IOM: Sustainable and peaceful development of local communities in Kalemie

The Narrative report was submitted by IOM on 4th November 2024 covering the period comprehensively explains the achievements as well as the challenges faced throughout the reporting period 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024. During this period IOM used their triple mandate to ensure a nexus approach linking humanitarian, development, and peace (HDPN) interventions in the target areas, in order to strengthen the overall resilience of communities affected by displacement. During the reporting period, 1the following key achievements were reached: • Over 2,400 households were issued official land tenure documents, thereby ensuring the long-term provision of adequate shelters through land rights for returnee households and vulnerable community members. • One new school/classroom was constructed and fully equipped to facilitate access to education for returnee and community children. • Improved social cohesion and mental well-being of host and returnee communities through inclusive and participatory governance mechanisms, mental health and psychosocial support. These mechanisms have enabled better integration of communities in the management of local affairs and promoted peaceful coexistence through increased awareness-raising in communities affected by displacement. They were supported by the development and broadcasting of 435 radio activities on the themes of local governance, women's empowerment and social cohesion. Psychosocial support was also a key element, with the establishment of specialized focal points and the provision of 1,257 mental health and psychosocial support services, thus strengthening the fragmented social fabric. In addition, the introduction of complaints management committees and early warning systems in the five priority communities have helped to promote the peaceful resolution of disputes. These initiatives have reduced ethnic tensions and helped restore a climate of peace in communities. • Strengthening the economic resilience of host and returnee communities through the creation of economic opportunities2 for over 4,068 households, including 2,536 women heads of household and 1,532 men heads of households. This has considerably improved access to financial resources and enabled the development of Income and Generating Activities (IGA), thus contributing to the economic autonomy of returnee and host communities. As well as improved access to basic services for over than 12,000 people through the rehabilitation of 15 priority community infrastructures in the villages. This has facilitated access to essential services such as water, education and health. During this third year of project implementation, IOM focused on implementing and monitoring activities to strengthen the early warning mechanism, support complaint management committees and Local Committee (LC) members in the peaceful resolution of conflicts, supporting and building the capacity of Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (MHPSS) focal points, and taking charge of and monitoring beneficiaries, monitoring of construction work on priority community infrastructures chosen by the communities, implementation and monitoring of Cash For Work (CFW) activities, Income Generating Activities (IGA) and support for Village Loans and Savings Associations (VLSA), and development and broadcasting of radio activities on the themes of local governance, women's empowerment and social cohesion, as well as the delivery of land tenure documents to households. The report included an paragraph on: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA): "All project staff, including hourly workers and consultants, received mandatory PSEA training at the start of the project prior to deployment to the field. As outlined in its internal policies and procedures to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse, IOM has a zero tolerance policy for SEA as well as mandatory outreach and reporting procedures. To ensure that target communities, community members and project beneficiaries can provide direct and anonymous feedback, as well as report any concerns or complaints, a complaints mechanism is being set up in each community. This mechanism is based on the establishment of a toll-free hot line; establishment of a complaints management committee at the local level; and availability of MHPSS focal points in community centres."

The overarching project objective is to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of displacement affected communities in Tanganyika province by addressing the major drivers of instability and displacement through improved local governance, community engagement, social cohesion, and economic recovery. This will be achieved through a holistic approach combining local governance mechanisms, interventions to strengthen social cohesion and improve basic services as well as the provision of sustainable socio-economic support. The approach aims to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of the displacement affected communities while simultaneously addressing existing or potential drivers of instability that could lead to recurrent displacement.