NRC Annual Report 2010

Annual Report 2010

2 Annual Report 2010Norwegian Refugee Council

CONTENTMESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL P 3

PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES P 5

EMERGENCY STANDBY ROSTERS P 31

ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION P 36

THE 2010 NRK TELETHON P 44

FINANCIAL STATEMENT P 49

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When people are forcefully displaced they often lose everything: their homes and social networks, their jobs and incomes, access to health care and education. They are robbed of the basic building blocks of life, placing them in a vulnerable situation where they are at risk.

International protection exists for people who flee across borders, but it can be more challenging to secure protection for those displaced within their own countries. IDPs depend on their governments for protection, a duty many governments are either unwilling or unable to fulfil.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) supports more than three million IDPs and

refugees in more than 20 countries, by providing humanitarian assistance and protection – often in challenging surroundings.

NRC also engages with local, national and international bodies, bringing the plight of the displaced to the attention of those who have the power to protect them.

In addition, NRC contributes towards finding durable solutions for these populations and to strengthening the ability of the United Nations (UN) to act swiftly and efficiently in humanitarian crises.

This Annual Report outlines the main NRC activities in 2010.

AFGHANISTAN, 2010: An NRC vehicle in the rugged landscape of Afghanistan – where NRC has had programme activities since 2003.

THE NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL At the beginning of 2010, there were 43.2 million people displaced throughout the world. Nearly two thirds were internally displaced in their own countries.

3Norwegian Refugee Council

A record high number of people internally displaced by conflict – that was the sad truth at the end of 2010. More than 43 million people have been forced to flee because of war and grave human rights violations. Of those, 27.5 million people are internally displaced – the highest number recorded in a decade. The increase is primarily a consequence of new displacement in long standing conflicts, such as in Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Increasingly, new displacement is also being triggered by armed violence related to drug and gang violence, such as in Colombia and Mexico. The lack of durable solutions remains a constant challenge. In the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab in Kenya, more than 300,000 refugees from Somalia remain stuck. Many do not see return as a durable solution, as

the conflict is entering its 20th year, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. In many displacement situations, more effort should be put into local integration. The principle of burden sharing is often ignored in our part of the world, as Norwegian and European refugee and asylum policies becomes ever more restrictive – increasingly compromising international law.

In Gaza, I witnessed the protracted situation for one million refugees suffering from a man-made dignity crisis. The blockade continues to prevent people from exercising their freedom of movement and gaining access to humanitarian assistance. NRC, as shelter sector lead, is not able to import as much as a brick or a nail to rebuild houses destroyed by war. On my mission to Southern Sudan, I observed how colleagues were dealing with access impediments, which include armed fighting and lack of basic infra-structure, such as roads. Sudan is housing one of the largest IDP populations in the world – with up to 5.2 million people displaced – and new displacement is ongoing in the South and in Darfur. The country reached an important cross roads in 2010, with the long awaited referendum on secession between the North and the South coming up in January 2011.

NRC opened new missions in Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe and the Philippines, and saw an overall increase in programme activity in our portfolio. The only country NRC exited from in 2010 was Timor Leste. NRC’s advocacy efforts on increased humanitarian access and other

prioritized issues, were further strengthened and reached larger audiences in the field as well as in the capitals. The NRC Emergency Roster is the most frequently used roster in the world, and secondments reached all-time high in 2010, with almost 2,000 man-months in the field. Internally, NRC experienced a great motivational boost when preparing for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s Telethon. Through our collaborative efforts in the field and head office, we managed to break previous records, raising 209 million NOK in support of NRC’s work. These funds will be instrumental in supporting our independent response to the needs of refugees and IDPs in the next five years.

For the first time in its 64 year history, NRC topped the one billion NOK budget mark. Recognizing NRC’s ability to deliver, the EU, as well as both the Swedish and the British governments, are increasing its funding to NRC – at a time when many institutional donors are cutting aid budgets. In the coming years, NRC will focus on further strengthening the quality, efficiency and accountability of its response. As Secretary General, I want to make sure that NRC’s beneficiaries receive the maxi-mum benefit from every dollar spent.

NRC is concerned about the global trend of increased politicization of aid that puts pres-sure on humanitarian space. Donor attention is increasingly guided by political motives, rather than people’s needs. In some countries, our

Message from the Secretary General

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ELISABETH RASMUSSON has been Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council since 14 January 2008. She has a degree in Political Science from the University of Oslo and has had a long career in international humanitarian work. She has previously been Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Field Coordinator for the UN in Angola and Cooperation Coordi-nator for the International Red Cross in Colombia. She also headed the NRC office in Geneva, hosting the leading international database for Internally Displaced Persons (IDMC). Rasmusson joined NRC from her position as Senior Adviser to the UN Deputy Emergency Coordinator at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Annual Report 2010

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, APRIL 2010:Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson in Gaza in 2010, visiting a mother of seven, who witnessed her husband and son being shot and killed when Israeli forces demolished their house in 2008.

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COMPLEX CHALLENGES – STEADY COURSE


Message from the Secretary General

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PAKISTAN, AUGUST 2010: Secretary General

Elisabeth Rasmusson meeting people displaced

by the massive 2010 floods in Pakistan, who receive assistance from

NRC. Increased access to protection and assistancefor people affected by displacement hasbeen a global NRC priority since 2009.

SUDAN, JUNE 2010: Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson visits a NRC teacher training programme in Southern Sudan. Country Director Julie McKay is standing to her left.

ability to deliver independent humanitarian aid is hampered by military considerations and national legislation targeting NGOs. Another trend, which is cause for concern, is anti-terrorist legislation that in effect criminalizes parts of humanitarian operations. Through advocacy activities, NRC contributes to raising critical awareness of this and other issues that are challenging the implementation of aid in accord-ance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, independence, neutrality and impartiality.

Increased access to protection and assistance for people affected by displacement has been a global NRC priority since 2009. All parts of NRC fundraising, media, logistics, administration, human resources and even the rosters are focusing on how to contribute to reaching this goal. NRC’s capacity in emergencies is increas-ingly a key priority. Following the controversial presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire in November, tens of thousands of refugees fled to Liberia. NRC had substantially reduced its programme in Liberia and planned to exit in the near future, but quickly shifted gear and mobilized a large-scale response. Moreover, NRC took on the responsibility for a number of sectors upon request from the UN. In Côte d’Ivoire, we were strongly reminded of the vulnerabilities of our national colleagues, who were also affected by the quickly escalating conflict.

In 2010, climate related disasters continued to cause mass displacement. Such disasters are happening more frequently, also in areas already affected by conflict. This brings new

programme challenges, as the general population in conflict areas is more vulnerable to crises, whilst authorities are less able to mitigate the negative impacts. NRC responded to the massive floods in Colombia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The latter experienced the worst flooding in its history, and the people will struggle with unmet recovery needs for many years to come. 20 million people were displaced when their homes and livelihoods were wiped out. NRC immediately responded by distributing tents and relief items in the North Western province, where we have been working for years. Thousands of Afghan refugees, who once again lost everything when their camps were washed away, received particular attention by NRC.

The Pakistan flooding illustrated the impor-tance of a targeted response, tailored to the special needs of girls and boys, men and women. NRC continued to put gender mainstreaming on the agenda in numerous national and inter-national fora, with particular focus on the critical situation for displaced children and women. Through all our efforts across the world, NRC remains committed to critically assess its actions and pushing forward to help those who need us the most.


Programme Activities

Programme activities represent the heart of NRC. Despite increasing difficulties in accessing people in need in many countries, NRC maintains a high level of activities under challenging conditions. The organisation continuously secures and enhances access on the ground by combining acceptance strategies with non-intrusive security measures.

NRC specialises in five core activities:

Camp managementMillions of the displaced live in camps. NRC supports camp management in several coun-tries, providing assistance and protection to the displaced and ensuring efficient management through close coordination with a wide range of stakeholders. NRC is an active part of the global Camp Coordination and Camp Manage-ment Cluster (CCCM). NRC also provides camp management training and coaching through an international roster, as well as camp monitoring.

Food security and distributionNRC distributes food and non-food items (such as kitchen, hygiene and seed sets) and runs or monitors feeding programmes in schools. NRC’s programme activities addresses food insecurity, i.e. by providing assistance to restore or develop new livelihoods.

Shelter – reconstructing homes and schoolsNRC provides displaced populations with transi-tional shelters in camps or other temporary living quarters. An equally important part of the shelter strategy is providing long-term solutions. NRC constructs and repairs permanent housing for the displaced when integrating locally or when returning home. NRC also constructs and recon-structs schools and related infrastructure.

EducationThrough a variety of education modules, NRC targets children and adolescents whose education has been disrupted by displacement. “Catch-up” classes help children and adolescents transfer into local schools. Where there are no schools, Accele rated Learning Programmes allow children and adolescents to complete basic education in half the normal time. A one-year Youth Education Pack offers literacy, life skills and vocational training to improve the self-reliance of young people.

Information, Counselling and Legal AssistanceNRC’s Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) activities are designed to assist IDPs, refugees and returnees in making free and informed decisions about their future. ICLA activities focus particularly on housing, land and property rights and legal identity.

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DRC, 2008: Internally displaced children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

NRC provides assistance and protection to internally displaced people (IDPs), refugees and returnees in Africa, South-America, Asia, The Middle East and The Caucasus. In 2010, the organisation had programme activities in 21 countries.

NRC IN THE FIELD

6Norwegian Refugee Council Annual Report 2010


Annual Report 2010

In 2010, NRC and the Geneva-based Shelter Centre launched the Urban Shelter Guidelines in response to increasing displace ment to urban areas.

An increasing number of displaced people are seeking protection and shelter in urban areas – challenging the humanitarian response. This fact was put firmly on the international humanitarian agenda in 2009, with the creation of an Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force on Meeting Humanitarian Challenges in Urban Areas. The NRC/Shelter Centre guidelines were developed based on the strategic recommendations of the IASC Task Force – which ended in November 2010 and where NRC was an active participant.

OCHA, World Vision, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Practical Action, Habitat for Humanity and Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development (Skat) were partners in the guideline project. The guide-lines represent a vital tool for humani-tarian organisations to adjust their assistance methods in order to better manage displacement to urban areas.

Within NRC the guidelines have already been put to the test within programme planning in countries such as Liberia, Iraq and Lebanon. Among the specific urban challenges is the fact that, in city settings, humanitarian relief efforts happen within existing legal and administrative frameworks. Whereas in traditional displacement

settings, shelters and camps are set up in remote areas where there are no existing structures. It is also a matter of assisting IDPs in accessing existing structures, for instance within education and employment. Another example, is the need for a different approach to constructing shelters. In urban slum areas there is often no room for new shelters and property tenure challenges are different. Most importantly, it is a huge challenge simply to identify the displaced. They are often more absorbed in the host community than displaced people in rural areas. The question of how to deal with host populations, that might have similar needs to the displaced and are directly or indirectly affected by the displace-ment situation, is challenging humani-tarian agencies to redefine its target groups and assistance methods.

The guidelines were finalized and launched at the Global Shelter meeting in Geneva in December 2010. In 2011, the first experience-based assessments on how the guidelines actually work will be available. NRC is constantly monitor-ing and developing the urban response within its own programme activities, and continues to contribute to international efforts to develop efficient policies and guidelines.

BURUNDI, NOVEMBER 2008: The UNHCR is using a biometric system to register refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as urban refugees in Bujumbura.

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AN INFORMED URBAN RESPONSE



Struggle for resources is at the core of many modern conflicts that cause displacement. Elites, ethnic groups, faith based groups, or even nations, fight to control resources such as water, minerals and territory. In the wake of the bigger issues, smaller scale conflicts over resources take place among individuals – involving housing and land.

Settling housing, land and property (HLP) issues is central during all phases of displacement and crucial for any form of durable solution to be reached. Since 1996, NRC has been addressing the HLP-related needs of its beneficiaries through its shel-ter and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programmes, and is now a leading NGO on the issue. However, NRC believes there is a need to institutionalize and transfer its knowledge, and the organisation has initiated a number of activities to achieve this in 2010.

With funding from ECHO, and in cooperation with other humanitarian actors, NRC is developing training modules on housing, land and property issues in humanitarian contexts. The aim is to improve the capacity of humanitarian actors, so they can integrate these issues in their pro-

gramming. The modules are generic and easily adaptable to different contexts. During 2010 and 2011, the modules are being piloted in Sudan, Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, DR Congo and Geneva.

NRC has also embarked on develop-ing standard guidelines for addressing housing, land and property disputes in contexts of legal pluralism. Disputes are common when the population is displaced in large numbers – either between displaced persons and their host communities, or in return phases, between returnees and the occupants of their land and houses. Yet, in most contexts, the conflict has eroded, if not completely destroyed, existing social and legal mechanisms to manage the disputes. NRC country programmes have developed a number of approaches to address that problem. These approaches are country based and there is a dire need to standardize approaches in order to benchmark processes and results across different contexts. The standard guidelines will draw from the practice developed by ICLA programmes in Sudan, Afghanistan, DR Congo and Liberia. The project is funded by NORAD and will be concluded in July 2011.

A SECOND CHANCENRC puts youth at the forefront of its education assistance.

In many conflict-affected countries more than 60 % of the population is under the age of 25, yet little humanitarian assistance targets youth. The young living in conflict- affected countries are at grave risk of being recruited to military groups and exposed to sexual violence and exploitation. And they often loose out on their right to education, which makes finding gainful employment difficult.

Providing basic education opportu-nities for youth who never went to

school is therefore a key component of the NRC education response strategy. The Youth Education Pack (YEP) aims to equip young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance protection, improve their livelihoods and help them become productive members of their communi-ties. Through a one-year programme, YEP learners are taught how to read and write, as well as a marketable basic vocational skill. They are also trained in life skills such as health, conflict management and gender.

YEP gives youth a chance to become productive members of their societies, which is essential for peace and security in their communities.

In 2010, NRC ran nearly 50 YEP centres in nine countries and more than 4,000 youth benefited from the YEP programme. NRC also made preparations to start up YEP in two new countries, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The YEP programme in East Timor phased out and NRC’s five YEP centres were handed over to the Timorese government.

DRC, FEBRUARY 2011: YEP learners practising their skills at the foot of the Rwenzori mountains.

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MY LAND OR YOUR LAND? NRC has a leading role in the international efforts to address housing, land and property issues affecting displaced people.



Increasingly, the use of cash and vouchers in emergency response is accepted by the humanitarian com-munity as a standard intervention, and as superior or complementary to more traditional activities, such as distribution of food or non-food items. The evidence on the utility and impact of cash transfer and voucher programmes (CTP) is growing – indicating positive impact and acceptability for recipients, local markets and social recovery, as well as possible increase in efficiency and coordination of programmes. The evidence is overwhelming, and cash and vouchers are now fast approaching a tipping point where they will become a standard element of humanitarian response across different sectors.

In 2010, NRC provided flexible and innovative cash and voucher support to displaced people in Iraq, Somalia, Uganda, The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. Such support allows the beneficiaries to choose what they want to use the assistance for, and it boosts local production through creating local markets for crops and services. The cash and voucher ap-proach is mainly supporting food secu-rity and livelihood efforts. However, NRC has a broader approach and is us-ing cash and vouchers across its activi-ties to include access to education and

shelter, as well as food security and income generating activities for young people. The programme portfolio is only set to grow, and the approach offers exciting opportunities for tailoring programmes to meet the context- specific needs of people in urban environments as well as rural settings.

Despite the new interest, donor support for cash and voucher program-ming – as well as NGO capacity to design and implement such programmes – still lags behind the evidence. NRC is one of five agencies in the steering committee of the global Cash Learning Partnership (CALP). The CALP aims to ensure that cash and vouchers is a viable and accountable tool for humanitarian programming by promoting learning, coordination and capacity development within the humanitarian community. The CALP manages a global platform for information and training and has established coordina-tion and training platforms in five focal countries (Niger, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Pakistan, Philippines). In May 2011, NRC will host a training and aware-ness event on the issue in Oslo in co-operation with the government, target-ing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and Norwegian NGOs.

CASH AND VOUCHERS – IS IT “THE NEW THING”?In 2010, NRC incorporated cash and voucher approaches in five countries.

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The flood response in Pakistan during the summer of 2010 is an example of a gender-sensitive approach. NRC realized that due to the conser-vative Pashtu culture and the impor-tance of privacy for women, NRC’s emergency shelter assistance needed to be adjusted. Hence, in addition to providing a tent and

shade netting to reduce the temper-ature in the tent, plastic sheeting was provided to build fences around the tents. This way the female flood victims could move around more freely. For widows or women who were not able to collect the tents at the distribution points, the shelter kits were brought to them. The

non-food items distributed included headscarves.

An integrated gender focus in all programming does not, however, entail merely an approach sensitive to women’s needs. It entails being sensitive to the different needs, resources and risk factors of both genders.

GENDER IS ALWAYS AN ISSUEIn recognition of the fact that differences in resources, needs and exposure to risks are often gender-based, NRC actively designs gender-sensitive programmes.

LIBERIA, NOVEMBER 2010: 20 men are gathered in the community building in the Kakata village, outside the capital Monrovia in Liberia, to learn about women’s rights. They are part of the NRC initiative Wise Men, aimed at educating men on women’s rights and gender based violence.

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lenna Gordon



In December 2010, the UN food price index reached its highest peak ever. The high levels and volatility of food prices are predicted to continue until 2015. Food prices are intimately related to good harvests in key producer countries, as well as to global oil prices – affecting fertiliser and food transport costs. Recent harvests have not been as good as hoped and oil prices are soaring. Millions of people have already been pushed into poverty by the prevailing situation.

As food prices rise, more people switch to cheaper foods – which means cheap foods have the highest increases in prices. The poorest face the most significant change in overall ability to produce and procure enough food. Refugees and IDPs are perhaps the most dramatically affected by increasing food prices. They have left their homes and already have fewer assets and fewer opportunities. They are totally dependent on local host communities, the market (for jobs)

and international aid. As food prices increase, job opportunities decrease and wages fall even faster – hampering the ability of the displaced to be self-sufficient and contribute to the host community.

This is why NRC in 2010 made ex-panding and enhancing core activities within food security and livelihood support and development a priority for the next five years.

In 2010, NRC carried out a range of innovative projects aimed at expanding the ability of refugees, IDPs and host communities to make a living and feed their families. Some of these programmes focused on ensuring families had immediate access to food in the middle of a new crisis – such as for Ivorian refugees in Liberia. In countries such as Somalia and Iraq, NRC tried to expand the economic opportunities and ability of refugees or IDPs to cope in longer-term displacement situations. NRC was also involved in identifying

durable solutions and facilitating the return to a normal life in Afghanistan, South Sudan, Uganda and DR Congo – through a combination of protecting the poorest, whilst trying to create new opportunities for families, by enabling them to produce more and get more value from their efforts through better access to markets.

Through such programmes, NRC seeks to promote a reasonable life and to prevent malnutrition and excessive mortality rates. In addition, NRC tries to promote the contributions that the displaced can make to host societies and economies – enhancing opportunity, lessening misery and promoting inter-communal harmony and innovation.

PROMOTING FOOD SECURITYHow to protect displaced people from the effects of skyrocketing food prices has become a major issue for NRC in 2010.

