Partners’ Response Overview

The Multi Sectoral Response Plan aims at complementing the efforts of the Government of Indonesia in addressing the direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Education: Recent revisions to the national guidelines supporting school re-opening at both primary and secondary levels for learners across nearly half the country’s districts deemed low-to-moderate risk. A UNICEF supported digital assessment of over 4000 students suggests that 87% cent of them are eager to return to school despite concerns with COVID-19.

WASH: UNICEF’s WASH and the Data and Analytics team have been supporting a national digital platform assessing the ‘new normal’ guidelines which includes real-time independent monitoring of handwashing, safe distancing, and mask-usage. As part of WASH advocacy and technical support to provincial and district governments in Papua, and as part of the Reopening of Schools Protocol, UNICEF has developed a WASH data analysis and costing tool to assess the gap in WASH services in schools and funding requirements. UNICEF has supported the Handwashing Technical Guidance for schools and public places and institutions, which were endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Culture ( MOEC) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) and disseminated to all 514 districts in 34 provinces.

WHO has been supporting the MoH with webinars on waste management since 2 June. As of 06 July, 9,684 participants have been trained from 20 provinces. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), the MoH and WHO presented current policies on solid and liquid waste management, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as the use of incinerators and autoclaves.

Partners’ Response Overview

The Multi Sectoral Response Plan aims at complementing the efforts of the Government of Indonesia in addressing the direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

CCCM: IOM continues to support the national cluster for displacement and protection coordinated by MoSA through regular coordination meetings with focused discussions on the response to COVID-19.

In collaboration with MoSA, IOM is developing the TAGANA Multi-sector E-Learning platform and response plan and manual handbook to support and enhance the capacity of TAGANA in dealing with the COVID-19 response.

Nutrition: UNICEF continues to support the national and subnational government in ensuring the nutrition security of mothers, infants and young children, by developing and disseminating technical guidelines and strengthening capacity of health and community workers to ensure continuity of essential nutrition services. Various behavior change communication materials developed with the government have been disseminated to more than 7.7 million people.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Camp management

Vulnerabilities

Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) was never fully implemented in Indonesia; this caused the lack of clear guidance on the implementation of CCCM.

Most of the displacement sites were spontaneous without proper consideration on the standards. Lack of space and protection

Lack of planning to provide a dignified life for displaced persons since the beginning of displacement until the time a durable solution is in place.

Support has mostly focused on the emergency phase.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Camp management

Activities

IOM facilitated weekly multi-sectoral cluster coordination meetings on the COVID-19 response alongside MOSA including on the issue on camp management / camp coordination.

IOM distributed a series of operational guidelines for COVID-19 mitigation in displacement camps and camplike settings to government and non-government humanitarian actors in Indonesia, including Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidance on the scaling up of COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response Operations in Humanitarian Situations and IOM’s practical guidelines for virus prevention and control during CCCM operations

Localization of CCCM training for 36 practitioners from 9 national NGOs was conducted. As part of the immediate actions following the training, a joint action was initiated between Humanitarian Forum Indonesia and IOM on CCCM webinar that has taken place on 12 August, with BNPB and MoSA.

A series of CCCM trainings on managing the Rohingya refugees took place on 5 – 7 August in Lhokseumawe, Aceh. The trainings were held in three batches, in each batch, 25 participants from local government, army and several humanitarian actors were included.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Camp management

Cont. Activities

In collaboration with BAZNAS, IOM is exploring the possibility of a displacement tracking matrix (DTM) operation for Luwu Utara.

With other National Cluster partners, IOM is currently developing training curricula for TAGANA where CCCM will be one of technical expertise that will be needed by TAGANA

In collaboration with MoSA, IOM is developing the TAGANA Multi-sectoral E-Learning platform and response plan and manual handbook to support as well as enhance the capacity of TAGANA on dealing with the COVID 19 response.

Rapid assessments on quarantine facilities were initiated by IOM to support the National Cluster on Displacement and Protection and local governments in ensuring the maintenance of standards and availability of multi-sectoral services for quarantined individuals, including services such as WASH, food and nutrition, protection, and the overall management of quarantine facilities.

Partners’ Response Overview

Camp management

Gaps and Constraints

Only few organizations are committed to support the CCCM sector.

Due to the lack of space and socialization, health protocols are difficult to implement in camp locations.

Lack of updated data in camps.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Shelter

Vulnerabilities

Shelter Sub-Cluster members remain concerned about:

The remnant post-disaster shelter support needs of communities still recovering in Palu and Lombok. Almost 2 years on from these twin disasters it is less and less clear who remains in need of assistance living in inadequate temporary or incomplete shelters.

Loss of livelihoods is resulting in increasing rates of evictions of both renters and mortgagees in urban centres. Loss of income has extended for so long now that even households on longer term contracts and those with mortgages are now facing potential éviction. The exact numbers of those affected are yet unknown.

