BRIEFING NOTE: Protection Mainstreaming/ “Protection Integration” refers to assistance projects (such as WASH or shelter)

Safe & Dignified Programming 1 that integrate specific protection activities. The overall objective would not
usually be related to protection. Examples include monitoring and reporting on
protection threats in a food distribution programme, or providing training on
What is protection mainstreaming? rights in a shelter project. Some specific protection knowledge and skills are
Protection mainstreaming is the process of incorporating protection principles required to undertake these activities which comprise a smaller percentage of
and promoting meaningful access, safety and dignity in humanitarian aid. The humanitarian projects than at the protection mainstreaming level (yellow).
guiding principles that must be taken into account in all humanitarian activities
are2: “Stand alone protection” is a specific sector. It encompasses activities that
1. Prioritise safety and dignity and avoid causing harm: prevent and minimise directly prevent or respond to acts of violence, coercion, discrimination or
as much as possible any unintended negative effects of your intervention deliberate deprivation of services. It includes activities such as the registration of
which can increase people's vulnerability to physical and psychosocial risks. refugees or the demobilisation of child soldiers. Only agencies with specialist
2. Equality/meaningful access: arrange for people’s access to impartial expertise should carry out such activities, which usually comprise a small
assistance and services - in proportion to need and without any barriers (i.e. percentage of the total number of humanitarian projects (red).
discrimination). Pay special attention to individuals and groups who may be
particularly vulnerable or have difficulty accessing assistance and services.
3. Accountability to beneficiaries: set-up appropriate mechanisms through
which affected populations can measure the adequacy of interventions, or
address concerns and complaints.
4. Participation and empowerment: support the development of self-protection
capacities and assist people to claim their rights, including - not exclusively -
the rights to shelter, food, water and sanitation, health, and education.

How does protection mainstreaming relate to protection?

“Protection mainstreaming” relates to the approach we take in all our
programmes. It does not mean changing WHAT we do but means we should think
about HOW assistance is provided. This is essentially about safe, good quality
programming. It is the responsibility of all humanitarian actors and should be
applied to all projects (green3). It forms the base of the triangle because it
provides the foundation for all other protection work, i.e. integration and stand-
alone projects should always incorporate the guiding principles and core
components of protection mainstreaming. Why is protection mainstreaming important?
1
Protection mainstreaming can help us improve the quality of humanitarian
“Protection mainstreaming” and “safe and dignified programming” may be used interchangeably programming by ensuring the most vulnerable access assistance that is
2
Definitions from the Global Protection Cluster: http://www.globalprotectioncluster.org/en/areas-of-
appropriate and relevant to their needs and delivered in a safe and dignified way.
responsibility/protection-mainstreaming.html
3
The colour in brackets refers to the colour-coded triangle which visualises the different protection
approaches.

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We also have an ethical responsibility to mainstream protection across all Analysis All programming is underpinned by an understanding of the
humanitarian sectors as our work always has implications beyond meeting basic protection context throughout the programme cycle. E.g.
needs. Interventions can safeguard wellbeing and dignity but they can also put organise focus group discussions with women and girls to
people at increased risk. Failure to mainstream protection may prevent recovery understand their needs and coping strategies.
and resilience building in affected communities. Our actions or inactions may also
perpetuate discrimination, abuse, violence, and exploitation and unnecessarily Targeting and The differing needs and capacities of the most vulnerable
cause competition and conflict in communities. diversity of women, men, girls and boys are identified and assistance is
need targeted accordingly. E.g. arrange transport to distribution
It is therefore a shared responsibility of all humanitarian actors to be aware of the sites for older persons and people with mobility problems.
potential harm activities can cause and to take steps to prevent this. These Information Accurate and timely information is readily available to women,
responsibilities are articulated in a number of global standards and guidelines and sharing men, boys and girls on who we are, what we’re doing and what
increasingly a condition of donor funding.4 services are available. E.g. share written and verbal information
via leaflets, posters and community meetings.
What does it mean in practice? Community There is active and inclusive community engagement in all
The four guiding principles outlined on the engagement stages of the programme cycle that builds on and strengthens
previous pages underpin the core components of existing community and state structures, resources and
protection mainstreaming. Together these form capacities. E.g. use different methods, such as timelines,
the foundation for all protection work, from calendars, or mappings to engage different groups.
mainstreaming to stand alone projects. Feedback and Men, women, boys and girls are able to provide feedback and
complaints report concerns in a safe, dignified and confidential manner
mechanisms and receive an appropriate response when they do so. E.g. put
The eight core components comprise practical in place hotlines, suggestion boxes, or help desks.
actions which many teams may already be Staff conduct Staff and partners have appropriate knowledge and
following but when applied in a systematic way organisational support to conduct themselves and their work in
can help ensure the safety, dignity and access of a safe and appropriate way E.g. orient staff and volunteers on
beneficiaries. They comprise: the code of conduct on key facts about the projects.
Photo: Help desk at a food distribution Mapping/ Staff and partners have necessary knowledge and information
Referral to support communities in accessing existing services. E.g.
Components In practice this means……..
provide staff with laminated cards listing service providers.
Coordination/ Staff and partners advocate and work together with relevant
Advocacy actors to enhance the protective environment, avoid
duplication and to prevent, mitigate and respond to protection
risks. E.g. staff raise issues such as unsafe service provision with
4 responsible actors (such as the protection cluster).
See the Sphere Handbook (2011) p.31: “In order to meet the standards of this handbook, all
humanitarian agencies should be guided by the Protection Principles, even if they do not have a
distinct protection mandate or specialist capacity in protection”. See also The Centrality of Protection
in Humanitarian Action, Statement by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC) Principals,
December 2013, available at: http://www.interaction.org/document/centrality-protection-
humanitarian-action-statement-iasc

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The Protection Mainstreaming Working Group (PMWG)
CRS, Caritas Australia and CAFOD have committed to a joint initiative, the
Protection Mainstreaming Working Group (PMWG), to strengthen their own
capacity and that of their partners in order to be more strategic and consistent in
mainstreaming protection throughout emergency response and recovery
programmes. The Working Group will seek to strengthen protection
mainstreaming through:

- Building widespread commitment and providing practical support to the

implementation of protection mainstreaming;
- Developing and promoting good practice and continual learning in relation to
protection mainstreaming;
- Ensuring representation and participation within relevant international
protection fora;
- Developing strategic links with the wider Caritas network.

A collaborative approach will “add value” by increasing efficiency, standardising

terminology and approaches and sharing resources and learning. Furthermore,
working together on certain aspects of protection mainstreaming will maximise
our reach and impact, raise our profile (and thus ability to influence) in the
international arena and facilitate more effective field work with partners. The
triangle framework was developed as part of this collaborative approach.

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