SUDAN, 2010: Conflict and displacement has been closely linked with food insecurity in South Sudan, and securing food supplies will be vital when it becomes an independent state in July 2011.

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FH programland

FH beredskapstyrker

FH programland med FH beredskapstyrker

NRC AT WORKIn 2010, NRC worked in 21 countries across the globe.

Colombia

Cote d’IvoireLiberia

Burundi

Uganda

Sudan

IraqLebanon

Georgia

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Myanmar

Philippines

Timor Leste

Sri Lanka

Kyrgyzstan

Kenya

Zimbabwe

Somalia

Democratic Republic of Kongo (DRC)



11 Annual Report 201011

In 2010, Burundi continued on its path towards peace consolidation with its second round of democratic elections in the post-conflict period.

BURUNDI

BURUNDI, MAY 2010: NRC has particular focus on handicapped youth in the Burundi educational programmes.

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The elections started with peaceful municipal elections in May 2010 and were viewed by the international community have been fair. However, opposition parties alleged widespread fraud and subsequently boycotted the presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Violence in Bujumbura and major urban centres subsequently broke out for the next round of elec-tions. The ruling party (CNDD-FDD) won the rest of the elections in a land-slide. Only two other parties participated in the ensuing elections, winning some seats in the parliament. Leaders of the main opposition parties fled Burundi. Following the elections, human rights organisations have reported a series of human rights abuses and, in particular, politically motivated arrests, detentions and extra-judicial killings. To add to an already fragile post-conflict period, 2010 also saw the end of the UN Integrated Mission in Burundi, to be replaced in 2011 by a significantly reduced UN office (BNUB).

NRC established programme activities in Burundi in 1997. The country office is in Bujumbura, and the field offices in Muyinga, Makamba and Ruyigi. NRC is engaged in all core activities in Burundi, except food distribution. The overall

objective is to promote and protect the basic rights of returnees, IDPs and refugees, and to facilitate voluntary return and reintegration as durable solutions – particularly by focusing on the most recent and the most vulnerable returnees and IDPs. Shelter contributed to the overall programme objective of supporting durable solutions by r einforcing the right to education. This was done, by allowing more children, including returnees, to have physical access to schools. The Shelter Pro-gramme constructed permanent classrooms in five provinces, benefiting at least 7,000 pupils, either by attending Teacher Emergency Programme (TEP) courses (catch-up classes) or reintegrating into the formal school system. The shelter programme also provided drains and an anti-erosion programme in one refugee camp. To promote reforestation, parents in targeted schools received tree seedlings.

The education programme responded to protection needs by ensuring access to education and access to a livelihood for young people, through the Youth Education Pack (YEP). In relation to durable solutions, access to primary education is important in the fight against discrimination and social

exclusion. NRC’s vocational training also meant that returning refugees had more opportunities to earn an income and become less dependent on agri-cultural activities as the only livelihood opportunity.

With the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and UNHCR at the end of 2009, 2010 saw the first voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees. NRC participated in cross-border technical meetings focusing on protection and education issues. However, only a few hundred returned, as high insecurity remains in DRC. NRC continued its work in managing three refugee camps in close collaboration with UNHCR in 2010.

NRC Burundi’s Information, Counsel-ling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme responded to protection concerns regarding the non-restitution of property following return. The ICLA programme also reinforced the bene-ficiaries’ knowledge of human rights. The work in relation to land also sup-ported durable solutions, as it is closely linked both with physical return, recon-ciliation (through mediation) and socio-economic reintegration.

Norwegian Refugee Council Annual Report 2010


CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Internal armed conflict broke out in Côte d’Ivoire in 2002 and the country was split between a government con-trolled south and a rebel-controlled north. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced, including civil servants working in the north, and indigenous and migrant communities from the western parts of the country. Fighting ended in 2007 with the signing of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement. Elections, which have been continuously postponed since 2007, finally took place at the end of 2010 – causing new political unrest. Incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo is in a power struggle with rival Alassane Ouattara. They both claimed victory in the 28 November poll that was meant to reunite the country after the civil war, but which has, instead, deepened divisions and triggered more violence. The result was renewed displacement, both internally and to neighbouring countries, mainly to Liberia.

NRC has had a presence in Côte d’Ivoire since 2006, with a country office in Abidjan and field offices in Bouaké (Centre-North) and Duékoué (West). In 2010, core activities included Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programmes,

education, shelter (school rehabilitation) and food security, but activities were reduced during the year. The Food Securitys Programme was faced out in February and Shelter ended in May. Due to post-electoral insecurity, all NRC field activities were suspended from the November poll until the end of the year.

The ICLA programme shifted its main focus from assisting displaced people in obtaining identity documents, to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) of land conflicts in the West in 2010. Main activities included sensiti-zation and training of authorities and community leaders on civil rights and civil status, and on ADR through inter-active theatre, in addition to providing direct assistance to rural communities in peaceful resolution of land conflicts.

A study on cultural and administrative barriers facing Ivorian rural populations in obtaining legal identity documents – which began at the end of 2009 – was finalized and the report was launched in May. However, possible follow-up projects addressing some of the recommendations were never realized because of the post-electoral unrest.

The ICLA programme continued to

support the education programme by assisting school children to obtain birth certificates that are essential for signing up for final exams. Catch-up classes enabling children to integrate into formal schools were finalized in July. Support was given to community schools targeting children in remote areas with no access to formal edu-cation. NRC kept on advocating for these schools to become formalized by the Ministry of Education and become

part of the official school map.Due to the continued trend in Côte

d’Ivoire, with a shift from humanitarian interventions to transitional and/or development support in the first part of 2010, it became increasingly difficult to obtain sufficient funding. In addition, the situation of NRC beneficiaries had considerably improved. Therefore, NRC had decided to phase out operations by the end of 2011. However, with the new political crisis and displacements,

prospects for the country are not bright, and the future of NRC in Côte d’Ivoire will depend on the development of the situation.

CÔTE D’IVOIRE, FEBRUARY 2011: The Abobo suburb of northern Abidjan has been the centre of intense fighting between forces loyal to the rival candidates in November’s presidential election. These people carry their belongings as they leave the beleaguered district.

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The post-electoral crisis in 2010 resulted in violence, new displacements and a deterioration of the humanitarian situation.



Throughout 2010, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remained unstable, plagued by an array of armed groups: foreign armed groups, local militias, and a largely undisciplined national army – often forming temporary, opportunistic alliances.

The signing of the tripartite agreement between Rwanda, DRC and UNHCR in Kigali in February 2010, designed to facilitate the return of more than 50,000 Congolese refugees living in Rwanda, was an important political achieve-ment. However, unless this process is properly managed, the humanitarian consequences can be grave.

The peacekeeping mandate for MONUC was renegotiated in May 2010. The now called MONUSCO has a stronger focus on protection of civilians and the consolidation of rule of law. However, MONUSCO continues to support the government’s military operation against rebel groups in North and South Kivu. Human rights violations and abuses against civilians, committed by both rebel groups and armed governmental soldiers, is an ongoing cause for concern.

NRC has been present in DRC since 2001, with a national office in Goma and field offices in Bukavu, Baraka and Beni. NRC also has a liaison office in Kin-

shasa. In 2010 NRC, implemented all five core activities, responding to human-itarian needs in both displacement and return areas. Through NRC’s Rapid Response to Movement of Populations (RRMP), both IDPs and returnees were targeted with a multi-sectored approach. NRC has, in partnership with UNICEF, distributed non-food-items, constructed schools, improved the quality of public education and provided opportunities for children and young people to attend school and thereby improving their protection.

NRC also constructed houses for returning refugees and the local popu-lation in North and South Kivu. NRC provided Camp Management in five camps in Masisi and one outside Goma. NRC coordinated humanitarian assistance in the camps. Also, in 2010, the Camp Management programme in-itiated return and protection monitoring to have a better understanding of the patterns of movement, causes of dis-placement and factors preventing return.

Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) activities continued to be implemented in North and South Kivu, focusing on finding durable solutions to housing, land and property (HLP) problems. This work was done through local Commissions,

made up of representatives of the local community, to facilitate alternative methods for dispute resolution where the formal judicial system is absent. In addition, the ICLA programme did radio broadcasts and information campaigns focusing on HLP, as well as training and seminars for local authorities.

The Emergency Food Security & Distribution (EFSD) programme distributed food to large numbers of IDPs in North and South Kivu. Also, school meals were distributed to

students, all in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). In South Kivu, innovative fish farming projects were implemented along traditional methods to provide food and livelihood opportunities for IDPs and returnees. Beneficiaries were also provided with farming tools and assistance in order to recover their livelihood.

NRC has, in collaboration with UNHCR, implemented protection monitoring in North Kivu since 2007, identifying, reporting and following up

on protection concerns in areas where military operations were planned or are ongoing. The Protection Monitoring programme ended in 2010, but will continue to be implemented through local Congolese NGOs trained by NRC.

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DRC, 30 APRIL 2010: The UN Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, visited Mwenga in South Kivu and the NRC food distribution activities. To his left, in an orange T-shirt: Former NRC Country Director Ulrika Mondlane.

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In 2010, NRC implemented all core activities in DRC, responding to humanitarian needs in both displacement and return areas.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

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The Somalia and Kenya programme expanded signifi-cantly in 2010, reaching more beneficiaries than ever.

SOMALIA AND KENYA

Somalia remains a state without a functioning central government, plagued by civil war and factional fighting since 1991. Somalia is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with almost 1.5 million IDPs and two million people in need of humanitarian aid.

The security situation – particularly in Mogadishu – continued to deteriorate in 2010, adding to the already dire lack of access to many of those in need, and causing increased displacement. The situation was further exacerbated by drought. On a positive note, the autonomous Somaliland region con-ducted successful presidential elec-tions, maintaining its relative stability.

NRC has been in Somalia since 2004, and is one of few organisations still able to work effectively in the country. The country programme, the largest in NRC, was geographically expanded to include the Galgaduud and Burco regions in central and east Somalia in 2010, with new field offices in Galkayio and Garowe. The country office is in Nairobi, Kenya, with additional field offices in Hargeisa in Somaliland, Bosasso in Puntland,

Mogadishu in South Central and Dadaab in Kenya.

By striking an effective balance between acceptance strategies and security measures, NRC was able to expand access in 2010, despite the deteriorating security situation. NRC is a forerunner in innovative approaches to access in Somalia and is now among the main organisations engaged on the ground. NRC is also an active member of clusters and other coordi-nating bodies. The broad presence in Somalia and Kenya enables NRC to respond quickly to changes in the humanitarian situation.

Funding increased to 168 million NOK, up from 105 million in 2009. Programme activities in Somalia in 2010 include providing shelter and sanitation, education and the distribu-tion of food and non-food items to IDPs.

NRC conducts increasingly success-ful educational projects. The basic education project, set up in 2009 in Mogadishu and the Afgooye corridor, was massively expanded, and by the end of 2010 comprised 15 learning centres (four set up in 2010 alone)

and more than 5,000 learners, who either started basic education for the first time or were able to continue the education that was interrupted by displacement. An additional five centres will be set up in 2011.

NRC also runs four youth education (YEP) centres in Somaliland, teaching basic skills to adolescents who have never attended school, as well as various basic education programmes for IDP children in Somaliland and Puntland. In addition, NRC constructs and rehabili-tates schools and trains teachers.

As a response to the massive

outflow of Somalis to Kenya, NRC is operating in the Dadaab refugee camps. In 2010, there were 65,000 new arrivals, and by the end of the year, 300,000 refugees lived in the camps – where NRC is heavily involved in camp management. Activities in 2010 include camp management training for community members. NRC is recognized as the lead agency in Dadaab for shelter and sanitation.

Education programmes are a priority also in Dadaab. NRC operates four YEP centres, where the 2009 agree-ment with Kenyan educational authori-

ties to administer examinations was put into effect in 2010. 217 learners were examined.

NRC also runs environmental pro-grammes, comprising water and seedling projects.

NRC’s strategic objective continues to be reaching more beneficiaries in targeted areas. The goal is to reach 1.5 million people by 2013, twice as many as today.

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SOMALIA, JANUARY 2011: NRC Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson visiting one of 17 schools built by NRC in Mogadishu, Somalia.



LIBERIA

Fourteen years of civil war in Liberia claimed 200,000 lives, left over a million people displaced and destroyed the country’s infrastructure and economy. Liberia has, since the 2003 peace agreement, moved towards recovery and development, but enormous challenges remain. Liberia continues to struggle with tensions related to ethnic differences, gender-based violence, land conflicts, unem-ployment, lack of education, poverty and lack of trust in the government. Although the return process of inter-nally displaced Liberians is officially completed, humanitarian needs persist and durable solutions for the returnees are yet to be consolidated.

NRC has worked in Liberia since 2003, with a country office in Monrovia, and field offices in Gbarnga, Kataka, Ganta, Sinje and Tubmanburg. The organisation provides protection and assistance to returnees in education, Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) and through a pilot project dealing with sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). Towards the end of the year, the offices in Tubmanburg and Sinje were closed down.

During the civil war, the education infrastructure in Liberia collapsed. Only one third of school aged children enrolled in primary-school in 2010, and illiteracy remains widespread. The education sector has particular difficulties in being able to respond to the needs of displaced and returning populations. In 2010, NRC facilitated access to education through the Youth Education Pack (YEP) programme and Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP). YEP assisted young people in becoming functionally literate and provided skills training. The ALP, which was phased out in 2010, has played a significant role in improving access and quality of education in the operational areas, as well as in encouraging families to return to remote communities where schools were destroyed during the conflict.

Conflicts over access to, and control of, land were key factors underpinning the civil war, and are still common throughout Liberia. In 2010, NRC actively contributed to facilitate negotiations to resolve land and property disputes between individuals and communities.

The level of violence and rape

against women remains alarmingly high, even if the nature of violence has changed. Today, intimate part-ners, rather than rebels and paramili-taries, commit sexual violence. In 2009, NRC initiated a two-year pilot project to strengthen SGBV response and prevention capacity in the Liberian judicial sector and other relevant bodies. A review of the project in 2010 indicates that all activities have been success-fully implemented.

At the end of 2010, the post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire led to an influx of Ivorian refugees in Nimba County. NRC, already present in the area, took on the responsibility of registering the first influx of refugees, in cooperation with UNHCR. As the security situation in Côte d’Ivoire has continued to deteriorate, and the number of refugees has grown, the humanitarian situation along the boarder is critical. The humanitarian community is slowly

building an emergency response. NRC will continue to assist Ivorian refugees in 2011, through protection monitoring, shelter, camp management, and distri-bution of food and non-food items.

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LIBERIA, DECEMBER 2010: NRC staff members in Liberia, Oretha Lah (green jacket) and Mariam Falika, are getting ready to assess the situation among Ivorian refugees in Nimba County – as part of the ad hoc registration team set up in December 2010.

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In 2010, NRC took a leading role in assisting the sudden influx of Ivorian refugees in Liberia, while continuing its work with Liberian returnees.



More than 20 years of civil war resulted in over two million dead, four million internally displaced, half a million living as refugees and half the population living in absolute poverty. A 2005 Peace Agreement restored relative peace. However, inter-ethnic clashes and insurgent attacks continue to kill and displace people. In 2010, more than 223,000 were displaced.

In a peaceful referendum in January 2011, the Southern Sudanese voted to secede from the North. There are many outstanding issues before the July 2011 secession, and the situation is volatile.

NRC has been in Sudan since 2004, providing protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees. From March 2009, the focus shifted exclusively to South Sudan. The country office is in Juba, with field offices in Aweil and Yei. New offices will be opened in Warrap state in 2011.

NRC is engaged in four core activi-ties: education, school construction, food security and distribution, and —Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA). In 2010, there has been particular focus on new returnees, who have significantly increased in number since November 2010.

NRC supports 40 Accelerated

Learning centres run by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and implements an English course for teachers. NRC provides teaching and learning materials, school gardens, advocacy campaigns and trains teachers, Parent Teacher Associations and MoE officials. One centre is dedicated to street children. All training includes HIV&AIDS, child rights and gender awareness. In 2011, NRC will start up Youth Education Pack and adult literacy classes in three states, with a strong focus on gender equality.

Four schools were completed and handed over to communities in May 2010. In April 2010, construction of an additional four schools began.

A food security pilot project was started in May 2010 in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NbeG) state – aiming to train female returnees on irrigated vegetable crop production through Farmer Field Schools. 600 beneficiaries (542 women) have been trained and equipped with seeds and tools in 2010. Pilot results are impressive: all beneficiaries developed their own gardens.

Food security & livelihood projects will expand into NBeG and Warrap States in 2011.

The Emergency Preparedness &

Response project is supporting flood-affected people and returnees with essential food and non-food items.

In 2010, more than 13,600 returnees received information on reintegration. This was done in 24 permanent information and counselling centres in Central Equatoria (CE) and NbeG, and 14 temporary “mobile centres” in CE. Returnees were also trained in human rights, IDP protection, land and property rights, land dispute resolution mechanisms and new land legislation.

The land and property team opened 210 new cases and resolved 95 existing cases, and also helped to facilitate 10 state land workshops. The project produced two information films on land and property rights for returnees and on the 2011 referendum – for use in community sessions both in Southern Sudan and amongst —displaced Sudanese populations elsewhere. Beneficiary numbers will increase substantially in 2011 as the project grows, including expansion into Warrap state.

As co-lead of the central Protection Cluster and lead of the NBeG Protection Cluster, NRC is closely involved in advocacy on a range of issues related to returns. NRC is active in key coor-dination mechanisms at both state and sub-national levels.

NRC will expand its activities and geographical scope significantly in 2011.

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SUDAN, 17 November 2010: Food insecurity was a major concern in South Sudan in 2010. These women received tools and seeds from NRC, in order to enable them to grow their own crops and feed their families.

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SUDANNRC expanded its activities signifi cantly in South Sudan in 2010, in the run up to the referendum.



NRC is gradually phasing out activities in Northern Uganda in the next three years, as sustainable return and resettlement is achieved.

UGANDA

Following the ceasefire agreement in 2006, Northern Uganda emerged from years of conflict. IDPs and former captives of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have returned to areas of origin or resettled elsewhere. Humanitarian emergency response has given way to recovery and development. Since the cessation of hostilities in 2006, there have been massive population move-ments from main camps to transit sites and finally to villages in Northern Uganda. By the end of 2010, an esti-mated 90 %, of IDPs had returned.

NRC has been present in Uganda since 1997, with a country office in Gulu, field offices in Kitgum, Pader and Nakivale in the South West and a liaison office in Kampala.

Despite positive trends, the situation for many displaced people is not durable. In 2011, there will still be a number of IDPs whose return is hampered by lack of access to land and the need for sup-port to farm, rebuild homes and access basic social services. Vulnerability and poverty persist, and efforts are needed to ensure that these returns are sustain-able. In the return areas, there is a

great need to reconstruct basic infra-structure, such as schools, and the coping strategies of the population have been eroded – a situation also affecting the fragile peace. Longer periods of drought, combined with shorter rainy seasons, undermine an already fragile self-reliance. LRA activities continue in countries surrounding Uganda.

IDP returns have sparked disputes over access to land across the Acholi sub-region. Those most vulnerable to inheritance, land and property rights violations are the ones with the least potential to support themselves – some of whom are still in camps. Returnees experiencing land disputes have a hard time achieving a durable solution and to engage in sustainable livelihood means. Despite the mecha-nisms available for resolving disputes, the judicial mechanisms are poorly implemented. Access to and trust in the formal system is limited.

