Guidance Note on integrating PRSEAH (Prevention of And Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment) for the Sudan Health cluster HRP (Humanitarian Response Plan) proposals.

1. Overview on PSEAH in Humanitarian Actions:

The commitment to collectively strengthen the humanitarian actions and approaches on the Protection of, and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH) was re-affirmed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) members. Published on May 16, 2022, the IASC Vision and Strategy on PSEAH, 2022-2026 outlined targets to ensure sustainable and accountable PSEAH actions within all humanitarian contexts and transformative culture changes.

Also, OCHA among the Other UN agencies has been guiding the process of integrating PRSEAH into HRPs and proposals development. Sudan is one example where key PRSEAH indicators were included into the proposal development variables/indicators.
The Health Cluster (HC) of Sudan also made PRSEAH one of the 5 eligibility criteria for 2024 health cluster (HC)proposal development.

Therefore, to ensure the minimum integration of PRSEAH into the health cluster HRP proposals of 2024, this guidance note provides a few areas below for consideration by the HC partners.

2 .Broader Areas of Focus: (based on the commitment of the PRSEAH IASC strategy)

Victim and Survivor Centered Approach: Addressing SEAH Survivors/victims assistance for the affected population within humanitarian, conflict/peace, and development context as one of the priority focused areas). This includes promoting referrals for services and reporting of SEAH cases to investigators for redress.

Change in Organizational Culture: Prioritizing systems improvement, e.g., having PSEAH /safeguarding policies in place that are fully enforced and accounted for by every workforce irrespective of contract types, e.g., reporting SEAH cases. Putting in place resources (human, materials, and financial).

Capacity Development: This may include training, development of tools and guidelines, community engagement/awareness raising, advocacy, dialogues, and structural engagement at states levels.

3. Basic steps to follow for the HC HRP Proposal Developments

Definition of the problem/needs and risks

• Data/Risk analysis: qualitative or quantitative data (SEAH risks) identified in all projects proposals. Analysis of these risks should be included in the project summary as part of the needs that may require actions.

• Some examples of risks on SEAH are: Ongoing conflict and displacement, limited access to basic amenities for possible SEAH Victims/survivors assistance, and weak referral mechanism, Outbreaks such as cholera, Food insecurity and malnutrition etc.

• Community engagement, particularly on SEAH risk identification and reporting (use those that are applicable to your project(s). And include some actions that you may to mitigate SEAH risks in all the major outcomes/deliverables of your actions.

• You may suggest that at the project summary level, PRSEAH will be integrated into all the project deliverable with resources (human and budget) allocated to it. In so doing, during the projects design/planning and prioritization you may suggest as part of your data deliverables that you could Include variables/indicators on PRSEAH on all risk assessments for the projects and interventions at all locations where assistance is provided.

Organization policies of PSEAH or safeguarding policies: Highlight how the organizational PSEAH zero tolerance or safeguarding policies are enforced to ensure that the workforce and affected populations are protected while delivering this project. For example, what are the reporting, investigation and redress mechanisms that are in place? How will they be applied this project delivery to protect both workforce and affected population?

Use of PSEAH Indicators in the projects design: Refer to indicators 55.1 and 56.1 and other indicators on SEAH in uploaded by OCHA for your use. Proposals without valid indicators on PSEAH may not meet the eligibility criteria.

Suggested Actions to consider in projects development:

These are a few examples of actions categories that you may consider. These are only some examples. You are free to add actions that are best fitted to your project’s context if they cover the prevention, and response which includes reporting and survivors/victims’ assistance.

Examples of prevention and mitigation interventions:

Community engagement,

• Through integrated state and community levels consultations, mobilization, production, and dissemination of awareness materials with context based common PRSEAH messaging. (Note: be clear on the number or percentage of beneficiaries or people reached (disaggregated by sex (male female). and age). through integrated States and community levels consultations, mobilization, and production and dissemination of awareness materials with context based common PRSEAH messaging).

• Facilitation of safe and accessible SEA community-based reporting channels that observe confidentiality. (Note: Be clearer on communications materials that included how to report on SEAH, how to access survivors/victim assistance, and disaggregated by thematic PSEA communication materials designed for each thematic response areas, and the SEAH awareness raising materials are designed and disseminated in response the community priorities that are culturally appropriate and meeting realistic needs. e.g., ensure that PSEA posters, “no excuse”-cards are translated into relevant languages and made available in accessible formats (appropriate for illiterate persons, children, and people with disabilities, and subsequently distributed in all locations where humanitarian and development assistance is provided).

Services (SEAH Victims/Survivors Assistance):

Facilitate referrals of SEAH victims/survivors to government (in the case of Sudan) and NGOs service providers. (For example: MHPSS, case management, medical services, and access to justice/legal services, safety, and livelihood).

Resourcing (Human and Budget):

• Deliberately dedicate resources (human and budget to PSEAH actions in the project). This is part of the eligibility criteria.

• While having a dedicated budget for specific PRSEAH interventions, you may also consider adding it to other areas like capacity development, awareness raising materials, community outreaches, service provision such as MHPSS, CMR, and referrals.

This guidance will be further discussed after being pre-tested for this phase of the HC HRP Proposal development /reviews. Drafted by the Sudan Health Cluster, with the technical support of WHO PRSEAH Coordinator.