE Project. According to Benineza, capacity building in humanitarian intervention is key for local organisations like DUHAMIC ADRI, adding that the remaining task is to use acquired capacity for fund mobilisation as it is a critical challenge for local organisations. The ultimate task According to Modeste Sibomana, Programmes Manager of Trócaire Rwanda, going forward, the two organisations are tasked to implement what they learned from the project. “We are happy that thanks to the capacity building initiatives implemented by the SCORE Project, now you know what to do in case emergency, your organisational policies are updated to take into account emergencies”, Modeste said. “Although today we are marking the end of this project, it is the beginning of a new phase, with the use of acquired skills and knowledge to integrate emergency preparedness and response in all organisational plans, including in resource mobilization”, Modeste added. In this way, you will be well prepared to support target communities to respond to any emergency that may occur, and the project success that we are celebrating today will be a living reality”, Modeste reckoned. Trócaire Rwanda Program Manager, Modeste Sibomana giving remarks during the SCORE closeout meeting. / Photo: Craish Bahizi “We thank the EU AID Volunteer Initiative for making this project possible by providing financial support, and all those who have contributed to the implementation of the project. Trócaire remains committed to continuing to strengthen the capacities of its local partners, which is at the core of how we work. This is done not only through the transfer of knowledge and skills but also through providing partners with required financial resources. This is also one of the global commitments under the Grand Bargain signed up to by humanitarian actors in 2016” Modeste added. The Programme Manager of Trócaire further noted that the organisation allocates 10% of its unrestricted income to humanitarian work globally, and overall up to 75% of its programme budget is made up of grants to partners. Some of SCORE’s achievements Partner staff have been trained on Emergency Preparedness Planning (EPP) /Contingent Planning (CP) and supported to develop and adapt their own EPPs. Additionally, an EPP simulation exercise was organized for both partners for testing and evaluating existing plans, identifying gaps, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and improving coordination – both partners are participating in National Coordination mechanisms tools to conduct risk analysis were shared with partners and are being used for potential risks and adaptation of plans. The SCORE project closing event was also an opportunity to share learning documents that were produced in the course of project implementation. These include the lessons learnt report, case studies and Cash Standards Operating Procedures (SOPs), among others. The project was officially closed with a ceremony where beneficiaries of SCORE trainings were given certificates.

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FEATURED: How EU-funded project empowered local NGOs to respond toemergencies in line with localisation