While NRC intends to phase out operations by 2014, its strategy is to bridge the gap between humanitarian assistance and long-term development

in Northern Uganda. Traditional humanitarian assistance, such as distribution of food and non-food items, camp management, emergency education and shelter, is rapidly being scaled down or phased out. Recovery assistance, such as food security and livelihood, education, school construc-tion and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) needs to be maintained for a few more years. As one of few humanitarian agencies remaining in the North, NRC intends to continue operations in the region, focusing on effective recovery and reconstruction programming as part of its exit strategy, while still responding

to remaining humanitarian needs. NRC will maintain an emergency prepared-ness and response capacity. 2011 will be the last year of the durable solutions programme supporting construction of huts and livelihood improvement for extremely vulnerable households from former IDP camps as they return home or resettle. NRC also continues its “Food for Life” programme component, providing food assistance to 76,431 refugees and asylum seekers in settle-ments in South West Uganda.

The education programme is the backbone of the country programme and will remain so for the next few years, focusing on the implementation

of the new Accelerated Learning Programme that allows “over-aged” children and adolescents to complete basic education in half the normal time. Education will be supported by ICLA, food security and possibly by some school construction/rehabilitation activities.

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UGANDA, NOVEMBER 2010: NRC project assistant Onencan Tonny Richard, in orange T-shirt, is teaching well mainte-nance to the village water source committee in Pabbo, a return village in the Amuru district. In 2010, NRC installed 29 water points in return villages and rehabilitated 12 in former camps.



ZIMBABWE

ZIMBABWE, MARCH 2009: A woman administers a sugar solution to her child suffering from cholera, at Budiriro Polyclinic. The outbrake of cholera put yet another strain on the collapsing health system – one of many challenges faced by Zimbabwe the past decade.

A spiralling political, social and economic crisis engulfed Zimbabwe for more than a decade, resulting in a massive humanitarian crisis. The situation has stabilised over the past two years, but humanitarian needs are still dire, especially among IDPs. Return to the location from where they were dis-placed is rarely an option and IDPs need assistance to achieve durable integration or resettlement. Even though the total current number of IDPs is unknown, up to one million people have had to leave their homes for different reasons since 2000.

The expected large-scale return of Zimbabwean migrants from South Africa could also lead to increased humanitarian needs.

There are significant vulnerabilities in the food security, education and health and sanitation sectors, due to lack of infrastructure and funds.

Collaboration between the Government and humanitarian partners to address these issues is on the increase.

NRC has worked to be approved for operations in Zimbabwe since the height of the crisis in 2008. Since the official registration came through in September 2010, NRC has worked to get the country office established in Harare and prepare for the roll out of programme activities in 2011. Mainly targeting IDPs and returnees from South Africa, the main focus of the programme will be on education and food security. Field offices have been set up in Chiredzi (Masvingo) and Chipinge (Manicaland).

Programme activities will include improving access to quality basic education for displaced and vulnerable children, through the provision of teacher training, alternative basic education for out-of-school children

and youth, improvement of infrastructure and capacity building.

The food security and livelihood activities will include assisting com-munities with agricultural and live-stock production, improving access to markets and value addition, promoting community social safety nets and cash transfers, and increasing the ability to respond to hazards.

NRC will mainstream gender and protection issues throughout all programme activities, and advocate enhancing the situation of NRC’s target groups.

In time, and where relevant, pro-gramme activities will be expanded to Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) activities.

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In September 2010, NRC was formally registered by the government and could begin programme activities in Zimbabwe.



2010 was an extremely difficult year for humanitarian agencies operating in Afghanistan, due to deteriorating security.

AFGHANISTAN

In the ninth and most violent year of the international military intervention in Afghanistan, the NATO-led Interna-tional Security Assistance Force (ISAF) began formulating exit strategies. At the same time the level of violence increased substantially.

Through 30 years of conflict, three out of four Afghans have been dis-placed at some point. Displacement increased again in 2010, a trend expected to continue in 2011. Natural disasters also caused substantial displacement in 2010. The security situation severely limits access to protection for the displaced.

NRC has been present in Afghanistan since 2002, with a country office in Kabul and field offices in Herat, Bamyan, Jalalabad, Maymana, Sari Pul, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz.

As a result of the challenging opera-tional environment, NRC reviewed all protection strategies in Afghanistan in 2010 in order to increase access and enhance staff security. Programming will be adapted accordingly. Work began on a comprehensive advocacy strategy, aimed at positioning NRC as an inde-pendent humanitarian organisation. The strategy will be finalized in 2011.

In 2010, NRC has strengthened its emergency response in Afghanistan, responding to more than 20 rapid onset emergencies – induced by conflict, natural disasters and sponta-neous return. NRC specifically targeted IDPs recently displaced by conflict, as well as communities affected by rapid onset natural disaster.

Increased partnership with national NGOs was implemented in an earth-quake response in Samangan Province. With the collaboration of four local partners, NRC implemented emergency shelter activities. A small NRC satelite office was opened to support the partners.

NRC engages in four core activities in Afghanistan. An extensive shelter programme targets returnees and the vulnerable host population in the provinces of Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul and Sari Pul.

Education activities included the approval by the Norwegian Embassy of a three-year Youth Education Package (YEP) in Faryab and Nangarhar Provinces. Nine vocational centres are currently in operation. 15 education officials were trained on teaching methodology.

The Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) activities included assisting IDPs and returnees in resolving housing, land and property issues, as well as family law issues – in particular inheritance obstacles for women. In total NRC registered 2,375 legal cases in 2010. Of those, 23 % involved women.

The main objective for NRC advo-cacy in Afghanistan in 2010 was to

advocate efficiently for durable solutions and prevention of displacement.

For the first time since programme activities were set up in Afghanistan, NRC entered into national memoran-dums of understanding with government partners, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Social and Labour, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Justice. NRC signed a three-year framework agreement with the Ministry of Refugees

and Repatriation to ensure that all NRC core activities and the organisation’s presence in the country is endorsed by its main governmental partner.

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN, OCTOBER 2010: An earthquake shook the remote village of Samangan on 19 April 2010. NRC is constructing 200 earthquake-proof homes in Darwazi Bala village.

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In July and August 2010 heavy monsoon rains in northwest Pakistan caused severe flooding in the Indus Valley. More than 20 million people were affected. Many of the victims were already affected by earlier catastrophes and internal conflicts. In addition, Pakistan has one of the biggest refugee populations in the world. 1.5 million of the 1.7 million Afghan refugees live in the flood- affected areas.

NRC has had programme activities in Pakistan since 2001. Activities were previously run from the regional Afghanistan office – targeting Afghan refugees. In early 2010, NRC estab-lished an independent country pro-gramme in Pakistan with a country office in Peshawar. Activities now include Pakistani IDPs fleeing military insurgence in the border areas with Afghanistan. Numbers are unclear, but there may be more than 1.4 million people displaced by conflict.

The 2010 floods became a turning point for NRC and the country pro-gramme is now one of the most rapidly expanding within NRC. Three new field offices were opened in 2010 – in the Kohat district, and Bajaur and Mohmand in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA provinces). NRC is the first interna-

tional NGO to set up activities in FATA. NRC now works with three groups of beneficiaries: conflict IDPs, Afghan refugees and flood affectees.

For flood affectees, NRC distribut-ed tents, blankets and other necessi-ties. Because the NRC was already working in the hardest hit areas, where the floods began, it was able to respond quickly.

An extensive shelter programme was put into operation, in addition to the emergency response, providing emergency and transitional shelter, as well as contributing to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of homes and infrastructure, such as irrigation channels.

All beneficiary groups were targeted by various Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance programmes (ICLA). IDPs were assisted in obtaining new identity documents lost in the floods, but essential to receive aid, which is all controlled by Pakistani authorities.

Afghan refugees continued to receive ICLA assistance, although return has dried up considerably over the past few years. Only 54,000 Afghan returnees were registered by UNHCR in 2009, compared to 95,000 in 2010 – mainly due to insecurity in Afghanistan, military

offensives along the return route and the fact that the UNHCR’s Voluntary Repatriation Centre in Peshawar was kept closed for months due to security threats.

There are no durable solutions in sight for the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, as many are unlikely to return home and the Pakistani govern-ment refuses to let them integrate.

All existing core activities were expanded in 2010, i.e. shelter, ICLA and emergency response. In addition, education was introduced as a new

core activity in Pakistan. The goal is to rebuild schools lost in the floods, as well as in return areas, and contribute to strengthening the education sector through distributing school material and training of teachers and school administrations.

The situation in Pakistan is extremely complex with the ongoing insurgency and military actions, particularly in the volatile FATA areas. New waves of IDPs are expected in 2011 and NRC is maintaining its capacity for emergency response. Access to people in need is

hampered by security concerns and strict military control over the move-ment of humanitarian agencies. Kidnappings and bomb attacks are frequent and increasing. NRC continuously focuses on increasing humanitarian access in Pakistan.

When the 2010 floods hit Pakistan, NRC reacted quickly and expanded its relief efforts substantially in the country.

PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN, AUGUST 2010: The widows Meena (left) and Bibi are among the most vulnerable after the 2010 floods in Pakistan. They moved to a makeshift tent camp after the refugee camp where they have lived for years, was destroyed by the floods.

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In 2010, the world’s attention was drawn to the first parliamentary elections in Myanmar in 20 years. Meanwhile the humanitarian needs of populations affected by conflict and natural disaster persisted. The continued lack of donor support to humanitarian assistance delivered from inside Myanmar, due to Western sanctions, further aggravated the situation.

NRC started programme activities in Myanmar in 2008, as a response to the humanitarian crisis created by cyclone Nargis. In 2010, NRC was able to expand its operations to the South East of Myanmar, capitalizing on the good reputation of the cyclone response.

NRC has a country office in Yangon and field offices in Labutta, Moulmein and Myeik.

The Nargis responseCyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in May 2008, affecting 2.5 million people, – killing 140,000, displacing 800,000 and leaving 140,000 dead

or missing. Due to the decline in donor funding, humanitarian assistance will be required for several years to come.

Shelter:Since 2008, NRC has constructed 2,767 secure, safe and durable family shelters with cyclone-resistant features. The shelter assistance has targeted those who have not been able to reconstruct their dwellings after Nargis, as well as those who were displaced by Nargis and have been relocated to existing villages further inland. The design combines local materials and reinforced structures to improve the resistance to future natural hazards. Another 3,580 village shelters in the Delta were strengthened with diagonal wall bracing and metal cyclone strapping.

Schools:29 permanent primary schools, which also function as community cyclone shelters, have been constructed by NRC since 2008. NRC also constructed nine river jetties and 11 footbridges,

providing crucial access to markets for these communities. The construction activities are complemented by on- site training and capacity-building, to increase disaster preparedness among affected villagers.

South EastSince independence in 1948, regions of Myanmar populated by ethnic minorities have been affected by armed conflict, and the country has been subjected to military rule since 1962. In the South East, ongoing conflict has disturbed the lives of millions, resulting in over 500,000 IDPs. Today, the

State Peace and Development Council (now handing over power to an elected government) have signed ceasefire agreements with many groups. The largest, the Karen National Union, continues to clash with government forces and the area along the Thai border sees the greatest amount of conflict.

NRC focuses on providing shelter assistance to two primary caseloads of IDPs: recent conflict-displaced families and the particularly vulnerable long-term forcibly displaced. A tailored shelter design for the conditions and culture in the area has been developed.

Access to the areas has been obtained through a partnership with UNHCR. NRC is working in two areas providing protection and assistance to conflict affected IDPs located in Tanintharyi Division and Mon/Kayin States. NRC has established activities building du-rable shelter and schools and will soon begin work on health centre construction.

ASIA

MYANMAR: Diagonal beams fitted to the house frame, are among the new building techniques applied by NRC, when building cyclone resistant houses in Myanmar.

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NRC expanded operations from the cyclone Nargis response, to assist conflict-affected popu lations in South East Myanmar.



The country programme in the Philippines was set up in 2010, but is already set to close down by March 2011.

PHILIPPINES

PHILIPPINES, MAY 2009: The house of an internally displaced family in Cotabato City, on the island of Mindanao.

For almost 40 years, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has fought for independence in Mindanao. Despite peace talks detailing greater autonomy, a ceasefire agreement and international monitors, the conflict escalated in 2008, when the Supreme Court blocked a possible peace agreement. At least 600,000 people were displaced as a result of the fighting.

The combination of violence and authority restrictions made access to the displaced difficult, and The Philippine Government has regularly downplayed the scope of the humanitarian crises to avoid international attention.

NRC has been monitoring the situation in Mindanao since 2008 and sent an assessment mission to Mindanao in February 2010. Returns had already started, and at the begin-ning of 2010, Government, UN and NGO assistance increased. Based

on the recommendations from the assessment, NRC decided to set up a country programme assisting returnees in constructing transitional and emergency shelters in return areas, as well as latrines and wells and providing non-food items. The project also has an Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) component – assisting return-ees in mapping out land rights and legal and administrative hindrances to durable solutions. The project, funded by ECHO, was well received by all stakeholders including local authorities, donors and beneficiaries. However the return process went faster than expected and the humanitarian needs, especially related to shelter, were less than anticipated. Assist-ance to conflict-affected communities in Mindanao has gradually shifted from humanitarian to early recovery

and development. By the end of the year, NRC concluded that there is no further need for the assistance offered by NRC Core Activity pro-grammes, and the Philippine country programme will be closed down by the time the project, funded by ECHO, comes to an end in March 2011.

The approximately 5,000 to 10,000 IDPs that remained by January 2011 were adequately handled by other agencies and organisations. However,

the situation is still volatile and dis-placement in Mindanao is cyclic by nature. NRC will keep its registration with the authorities and maintain active partnerships with two local NGOs in order to monitor the situation closely. Should the peace process break down once again and result in armed conflict and new displace-ments, NRC will be able to react quickly and respond to the needs of the population affected by conflict.

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Armed conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which ended in mid-2009, resulted in chronic and multiple displacements of civilians for more than 20 years. By the end of 2010, an estimated 320,000 people remained internally displaced in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, more than 190,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returned to their homes, but were still in need of protection and assistance and were struggling to find durable solutions in their shattered homelands.

NRC has been present in Sri Lanka since 2004, with a country office in Colombo and field offices in Puttalam, Batticaloa, Trincomaale and Vavunya. NRC provides assistance to IDPs and refugees through the following core activities:

Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA): NRC continued to implement one of the largest legal aid programs in Sri Lanka. Assistance was provided from NRC offices in Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, and Puttalam, employing international and national legal experts. At the end of 2010, the

ICLA caseload had exceeded 55,000. Approximately 91 % were civil document cases and land and property cases. The programme cooperates closely with local government offices and has also launched partnership programmes with several key Sri Lankan organisa-tions. In September 2010, ICLA signed an addendum to its memorandum of understanding with the Legal Aid Commission, in order to strengthen their capacity to provide legal assist-ance to the returnees through the secondment of NRC staff and opera-tional support in Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. Two thematic reports “Protracted Muslim IDPs from Jaffna in Puttalam and Their Right to Choose a Durable Solution” and “Death Certificates: Policy, Procedure and Challenges for Registries in Northern Province” were also published.

Shelter: NRC constructed and rehabilitated core houses and transitional shelters. Additionally, NRC constructed and rehabilitated water and sanitation infrastructure, distributed non-food items and provided livelihood support

to the war-affected returnees in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Jaffna districts. NRC was also an active participant in the Shelter/NFI Cluster coordination, which sets standards and coordinates activities in this sector. In 2010, NRC constructed 101 core shelters, complet-ed 60 core shelter extensions and 89 core shelter renovations, constructed 800 transitional shelters and 249

transitional shelter kitchens, completed livelihood support of 835 packages, and distributed 1,000 kitchen sets.

In 2011, NRC will work with the returnees in the Northern Province to ensure sustainable return by providing shelter, water and sanitation and livelihoods activities as well as legal assistance through our partner, the Legal Aid Commission. We will also continue to assist and advocate

for the rights of the “old” caseload of IDPs, by providing direct Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance in the Eastern and Western provinces.

ASIA

SRI LANKA, 17 JUNE 2010: NRC staff members are visiting a returnee family, who is constructing a new home in Trincomalee. NRC contributes skilled labour, materials and technical support, but the beneficiaries are also involved in the construction them-selves.

NRC contributed to durable solutions for, both, the long term displaced and returnees in Sri Lanka in 2010.

SRI LANKA

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NRC closed down the Timor Leste country programme in 2010, handing over projects to national bodies.

TIMOR LESTE

Upon closing the country programme, NRC was awarded the honourable medal ”Order of Timor Leste” for its efforts in assisting the conflict-affected population.

NRC started its programme in Timor Leste in November 2006, working for the protection of people displaced by violence that year. NRC engaged in shelter construction, camp management and education. Following a planned exit strategy, NRC phased out Timor Leste throughout 2010, ending all activities by November – after four years of humanitarian activities in the country.

In 2010, NRC focused on projects enhancing the access to education by children and young people.

School rehabilitation/constructionBy 1 July 2010, NRC had completed

the construction of 30 rural schools in the districts of Ermera and Manatuto. In addition to classrooms, NRC also provided chairs and tables. A swing set was also set up in all 30 schools. All schools were equipped with sanitation according to Sphere standards. In 11 villages where, there was insufficient water, NRC has established over 20 km of water pipelines, in cooperation with the communities.

All buildings are the property of the local communities, in partnership with national authorities.

Education NRC has sought to increase educa-tional opportunities and access to employment for young people in Timor Leste. NRC built five youth centres in Dili, Gleno and Manatuto, where NRC’s Youth Education Pack

(YEP) provided an opportunity for young people, who had experienced violence and displacement, to learn marketable skills and thereby increase their access to employment. All centres continue to run the youth education programmes after NRC’s closure, as other NGOs have taken over the responsibility. The Timorese govern-ment pledged funding for the centres

in 2011 and there are good prospects for the centres to become independent national entities in the coming years.

In addition NRC successfully imple-mented an on-the-job teacher-training model, lasting five weeks, in all 30 schools that have been rehabilitated by NRC; benefiting directly more than 4,400 children in rural areas.

ASIA

TIMOR LESTE, MARCH 2010: Two Youth Education Pack (YEP) learners. NRC established three YEP centres in the capital, Dili, and two in rural areas during the course of its programme period in Timor Leste. These vocational training centres are still helping unemployed and vulnerable youth (including many young mothers) to learn practical skills, enhancing their employment opportunities.

Photo: A

ndrea Naletto

/NR

C



Amid severe access challenges, NRC succeeded in setting up programme activities in Iraq in June 2010.

IRAQ

Iraq today is faced with a massive multi-layered displacement crisis – both in size and complexity. An estimated 2.4 million Iraqis were displaced between 2003 and 2008. This figure, which includes both IDPs and refugees, is in addition to the one million Iraqis who had already been displaced by the policies of the former regime.

400,000 IDPs have returned to their areas of origin. Since 2009, the number of returnees has been signifi-cantly reduced – underlining the fact that return is not a safe or viable option for everyone. Alternative solutions, temporary or durable, are needed. It is difficult to predict who will return home. NRC assessments found that approximately 80 % of the IDPs do not intend to return, of which the majority prefer to be locally inte-grated.

