For two days, the training held at the World Food Programme (WFP), Cameroon country office in Yaoundé and was a forum for implementing partners (IPs) Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) focal points to strengthen their knowledge and capacities on the processes, requirements and mechanisms necessary for successfully implementing the UN IP PSEA Capacity Assessment.
The training was in line with the UN Protocol on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). It was designed to equip participants with the necessary tools to effectively address and prevent SEA in their operations while on the field.
Seven participating organizations drawn from the North west and South West Regions (COMINSUD, CARITAS Bamenda, SHUMAS, SUDAHSER, CARITAS Kumbo, LUKMEF and CARITAS Kumba) worked and acquired skills by:
- Familiarizing themselves with the key definitions and scope of the UN protocol on Allegations of SEA involving implementing partners within the UN system,
- Understanding how the PSEA assessment process functions within WFP’s partnership management cycle,
- Developing and implementing capacity strengthening plans and
- Practicing the completion of each section of the assessment process in the UN partner portal.
During the training, WFP gender officer representing the country Director on day 1 welcomed participants and encouraged them to take the activity seriously while learning to be eyes and ears of the vulnerable populations they serve on ground. She said, focal points should report incidents as soon as they come up promising that an investigative operation will be carried out and perpetrators brought to book immediately. This is because WFP as the lead UN Agency on SEA practices Zero tolerance towards it.
Participants also learnt on the code of conduct and received encouragement to intergrade it in all projects. They carried out group works and had contact with the UN partner portal to ascertain their level of organizational upgrade on the portal.
Worthy of note, WFP takes the lead among other UN Agencies to ensure that prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse are correctly implemented within partner organizations and amongst serving communities.
At the end of the training, the country Director and gender officer appreciated all 7 WFP IPs present and encouraged them to ensure that the vulnerable have total protection and the people are safe. They appreciated their partnership and were hopeful about operationalizing a victim/survivor centered approach, promote organizational/partner exchange culture and provide/receive support for continuous capacity strengthening.
Community Initiative for Sustainable Development 