Through its wide network of community and satellite centres supported by mobile teams and outreach volunteers (ORVs), UNHCR operationalised its community-based approach aiming to prevent, mitigate and respond to protection risks while aiming to empower communities. In 2020, UNHCR supported 94 community centres, 37 satellite centres and 123 mobile units in all 14 Governorates. To further support the steadily increasing returnee communities, in 2020 UNHCR revitalised the focus on returnees. Accordingly, adjustments were made to ensure UNHCR’s presence through its community centres in high return areas.
In March 2020, governmental measures to respond to COVID-19 were implemented including the closure of community centres and remote working modalities. UNHCR used alternative methods to reach out to the communities through hotlines, ORVs and community leaders. Four guidance notes on various community-based protection (CBP) programmes were developed on adapted modalities for ORVs, community-led initiatives (CLIs)/ youth-led initiatives (YLIs), community-based organization (CBO) and hotline. Multiple online trainings for partners were held on the new implementation modalities.
With centres closed from March to June 2020, hotlines were critical in communicating with persons of concern. To accurately disseminate information to persons of concern, an exhaustive Question and Answer document was developed. Starting in May, partners received 38,547 calls, the majority relating to requests for general and medical in-kind assistance. UNHCR also sensitized partners on harmonised messaging on COVID-19 and other related areas.
In line with the Government circular, community centres re-opened in June at 30% operational capacity. A comprehensive safety protocol guiding the resumption of activities in the centres and a checklist for adherence to health and safety procedures were issued. The centres were equipped with the necessary personal and protective equipment, hygiene items, and enhanced information and communication technology (ICT) capacity to support online services.
Amidst COVID-19 movement restrictions, ORVs played a critical role in identifying, referring persons of concern in need, and disseminating reliable information, maintaining the link between UNHCR and communities. Over 2,800 ORVs worked with 18 partners. The ORVs reached over 1.6 million individuals of all population groups in 14 Governates. Over 636,000 people were reached with awareness raising on COVID-19 and other protection related topics; over 233,000 case follow-ups were conducted; and over 749,000 individuals approached ORVs with inquiries on various protection issues. Most outreach volunteer activities were conducted remotely using various online platforms including approx. 1,000 What’s App groups. 60,036 home visits or meetings were exceptionally conducted to support the most vulnerable individuals or unaccompanied persons.
In total, 8,800 IDPs organised 905 community and youth-led initiatives in 14 Governorates benefitting over two million individuals. The initiatives addressed community mobilization, infrastructure rehabilitation, sanitization campaigns, awareness raising, crowd control, distribution campaigns, and self-reliance projects.
The support to community-based organisations was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 and currency fluctuation but was resumed in September 2020. 86 community-based organisation members were trained and 41 received funding to support their communities.