The great majority of IDPs in Baghdad reside in informal settlements built on government land, where the govern-ment does not endorse provision of

permanent homes by NGOs. This means that the level of assistance may vary significantly depending on local attitudes towards the displaced. As a result the majority of IDPs in the settlements are still in urgent need of durable solutions in the form of adequate housing, access to basic services and security.

Setting up programme activities in Iraq has proven extremely difficult, due to security and bureaucratic challenges. However, in 2010, NRC conducted a successful Camp Coor-dination, Camp Management (CCCM) pilot project, in cooperation with UNHCR, aimed at IDPs in Baghdad – where the NRC country office is also located.

The CCCM programme was first set up in 14 settlements in the Khadumiya district. Since then, NRC has expanded the programme to cover 60 of the 116 IDP settlements in Baghdad. Approxi-mately 120,000 IDPs reside in the settlements where NRC works in the district of Kadhumiya, Karkh,

Kharada, Al Rasyed, 9 Nissan, and Adhamiya.

In order to improve coordination and to harmonize the approach by service providers in the IDP settle-ments of Baghdad, NRC initiated a district level coordination meeting in Khadumiya. NRC plans to conduct similar meetings in five additional Baghdad districts in 2011.

On 28 December 2010, NRC also conducted a targeted voucher distri-bution of winterisation items to 279 of the most vulnerable IDP families in three Khadumiya settlements.

Through this initiative, community participation and management capacity in these settlements improved. A camp management committee was established and the communities learned to participate actively in the planning and implementation of assistance programmes – including raising public awareness and the need for identification, registration, complaints handling and community mobilisation on the day of distribution.

NRC is an active member of technical working groups, working closely with the Ministry of Displacement and

Migration, UNHCR, and UN-HABITAT on long-term solutions for IDPs.

A broader response is planned for 2011 to address the needs of vulnerable returnees and IDPs – in recognition of the fact that a holistic approach to protection and assistance requires broader inputs. In 2011, NRC hopes to include additional NRC core activities into its existing CCCM programme.

Photo: N

RC

Iraq

IRAQ, 8 DECEMBER 2010: IDP children residing in an informal settlement in the Khadumya district of Baghdad, are prepar-ing for school.

THE MIDDLE EAST



LEBANON

LEBANON, 21 MARCH 2011: Ahmed Salamoun and his son live in Rashidieh Camp, where NRC has implemented several shelter projects. Their house is among those that have been rehabilitated by NRC.

Photo: H

asan Mantash/N

RC

Displacement is a recurrent pheno-menon in the history of modern Lebanon. In 1948, Lebanon became one of the main host countries of the massive wave of Palestinian refugees. Later on, the fifteen-year long civil war and the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon led to large-scale internal displacement of Lebanese (IDPs), as well as Palestinian refugees. In recent years, thousands of Iraqi refugees have sought refuge in Lebanon. NRC activities have targeted, both, Lebanese IDPs and Palestinian and Iraqi refugees.

NRC became involved in Lebanon during the July 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, which resulted in massive, though short-term, dis-placement and the destruction of thousands of homes in the southern part of the country. NRC’s head office is in Beirut, with field offices in Tripoli (north) and Tyre (south).

Shelter has been NRC’s main activity in Lebanon, initially focusing on reha-bilitation of homes partly destroyed in the 2006 war. NRC has, however, gradually increased its involvement in Palestinian refugee camps and

gatherings, where inadequate housing conditions represent health and security risks to its inhabitants. Since 2007, NRC has been a major NGO partner of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the construction of emergency shelters and reconstruction of houses destroyed during the battle over the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

Education is the other NRC activity in Lebanon. NRC established an educational centre for Iraqi refugee children in 2007 to facilitate their inclusion in the Lebanese school system. Subsequently, the focus of the education programme has shifted towards adult refugees to enhance their skills and facilitate their entry in the labour market. NRC has also started an education project for UNRWA schools, in cooperation with the latter, and seeks to expand this cooperation further. This project targets schools in the Palestinian refugee camps of Ein al-Helweh and Nahr al-Bared, and aims to create a more inclusive school and to enhance parents’ involvement.

In 2010, the final preparations were

made for introducing two new core activities to the Lebanon programme, with planned start-up in 2011: Camp Management (CM) and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA). The CM project aims to improve the coordination of service provision in Palestinian camp settings. It will initially focus on camps where NRC is already present. The ICLA project will advocate the rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and safeguard their access to secure housing and tenure.

2010 was a relatively calm year for Lebanon compared to preceding years – following the insecurity caused by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005 and the July 2006 war. However, there are still widespread fears of, both, internal conflict and renewed hostilities with Israel. 2010 also wit-nessed a positive development for the Palestinian refugees, as the Lebanese parliament voted in favour of easing restrictions on their access to work.

THE MIDDLE EAST

In 2010, NRC widened its scope of action in Lebanon.



In the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), NRC is confronting displacement with legal means.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The armed conflict and forced dis-placement surrounding the 1948 establishment of the state of Israel, resulted in the largest and most protracted refugee crisis in modern history. The Palestinian refugee question is still among the most sensitive political issues in the region, with few, if any, prospects for future solutions. In 1967, the Six Days War created another wave of Palestinian displacement. As the conflict continues, people are still displaced in, both, Gaza and on the West Bank.

Israeli house demolitions, forced evictions, settlement expansion and the ongoing construction of the separation wall in oPt, has meant that forced displacement is a continuing threat to Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Gaza has witnessed large-scale displacement as a result of the massive destruction of homes during Israeli military opera-

tions – most notably during operation Cast Lead, initiated on 27 December 2008. The ongoing ban on the import of construction material still puts obstacles in the way of returning the displaced to their homes.

Since 2009, NRC has been imple-menting an Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) pro-gramme in oPt. The objective of the ICLA programme is to counter the negative impact of the policies described above on Housing, Land and Property rights for Palestinians. NRC’s ICLA programme is currently handling a large caseload of Palestinian legal complaints, working together with Palestinian and Israeli implementing partners. NRC has a head office in Jerusalem and field offices in Gaza and Ramallah.

NRC initiated shelter activities in Gaza in 2008, prior to the Israeli military campaign, and participated in the UN-

led Displacement Working Group. Following the Israeli offensive, NRC set up programme activities in 2009: a shelter project, focusing on emer-gency repairs and the construction of new homes. While operational shelter activities in Gaza are on hold due to the Israeli ban on imports of construction materials, NRC is active as the Shelter Sector lead. This role entails the coordination of the emergency response and the discovery and avoidance of duplica-tion in activities. NRC’s lead role has been further consolidated in 2010 and this has also facilitated the expansion of its network in Gaza.

With the imposition of a blockade on Gaza, following the arrival of Hamas to power in June of 2007, the economy has become increasingly dependent on aid. Industries, including export, have been severely curtailed or destroyed. The conflict in January 2009 destroyed substantial housing, schools and other public infrastruc-ture and the ongoing blockade has made it impossible to initiate any significant reconstruction activities.

By the end of 2010, funding was secured for a substantial increase and geographic expansion of NRC activi-ties in the oPt, most significantly the introduction of education, ICLA and

food security projects in Gaza. Through the education project, NRC has also become the only NGO partner of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the education field in oPt.

Photo: John Tordai

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, 2010: Atta Abdul Jawwad Mohammed Jaber (50) has sought the assistance of NRC and its legal partner, The Society of St. Yves, to challenge the confiscation of his land in Hebron – which was declared “state land” by the Israeli authorities in 2009. The case remained pending at the end of 2010. In this picture he sits on top of the ruins of his demolished home.

THE MIDDLE EAST



COLOMBIA

Colombia continues to be affected by the four-decade armed conflict and generalized violence that puts civilians at risk. A new government took office in August and important policy and legislative initiatives are underway to address the protection needs of Colombia’s millions of victims and displaced. However, the displacement patterns remained unchanged and the results of these initiatives are still uncertain.

3.3 million people are internally displaced according to the government, over 4.9 million people according to reliable non-governmental sources.

NRC has been in Colombia since 1991. From its country office in Bogota and field presence in Nariño, Norte de Santander and Magdalena, NRC implements education, Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) and an advocacy and public policies programme.

Colombia has a strong legal and policy framework protecting the rights of IDPs, but implementation is lacking at a local level – a fact central to NRC advocacy strategies. NRC works closely with State institutions, particularly in the judicial branch (i.e. the Constitu-tional Court, Supreme Court of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General in 2010).

NRC relies predominantly on part-ners when implementing activities: National NGOs and public universities, as well as community-based organi-sations.

IDP children are often left outside the educational system, making them vulnerable and more readily subject to recruitment into criminal activities, drug-trafficking and negative coping mechanisms. In 2010, NRC offered flexible accelerated learning pro-grammes to children and young people who have been kept from school by conflict. The organisation also trained teachers and adjusted training materials. The Ministry of Education officially recognized the Peace Culture High School Model in the six municipalities where it has been implemented. NRC completed its learning programme for illiterate adults and its support to ethno- education programmes for Indigenous groups, and decided to pilot an “education in emergencies” programme.

14 Universities, all of which are part the NRC-UNCHR partnership “Law and Displacement Network”, and the Pastoral Social and Magdalena Uni-versity, provided ICLA services to IDPs.

An important achievement in 2010, which addressed impunity for acts of forced displacement, was NRC’s sup-

port to the Attorney General in estab-lishing a Special Unit on Forced Displacement. NRC offered an inter-national workshop to all prosecutors in the Unit and signed an agreement to continue the partnership in 2011.

NRC convened a special hearing in 2010, where NGOs involved in litigation of forced displacement and sexual and gender-based violence, presented the legal obstacles preventing access to justice to the Supreme Court.

NRC also conducted a study on

national registration and emergency humanitarian assistance to IDPs, which will form the basis for ICLA intervention and advocacy in 2011.

NRC continued to strengthen the capacity of IDP organisations to participate and influence IDP policies. Technical training on formulation and implementation of IDP policies was also offered to public officers in priority municipalities.

NRC has established good working relations with the Ombudsman’s Office in the three regions and with

the Office of the Inspector General.NRC also has a presence in Ecuador,

Venezuela and Panama. In 2010, NRC assisted Colombians in need of international protection with access to, among other things, refugee status determination processes, civil docu-mentation and education.

COLOMBIA, 19 AUGUST 2010: Pupils at the NRC Peace Culture High School in Pasto engaged these local children in peace study and communal activities as part of a community outreach assignment.

THE AMERICAS

28Norwegian Refugee Council

Photo: E

rik Tresse/NR

CIn Colombia, NRC combines activities addressing protection gaps with advocacy efforts.



Secessionist fighting in the early 1990s in South Ossetia was followed by conflict in Abkhazia – resulting in large displacement. In 2008, war erupted between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. While negotia-tions continue, the conflicts remain unresolved and return is not an option for the majority of the IDPs. At the end of 2010, over 200,000 people continued to be displaced in Georgia proper.

The government is committed to providing durable housing solutions for IDPs. The IDP Action Plan was amended in 2010, but is still lacking vital sustainability and “soft” integration components – currently provided by NGOs.

NRC has been present in Georgia since 1994 and has offices in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and in Gali and Sokhumi in Abkhazia, providing durable solutions through shelter, livelihood support, education and Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) pro-grammes.

The role of the NRC’s ICLA pro-gramme and advocacy remained

strong in 2010, focusing mainly on facilitation of access to basic personal documentation and housing, land and property rights. Among other things, NRC participated in the technical ex-pert group on privatization within the IDP Action Plan, contributed to the review of IDP legislation, and ensured security of tenure and access to documentation for IDPs, including NRC shelter beneficiaries. In 2010, there were 3,352 individuals who benefited from ICLA counselling and the ICLA lawyers processed 1,411 legal cases.

A new cross-core-activity, set up in 2010, supports the sustainability of the privatization of IDP property, through formalization and training of owner associations. The initiative employs shelter and urban context camp management training methodology.

In Abkhazia, the ICLA programme assisted returnees in Gali with basic documentation.

Through the shelter programme in 2010, NRC transformed four collective centres into apartment buildings, constructed 23 individual houses,

partially repaired 20 homes and five collective centres, and distributed construction materials to 109 vulnerable families in Georgia proper. Some shelter beneficiaries were also provided basic livelihood support, securing the sustainability of their local integration.

In Abkhazia, 96 houses belonging to returnees were repaired or constructed, and four schools in the Gali district were rehabilitated. 100 beneficiary households received NRC-designed prefabricated greenhouses.

In 2010, NRC completed the first ever study of the quality of education and integration in “Abkhaz public schools” in Georgia proper. 4,157 children and young people participated in various NRC education activities, providing life skills and literacy training, as well as workshops for teachers in literacy training methodology. 723 young people participated in vocational skills training, facilitated in cooperation with state certified Vocational Education and Training centres. In alliance with

five major universities in Georgia, NRC is developing a manual on Displacement Stress and Trauma for teachers and social workers – to be piloted in teacher training institutions in 2011.

In 2010, NRC continued to focus on durable solutions for the internally displaced (IDPs) in Georgia.

GEORGIA

Photo: D

avid Akhvlediani, 11 years, N

RC

beneficiary and IDP

from A

bkhazia

GEORGIA, APRIL 2010: Environmental education is part of NRC’s life skills training modules. These internally displaced (IDP) children from Abkhazia are planting trees outside their collective centre in Tskaltubo.

THE CAUCASUS/EUROPE



NRC set up programme activities in Kyrgyzstan in 2010, in response to displacement in the wake of sudden ethnic unrest.

KYRGYZSTAN

Photo: S

. Schuler/U

NH

CR

On June 12, riots broke out in the south of Kyrgyzstan, as ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks clashed violently over four days. Many of the predominantly Uzbek neighbourhoods were looted and burned to the ground. At least 426 people of both ethnicities were killed, 300,000 people were internally displaced and about 75,000 people – primarily ethnic Uzbek women, children and elderly people – fled across the border into Uzbekistan.

During the first days of unrest, the security situation hampered relief efforts. By the end of June, the inter-national humanitarian community had mobilized – and the UN-led cluster system was rolled out.

Most of those displaced have since returned to their places of origin. Many returned and found their houses partially destroyed or in ruins.

Following an assessment mission in the beginning of July, NRC set up an Information, Councelling and Legal

Assistance (ICLA) programme in Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of September, with two field offices in the Osh and Jalalabad regions, and one in Bishkek. NRC later expanded with one more office in Alu-Buka in the Jalalabad region.

The programme employed 11 ICLA lawyers through a local NGO, who focused on recovering and registering documentation to prove ownership to enterprise/business-property destroyed or lost during the June 2010 events. This included restoration of documents such as school certificates, university diplomas, driving licenses, work book-lets, etc., which were not covered by other agencies and were relevant to the NRC programme.

Swift response from the international community and efficient humanitarian aid helped stabilize the situation. If the current stability is upheld, NRC will phase out its programme activities in Kyrgyzstan by the end of May 2011.

THE CAUCASUS/EUROPE

KYRGYZSTAN, FEBRUARY 2010: Internally displaced people in Jalal-Abad, standing in front their home, which was destroyed in the violence during the summer of 2010.


vignett Emergency Standby Rosters

Since 1991, Norwegian Capacity to International Operations (NORCAP) has seconded personnel to more than 6,000 assignments globally. It is currently one of the leading and most frequently used standby rosters in the world, as well as a strategic partner to the UN.

The NORCAP mandate is to strengthen the ability of the UN and other international organi-sations to act swiftly and efficiently in all stages of a humanitarian crisis, by supplying competent personnel with a broad spectrum of expertise.

NORCAP consists of 850 men and women who are ready to deploy to international operations within 72 hours. At any given time, some 150 of the roster members are on assignment.

NORCAP strives to make humanitarian efforts more representative and better adapted to the needs and rights of crisis-affected people, in addition to enhancing emergency preparedness and prevention. The roster consists of men and women from Norway, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with different professional and cultural backgrounds. Their expertise ranges from nutrition to engineering and law. The roster is continuously developed to meet the needs of the NORCAP partners. NORCAP emphasises targeted recruit-ment, as well as capacity-building and training of

existing members, to ensure that the roster always has the appropriate experts available for assignments.

NORCAP is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and operated by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

In addition to NORCAP, the UN and NRC have developed a range of thematic and specialized emergency rosters: The Protection Capacity Standby Project (PROCAP) and Gender Standby Capacity Roster (GENCAP) supply experts on protection and gender respectively. The Media-tion Support Unit (MSU) consists of recognized experts on peace mediation. Norwegian Standby Roster for Civilian Observers (NOROBS) contributes to peacemaking, peace-building and peacekeeping operations. The Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) represents the latest addition. It was set up in 2009 to strengthen the international capacity to assess humanitarian needs in a crisis.

THE LEADING EMERGENCY STANDBY ROSTER

Photo: N

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HAITI, JUNE 2010: After the earthquake in Haiti in January, many victims settled in open spaces unsuitable for human habitation. NORCAP sent 46 secondees to Haiti in 2010


Emergency Standby Rosters

The total volume of support from NRC-operated emergency rosters to international operations has grown continuously in recent years, reaching an all time high in 2010.

NRC-operated rosters contributed a total of 1,899 man months to inter-national humanitarian operations in 49 countries in 2010, representing a sharp increase in comparison to 1,590 man months in 2009. NORCAP alone contributed 1,503 man months to 12 UN standby partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In line with the NORCAP priority of protecting civilians in natural disasters and complex emergencies, the involvement with agencies at the forefront of protection continued to grow in 2010. UNICEF and UNHCR have remained the largest recipients since 2008, while WFP has grown considerably in 2010. IOM is new on the list of the top four recipients,

mainly due to secondments to their operations in Haiti.

Support to the UN Food and Agri-culture Organization (FAO) has been a priority, and the result was a consid-erable increase. UNDP also received increased support.

Secondments to OCHA has, on the other hand, decreased by two thirds since 2009 – as OCHA is increasingly

relying on internal capacity.The UN Human Settlements

Programme (UNHABITAT) was a new partner in 2010. The highly specialised UN agency plays an important role in the early-recovery phase, but suffers from lack of re-sources. NORCAP contributed to UNHABITAT programmes in Iraq and Pakistan in 2010.

A YEAR OF CRISIS

Man months per roster, all regions

ProCap, 74 4 % GenCap, 121 6 %

NORCAP, 1,503 79 %

NORDEM, 184 10 % MSU, 17 1 %

A NEW AFRICAN PARTNER

In 2010, NORCAP seconded personnel to the African Union (AU) for the first time – through NOROBS. The AU agreed to set up a rapid-reaction force in 2002, to be deployed in cases of regional crises. Since then, the NRC has followed the development of The African Standby Force (ASF) closely. After formalizing contact in 2009, NRC was able to second two civilian Liaison Officers to the AU in 2010, in order to strengthen the Peace Support Operation Division and contribute to the development of the ASF roster.

Truls Brekke/FA

O

PAKISTAN, 20 SEPTEMBER 2010: Truls Brekke was seconded to FAO in Pakistan in 2010. As a Communications Officer he helped raise awareness of FAO’s vital role in the post-disaster phase, which resulted in increased funding for the agency. In this picture, CNN reporter Frederik Pleitgen is interviewing Brekke on FAO’s role in the Pakistan emergency.

