Outcome FIJ_D_4.1

Humanitarian planning, response frameworks and programming are gender and protection inclusive and responsive (modified FPI LEAP Outcome 1)

The Fiji MCO has made significant contribution under this outcome both at the regional level and national level. At regional level through leading the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster (PHPC) and at the national level by supporting a range of protection structures in the region including Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Palau. The major focus was the provision of technical support to national clusters, capacity building, gender mainstreaming in other key clusters/sectors, review of strategic documents and advocacy on protection issues. With the continuous engagement, support and collaboration with key stakeholders including women's ministries, CSOs/NGOs in the cluster and other cluster lead agencies, the integration of gender and protection have gained more attention and focus on the overall humanitarian response systems in the region. This was evident during multiple emergencies, including TC Yasa (Dec 2020), TC Ana (early Jan 2021), Covid-19 pandemic (Ongoing). As a chair of the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster, UN Women played an imperative role in coordinating protection in humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery across UN agencies including issues on gender-based violence in emergencies, psychosocial support and gender and social inclusion mainstreaming. In 2021, through the UNW GiHA training support in Tonga, participant’s knowledge in relation to the specific needs, capacities and priorities of women, girls, men, and boys in emergencies have increased and improved. MCO contributed to mainstreaming gender and protection in a range of regional guidance documents through the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Cell (MHPSS) of the Joint Incident Management Team (JIMT). UNICEF’s key messaging, were supported by UN Women through their programming to ensure that women, adolescent girls, young people and children being at the centre of humanitarian action. The messages and actions were to ensure the protection, safety, and dignity of women. Gender and protection in these guiding documents have been strengthened as a result of UN Women’s technical support. Furthermore, UNICEF has been enabled to include messaging regarding child protection and Gender-based Violence in all WASH kits. UNFPA and UNICEF have also been supported by UNW to develop a vulnerability mapping concept note aimed at supporting the incorporation of gender and protection into humanitarian response both in Fiji and the region. With the technical, coordination and information management support provided to the Fiji Safety and Protection Cluster, Final Revised version of the Inclusive Rapid Protection Form was developed and finalised. The Rapid Protection Form ensured that the needs of all vulnerable groups are captured during an emergency period, ‘leaving no one behind’. This form also ensures the finalisation of a gender and protection assessment tool, that is in line with global best practice (GPC standards). The Ministry of Women was supported in their role as the head of the Fiji Safety and Protection Cluster through UN Women’s secretariat position while also enabling cluster members to be supported in their efforts to effectively respond to the current COVID-19 outbreak and cyclone emergency periods in Fiji, including gender and protection was included in their response. It has also enabled the decentralisation of the Fiji S&P Cluster from the national level to the divisional level. This is an achievement and was commended by the Divisional level as the only cluster that coordinated and operated from the divisional level i.e. Northern division during TC Yasa response period

Humanitarian planning, response frameworks and programming are gender and protection inclusive and responsive (modified FPI LEAP Outcome 1)

Progress has been made in developing inclusive, protection and gender-responsive frameworks and programming for improving humanitarian planning and response for Pacific humanitarian actors. Capacity building initiatives have led humanitarian and response actors to better understand which groups are discriminated against the most, which are at risk, and where they are located. Perceptions have begun to shift slowly about meaningful inclusion and non-discrimination. This has enabled actors to develop robust frameworks and programming to better tailor their emergency support to the most vulnerable. In addition, the Pacific Humanitarian Team have also increased the integration of gender and protection in humanitarian planning and response frameworks and programmes. Dedicated support to the Tonga Safety and Protection (S&P) Cluster has increased its capacity to respond to protection needs in a more coordinated way in the wake of the Tonga volcano crisis. Through UN Women’s technical analysis and inputs in these areas, humanitarian planning and response frameworks are ensuring policy language that addresses violence and keeping people safe from harm, addresses discrimination and understanding of people’s different needs, risk, and capacities, and actively addresses exclusion to as to meaningfully ensure the engagement of excluded people. UN Women provided capacity building and technical support to the above initiatives.