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Mine Actions Impact Survey Consultancy

Socio-economic survey of the impact of contamination from mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Jalawla

Context:

Handicap International (HI) has been present in Iraq since 1991 working to improve access to services for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and to protect human security and safety through the provision of:

• Rehabilitation and promotion of the rights and inclusion of PwD initiatives including the provision of support and quality reinforcement to rehabilitation services in Erbil, Suleymaniyah and Dohuk Governorates;
• Risk Reduction initiatives (focusing on mines, Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Baghdad after the 2003 conflict, and in Northern and Southern Iraq until December 2013.

Currently, HI implements several long-term projects as well as an emergency intervention in Erbil, Suleymaniyah, Diyala, Kirkuk, Anbar and Baghdad governorates, through three different, but complementary pillars:

• Conventional weapons risk awareness;
• Psychosocial support, referral to specific services for the most vulnerable persons including persons with disabilities and their families and rehabilitation (physical, community-based rehabilitation (CBR) and distribution of assistive devices);
• Mines, ERW and IED clearance preparation to release land for the safe use of the population and facilitate and secure the return of displaced populations.

Background of the project

In recent years, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas around the world has been a key cause of harm to civilians and one that requires urgent international attention. Over 44,280 civilians were reported killed or injured in 2014 by explosive weapons, according to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a founding member of the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW); a number that has been increasing year on year for the last four years.

AOAV also found that where explosive weapons were used in populated areas, 92% of the casualties were civilians.

Since the offensives of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group in 2014, Iraq has been facing an internal armed conflict and a double humanitarian crisis, with high numbers of Iraqi internally displaced people (IDPs) and Syrian refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. In 2015 the ongoing armed clashes have caused further waves of displacement. In January 2016, there were 3,290,000 recorded IDPs^[1] and 245,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq.

Diyala governorate is currently hosting 107,000 IDPs and 98,000 returnees. The presence of contamination from ERW and IEDs continues to impose a devastating threat to civilian lives in Iraq; a threat that may endure for decades. In contaminated areas, local populations, IDPs and returning populations are all at risk of death and injury, while the contamination restricts access to productive lands, resources and shelter, impairs movement flows of people and goods, and ultimately forces local populations to take risks. The threat from IEDs is particularly high in areas recently retaken from IS, such as the city of Jalawla and surroundings villages in Diyala Governorate. This contamination is one of the factors that impede the safe return of civilians and hampers stabilisation and economic recovery in these areas.

Jalawla is situated on the Sirwan River, 40 km southwest of Kalar and 150 km northeast of Baghdad. Jalawla was a city within Saadia sub district until the end of the monarchy in Iraq in 1958 and then became a sub district within Khanaqin district, and is today connected to more than 36 villages. In 2003, Jalawla and surrounding villages was home to an estimated 100,000 people. From 1968 to 2003 and then until 2014 (due to the current internal conflict), Jalawla has been subject to massive waves of displacements, leading to demographic shifts.

From August to November 2014, Jalawla fell under the control of IS and was the theatre of several battles. Since November 2014, the city and its sub districts are under control of the Kurdish Regional Government Security Forces (KSF). The intense fighting has left the city as one of the most devastated cities due to the current conflict. Due to remnant ERW and IED contamination, important sections of the city remain not accessible for the safe return of its former inhabitants. Booby traps and IEDs have been laid by IS in a large number of streets, houses and buildings, before they fled the city. Relaunching of public services, including schools, health centres, and local administrations, and beginning the reconstruction of houses and infrastructures without removing the contamination would result in an unacceptable level of risk for returnees.

Between February and April 2015, HI conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey in northern Iraq on safety awareness and risk education, and later conducted a preliminary contamination assessment in order to prepare for Mine Action interventions.

Today, HI has secured funding to implement survey and clearance activities in Diyala governorate with activities due to start in October 2016.

 

Objective of the assignment

The aim of the survey is to analyse how contamination from explosive weapons creates insecurity, deepens poverty and constrains development in Jalawla and its surroundings, and how mine action, including Risk Education and Victim Assistance, can facilitate socio-economic recovery and development.

HI intends to use the results of the Socio-Economic Impact Survey to inform its prioritisation of mine action activities in the area; specifically where the impact of mines/ERW and IEDs is severely affecting the human security and livelihoods of local and potential returnees to Jalawla. The survey will be used to inform non-technical and technical survey, clearance of ERW/IEDs, victim assistance, risk education and development activities.

This will be achieved by:

1. Assessment of the socio and economic impact posed by mines/ERW and IEDs in Jalawla, based on sex and age disaggregated data;
2. Assessment of the expected developmental outcomes resulting from future survey/clearance;
3. Strengthening accountability to affected communities, states and donors;
4. Identifying villages/sectors that are most at risk (e.g. limited coping mechanisms) or most vulnerable groups (e.g. new returnees).

This includes, among other deliverables to be agreed during the phase of development of the survey tool:

• To determine the level of infrastructure rehabilitation/reconstruction required for socio-economic activities’ recovery, allowing a safe return of the population as well as the restart of daily activities and the inclusion of persons With disabilities;
• To provide a detailed geographical analysis for programme priority setting (e.g. by districts, sub-districts, communities etc.) based on socio-economic needs of the population through:
  • Data collection on type and level of contamination from mines/ERW/IEDs (through community liaison);
  • Based on socio-economic, sex and age disaggregated data, provide an analysis of socio and economic impacts (type/number of public & private infrastructures damaged or destroyed (hospitals, schools, administrative buildings, companies, markets, transportation routes, telecommunication), as well as victim data including psychological impacts on affected populations from weapon contamination => identify barriers to access to socio and economic services, including productive lands;
  • Identify needs and prioritize actions to contribute to human security and strengthened livelihoods.
• To update data on the affected populations’ Knowledge Attitudes and Practices related to weapon contamination.

Outputs/deliverables

• A final report on rehabilitation/reconstruction needs and barriers for key socio-economic infrastructures and livelihoods development and recommendations.
• Analytical report of the results of the KAP survey and database.

Activities

1. Design the survey, in consultation with:
   1. HI Iraq programme and HQ staff;
   2. Other country-based mine action stakeholders.
2. Conduct a review of major programmes (i.e. World Bank, UNDP, ACF…) intended to be implemented in Jalawla city or at Diyala governorate level.
3. Consultation with key informants from Jalawla communities through age/gender/ethnic representative focus group discussions to:
   1. Develop HI’s knowledge of socio-economic barriers and activities of Jalawla communities.
   2. Draw comprehensive mapping of key socio-economic infrastructures in contaminated areas necessary to ensure the restart of productive activities in the town (and surroundings if possible).
   3. Determine priorities in terms of livelihood/infrastructure rehabilitation.
4. Conduct a quantitative KAP survey to update HI’s data on the level of knowledge of Jalawla communities on the threats posed by ERW.

 

Means

Existing reports in HI:

• KAP survey 2015
• ERW/IED Contamination Survey 2015
• International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), HI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) - (consultation only) and other technical relevant documents (e.g. Sourcebook on Socio-economic Surveys, GICHD 2011)
• HI’s infrastructures, vehicles and support from key staff.