Photo: Jan K

olaas

SUDAN, 2010: Christer de Saram Larssen was seconded to UNDP and the Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit (CPRU) in January 2010. His main tasks were to support CPRU through policy and strategy advice, and ensuring that programming was consistent with the political context.



FIVE MAJOR RECIPIENTS OF SUPPORT IN 2010 Several large-scale natural disasters posed unprecedented challenges to the humanitarian community in 2010 – partic-ularly the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan. The flare-up of violence in Kyrgyzstan and the run up to the referendum and secession vote in South Sudan presented additional challenges, as did the unrest in Yemen. NORCAP contributed significantly to the humanitarian mobilisation in these countries:

KYRGYZSTAN:Kyrgyzstan was on the verge of civil war in 2010, when ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks clashed violently. Swift response from the international community and efficient humanitarian aid helped to stabilize the situation. A total of 12 people were deployed to UNICEF and UNHCR in Kyrgyzstan in 2010, contributing almost 45 man months.

PAKISTAN:When the worst floods in history devastated Pakistan in July and August 2010, over 20 million people were affected. It is the largest natural disaster ever faced by the UN. The

bulk of the crisis was slow-onset, but NORCAP received, and was able to respond to, personnel requests in an early phase – at first with Pakistani roster members, who did not need visas and could travel with ease in politically unstable areas. A total of 19 people were deployed to Pakistan in 2010, contributing close to 60 man months.

SUDAN:Tension ran high in Sudan in 2010, in the run up to the January 2011 secessionist vote in the South Sudan referendum. At the same time, the humanitarian situation deteriorated in

the wake of decades of war and con-tinued inter-south fighting and crisis in Darfur. Protection of civilians in complex emergencies is a NORCAP priority in general, and in Sudan in particular. There was a steady increase in deployments in 2010, in total 185 man months.

HAITI:When the earthquake shook Haiti on 12 January 2010, more than 300,000 people were killed and an already severe humanitarian situation became desperate. The capital Port-au-Prince and its institutions were severely affected, including the UN headquar-

ters. The UN lost about 100 staff members and many survivors were sent out of the country due to the trauma they had suffered – severely hampering relief efforts. NRC re-sponded quickly. By 15 January, the first secondees were on their way. In total, 46 secondees were deployed to Haiti, the largest number in a single country in 2010, contributing more than 200 man months.

YEMEN:The number of deployments to Yemen increased substantially in 2010, due to renewed fighting between the govern ment and the al-Houthis. The

so-called 6th War, which began in 2009, led to massive displacement from the conflict-affected districts in the Sa’ada governorate. NORCAP seconded 15 roster members to Yemen in 2010, contributing substan-tially to the UN efforts to fill in protec-tion gaps created by the massive exodus. NORCAP contributed with a total of 88 man months.

PAKISTAN, 7 SEPTEMBER 2010: A girl enjoying a cool drink at a water post in a displacement camp for flood victims in the Sindh province of Pakistan. 19 NORCAP secondees were deployed to Pakistan in the wake of the worst floods in its history.

Truls Brekke/FA

O



NORCAP is a strategic partner for the UN, contributing to improved international humanitarian response.

Traditionally, secondments have targeted field operations in a sudden crisis. However, NORCAP is increasingly contributing at a more central level to better coordination, capacity building and higher quality in relief efforts – linking the humanitarian response phase to the crucial early recovery and stabilisation phases.

In 2010, NORCAP has strength-ened its strategic cooperation with two UN agencies in particular: UNICEF and UNHCR. NORCAP engaged in a bilateral dialogue with both agencies, in order to strengthen the strategic cooperation and increase secondments to central coordinating functions, which go beyond the tradi-tional standby roster field support.

Several other UN agencies increas-

ingly recognize the benefits of intro-ducing external, highly motivated personnel – particularly in change processes – who often have different skills and specialities compared to regular personnel in an organisation or a cluster.

For example, in 2010, NORCAP was asked to contribute to the UNWRA reform process. NORCAP secondees contributed to the develop-ment of a monitoring and evaluation programme to improve UNWRA’s ability to measure its impact. The NORCAP secondees have contributed directly to the modernisation of UNWRA through targeted deployments in the field of communication and visibility.

In Pakistan, a NORCAP secondee made a significant contribution to

FAO’s public image. FAO acknow-ledges its shortcomings in getting its message across, in proving its vital function – particularly in a post-crisis phase. By helping to raise the level of awareness about the efforts of FAO, the secondee contributed to generating increased funding.

The cluster approach to coordinating relief activities has indisputable merits. However, it is widely recognized that the clusters need to be strengthened with a broader range of expertise. It is a NORCAP priority to contribute to clusters becoming even more efficient instruments in a humanitarian crisis. In 2010 NORCAP has deployed several roster members to vital cluster functions.

A STRATEGIC UN PARTNER

Photo: N

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HAITI, 2010: Three weeks after the earthquake, 1,300 national and international NGOs were registered in Haiti, highlighting the need for stringent coordination to avoid overlap. Contributing to better cluster coordination is a NORCAP priority. This picture is from a food distribution centre.



REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

The high number of climate-related natural disasters of the last few years, such as storms, floods and droughts, as well as other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and volcano eruptions, has highlighted the need to increase Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) efforts.

DRR is a NORCAP priority, based

on the simple fact that it ultimately r educes the human and financial costs from a disaster. In 2010, NORCAP personnel have been involved in several successful DRR activities.

In Namibia, for instance, two secon-dees have worked closely with central government educational bodies to secure schools and train teachers in

how to respond when a crisis occurs. The secondees have also contributed to enhancing emergency preparedness and to develop a national response plan. NORCAP secondees have also contributed to DRR in Bangladesh, Burma, Fiji, Haiti and the Philippines, as well as to the protection cluster, particularly in Asia.

In 2010, 2268 people applied for membership in the NORCAP roster through its online application website, enabling NRC to increase the number of qualified personnel – especially within protection, child protection, logistics and humanitarian coordination. In addition, the pool of experts on education, nutrition, information management, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and livelihoods was strengthened.

In 2010, NRC made special effort to increase the number of

women from the Global South in the NORCAP roster. Of the newly recruited, 23 % fit the profile, representing a significant increase from 2009.

Staff care was a priority in 2010, as it was in 2009. The personal and professional toll of working in conflict and disaster areas is in-creasingly recognized. NRC employs numerous measures to build the resilience of roster members and reduce the strain.

EXPANDING THE ROSTERS

PAKISTAN, 7 SEPTEMBER 2010: Girls waiting for food distribution in a displace-ment camp for flood victims in Sukkur, Pakistan. More than 20 million people were affected by the 2010 floods. Many had to flee their homes.

Photo: Truls B

rekke/FAO

Crisis response should not only be reactive, it should also be proactive. It is a NORCAP priority to contribute to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

In 2010, NRC commissioned the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) to produce the report The Role and Position of the Norwegian Standby Roster for Civilian Observers (NOROBS) in the Context of Norway’s Contribu-tion to Civilian Peacemaking, Peacekeeping and Peace-building.

The report makes recommenda-tions on how NOROBS – a sub-roster under the NORCAP umbrella – can be developed to meet the needs of international operations, as well as how the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) can make better and more strategic use of the Norwegian civilian capacity

mechanisms at its disposal. NRC has broad and extensive operational and professional experience in deploying civilian observers on behalf of MFA and the UN. These include deployments to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Team (SLMM), Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), European Monitoring Mission (EUMM), Nuba Mountains, Nepal (UNMIN) and Ache Monitoring Mission (AMM).

In 2010, NORCAP prepared for the deployment of observers to the international monitoring team in Mindanao, Philippines. Two observers were dispatched in January January 2011.

UTILIZING THE NOROBS ROSTER


Advocacy and Information

Photo: C

hristian Jepsen/NR

C

Humanitarian fieldwork is at the core of NRC. However, NRC is also actively involved in advocacy and information on the rights of the displaced.

The strength of NRC as a rights advocate and the ability to apply political pressure, derive from its operational work in more than 20 countries. The knowledge and expertise gained in the field is what enables the organisation to be a strong and visible advocate for the rights of refugees and IDPs – with a voice carrying weight far into the corridors of power.

It is also in the field that the NRC voice is at its strongest. The bulk of all advocacy work takes place in the countries where NRC works, targeting local, regional and national authorities,

as well as international agencies focusing on humanitarian assistance and protection – such as UNHCR and OCHA.

The main advocacy and information issues in 2010 were: how to increase access to people in need of humanitarian assistance, and identifying protection gaps and adaptation needs in the context of climate-induced displacement.

In Norway, the annual NRK telethon presented NRC with an opportunity to reach a wider audience with its key messages.

A VISIBLE ADVOCATE FOR THE DISPLACED

AFGHANISTAN, 2010: Hafizullah Hasif is one of 2,600 NRC employees. In 2010 he worked as an assistant to the Country Director and temporary media officer in NRC Afghanistan.

Norwegian Refugee Council



A GLOBAL ADVOCACY STRATEGYThe finalization of a Global Advocacy Strategy repre-sented a major milestone for NRC in 2010.

The strategy represents a compre-hensive, practical tool and will help NRC develop a more strategic and focused approach to its advocacy work in the future. It also outlines

two priority areas: increasing and maintaining humanitarian access in the field and promoting durable solutions for displaced people, particularly by addressing housing, land and property issues.

The focus is to ensure consistency in the agency’s advocacy messages, and to encourage decision-makers to reduce obstacles to access and durable solutions.

The real strength of the Global Advocacy Strategy is that it is closely linked to the practical fieldwork. In this capacity, it represents far more than an advocacy strategy. It repre-sents a more interconnected way of working within the entire NRC organisation. The strategy has already been introduced in the daily work of NRC, but will be implemented in full in 2011.

Increased access to protection for people affected by displacement has been a global NRC priority in 2010, both as an advocacy issue and through practical fieldwork – in line with the new Global Advocacy Strategy.

Whether the challenges and dangers faced by humanitarian agencies working in conflict and in complex emergencies are worse today than 30 years ago, is debatable. However, challenges to humanitarian access have changed and a new and targeted approach is necessary. Increasing the level of acceptance of NRC, in order to increase access, is at the core of NRC’s approach, which includes:

• Ensuring that programmes are timely, relevant and robust: NRC must demonstrate reliability, build trust, fulfil agreed promises and deliver high-quality, transparent and on- time programmes. NRC works to enhance contextual analysis to inform programme design, planning and implementation, and to strengthen the implementation of humanitarian principles as a tool for securing access. Although it is often assumed that humanitarian actors intuitively under-stand how to translate humanitarian principles into programme design, implementation and decision-making, this is often not the case. In 2011 NRC will develop guidance and training to reinforce principled humanitarian action within operations and advocacy.• Building staff competency: A central

component of NRC’s access strategy is to have the right staff, in the right place, at the right time. An important initiative is to invest in building the competency of key national staff to strengthen their engagement in contextual analysis, strategic planning and implementation.

• Strengthening principled and struc-tured engagement with all relevant actors: In order to safely access people in need, humanitarian actors must often engage with, or operate in territory controlled by, armed oppo-sition groups. However, in contexts such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, engaging with all relevant actors can be dangerous, if not illegal. NRC will develop positions and advocacy approaches, including holding a joint NRC/Humanitarian Policy Group workshop on the criminalisation of aid in the first quarter of 2011.

• Targeted experience-based advocacy: The focus of the Global Advocacy Strategy is to ensure consistency in the agency’s advocacy messages, and to encourage decision-makers to reduce obstacles to access. The Afghanistan and Pakistan programmes are crucial for building the evidence-base for NRC’s global advocacy work.

ACCESS THROUGH ACCEPTANCE

AFGHANISTAN, 3 OCTOBER 2010: Afghan NRC staff members enjoying a cup of tea. With over 200,000 international and Afghan military personnel engaged in an intensifying conflict with opposition groups, humanitarian access has become extremely difficult in Afghanistan. Highly competent national staff is key to secure access to those in need.

Photo: C

hristian Jepsen/NR

C



Recognising the importance of natural disasters as a driving factor for dis-placement, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters in the context of climate change and the lack of information on disaster induced displacement, NRC’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), in collaboration with OCHA, carried out a study in 2009. It provided the first ever estimate on the scale of forced displacement caused by rapid-onset natural disasters in a given year.

It also proposed a methodology to continue monitoring forced displace-ment as a result of rapid-onset disasters, with a breakdown between climate-related and geophysical natural disasters.

In 2010, IDMC finalised a three-year road map to gradually build up its capacity for monitoring natural disaster-induced displacement. The annual monitoring will begin in 2011.

The road map includes an advocacy strategy on raising awareness and

influencing the follow-up of the Copenhagen and Cancun Climate Change Conferences with information and analysis. The road map also includes strategies to strengthen the capacity of governments and civil society in disaster-affected countries to respond to the protection needs of IDPs.

The objective of the project is to gain experience in monitoring disaster-related internal displacement. This will enable IDMC to propose an inte-grated monitoring strategy for both conflict- and disaster-induced dis-placement – where it has merit. It will also enable IDMC to create training and advocacy tools, in order to raise awareness of disaster-induced displacement and its protection

challenges. It will also provide know-ledge on how to cover gaps identified during the quantitative and qualitative monitoring and analysis. Pakistan and Colombia have been identified as case studies.

The outputs during the three-year period will include a strategy for the monitoring of disaster-induced displace ment and analytical publica-tions to help humanitarian actors and affected governments plan for, and respond to, disaster-induced displacement. It will also include training and advocacy tools, as well as a platform where partners, affected governments and donors can meet, discuss and decide on policy issues and challenges.

Photo: Truls B

rekke/FAO

38

PAKISTAN, 7 SEPTEMBER 2010: The fields around Thul in Sindh Province, Pakistan, are completely inundated by the floods that have affected more than 20 million people and destroyed two million acres of crops throughout the country.

FILLING THE INFORMATION GAP ON CLIMATE DISPLACEMENTIn 2010, NRC took major steps towards filling the information gap on the extent of natural disaster-induced displacement.

AN ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTIONThe current protection regime has significant gaps on the plight of people displaced by climate-related natural disasters. In 2010, NRC has continued its focus on the matter by cooperating with UNHCR to identify concrete sugges-tions on how to fill the protection gaps for the climate displaced. NRC is actively involved in advocacy work on the protection issue on many levels, internationally and in Norway. In 2010, a paper on filling the protection gaps, published in the ICRC International Review, was among the advocacy initiatives.

NRC, Nature and Youth and The Norwegian Red Cross Youth set up a “climate refugee camp” in the centre of Oslo, during the Cancun climate summit in December 2010, to raise awareness of the fact that climate changes are already affect-ing people around the world, causing displacement and human suffering. The public stunt was followed up by a debate at Litteraturhuset the same day.

Among the demands put forward by NRC during the event, was the need for the Norwegian Govern-ment to actively support projects in the Global South aimed at enhancing the resilience of local communities and their prepared-ness to handle climate changes. NRC also demanded that the Norwegian Government should consider displacement caused by natural disasters, or serious climatic changes, as criteria for granting the right to stay in Norway, and that Norway should be an active advocate in international forums for filling in the protection gaps relating to climate change and natural disasters in the current protection regime.

A REFUGEE CAMP IN CENTRAL OSLO



As articulated in the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, IDPs have the right to a durable solution – which entails no longer having specific assistance or protection needs linked to their displacement and being able to enjoy their human rights without discrimination. A durable solution can be achieved through return, settlement elsewhere in the country or local integration, based on an informed and voluntary decision.

In 2010, NRC engaged extensively in advocacy on durable solutions for IDPs, both in the field and on an inter-national and strategic level.

Among the highlights in 2010, was an invitation from The Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM), an advisory body within the European Union, to present NRC’s promotion of durable solutions for IDPs in Georgia. The committee consists of representatives from all 27 EU member states and reports to the Political and Security Committee of the European Council. Based on field experience, NRC examined issues affecting durable solutions and local integration of IDPs in Georgia, such as privatisation of IDP housing, edu-cation and livelihoods. NRC’s presen-

tation was well received in Brussels and generated substantial interest in this central European body.

The revised IASC Framework on du-rable solutions for internally displaced persons (FDS) was published in 2010, based on input from field-based organisations such as the NRC. NRC was represented as the only NGO on the steering committee for the revi-sion process through its Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). The Framework describes the key rights-based principles that should guide the search for durable solutions and establishes the criteria that determine to what extent a dura-ble solution has been achieved. The Framework forms the basis for NRC’s assessments, monitoring, advocacy, training and capacity building on durable solutions.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and NRC co-organized a launch event for the Framework in Georgia in September 2010. The event coincided with the the final mission of the then UN representative of the Secretary General on the Human Rights of IDPs, Walter Kählin.

NRC-IDMC in Geneva plays an important part in the promotion of durable solutions through a number of initiatives. In 2010, IDMC organised the seminar IDPs in Protracted Displacement: Is local integration a solution? – held in Geneva in January 2011. Participants came from a range of backgrounds, including governments with protracted internal displacement situations, national civil society organi-sations, UN agencies, international

humanitarian, development and research organisations, as well as other experts. Field research was commissioned for the seminar and case studies on local integration of IDPs in Georgia, Burundi, Colombia, Serbia, Uganda and Sudan were discussed. The seminar concluded that political will is needed to make local integration a viable possibility for IDPs and that the efforts of both humanitarian and development actors must be mobilized to create conditions

for sustainable integration of IDPs. IDMC is also in the process of develop-ing training modules for national authorities and civil society on the FDS, to be field-tested in 2011.

Photo: K

oba Tsiramua/N

RC

MAY 2010, GEORGIA: NRC repairing a collective centre in Senaki, West Georgia, housing internally displaced people from Abkhazia. Turning such collective centres into habitable, privately owned flats is part of the durable solutions presented to the IDPs.

PROMOTING DURABLE SOLUTIONSPromoting durable solutions for internally displaced people (IDPs) is an NRC priority.



In 2010, IDMC focused particularly on promoting the ratification of the historic African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, adopted by the African Union (AU) in Kampala in October 2009, and generally referred to as the Kampala Convention. The convention was the first regional instrument in the world imposing legal obligations on states to protect and assist IDPs. The con-vention will only come into force once it has been ratified by 15 AU member states. In 2010, IDMC in collaboration with the AU, published a Guide for Civil Society on the Kampala Convention. It also launched a dedicated website – with background information, training materials and information for the media. IDMC has worked with the AU Commission and the AU Economic,

Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) to ensure that the important role of civil society in promoting the ratification and implementation of the convention was reflected in the Plan of Action for the Kampala Convention. The final version of the Plan of Action was adopted by the AU Summit in July 2010. IDMC has also organised work-shops in Liberia and Kenya in 2010, to raise awareness of the convention among government officials, members of parliament and civil society organi-sations. In both Kenya and Liberia, the workshops led to the adoption of a civil society plan of action around the Kampala Convention. The IDMC workshops will be continued in 2011 in other AU member states.

GLOBAL OVERVIEW: The report Global Overview was launched in London on 17 May 2010. The annual report from NRC’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in Geneva remains the authoritative source on internal displacement worldwide. It is widely used as a reference tool by the UN, governments, international media and academic institutions. IDMC continuously updates its online database, which recorded 320,000 unique hits in 2010 – representing a 13 % increase since 2009.

