Part III
Coordination Activities in the Field

Côte d’Ivoire

http://ochaonline.un.org/cotedivoire

	Requirements	3,995,982
	Income from Voluntary Contributions¹	2,562,387
	EXPENDITURE
	Staff Costs	2,097,279
	Consultant Fees and Travel	–
	Travel	122,859
	Operating Expenses	335,127
	Contractual Services	77,416
	Supplies, Materials, Furniture and Equipment	247,901
	Fellowships, Grants and Contributions	25,000
	Programme Support Costs	377,726
	Total Expenditure (US$)	3,283,308
¹ Includes allocations from the Field Coordination Reserve Fund of US$ 348,000

Context

In 2006 the civilian population in Côte d’Ivoire continued to suffer with a deterioration of protracted political, protection and humanitarian crises. Continued cycles of violence, violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law, and impunity in all parts of the country increased the level of human vulnerability and maintained the number of displaced at more than 700,000 people throughout the country. During 2006 more than 50 people were killed in inter- and intra-ethnic clashes in the west where the violence is worst. Throughout the country, limited access to water, medical services and education, as well as epidemics, have all hampered the livelihoods of the population.

The dumping of hazardous substances at a number of sites in Abidjan in August 2006 was another key element of the humanitarian situation in 2006. Aside from the environmental consequences, fifteen people lost their lives and several thousand required medical treatment.

Objectives

Strengthen inter-agency planning, preparedness and resource mobilization to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations.
Help ensure the effectiveness of humanitarian response through improved coordination.
Sustain a relevant advocacy strategy for the protection of civilians and in support of efforts to reduce impunity.

Activities and Accomplishments

OCHA supported the RC/HC in managing coordination among humanitarian partners and the government, while advocating for an increased response to humanitarian needs by national authorities, in particular in the areas of protection (a key humanitarian concern), water availability, access to education, social cohesion and internal displacement. Missions undertaken by the Emergency Relief Coordinator in February and the Office of the Representative of the Secretary-General focusing on the human rights of IDPs in April contributed to advocacy efforts. As a result of these, an IDP working group bringing together key ministries, UNHCR and OCHA began to meet regularly in May, establishing draft legislation on IDPs, an action plan and an Inter-Ministerial Committee on IDPs (formalized by Decree of the Minister of Solidarity and War Victims on 2 January 2007).

The Information Management Unit reinforced its efforts to assist partners through the provision of relevant information products (including geographic and thematic maps), the OCHA Côte d’Ivoire website, daily summaries of the main news items and a radio programme to which partners contribute humanitarian reports.

An OCHA sub-Office was established in Duékoué after the destruction of the Office in Guiglo in January. While the Duékoué and Man offices in the west facilitated humanitarian response during the ongoing cycle of violence and internal displacement, the offices in Odienné, Korhogo and Bouaké in the central and northern parts of the country were instrumental in providing partners with information, reporting and advocacy. OCHA organized three workshops in December with the aim of increasing awareness and capacity of IDP response. Participants represented more than ten ministries and local authorities, including the rebel faction Forces Nouvelles, United Nations agencies, NGOs and civil society.

In response to the toxic waste crisis, OCHA set up an inter-agency information cell and facilitated an UNDAC mission in September to carry out a first assessment of the toxic waste situation. It also facilitated an OCHA/BCPR/ UN-Habitat mission in November to assist the government in developing an environmental and natural disaster strategy.

OCHA facilitated the UNCT’s access to the CERF (US$ 5.7 million received) and the ERF (US$ 204,321,530 received for ten NGO projects).

Performance Evaluation

The Inter-Agency Humanitarian Coordination Committee (IAHCC) made decisions on policy, advocacy and emergency, with 57 out of the 63 recommendations made in 2006 being implemented. The IAHCC was also involved in the establishment and approval of thematic studies on water and sanitation, education and issues in the west of the country. Joint United Nations/NGO working groups were formed to focus on key protection concerns.
Regional and national contingency plans and scenarios were regularly updated by the working group on contingency planning facilitated by OCHA. In July the Côte d’Ivoire+5 contingency plan was updated to reflect the deteriorating situation in Guinea.
Along with the Policy Development and Studies Branch, OCHA Côte d’Ivoire organized a Protection of Civilians round table in May in New York with the participation of United Nations Security Council Members, donor states, national and local authorities, UNOCI, United Nations agencies, NGOs and civil society. A follow-up workshop was held in Abidjan in October.
OCHA’s Information Management Unit produced detailed information and analyses of protection needs and response activities, including IDP tables and maps for two western regions (Dix-Huit Montagnes and Moyen Cavally), and maps structured along administrative units (seven départements, 14 souspréfectures and 181 villages).
A protection cluster was established in 2006, and joint United Nations/NGO working groups were formed to focus on key protection concerns in Abidjan.
OCHA supported the activities of the social cohesion working group which aimed to re-establish an effective social fabric within communities and ethnic groups, particularly among IDPs.