SEHATI Project Orientation Workshop: Improving the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Disaster Management

On 19-20 November 2024, YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) held an Initial Orientation Workshop for the Project Team of "Strengthening Inclusion in Humanitarian Action Through Cluster Mechanism" (SEHATI). The workshop was attended by YEU Management and Project Team, administrators of the Indonesian Disaster Management Society (MPBI) and CBM Global who support this project.

This project was initiated following discussions with the Organisation for Persons with Disabilities (OPDis) and sub-cluster members in April 2024, which identified three priority challenges faced by the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, and Other High-Risk Groups (LDR) sub-cluster, namely:

1. The involvement of persons with disabilities in disaster management requires a shared understanding among humanitarian actors, government agencies, and other high-risk groups.
2. The involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities, women with and without disabilities, and other high-risk groups in disaster management remains minimal due to limited awareness, capacity and priorities. This has led to a capacity gap between organisations of persons with disabilities and humanitarian actors.
3. The LDR sub-cluster lacks effective coordination and leadership.

To overcome these challenges, YEU and MPBI formed a consortium with CBM Global to facilitate coordination among the sub-clusters that will be involved as partners and networks in the implementation of the SEHATI project.

The agenda for the two-day workshop focused on presentations on project implementation and discussions. The first day consisted of presentations on the following topics:

1. Project Team Structure, Duties and Authorities, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Human Resources, Safety and Security Guidelines, YEU Employment Policies specific to project requirements and collaboration within the consortium. Roles and functions of YEU Training.
2. Project Design Presentation (Theory of Change); logical framework, work plan including the Q4 2024 activity schedule, actor and network mapping, risk register and agreeing on coordination mechanisms within the consortium and with project participants.
3. Presentation of Global CBM Policy; principles of partnership, ICT, accessibility, CBM compliance.

On the second day, the discussion continued with the following topics:

1. MEAL Framework CBM: It is explained that this project is divided into three phases with the goal of creating an inclusive society where persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other high-risk groups live with dignity and demonstrate resilience in the face of disasters.
2. Narrative Reporting: this includes the reporting schedule, report templates and database, branding and visibility, and publication and documentation products. In the reporting mechanism, it has also been agreed that YEU, as the team leader of this project is responsible for compiling reports from both YEU and MPBI;
3. Presentation of the budget and financial and logistical administration; and
4. Follow-up Plan: agree on several matters such as a platform for a complaint mechanism that is accessible to all, the target number to be achieved in the first phase, the SADDD format to be adjusted during project implementation, the designation of beneficiaries as programme participants, and the attendance list format referring to the six questions from the Washington Group Question.