THE KAMPALA CONVENTION

Internal DisplacementGlobal Overview of Trends and

Developments in 2010

The NRC Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) is an active contributor to capacity building on internal displacement in many countries, both nationally and locally.

3

FLYKTNINGREGNSKAPET

2010

ALT om mENNESKER På FLuKT vERdEN ovER

www.internal-displacement.org

www.flyktninghjelpen.no

Flyktningregnskapet, launched on 20 June 2010, is an annual Norwegian report containing analysis on the status for refugees and internally displaced people in more than 80 countries. The 2010 edition had a special focus on the world’s most neglected displacement situations, an historic perspective on displacement, humanitarian access and climate induced displacement. The report was distributed to politicians, journalists, schools, libraries and local refugee teams and council coordinators.

WORLD DISPLACEMENT STATUS REPORT:

Norwegian Refugee Council 41 Annual Report 2010


In 2010, the NRC magazine Perspektiv reinforced its position as the biggest foreign affairs magazine in Norway.

Introduced in 2009, Perspektiv represents a bold new approach to advocacy and information. Most NGOs issue magazines focusing on their own activities, as did NRC with På Flukt. Perspektiv has a much wider scope. As the Norwegian media continues to step down its international coverage, Perspektiv represents an effort to bridge the information gap. Rather than focusing on NRC activities, Perspektiv presents feature articles, comments and analysis on the root causes of displacement. The aim is to raise awareness of conflicts and emergencies, which rarely make it into mainstream news. The coverage is not limited to countries where NRC is present. The contributors are a mix of distinguished voices in the public debate, well known journalists, freelancers and NRC employees sharing their expertise.

Perspektiv has been well received by stake-holders, politicians, journalists and scholars, and is regularly quoted in the mainstream media.

NORWEGIAN EDITION IN A NUTSHELL• Circulation 15,000• 4 issues annually• Distributed free to 10,000 sponsors

and stakeholders• More than 1,000 copies sold via the

magazine distributor Narvesen• Funded by government grants, advertising

and magazine sales

CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR PERSPEKTIV



AN ENGLISH PERSPECTIVEIn October 2010, NRC followed up the success of its Norwegian humanitarian affairs magazine, with an international edition.

The English language magazine Perspective features translations of articles from the Norwegian edition, as well as specially tailored material. The launch of an international edition, is a natural consequence of the NRC being engaged in more than 20 countries and of its commitment to contribute to setting the agenda on international humanitarian policies. The magazine was well received internationally, and will be published twice annually from 2011.

ENGLISH EDITION IN A NUTSHELL• Circulaton 20,000• 1 issue in 2010, 4 issues in 2011• Distributed to UN agencies,

donors, academic institutions, the media, NGOs, and to policy-makers and politicians worldwide.

• Sold in 15 countries, including USA, Canada, UK, France, Spain and Australia

• Funded by government grants, advertising and magazine sales

British Photojournalist Alixandra Fazzina was the 2010 recipient of the Nansen Refugee Award – designed to honour people who work relentlessly for the rights of refugees. Fazzina was awarded the prize for her extensive photojournalistic work on the plight of people displaced by war and conflict. Her work, spanning two decades, has, among other things, resulted in the book “A Million Shillings, Escape from

Somalia”. This was the first time a journalist was honoured.

The award was set up in 1954, in memory of the Norwegian explorer and first High Commissioner for Refugees, Fridtjof Nansen. The awardworth, 600,000 NOK, is granted by the governments of Switzerland and Norway, and is administered by NRC. The winner may donate the money freely to a worthy cause.

POPULAR PUBLIC DEBATESTo enhance NRC’s efforts to raise awareness about neglected conflicts and emergencies causing displacement, the Perspektiv editorial group hosts public debates on a regular basis. In 2010, three well-attended debates took place at Litteraturhuset in Oslo. In May, the topic was: African per-spectives on economic development. In October, the participants debated humanitarian access in the world’s

most dangerous countries, while the November debate was dedicated to China and its multi-faceted impact on the world. The panels consisted of respected politicians, scholars, NGO-representatives, journalists and other high profile public personalities. The debates are free and open to the general public. The China debate was web-cast live on the NRC website, a practice that will continue in 2011.

Photo: U

NH

CR

/Nilo photographes

Photojournalist Alixandra Fazzina was honored at a special event in Geneva, hosted by BBC’s news anchor and Hardtalk journalist Zeinab Badawi.

PHOTOJOURNALIST HONOURED



NRC IN THE NEWS

The media represents an increasingly important channel for publicly advocating the rights of the displaced and highlighting the extensive protection needs of refugees and IDPs.

The combination of a constantly changing and increasingly compet-itive humanitarian market and a swelling media landscape, has resulted in added visibility demands from donors. Hence expectations on NRC’s information section and spokespersons have increased substantially. This trend is likely to continue, and will affect the organ-isation as a whole.

In 2010 NRC actively used radio, TV and newspapers in its advocacy work. The remarkable visibility boost was combined with a continuation of the strategic process to build the organisation’s credibility. The NRK telethon gave NRC an opportunity to reach an even larger audience than normal, and infor-mation about the organisation’s international work and the global situation for refugees and IDPs was communicated to segments of the population that NRC normally struggles to reach.

NRC’s daily media work primarily focuses on the foreign affairs sections of Norwegian media outlets. During major disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan, NRC put emphasis on the humanitarian aspects of the disasters.

Two reports on South Sudan were published in 2010, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in relation to the referendum on the secession of South Sudan. Both reports attained high media atten-tion. Through publications such as Flyktningregnskapet, Global Overview and Perspektiv, NRC aspires to set the agenda, and media initia-tives play an important role in achieving this aim.

SUDAN REPORT 1: The report Mitigating a Humanitarian Disaster argues that, when it comes to the current humanitarian situation in South Sudan, failing to address intra-South causes of conflict would render a successful Comprehensive Peace Agreement process almost meaningless.

NRC experienced a remarkable boost in media visibility in 2010.

NRC > SudaN RepoRt

SoutHeRN SudaN 2010: MItIGatING a HuMaNItaRIaN dISaSteR

A thematic report from the Norwegian Refugee Council, 2010

REPORTS

SUDAN REPORT 2: In the report Between a Rock and a Hard Place, NRC stresses that return and reintegration will pose a major challenge in a post referendum Southern Sudan, and asks all actors to cooperate to prevent a return move-ment that is poorly planned, politically motivated or results caused by intimi-dation.

SIGNIFICANT ONLINE FACELIFTThe NRC web is Norway’s most comprehensive online collection of updated information on all aspects of forced migration, in English and Norwegian.

It contains news, statistics and infor-mation about displacement in more than 180 countries, and is an active channel for advocacy and information on all key issues.

In preparation for the 2010 National Telethon, the Norwegian website underwent a comprehen-sive upgrade – including a brand new look and information architec-ture, close integration of multimedia and Google maps, and a new up to date technical framework. The main goal of the upgrade was to provide our users with easier access to information about the worldwide refugee and IDP situation, and to give a more thorough presentation

of NRC programme activities and global and national advocacy issues. In 2011, a similar upgrade will be implemented on the international, English language website.

In the run up to the National Telethon, the NRC launched two separate websites: Blimed.no focused on recruiting and motivating volunteer Donation Collectors, and tva2010.no, which enabled the Norwegian corporate sector to support the Telethon by participating in a corporate relay. Both websites proved to be a success and were partly responsible for the record-breaking end result of the 2010 telethon.

FOLLOW NRCSince 2009, NRC has incorporated social media in its online information strategy. The 2010, web upgrade included a closer integration with the NRC’s social network profiles on Facebook and Twitter. As a result the number of people following NRC on Facebook rose from around 300 to almost 4,000 by the end of 2010.

REPORTSA thematic report from the Norwegian Refugee Council, December 2010

Between a rock and a hard place

Southern Sudan 2010:

displacement and reintegration in post-referendum Southern Sudan


vignettThe 2010 Nrk telethon

TELETHON FOR THE FUTURE

The 24 October 2010 event made a significant contribution to NRC’s ability to assist refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) across the globe, and helped raise awareness about the NRC brand and the plight of the displaced.

The money raised is, however, only part of the annual telethon success story. It is also a story about how thousands of Norwegians invest time and effort in helping others. Without the volunteers, there would have been no telethon.

The 2010 NRK telethon

NRC was awarded the NRK telethon 2010. This is NRC’s fifth since the organisation was awarded the very first NRK telethon in 1974.

24 OCTOBER 2010: NRC focused on inspiring all Norwegians to be willing to donate, and to make it possible to do so. The volunteer donation collectors were instrumental in achieving this goal.

Photo: N

RC



THE TELETHON AT A GLANCE The campaign• The focus of the campaign was the

fact that 43.2 million people have been displaced by war and conflict, and that many receive no aid.

• The money raised in the telethon will contribute to assisting more displaced people over the next five years.

• Seven countries were in focus: Afghanistan, Pakistan, DR Congo, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Somalia, Sudan and Colombia.

The donations• The telethon raised 209 million NOK.• It is the second largest sum ever raised

in the annual telethon, and the largest amount raised by one organisation alone.

• The largest contribution by far, comes from the donations collected door to door.

• Particular focus was also put on raising donations from businesses, through a competitive donation relay. The strategy resulted in record-breaking business donations, amounting to 18 million NOK from 1,300 businesses.

• Focus on educational activities gave especially good results. Children in schools and kindergartens raised more than 4 million NOK.

• A survey immediately after the telethon revealed that 75 % of all Norwegians had donated, or were about to donate, money.

The volunteers• The volunteers are central to the telethon.• 7,000 volunteers were engaged in recruiting donation collectors and organising the event. • The volunteers engaged with local media, sports clubs, churches, schools, kinder gartens,

businesses, trade unions and many other groups and networks.• County and local council members helped organise and coordinate the event on a voluntary basis.

OSLO, 11 OCTOBER 2010: Photographer Marcus Bleasdale’s pictures from DR Congo were the centre of attention during the telethon kick-off. The images were projected onto the Norwegian parliament building, Stortinget, while a string of well-known artists performed from an outdoor stage. The successful event resulted in substantial media coverage.

Photo: O

laf Gunnar A

lteren/NR

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The donation collectors• 100,000 volunteer donation collectors

went door to door to raise money – covering all collection districts.

• They collected more than half of the raised amount, 114 million NOK.

• NRC dedicated a lot of time and effort on recruiting, motivating and enabling the volunteer donation collectors – in recognition of the fact that they are at the core of the annual telethon.

• The amount of money collected by the volunteers in 2010 was 14 % higher than the previous year.

The Internet• www.tvaksjonen.no was the official web site of the NRK telethon, providing information

on all aspects of the event. • NRC decided to create an additional dedicated campaign site, www.blimed.no, to

recruit volunteer donation collectors, raise donations and supply information even before the official web site was up and running.

• The donation web site www.tva2010.no was at the centre of the campaign to engage businesses.

• NRC actively engaged in social media, by promoting the campaign and by recruiting donation collectors through Facebook.

The staff• The NRC telethon secretariat was

established on 1 January 2010. • 54 staff members were employed for

between 2 and 12 months: 16 in the central secretariat, the rest in district offices in all counties.

• The telethon secretariat cooperated closely with the NRC administration and the telethon manager reported directly to the Secretary General.

• The marketing and press working groups consisted of both telethon secretariat and NRC staff members.

• NRK had its own telethon production secretariat, cooperating closely with the NRC secretariat throughout the process.

The media• NRC succeeded in putting the plight of

refugees and IDPs on the media agenda in the run up to the telethon – stories that are normally under-reported.

• NRC set a new media record for the NRK telethon for the number of media mentions.

• In October 2010, the telethon was fourth on the list of the most frequently reported stories in the Norwegian media.

• In September and October the telethon was rated as the third most positive media event in a public opinion poll.

• One highlight: In an editorial, Norway’s biggest paper, Aftenposten, encouraged people to donate money to the telethon.

OSLO, 29 SEPTEMBER 2010: Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson visits St. Sunniva School in Oslo, during the kick-off of a string of school events in the run up to the telethon.

KENYA, SEPTEMBER 2010: Prior to the telethon, Queen Sonja of Norway travelled to Daadab, the world’s biggest refugee camp. As the high protector of the annual telethon, the Queen helped put focus on the plight of refugees. In this picture, Queen Sonja is walking through Dadaab with NRC Country Director Hassan Khaire and NRC Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson.

Photo: E

rlend Aas/S

canpix

Foto: Elisabeth N

orheim/N

RC



The song• The famous Norwegian singer and

songwriter, Sivert Høyem, created the song “Prisoner of the Road” especially for NRC and the telethon 2010.

• The song was launched on 10 October, and topped the official Norwegian music charts for two weeks.

• All proceeds were donated to the telethon.• “Prisoner of the Road” was also the

soundtrack for a promotional film about the telethon, produced by director Erik Poppe.

The future• The money raised in the telethon will

help secure NRC’s work with refugees and IDPs across the globe for the next five years.

• It represents an important contribution to NRC’s ability to respond quickly and efficiently to future crises.

The Show• The NRK telethon show on 24 October

lasted 12 hours.• A record-breaking audience of more than

2.1 million people tuned in at some point during the marathon broadcast.

• NRC’s work and the situation of displaced people were presented through features and interviews.

• The footage of, and interview with, Queen Sonja of Norway, about her visit to the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, created a peak audience during the show.

• Celebrities helped man the phones live in order to encourage donations.

• A string of artists performed, including Odd Børresen, Vamp and Øystein Greni.

OSLO, 24 OCTOBER 2010: TV veteran Dan Børge Akerø and singer Haddy N’jie hosted the NRK telethon show.

OSLO, 2010: Singer and songwriter Sivert Høyem topped the Norwegian music charts with his emotive “Prisoner of the Road”.

Photo: R

oald Høvring

/NR

C

The costs• The administration costs of the telethon

amounted to 30.7 million NOK, 12.2 % below the budgeted 35 million NOK.

• This is far less than previous telethons.• The reasons behind the low administration

costs are a combination of tight cost control and lower NRK fees.

Photo: O

le Kaland

/NR

K


Financial Statement

A SOUND FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

The operating revenue has doubled since 2004. Of particular importance to NRC in 2010, was the NRK telethon – which raised 209 million NOK on behalf of NRC.

The extensive and continued support from our private sponsors has also contributed to securing a sound finan-cial foundation for NRC’s continued efforts to assist displaced people across the globe in the years to come.

NRC maintained a high level of efficiency and tight financial control throughout the year.

The results improved substantially from 2007/2008 till 2009, and the positive trend continued in 2010. Even though financial profit is not a goal in itself to a non-profit organisation, it is important to maintain a sound financial basis and a sufficiently solid equity to withstand difficult times and unexpected losses. The non-restricted equity capital is solid, amounting to 157 million NOK by the end of the year.

NRC was able to handle the in-crease in programme activities and emergency response secondments in 2010 with only moderate increases

in administrative spending. 90,3% of the total operating revenue was spent on direct operational activities. The administrative costs of the NRK telethon were also considerably lower than for past Telethons.

LOW FUNDRAISING COSTSFrom the fiscal year 2009, The Norwegian Control Committee for Fundraising requires that all non-profit organisations in Norway publicly report fundraising costs. According to Norwegian law, the cost of fund-raising cannot exceed 35 %, while 65 % of all collected funds must be used for the stated purpose. In 2010, NRC fundraising costs amounted to only 20 % – far lower than the maxi-mum allowance. In other words: 80 % of collected funds were used on NRC’s core activities – as reported to the fundraising-registry. NRC is actively participating in, and sup-porting, all efforts to increase f undraising accountability.

ALL TIME HIGH FOR FUNDRAISINGNRC raised 255 million NOK through its fundraising activities in 2010 – an all time high in the history of the organisation. The NRK telethon, was a major contributor. However, private sponsors were also important for the good result, contributing more than ever. About 10,000 people contributed to the foundation regularly through the Sponsor a Child Programme. In addition, more than 30,000 people supported NRC through the online web shop, the travel lottery and direct mail initiatives. The annual Scout Fundraising Campaign was also successful, raising more than 770,000 NOK.

ZERO TOLERANCENRC operates in some of the most corrupt countries in the world. Prevention of corruption is therefore high on the agenda. The organisation has a zero tolerance policy and continuously works to develop stronger guidelines and mechanisms to assist staff and partners in their daily fight against corruption. Within the aid community, corruption may occur in the form of bribery, embez-zlement, extortion, favouritism and nepotism. NRC has strong control mechanisms and follows the money closely all the way to the benefici-aries, in order to detect irregularities as early in the process as possible.

nrcfadder.no

Photo: E

rik Tresse/NR

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The level of activities has never been higher in NRC. A fact reflected in the oper-ating revenue, which passed the one billion NOK mark for the first time in 2010. This makes NRC the biggest hu-manitarian actor in Norway.

COLOMBIA, AUGUST 2010: Andrés Felipe Ortiz (9) and his family have been dis-placed by the conflict in Colombia. He cur-rently lives in Tumaco, and is one of the children featured in the NRC Sponsor a Child programme.


Financial Statement

MandateThe NRC mandate states that the or-ganisation shall ”promote and protect the rights of all people who have been forced to flee their countries, or their homes within their countries, regard-less of their race, religion, nationality or political convictions”.

The three pillars of NRC are pro-gramme activities, emergency standby rosters and advocacy and information.

Programme ActivitiesNRC engages in five core activities. The Shelter Programme was, as far as spending was concerned, the most extensive in 2010, i.e. constructing homes, schools and infrastructure. Of the total programme costs, 41 % were allocated to the Shelter Programme. Information, Counselling and Legal

Assistance (ICLA) accounted for 21 %, educational programmes 21 %, distribution of food and non-food items 12 % and Camp Management 3 %. Additional projects accounted for 2 % of total spending.

NRC had programme activities in 21 countries in 2010: Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar/Burma, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Iraq, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), Colombia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. In addition, NRC is collaborating with the Danish Refugee Council in Chechnya. Activities in Timor-Leste were terminated in 2010, while the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq were added to the programme country portfolio.

In the Philippines, the humanitarian needs proved to be less than antici-pated. Hence, all activities will be phased out by the end of March 2011. NRC will keep its humanitarian regis-tration in the country and monitor the

REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2010

Photo: E

rik Tresse/NR

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COLOMBIA, AUGUST 2010: Maria (9) lives with her mother and four siblings in Pasto in south Colombia. She was displaced when her father was kidnapped by armed men, and paramilitaries began harassing her family. Maria attends an NRC Learning Circle for displaced children.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is the biggest, Norwegian international humanitarian organisation, playing a central role in the international efforts to assist refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs). The level of activities has never been higher than in 2010, as revenues crossed the one billion NOK mark for the first time.


Financial Statement

situation closely, in order to be able to respond quickly if the situation deteriorates.

Since May 2008, NRC has worked to establish programme activities in Zimbabwe. In September 2010, NRC was granted its registration. Activities were set up at the end of 2010, and will continue through the spring of 2011. The primary focus will be edu-cational and food security activities for internally displaced people (IDPs), as well as the host population. Where relevant, programme activities will be expanded to include Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA). In addition, NRC will offer assistance to Zimbabweans who are expected to return from South Africa.

