PASSI Project: Protection and WASH for Palestinians in Area C

Partner

CESVI (Coordinator), ActionAid Palestine

Donor

Italian Agency for Development Cooperation

Stakeholders

Education Deapartment of the Governorate of Hebron, Palestinian Water Authority, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health, Palestinian Family Planning and Protection Association (PFPPA) , UNICEF, Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR), Women's Centre for Legal and Social Guidance

Objective of the project

We want to strengthen basic sanitation services, particularly for the vulnerable population living in area C within the governorate of Hebron, West Bank (Occupied Palestinian Territory).

Abstract of the project

The project, implemented by Cesvi and ActionAid, enhances the availability of clean and safe water and protection services, improving sanitation conditions and raising awareness on good hygiene practices to reduce infections and diseases. In addition, the project plans to integrate gender issues with the health dimension, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive education, youth health, sexually transmitted diseases and psychological support needs in relation to victims of violence. The project is implemented in 5 communities within 4 municipalities located in the Hebron Governorate in the West Bank (Occupied Palestinian Territories). The communities of Al Baqa’a, Al Bwaib, Ar Rifaiyya are located in area C, while the municipality of Umm Lasafa also has part of its territory in area A and B: in this municipality, the project intervenes in the two communities of Sh’ib Samour and Abu Shaban, located in area C.

Context analysis

According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview, by 2021, approximately 1.6 million Palestinians lack adequate access to WASH services in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and around 1.5 million lack access to basic services. To cope with water shortages, families are forced to adopt negative coping mechanisms, such as reducing their water consumption, relying on storage in jerry cans, which is unhygienic and costly and sharing latrines with other families which raises privacy concerns and protection risks. As witnessed by the high rates of youth violence and the high number of women and girls victims of violence (physical, psychological, economic, sexual and social), violence in all its forms is on the rise. Women, in particular, are often victims of violence since they are children, and gender-based violence in schools undermines the full right to education and poses a challenge to achieving gender equality in education and academia.

Hebron

The project is implemented in 5 communities located in the Hebron Governorate in the West Bank (Occupied Palestinian Territories).

Implementation Period

08/04/2022 - 07/04/2023

Beneficiaries

Direct

600 people (nearly 130 families) who will benefit from systems installed for water filtering at HH level and who will be involved in awareness campaigns to improve hygienic/sanitation practices
15 public institutions (including 4 elementary schools) will benefit from handwashing stations
2.000 people will benefit from the 3 public systems for water filtering, treatment, storage and distribution
968 primary school students beneficiaries of hygienic kits
40 teachers who will be trained to integrate topics on protection, WASH, disease prevention
300 women who will be involved in sensitization activities on PSS and sexual-reproductive health rights, of which 100 further trained in depth to provide psychological support to other women
200 women and girls who will receive psychological support sessions individual and in group
40 community representatives and CBOs who will be guided to draft a map of active GBV e CP services in the communities, and to establish a coordination/referral mechanism to such services
50 people who will receive dedicated and necessary referral services (health, legal, social assistance)
250 people who will be involved in community-based protection activities

Indirect

5,591 people equal to the total population of the municipalities benefiting from the various project activities
30,000 people throughout Palestine reached by 3 advocacy and awareness-raising social media campaigns on equal access to health and protection services conducted by the youth groups (ACTIVISTA / LEJAN)

Project Strategy

Activities

WASH component:

Establishment of water quality monitoring system (lab setting up, staff training, periodic monitoring)
WASH systems distribution and user training
Hygienic kits supply in schools
Training teachers/educators on WASH and diseases prevention
Awareness raising sessions on correct hygienic behaviour
Data collection, analysis and triangulation for study and spreading results on identification of links between wash interventions and impact on health

Protection component:

Women training on PSS, rights on sexual and reproductive health
Sessions on psychological support (individual and in group) to SGBV victims
Strengthen coordination and referral mechanisms to psychosocial and protection services
Referral of persons who need specific health care, legal and social services
Organization of advocacy and awareness campaigns on fair access to health and protection services–led by youth groups (ACTIVISTA/ LEJAN)
Implementation of community-based protection initiatives

Outputs

Result 1:

15 handwashing systems distributed within public institutions
150 HWTS units distributed to improved quality of drinking and/or hygienic use water
3 community WASH systems implemented
1 awareness campaign on behavioral change on the use of wash system provided (RANAS)
1 study on links between water quality and diseases
40 teachers trained
968 hygienic kits distributed to kids in schools
10 awareness sessions
4 sketches carried out by students

Result 2:

300 women made aware/trained on PSS and sexual/reproductive health
200 sessions on PSS individual/in group conducted
200 hygienic and dignity kits distributed
1 coordination mechanism established and related SOPs developed and applied
50 persons in need referred to services
3 awareness campaigns conducted
5 community-based protection initiatives implemented

Outcomes

Improved access and use of water and sanitation systems at household and community level
Improved availability and access to protection and psychological support services for SGBV victims/at risk people