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DoNoHarmGuideforWASHProgrammes

Objective: The objective of this Guide is to support WASH Cluster agencies to implement WASH
programmesusinga"Donoharm"approach.Thatis,reducethechanceofconflictarisingfromthe new intervention. For example: poor siting of a borehole can result in violent conflicts between communities. Inthecasethatanalysisoftheprogrammeusingthisguidepointsoutasignificantpotentialincrease ofconflict,thentheprojectanditsactivitiesshouldberedesignedorevencancelled.Thefollowing steps,alongwiththeattachedchecklist,shouldbeusedthroughouttheWASHprogrammetolower theriskofharmingbeneficiaries.

Background
Humanitarian assistance is more and more given to meet emergency needs that, at least in part, are createdbyinsecurity,warringandbreakdowninsocialinstitutions.Somaliaisanexample. The dynamics of these complex political emergencies have been much studied and many commentators have noted that the associated, apparently mindless, violence and robbery by combatantscanbeinterpretedasrationaleconomicsurvivalbehavior.Theeconomicsofwartakemany shapes and forms including exploitation of available resources. This can include harvesting minerals, loggingvaluablehardwoods,smugglingnarcoticsandtraffickingeconomicmigrants. Itbecameevidenttohumanitarianworkersthatinternationalaidwasseenas,andbeingexploitedas, yet another resource available to the warring parties. Experiences in countries such as Somalia in the early nineties where agencies paid huge sums of money for protection to various warlords and had enormousquantitiesofgoodsstolenfocusedthemindoftheagenciesontheinteractionbetweenaid andconflict. Experiencesalsoshowthatevenwellintendedprojectscanalsohaveanegativeimpactandexacerbate conflict.Inresponsetotherealizationthataidalwaysinteractswiththedynamicsofthesocietywhereit isgiven,manyaidworkerstriedtoidentifyhowandifthisinteractioncouldtendtothebeneficialrather thanthedetrimental. ItisonthisbasisthatDoNoHarmapproachisproposedtobeintroducedtotheSomaliorganizations implementingemergencyprogramssuchasWASH.

Technical input from: Centre for Peace and Democracy

Last update: 7 September 2011

DoNoHarmMethodology
STEP1:Understandthecontextofconflict

1. IdentifythegeographicalandsocialenvironmentwhereyouarerunningtheWASHprogramme. 2. Thinkcritically,analyticallyandavoidassumptions. 3. Identify which intergroup conflicts have caused violence or are dangerous and may escalate into violence. 4. HowdoestheWASHprojectrelatetothatcontextofconflict? STEP2:Analyzeidentifyandunpackthepeoplewhocreatedivisionandproblemsinthelocalarea (dividers)andsourcesoftension STEP 3: Analyze identify and unpack people who create connections and resolve problems in the localarea(connectors)andlocalcapacitiesforpeace STEP4:Analyzeidentifyandunpacktheassistanceproject

Analyze the details of the WASH programme. Remember: it is never an entire programme that goes wrong.Itisthedetailsthatdetermineimpact. STEP5:AnalyzetheimpactoftheassistanceprogrammeinthecontextofconflictthroughResource TransfersandImplicitEthicalMessages(IEMs)

1. HowdotheresourcestransferredbytheWASHprogrammeimpactondividers/sourcesoftension? 2. HowdotheresourcestransferredbytheWASHprogrammeimpactonconnectors/localcapacitiesof peace? 3. HowdotheIEMspassedbyprogrammepersonnelimpactondividers/sourcesoftension? 4. HowdotheIEMspassedbyprogrammepersonnelimpactonconnectors/localcapacitiesforPeace? STEP6:Generateprogrammingoptions

IF an element of the WASH programme has a negative impact on dividers strengthening/reinforcing themandfeedingintosourcesoftension Or IFanelementoftheWASHprogrammehasanegativeimpactonconnectorsweakening/undermining themandlocalcapacitiesforpeace THEN generate as many options as possible for the programme to weaken dividers and strengthen connectors. STEP7:Testoptionsandredesignprogramme

Testtheoptionsgeneratedusingyourexperienceandtheexperiencesofyourcolleagues: 1. Whatistheprobable/potentialimpactoftheoptionondividers/sourcesoftension? 2. Whatistheprobable/potentialimpactoftheoptiononconnectorsorlocalcapacitiesforpeace? FinallyUsethebest/optimaloptionstoredesigntheproject.

Technical input from: Centre for Peace and Democracy Last update: 7 September 2011

DoNoHarmChecklist
Toavoidharmfulsideeffectswhenassistingthecivilianpopulation,askthefollowingquestionsbefore, during,andafteryoubegin: 1.ImpactsonOtherCommunities a) Howistherelationshipbetweenthepeopleweareassistingandtheirneighbours? b) Willourassistancemakethoserelationsbetterorworse?Ifitwillmakerelationsworse,howcould thingsbedonedifferently? c) Haveyouconsideredtheneeds,preferencesorprioritiesofneighbouringcommunities? d) Haveyouconsideredtherealorpotentialnegativeeffectsofthisactivityonothercommunities? e) Will this activity avoid making tensions between people and communities worse? Will it help to supportanyconnectionsbetweenthem? 2.EffectsofResourcesonPerceptionsandRelationships a) Isanyonealreadydoingsomethingsimilarhere,ornearby? b) Have you considered sources of harmful competition, suspicion, jealousy, or biases within and betweenthecommunitiesintheareawhereyouareworking? c) Willthisactivityavoidcreatingorworseningharmfulcompetition,suspicion,jealousy,orbiases? d) Aretherewaysthisactivitycanreduceharmfulcompetition,suspicion,jealousy,orbiases? e) Aretheresourcesweareprovidingatanyriskfromtheft,diversion,corruption,arbitrarytaxation,or employmentformilitarypurposes? f) Will this activity increase harmful competition, suspicion, jealousies or biases within or between communities? 3. Reactions a) Does this activity model or promote tolerance or intolerance? Acceptance or rejection of differences?Inclusivenessorexclusiveness?Competitionorcooperation?Fairnessorunfairness? b) Willthisactivityprovokeanyone?Willitreinforceanypreexistingdivisionsbetweenpeopleortheir communities? 4. RiskofViolence a) Haveyouassessedtherisksofviolenceintheplaceoftheplannedactivityandinsurroundingareas? b) Doesthisactivityavoidplacingpeopleandcommunitiesat(more)riskofviolence? c) Doesthisactivityreducethevulnerabilityofpeopleandcommunitiestoviolence? 5.LongTermEffects a) Isthisactivityconnectingcommunitiesordividingthem? b) Whatarethelongtermconsequencesonintercommunalrelationsofdoingthisactivitythisway? c) Arewedoingsomethingthatthepeopleorcommunitycoulddothemselves? d) Areweprovidingaparallelorduplicatefacilityorservicewherenoneisneeded? e) Areweinvolvingorthecommunityinthedecisionsthataffectthem? f) Howlongwilltheeffectsofthisactivitylast,oncewearegone?
Technical input from: Centre for Peace and Democracy Last update: 7 September 2011