NRC set up programme activities in Iraq in June 2010. Humanitarian access represents a huge challenge. However, NRC, in collaboration with UNHCR, was still able to conduct a successful pilot project aimed at IDPs in Baghdad. Pro-gramme activities in Iraq in 2010 included camp coordination and camp manage-ment. In 2011, NRC plans to expand with other core activities, i.e. Informa-tion, Counselling and Legal Assistance, education, and building homes, schools and infrastructure.

In June 2010, clashes between ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan caused massive displacement. The situation quickly stabilized, and the majority chose to return. However, tensions remained high. NRC contributed with Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance regarding land and property rights. If the situation remains calm, programme activities will be closed

down during the first half of 2011.In 2010, NRC applied for registration

in Iran, in order to set up programme activities. The registration came as a response to a request from Iranian authorities, asking the international community to share the burden of —aiding the approximately one million Afghan refugees living in the country. At the same time, Norwegian authorities signalled that they would contribute funds. After several delays, NRC was finally granted registration in January 2011. Activities will be set up through the course of 2011.

NRC also applied for registration in Yemen in 2010, in order to assist refugees from the Horn of Africa, as well as IDPs fleeing from the conflict in North Yemen. By the end of the year, NRC had still not been granted its registration. NRC hopes the regis-tration will come through in 2011 so that programme activities can be set up.

In Pakistan, NRC has been engaged in programme activities aimed at Afghan refugees since 2001/2002, and earth quake victims since 2005. The programme activities were part of a regional initiative, and Afghanistan and Pakistan shared the same Country Director. However, in 2009 the Afghanistan and Pakistan pro-grammes were split, and in January 2010 Pakistan got its own Country Director. The changes will enable NRC to provide better assistance and protection to IDPs in Pakistan, who have fled from military offensives and natural disasters. NRC programme activities in Pakistan increased consider-ably in the wake of the Indus Valley

floods, which affected 20 million people through the course of July and August.

NRC expanded its programme activities in Somalia significantly in 2010, in spite of the fact that Somalia is among the most difficult countries for humanitarian organisations to work in. NRC gained access thanks to an extensive strategy, which efficient-ly balances the need to increase local acceptance of NRC as a humanitarian organisation with the necessary security precautions. Today, NRC is one of the few humanitarian organisations still ope-rating in South and Central Somalia.

NRC also expanded its involvement in Sudan significantly in 2010, in the run up to the referendum on the secession of South Sudan on 9 January 2011. NRC focused particularly on preparing for mass return in the wake of the secession.

Emergency standby rostersThe mandate of the emergency standby rosters is to support and contribute to international operations at all stages of a crisis. In addition, Norwegian Capacity to International Operations (NORCAP) contributes to monitoring and early

warning, rebuilding and development of sustainable structures and democracy. The goal is for NORCAP to consist of 850 men and women from different professions, who are ready for deploy-ment to international operations within 72 hours. The emergency standby rosters’ turnover in 2010 amounted to NOK 164 million.

DRC, 2008: A girl in the Mugunga Camp for internally displaced people in North Kivu – one of the camps where NRC runs pro-gramme activities. 2.1 million people were displaced in North and South Kivu and the Orientale Province at the beginning of 2010.

Photo: Truls B

rekke/NR

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Financial Statement

In addition to NORCAP, and in cooperation with the UN and The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), NRC has developed a range of thematic and specialized emergency rosters: The Protection Capacity Standby Project (PROCAP) and Gender Standby Capacity Roster (GENCAP) provide experts on protection and gender, respectively. The Mediation Support Unit (MSU) consists of recog-nized experts on peace mediation. The Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) was set up in cooperation with the British humanitarian organisa-tions Merlin and Helpage, and consists of specialists on assessing humanitar-ian needs in a crisis. In a mutual agree-ment, NRC and Norwegian Centre for Human Rights discontinued its coop-eration on The Norwegian Resource Bank for Democracy and Human Rights (NORDEM) in 2010.

The 2010 activities within the emergency rosters were dominated by the natural disasters in Haiti and Pakistan, where NORCAP personnel were seconded to a range of UN organisations. In Africa and the Middle East, Sudan and Yemen were the largest recipients of support. NORCAP personnel also contributed to UN efforts during the short crisis in Kyrgyzstan.

The support to international opera-tions by emergency standby rosters operated by NRC, has increased significantly in 2010. At any given

time, 150 people have been on assign-ment. In total, the emergency standby rosters have contributed 1,899 man-months in the field in 2010. Almost 80 %, that is 1,503 man-months, were NORCAP secondments. From 2009 till 2010, the volume of NORCAP support to international operations increased by 497 man-months. The

specialized thematic rosters and NORDEM accounted for the remaining 20 % of the man-months in the field.

NORCAP received a total of 480 requests for personnel assistance in 2010, of which 390 resulted in secondments. There were 90 cancel-lations, 60 occasions where other standby partners filled the positions,

11 annulments, 10 occasions where the suggested candidate was not accepted and 5 occasions where the candidate himself declined the offer or did not obtain a visa.

The UN is NORCAP’s largest partner. In the past few years, UNICEF and UNHCR have received the most secondments. NORCAP has signed

secondment agreements with 11 UN organisations, as well as with the In-ternational Organization for Migration (IOM). Two agreements, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and World Health Organi-zation (WHO) respectively, came to an end in 2010. They are now under revision. The specialized thematic rosters, PROCAP and GENCAP, also have running agreements, comprising recruitment of and administration of personnel, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Mediation Support Unit has signed an agreement with United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA).

Advocacy and informationNRC is continuously advocating the rights of refugees and internally displaced people in its programme countries, international fora and in Norway. In 2010, NRC focused partic-ularly on the need to facilitate return as well as capacity building locally.

NRC issued two reports on the situation in Sudan through the course of the year.

To enhance its advocacy efforts on the need to expand humanitarian access, NRC implemented a newly developed Global Advocacy Strategy in 2010. Special focus was put on Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia.

NRC’s Internal Displacement

LIBERIA, JANUARY 2011: NRC Country Director in Liberia, Astrid Sletten, oversees the registration of thousands of refugees, who have fledd the November 2010 post election violence in Côte d’Ivoire.

Photo: A

strid Sehl/N

RC


Financial Statement

Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in Geneva is monitoring the situation for internally displaced people in approximately 50 countries. Its comprehensive data-base is accessible through the Internet, as well as through the annual publication Global Overview. The database is the authoritative source on internal displacement worldwide. It is exten-sively used as a reference tool by the UN, governments, international media and academic institutions.

In 2010, IDMC took an important step towards closing the information gap on climate-induced displacement – based on a study from 2009, which for the first time indicated the extent of climate-induced displacement and

provided a monitoring methodology. In 2010, the methodology has been integrated into a three-year plan for monitoring climate- induced displace-ment.

IDMC is also contributing to capacity building on how to handle internal displacement nationally and locally in many countries. In 2010, IDMC has focused particularly on promoting the ratification of the historic Kampala-convention on the rights of the internally displaced – which was adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2009. IDMC conducted training activities within civil society and for Parliament members in AU member countries on the issue.

NRC is collaborating closely with several UN organisations, the EU and other international organisations – in the field and through liaison offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York.

The 2010 telethonNRC was awarded the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s telethon 2010. This was the fifth time around for the organisation since 1974, and the event generated 209 million NOK, the second largest amount collected in the history of the telethon. The money collected constitutes a considerable contribution to NRC’s assistance to internally displaced people and refugees over the next five years. The telethon

also boosted public attention towards the plight of refugees and IDPs con-siderably. NRC set a new telethon record regarding the number of media mentions. In October 2010, the tele-thon was fourth on the list of the most frequently reported stories in the Norwegian media. The telethon was also an administrative success. NRC managed to build an efficient and highly committed secretariat, which contributed to considerably lower administrative costs than for previous telethons. The Telethon revenues will be put to use in Afghanistan, Pakistan, DR Congo, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territoriy and Colombia, as well as in new programme countries.

Organisational management, finances and income sourcesSince the fiscal year 2008, NRC has applied the Norwegian preliminary accounting standard for non-govern-mental organisations. In accordance with this, the telethon revenues were included in full in the 2010 accounts. This alone contributed to an increase of 209 million NOK. However, as the money will be spent over the next five years, they have been excluded from the following evaluation of NRC’s level of operational activities. Even when excluding the telethon revenues, total operating revenues increased 8 % compared to 2009 – to well over one billion NOK. 95 % was spent on

operational activities. Short-term assets amounted to 639 million NOK by the end of the year, while short-term debts amounted to 306 million NOK – a ratio of 2,1, which is considered satisfactory. The financial liquidity is sound and the organisation has no long-term debts.

As a substantial portion of income and expenses is based on foreign currencies, NRC is exposed to fluctu-ating currency rates. Donors carry the brunt of the currency risks, but the organisation actively uses currency forward contracts to minimize the risks. With no interest-bearing debt, NRC is not adversely affected by in-terest rate fluctuations. Higher inter-est rates generally improve financial results.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is still the most important donor and strategic partner in most programme countries, as well as in the management of the emergency standby rosters, supplying personnel to UN humanitarian operations. NRC puts great emphasis on continuously developing this close relationship.

In 2010, NRC also received sub-stantial funds from foreign donors in most programme countries. The biggest foreign contributors were UNHCR, SIDA, ECHO, The European Commission, UNICEF, USDOS, DANIDA and USAID. NRC continued to work towards increased funding from these and other international

Photo: A

strid Sehl/N

RC

BURUNDI, 2009: NRC’s Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) project assists IDPs and returnees in Burundi and many other countries with essential documentation, which enables them to enter school, secure tenure to land or repossess lost property, among other things.


bodies. The efforts gave positive results also in 2010, and funds from foreign donors now represent 48% of NRC’s total revenues from institutional donors.

179 million NOK of the 195 million NOK positive net results in 2010 can be attributed to the telethon. It will be added to equity with external restrictions. The remaining NOK 16 million of the positive results will be added to other equity, and is in line with the 2009 results. A major reason for NRC managing to maintain a positive result, is the fact that most of the private donors, recruited through the TV2 live Artists Gala in December 2008, continued their support throughout 2010. The magazine Perspektiv and field reports from NRC’s programme countries, contri-buted considerably to the continued support of private donors by keeping them informed about NRC’s activities. The support from private donors is essential to NRC’s freedom of action and ability to respond quickley and efficiently to the humanitarian needs of refugees and IDPs around the world. In addition to those contributing through the telethon, more than 35,000 people contributed financially to NRC in 2010, through raffles, individual donations, purchasing Perspektiv and the Child Sponsorship Programme.

The positive results can also be

attributed to the fact that NRC has increased its level of activities consid-erably in the past few years, without a corresponding hike in administrative costs.

The telethon revenues will be of great importance to the NRC activity level and financial situation in the next five years. The revenues will be placed as bank deposits and in bond and money market funds – in accordance with placement instructions issued by NRC and the NRK Collection Counsel.

The accounts are presented upon the assumption of continued operations. The Board of Directors confirms that the conditions for continued operations are in place.

Organisational initiatives and human resourcesNRC had 2,700 employees by 31 December 2010, of which 2,300 were national and 127 international employees in the field offices. 142 people were employed at the head office in Oslo, including 16 in the telethon secretariat, and 133 were seconded through the emergency standby rosters.

Work environment NRC is actively engaged in maintaining and ensuring good working conditions within the organisation. This is important in order to attract competent and dedicated employees, as well as to keep and develop the staff in line with organisational strategies and goals.

In 2010, NRC has focused particularly on a more long-term approach to staff training, in different fields of expertise. Once more, management training has

been at the centre. The organisation has developed several arenas and initiatives where management and management training has been at the core. The management-training programme for national employees continued in 2010. In addition, NRC began work on a talent programme for potential Country Directors.

In July 2010, NRC joined Abelia, a trade and employers association, in order to strengthen its competence as an employer and become an even more professional international knowledge-based organisation.

NRC conducted an internal staff survey at all field offices during the spring of 2010. The aim of the survey was to get feedback on staff satis-faction with the quality of support functions at the head office, in crucial service areas. The survey results formed the basis of concrete initiatives to improve field support.

The Work Environment Committee (AMU) met five times during 2010. The issues dealt with were, among others: sick leave, the status of the Activity Plan within the corporate health services, the establishment of an AKAN committee (The Workplace Advisory Centre for issues relating to alcohol, drugs and addictive gambling), the work load in the head office, as well as a new Inclusive Workforce deal and a new deal with Center for Stress and Trauma Psychology. The organisation also conducted health, safety and environment training for safety representatives and AMU members, as well as training in ergonomics for all head office staff.

SOMALIA, 15 SEPTEMBER 2009: A learner at one of NRC’s Youth Education Pack (YEP) learning centres in Somalia. This girl is training to become a tailor.

Johan Persson/N

RC


Financial Statement

54

In 2010, as in previous years, the management at the head office and the main international offices conducted appraisal interviews with all staff. The management met regularly with union representatives and the Secretary General conducted regular collective staff meetings at the head office.

Sick leaveThe sick leave rate at the head office was 2.9 % in 2010, which is 30 % less than in 2009 and 2008. The sick leave rate is thus considerably lower than in other businesses and organi-sations in Norway. This is an indication of a sound work environment and dedicated staff. NRC puts great emphasis on maintaining a low sick leave rate. Implementation of the possibilities and responsibilities embedded in the agreement on an inclusive working environment were continued. This entails a continuous focus on following up staff on sick leave and assisting those on long-term

sick leave in returning to work.

Equality, discrimination and accessibilityAs of 31 December 2010, 62 % of the staff at the head office were women and 38 % men. At the Country Director level, there were 38 % women and 62 % men, while the head office management with staff responsibilities consisted of 57 % women and 43 % men. The head office top management consisted of three women and three men, and the Board of Directors consisted of 50 % men and 50 % women.

At the head office, 9 % of employees were of foreign origin (definition: individuals who have immigrated to Norway themselves, and whose parents were both born abroad).

Men employed at the head office earned approximately 1.8 % more than women.

The NRC recruitment and personnel policy ensures equal opportunities

and rights, irrespective of ethnic background, national origin, language, religion or beliefs, and seeks to prevent discrimination.

As of 31 December 2010, the NRC head office had no employees with reduced physical capacity.

EnvironmentNRC continuously works to minimize the environmental impact of its activi-ties. Among the initiatives is a contin-uous focus on reducing transport and minimizing the environmental strain caused by camps.

The work of the BoardIn 2010, the Board and the adminis-tration have focused particularly on the risk factors, which affect NRC’s ability to carry out its mandate. The main goal of NRC is to provide rele-vant and high quality assistance to as many refugees and internally displaced people as possible. The main risk factors where identified

as increasingly restricted access to the target groups in conflict zones, cost efficiency and operational accountability. At the initiative of the Board, the administration developed a project plan, in order to improve quality, cost efficiency and accounta-bility.

2010 was characterized by close cooperation between the Board and the administration. The Board wish to express its gratitude to all staff for their remarkable efforts.

The Board conducted 6 meetings, including 2 board seminars, and handled 70 issues through the course of the year.

The 2010 Board consisted of: Chairman of the Board, Bernt Bull, and Deputy Chairman, Vidar Helgesen, as well as Kaci Kullmann Five, Gisele Marchand, Trygve G. Nordby, Kari Vogt, Bjørn Førde and Skjoldvor Fjeldvær. The staff representatives were Merethe Nedrebø and Martin Suvatne, with Bente Rydland and Petra Storstein as their vice-representatives.

Three Board members stepped down at the end of the year: Kari Vogt, Bjørn Førde and Skjoldvor Fjeldvær. They were replaced by: Turid Lægreid, Ahmed A. Madar and Cecilie Hellestveit, who were elected at the first Board meeting in 2011.

The coming fiscal yearNRC has been assisting displaced people for more than 60 years. The activities in 2010 consolidate NRC’s position as a competent and efficient organisation, taking action in war and conflict-torn areas with widespread displacement. Despite major challenges regarding safety and access to people in need in many conflict-torn countries, NRC will continue to assist refugees and internally displaced persons in areas where needs are most profound. The need for a continued effort to assist NRC target groups is substantial, and the Board is certain that NRC is in a position to handle future challenges and fulfil its mandate.

Oslo, 9 May 2011

Bernt Bull Vidar Helgesen Chairman of the Board Deputy Chairman of the Board

Cecilie Hellestveit Turid Lægreid Trygve G. Nordby Ahmed A. Madar Kaci Kullmann Five Gisele Marchand Board member Board member Board member Board member Board member Board member

Martin Suvatne Merethe Nedrebø Elisabeth K. Rasmusson Staff repr. Staff repr. Secretary General


Accounts

ACTIVITY ACCOUNTS (PROFIT & LOSS)

(All figures in NOK 1 000) Notes 2010 2009REVENUEContributions from Norwegian donors 533 110 561 045Contributions from foreign donors 481 215 370 001Total contributions from donors 5 1 014 325 931 046

Lotteries and games 8 646 10 254Telethon funds 2 209 246Sponsors 2 31 015 26 670Webshop / sale of products 2 166 3 500Advertisments in NRC magazine 1 452 1 099Total fundraising 252 525 41 523

Financial income 7 074 10 176Financial costs -1 784 -680Net financial income 5 290 9 496

Other income 0 0TOTAL REVENUE 1 272 140 982 065

(All figures in NOK 1 000) Notes 2010 2009OPERATING COSTSHumanitarian activities;Shelter (building of homes and schools) 319 604 278 711Education 167 516 173 978Information, Councelling and Legal Assistance 165 738 159 208Camp Management 90 637 58 168Emergency Food Security & Distribution 23 431 30 287Other 14 547 18 852

Total direct costs to Programme Activities 781 475 719 204

Advocacy and Information 41 042 33 493Project Support at Head Office 3 48 069 40 310

Administration costs 3 5 863 6 707

FundraisingLotteries and games 5 319 7 724Telethon funds 2 30 730 Sponsors 8 162 9 502Webshop / sale of products 265 3 650Other fundraising costs 4 632 6 657Support costs at Head Office 3 1 605 1 364

Total fundraising costs 50 713 28 897

Emergency Standby Rosters 149 979 131 943

Total costs to humanitarian activities 1 020 564 924 949

TOTAL OPERATING COSTS 1 077 140 960 554

Appropriation of net result:

NET RESULT 195 000 21 511

Transfer to (from) other equity 195 000 21 511Sum appropriation of net result 195 000 21 511


Balance sheet

BALANCE SHEET AS PER DECEMBER 31(All figures in NOK 1 000) Notes 2010 2009

ASSETSLong term assetsLong term receivables 8 35 35Fixed assets 6 1 966 492

Total long term assets 2 001 527Short term assetsShort term receivables, donors 64 311 52 834Short term receivables 22 253 17 901Shares and bonds 7 60 881 58 069Bank deposits and cash 9 491 348 317 457

Total short term assets 638 793 446 261

Total assets 640 794 446 788

(All figures in NOK 1 000) Notes 2010 2009

EQUITY AND LIABILITIESEquityFoundation capital 1 000 1 000Contingency fund 49 000 49 000Other equity 10 106 557 90 155Equity with external restrictions 2,10 178 598 0

Total equity 335 155 140 155

Short term liabilitiesTrade accounts payable 6 240 4 385Government fees 21 973 17 077Project funds received as advancements 231 142 238 717Other short term liabilities 46 284 46 455

Total short term liabilities 305 639 306 633

Oslo, 9 May 2011

Bernt Bull Vidar Helgesen Chairman of the Board Deputy Chairman of the Board

Cecilie Hellestveit Turid Lægreid Trygve G. Nordby Ahmed A. Madar Kaci Kullmann Five Gisele Marchand Board member Board member Board member Board member Board member Board member

Martin Suvatne Merethe Nedrebø Elisabeth K. Rasmusson Staff repr. Staff repr. Secretary General

Total equity and liabilities 640 794 446 788


CASH FLOW ANALYSIS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

(All figures in NOK 1 000) 2010 2009Cash flow generated by operations:

Depreciation of fixed assets 935 935Increase(+) / Decrease(-) of project advancements -19 052 -14 824Change in other short term receivables & liabilities 2 228 8 391

Cash flow spent on investments in fixed assets:Investments in fixed assets -2 409 -149Net investment in shares and bonds -2 812 -3 549

(B) Cash spent on investments in fixed assets -5 221 -4 021

Cash flow from long term financing:Increase(-) / Decrease(+) in long-term receivables 0 0

(C) Net cash effect of long term financing 0 0

Bank deposits and Cash Jan 1 317 457 305 315

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-profit humanitarian foundation. Its activities are financed through project contributions from donors such as the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Swedish SIDA, the UN system and EU, and also with own funds collected through fundraising.In total 47% of project contributions from donors came from non-Norwegian actors. In 2010, NRC-projects were conducted in 21 countries, some of which experience considerable lack of stability. Consequently, a relatively high risk applies to human resources and to the foundation’s assets. The financial risk, however, is rarely the responsibility of NRC. The donors will normally carry the risk of financial loss caused by acts of war or robbery, provided appropriate security measures have been taken. All NRC-employees in Norway and abroad are insured, removing all liability of the foundation in the event of war, other unrest or accidents. Similarly, all material is insured.

On March 13th 1997, NRC was organized as a foundation, with a foundation capital of NOK 1 mill. Being a foundation, NRC’s financial statements must be submitted to Regnskapsregisteret in Brønnøysund, Norway. The foundation is tax- exempt.

As of the accounting year 2008, Norwegian Refugee Council has implemented a new accounting standard for non-profit organisations; the Provisional

Norwegian Accounting Standard on Good Accounting Principles for Idealistic Organisations as of November 2008. The main change is that the profit and loss account is classified by activity rather than by type. Operating costs are split into three main categories; humanitarian activities, fundraising and admini-stration. Humanitarian activities are split into our different operational activities.

Principles of revenue-and cost recognition Income from marketing activities (fundraising from individuals, organizations and companies, plus lotteries etc) are recognized as revenue when received, except funds with specific restrictions on usage. There are always certain restrictions to income classified as ‘Contributions from donors’ in the Activity Accounts, also including an obligation to return unused funds to donors. Such contributions are recognized as revenue in line with expenditures used. Telethon funds are in line with the above mention accounting standard for non-profit organi-sations, recognized as revenue when received. Un-used Telethon funds have been recognized in the balance sheet as ‘equity with external restrictions’. Costs are recognized as costs when incurred.

Classification and evaluation of balance sheet itemsShort term assets and liabilities include items which are due for payment within one year from the balance sheet day, and items connected to operation of the

Note 1 Accounting principles

NotesAccounts

Net result 195 000 21 511

(A) Net cash flow from operations 179 111 16 013

A+B+C Net changes in cash flow during the year 173 891 12 141

Bank deposits and Cash Dec 31 491 348 317 457


Notes

projects. Other items are classified as fixed assets/long-term liabilities. Shares and bonds are measured at their actual value on the balance sheet day. Long-term assets are valued at the lowest of acqui-sition cost and fair value. Write-downs to fair value are carried out when the decrease in value can not be considered temporary, and must be considered necessary according to generally accepted account-ing principles. The write-downs are reversed when the basis for write-downs no longer exists. Long-term liabilities are included in the balance sheet at fair value on the balance sheet day.

Fixed assetsFixed assets with an expected economic useful life of more than three years and a cost of more than NOK 15 000, are capitalized in the balance sheet and depreciated over their economic useful life. Maintenance of fixed assets are charged directly to p&l, while additional investments and/or improve-ments are added to the purchase price of the fixed asset and depreciated accordingly with the same. Fixed assets procured for usage in the field are charged directly to Profit and Loss at the time of procurement. This because the purchase cost is covered in total by donor and the asset will normally be at the donor’s disposal at the end of the project.

In addition there is a rapid wear and tear and high risk of loss of the assets.

ReceivablesReceivables are included in the balance sheet at face value less deduction of provisions for expected loss. Provisions for bad debts are based upon indi-vidual assessments of each receivable.

Foreign exchangeBalance sheet items in foreign currencies are converted at the exchange rate at the day of balance, except receivables and liabilities in projects, which are valued at acquisition cost. Bank deposits and cash holdings acquired for usage in donorfinanced projects, are also maintained at the rate of acquisition, because this is the rate used when the donors approve and compensate for costs paid in foreign currencies. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included as financial items in the Profit and Loss.

Note 2 Sponsors and fundraising (earmarked and non-earmarked) (All figures in NOK 1 000) 2010 2009

Non-earmarked contribution from private sponsor 21 580 21 512Non-earmarked contribution from business and other partners 1 312 1 831Earmarked contrib. from private sponsors, business and others 8 123 3 327

Total contributions 31 015 26 670

Non-earmarked contribution from private sponsors, is mainly from monthly support from our 9000 spon-sors. We received earmarked contributions at 3.8 mill NOK to be used for the victims after earthquake in Haiti and 1.75 mill NOK to be used for the victims of the flood in Pakistan.

Spesification of Telethon funds (NRK 2010) 2010

Fundraised amount 209 246Fundraised costs -30 730Telethon-funds used in 2010 (-) - 793Interest on fundraised amount 2010 (+) 875

Netto TV-aksjonsmidler til disposisjon pr 31/12 178 598

Telethon funds should be placed in an separate bank account, where interest from this account will be used for program activities too. These funds have to be used and spent in a period of 5 years and in com-pliance with activities specitied in our application. Use of Telethon funds will be audited yearly and report-ed to NRK (NRK’s “Innsamlingsråd”).


Notes

(All figures in NOK 1 000) 2010 2009

Salaries 378 767 347 132 Social security allowance 16 546 13 246Other benefits 49 212 47 281Gross salary costs 444 525 407 659

The Secretary General was in 2010 paid NOK 927.659 in salaries and NOK 7.396 in other allowances, in total NOK 935.055. No remunerations was paid to the Board members in 2010. The fee to Ernst & Young AS for ordinary audit for 2010 is estimated to NOK 248.000 (ex VAT). In addition, NOK 4.241.065 was paid for project audits performed in Norway and abroad. These audits were performed by a number of different auditors. The audit fees are included under ‘Administration costs’ and ‘Direct costs on Humanitarian activities’, respectively.

At the end of the year there were 142 employees at the head office in Oslo and 2.300 local employees in other countries. In addition, 293 employees were employed by NRC in Oslo, for service abroad. A total of 901 persons were employed by NRC in Oslo in 2010 for service abroad. All employees paying tax to Norway are members in The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund; NRC’s pension sheme. The secondees; who work for miscellenous UN-organizations abroad, were incorporated as members of the above mentioned pension scheme from January 1st 2010.

(All figures in NOK 1 000)

Support costs at Head Office 2010 2009

Specification of costs by activities

Specification of costs by type 2010 2009

Project materials etc 595 867 509 623Salaries and social costs 444 525 407 659Other operating costs 35 813 42 188Depreciation of fixed assets 935 1 084

Following Provisional Norwegian Accounting Standard on Good Accounting Priciples for Idealistic Organisations, costs to administration are defined as the part of the costs for running of the organisation that are not directly linked to specific activities.Administration costs include costs incurred by the Board, salary to Secretary General and her assistant, Director of Administration, HR- director, Chief Accountant, Strategic Advisor and fees to auditors and lawyers.

All employees of Norwegian Refugee Council are employed to work with one or more of the main activities of the organisation, and costs related to these persons are distributed among the different activities. Indirect support functions at the head office are distributed between the main activities based on the number of manyears linked to the different activities.

Support- and administration costs are mainly financed by donors as percentage add-ons to direct project costs. Also parts of the advocacy and information activities are not directly financed externally and must therefore be financed within the same percentage add-on or with equity.

Project support to Humanitarian activitie 41 252 3,8 % 35 075 37 % Indirect support functions 9 798 0,9 % 8 190 0,9 %Total support costs 51 050 4,7 % 43 266 4,5 %

Other fundraising 1 376 0,1 % 1 364 0,1 % Lotteries and games 229 0,0 % 227 0,0 % Administation 1 376 0,1 % 1 364 0,1 %

Direct costs on Humanitarian activities 972 495 90,3 % 884 640 92,1 %Indirect costs on Humanitarian activities 48 069 4,5 % 40 310 4,2 %Administration costs 5 863 0,5 % 6 707 0,7 %

Total operating costs 1 077 140 100 % 960 554 99 %

Fundraising 50 713 4,7 % 28 897 3,0 %

Total operating costs 1 077 140 960 554

Distributed between Humanitarian activities 48 069 4,6 % 40 310 4,2 %

Note 3 Specification of operating costs Note 4 Salaries etc


Note 5 Project revenue split on donors, countries and regions (All figures in NOK 1 000) MFA UNHCR SIDA ECHO EC UNICEF USDOS NORAD DANIDA USAID UNDP CIDA WFP OCHA DFID DFAIT Other Total Own funds TotalLand Norway UN Sweden EU EU UN USA Norway Denmark USA UN Canada UN UN UK Canada Institutional Collected Donors funds

Asia Afghanistan 39 664 9 394 11 626 12 947 9 505 7 658 5 876 6 223 1 299 2 104 194 541 104 735Philippines 1 700 66 1 766 1 567 3 333Georgia 20 871 10 737 4 247 2 306 94 38 256 141 38 397Iraq 3 359 25 3 384 1 105 4 489Kyrgyzistan 1 497 -8 1 489 284 1 773 Lebanon 8 536 3 631 9 442 3 244 24 853 24 853Myanmar 21 498 545 25 22 068 1 000 23 068Nepal 90 90 90Pakistan 16 362 2 549 8 123 16 791 2 742 3 021 49 589 1 467 51 056Palestine Territories 10 198 9 374 1 578 21 151 1 266 22 416Russia/Central Asia 6 098 6 098 6 098Sri Lanka 8 746 5 156 3 224 5 223 1 692 24 041 524 24 565Timor Leste 12 083 12 083 12 083Secondments 61 407 374 11 220 1 723 74 725 74 725

Total Asia 205 464 26 040 32 808 53 479 20 278 374 7 658 1 692 8 618 7 810 0 0 0 14 242 1 844 0 3 480 383 788 7 894 391 683

Africa Burundi 12 768 9 864 6 189 1 086 -15 123 3 600 3 612 37 228 389 37 617Ivory Coast 6 867 4 223 11 829 6 862 29 780 29 780Congo D.R. 25 098 6 952 11 087 -42 25 662 5 392 0 7 985 4 557 106 86 796 866 87 662Liberia 31 817 3 304 2 453 37 574 37 574Somalia/Kenya 69 886 40 626 10 921 31 908 10 860 2 124 4 041 508 358 2 581 173 813 173 813Sudan 21 443 1 427 8 655 7 373 6 2 299 41 204 41 204Uganda 27 769 5 644 5 570 2 858 1 807 2 435 1 362 1 083 48 529 32 48 561Zimbabwe 3 264 3 264 6 3 270Other countries 29 46 1 845 296 473 2 689 298 2 988Secondments 44 704 470 114 11 220 1 723 58 232 58 232

Total Africa 243 643 65 029 51 794 36 106 22 688 27 885 9 556 3 600 7 373 0 9 792 514 6 992 12 941 0 2 299 18 895 519 109 1 592 520 700

Europe Switzerland/Belgium 5 624 633 1 619 265 1 440 4 006 3 427 517 10 301 27 831 27 831Norway 5 929 2 004 490 8 422 8 422

Secondments 15 456 723 16 179 16 179

Total Europe 27 009 633 1 619 265 0 1 440 0 2 004 0 4 006 0 0 0 0 3 427 517 11 513 52 432 0 52 432

America Colombia 17 744 584 3 767 0 9 417 8 046 3 449 43 007 1 548 44 555Secondments 15 178 15 178 3 002 18 180Total America 32 922 584 3 767 0 0 0 0 9 417 0 0 0 8 046 0 0 0 0 3 449 58 185 4 550 62 735

Other 811 811 125 936

Total project-revenue 509 037 92 285 89 989 89 850 42 966 29 699 17 215 16 713 15 992 11 815 9 792 8 560 6 992 27 182 5 272 2 816 38 149 1 014 325 14 162 1 028 486

Donor’s share (ex secondments) 44 % 11 % 11 % 11 % 5 % 3 % 2 % 2 % 1,9 % 1,4 % 1,2 % 1,0 % 0,8 % 0,6 % 0,6 % 0,3 % 4 % 100 % 1 % 101 %

Notes


Notes

Note 6 Fixed assets (All figures in NOK 1 000) Furniture, IT, equipment

Acquisition cost as per Jan 1st 2010 4 444Investments in 2010 2 409 Divestments in 2010 0

Acquisition cost as per Des 31st 2010 6 853

Accumulated depreciation/write-downs as per Jan 1st 2010 -3 952Depreciation in 2010 - 935 Divestments in 2010 0

Accumulated depreciation/write-downs Dec 31st 2010 -4 887

Net book value at Dec 31st 2010 1 966

Depreciation rate (linear) 33 %

NRCs head office on four floors in Grensen 17 Oslo, is rented from Søylen Eiendom AS. The rental contract runs until 1. July 2013, the annual rental fee is approx NOK 5 million.

Note 7 Shares and bonds

Surplus funds are invested in the market through professional investors. NRC do not invest in shares.

(All figures in NOK 1 000) Acqusition Value Inv./(sale) Yield 2009 Value Name cost 31.12.09 2010 Amount % (annual) 31.12.10

DnB NOR Likviditet (IV) 17 246 17 408 0 526 3,0 % 17 934

DnB NOR Obligasjon (III) 18 605 18 961 0 1 180 6,2 % 20 141

DnB NOR Obligasjon 20 (III) 21 455 21 700 0 1 106 5,1 % 22 806

Total bonds 57 306 58 069 0 2 812 4,8 % 60 881

Booked value equals market value both in 2009 and 2010.

Note 8 Long-term receivables

In 2001, 10 of Norways largest humanitarian organizations started a co-operation on games on the internet. In this connection, two companies were established: “De 10 Humanitaere AS” where each organization paid in NOK 15.000 for 10% of the share capital. In addition, each organization granted a loan of NOK 100 000 to ‘De 10 Humanitaere AS”, of which NOK 20 000 is not yet paid back. The loan, totalling NOK 1 mill, was used to acquire 51 % of the company “Norskespill.no AS”.

Note 9 Bank deposits and cash

Of the bank deposits, NOK 6,0 mill is tied up on a separate account for tax deducted from employees, NOK 7,0 mill is deposited as guarantee for lotteries and NOK 1,8 mill as deposit for the rental contract for the head office in Oslo. The increase in bank deposits from 2009 is mainly due to Telethon funds with restrictions, in total 179 mill NOK.

Note 10 Earned equity

(All figures in NOK 1 000) 2010 2009

Other equity as per Jan 1st 90 155 68 644Transfer (from) / to Other equity 16 402 21 511

Other equity as per Dec 31 106 557 90 155

Other equity is not within restrictions to what it can be used for. In addition there is paid-in capital at 50 MNOK. If total equity gets lower than 50 mnok, the Board has committed itself to implement extra-ordinary measures.

Unused Telethon funds (179 mill NOK) is within strict regulations for use, and are therefore placed separate in the balance sheet, as ‘Equity with external restrictions’. These funds have to be used in 5 years, see also Note 2.

Note 11 Currency risk

All project funds used in the field are converted to USD or EURO. During periods with significant currency fluctuations, the foundation runs a certain risk of currency loss, as most of the donor funds are granted in NOK. In many cases the donors accept to carry the currency risks In addition, the risk is reduced through usage of forward contracts. As per December 31 2010, NRC has no active forward contracts.


Auditor’s Report


Editor-in-chief: Elisabeth RasmussonEditor: Marianne Alfsen/ Felix Media

Publisher: The Norwegian Refugee Council

PO Box 6758St. Olavs Plass0130 Oslo

Tel: + 47 23 10 98 00Fax: + 47 23 10 98 01E-mail: [email protected]: www.nrc.no

Design and layout: Cox Oslo© Norwegian Refugee CouncilEditing completed: June 2011ISBN: 978-82-7411-217-9

ACAPS = The Assessment Capacities Projects ADR = Alternative Dispute ResolutionALP = Accelerated Learning Program AU = African Union CALP = Cash Learning PartnershipCCCM = Camp Coordination and Camp Management

ClusterCIVCOM = The Committee for Civilian Aspects of

Crisis ManagementCM = Camp ManagementCPRU = Crisis Prevention and Recovery UnitCTP = Cash Transfer and Voucher Programs DRR = Disaster Risk ReductionECHO = European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil ProtectionEFSD = The Emergency Food Security

& DistributionFAO = UN Food and Agriculture OrganizationFDS = Framework on Durable Solutions GENCAP = The IASC Gender Standby CapacityHLP = Housing, Land and PropertyIASC = Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeICLA = Information, Counselling and Legal

Assistance ICRC = The International Committee of

the Red CrossIDMC = Internal Displacement Monitoring CentreIDPs = Internally displaced peopleIOM = IntSernational Organization for MigrationMoE = Ministry of EducationMONUC = United Nations Organization Mission

in the Democratic Republic of the CongoMONUSCO = United Nations Organization Stabilization

Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

MSU = the Mediation Support UnitMSF = Médecins Sans FrontièresNFI = Non-Food ItemsNGOs = Non Governmental Organizations NOK = Norwegian currency (Kroner)NORAD = The Norwegian Agency for Development

Cooperation NORCAP = Norwegian CapacityNORDEM = The Norwegian Bank of Resources on Democracy and Human RightsNOROBS = Norwegian Standby Roster for

Civilian Observers NRC = Norwegian Refugee CouncilNRK = Norwegian Broadcasting CorporationOCHA = Office for the Coordination of

Humanitarian AffairsOSCE = Organization for Security and

Co-operation in Europe

PROCAP = Protection Capacity – An Inter- Agency Project

RRMP = Rapid Response to Movement of Populations

SGBV = Sexual and Gender Based Violence TEP = Teacher Emergency ProgramUN = United NationsUNICEF = United Nations Children’s FundUNHCR = United Nations High Commissioner

for RefugeesUNDP = United Nations Development Program UNHABITAT = United Nations Human Settlements

ProgramUNWRA = United Nations Relief and Works AgencyWFP = World Food ProgramYEP = Youth Education Pack

List of acronyms

COVER PHOTO: DRC, 27 OCTOBER 2008: Two boys fleeing from the town of Kibumba, as a tank from the Congolese army moves up behind them. The telltale image was central to NRC’s visual communication during the NRK 2010 telethon. Cover photo: Walter Astrada/AFP Photo/Scanpix

NRC Annual Report 2010

Documents

Transcript of NRC Annual Report 2010