Increasing need for self-isolation and quarantine facilities. This includes helping communities to overcome stigmatism of those suspected of having COVID-19, as well as then training communities on how to select and manage appropriate self isolation / quarantine facilities.

Congestion in camps, informal settlements and slums leading to increased COVID-19 risk.

Need for medical related accommodation for medical staff closer to place of work and families of those seeking medical assistance.

Concern about preparedness and contingency planning for parallel disaster during a pandemic. Over the last 20 years large scale natural disasters have regularly struck Indonesia with the shelter sector, commonly the most impacted and requiring the greatest level of response. Cluster partners remain concerned about how to effectively respond to a parallel disaster, when all resources are already severely stretched and restrictions on movement and interaction still apply

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Shelter

Activities

Support to the Ministry of Social Affairs to develop and disseminate COVID-19 specific guidelines on:

Safe reconstruction during COVID-19;

Self isolation and quarantine facilities;

Safe working practice for aid workers and volunteers.

Training of TAGANA volunteers on safe shelter and sheltering during COVID-19.

Cluster partners are continuing to finalise housing recovery reconstruction and relocation programs in both Lombok and Palu.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Shelter

Cont. Activities

Coordination:

National Sub-cluster coordination meetings are still being conducted weekly, hosted by Kemensos with 30-50 participants

A Strategic and Technical Advisory Group has been formed to represent cluster partners and provide ongoing advice to the Ministry

Sporadic provincial meetings are held on an as needs basis

Seconded district shelter focal points in Central Sulawesi continue to provide support to district level coordination

Self isolation and quarantine facilities;

Note: the IFRC led Shelter Coordination Support Team which was deployed in late 2018, is now reaching the end of its funding and mission. The team currently plans to downsize significantly at the end of September with full closure by early 2021

Partners’ Response Overview

Shelter

Gaps and Constraints

Gaps in shelter needs remain difficult to determine with any accuracy. The shelter Sub-cluster are currently planning for a joint rapid SMS based assessment in both Lombok and Palu and the broader COVID-19 impact to provide clearer understanding of emerging and preexisting needs.

The shelter sector remains significantly underfunded. While it is clear that the impact of COVID-19 is far greater than just health, there has been limited donor or government attention on emerging needs in the shelter sector. An increasing number of households are facing growing insecurity of tenure as loss of livelihoods impacts both on renters and homeowners.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Education

Vulnerabilities

Regarding the academic year for 2020/2021 that began on 13 July, only a small percentage of schools reopened for classroom learning. Only schools in “green zones or no cases”, and recently added in “yellow zones or low risk regions”, which fulfill the health and safety protocols are allowed to open. Re-opening of secondary schools is prioritized, followed by primary and special need schools in September, and pre-primary schools in November 2020

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Education

Activities

The second phase of a national assessment was conducted to monitor the effectiveness of off-line learning through TV broadcasts of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) by using UNICEF’s RapidPro platform. A survey on the wider effectiveness of learning from home was conducted targeting parents and students across Indonesia, with a specific focus in Papua remote areas

UNICEF and MoEC conducted a series of webinars aimed at teachers’ capacity building with a focus on the topics related to both safe school reopening and continuation of home-based learning. More than 8,000 teachers across the country have attended the webinar series.

An online survey has been conducted by UNICEF to capture adolescents’ views and perceptions on home-based learning and school reopening, and received more than 4,000 responses from students in all 34 provinces. The survey results demonstrate the majority of students are eager to return to school: about two-thirds (66 per cent) said they feel uncomfortable studying from home and a majority (87 per cent) said they want to go back to school soon. When asked about going back to school amid the pandemic, half of respondents said they believe it would be best to return once the number of COVID-19 cases is reduced.

Wahana Visi Indonesia supported about 1,000 children and their families to continue learning from home.

Save the Children supports 4,843 children in 33 schools to continue learning through visiting teachers and community learning hours

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Education

Cont. Activities

UNICEF has supported the MoEC on the monitoring of school reopening including development of systematic data collection, analysis and visualization mechanisms. Findings have indicated around 400 out of 514 districts and cities from all risk zones have already initiated preparation for school reopening, applying necessary health and safety protocols.

To promote safe return to school and address potential COVID-19 related concerns regarding out-of-school children, UNICEF is supporting the Government in conducting ‘Back-to-Learn Campaign.’ This targets parents, school communities and local governments with key information materials on safe re-opening (e.g. health protocols, simplified curriculum).

UNICEF supported the development of national school reopening guidelines for the new academic year which resumed on 13 July 2020. Initially only schools in the “green” districts at low COVID-19 risk could reopen for face-to-face learning. However, recent revisions as of 7 August 2020 allow greater numbers of schools to reopen in both green and yellow districts if schools fulfil the minimum safety requirements. This would allow 49% of schools to re-open with others continuing distance learning.

A rapid assessment of home-based learning among children with disabilities is being conducted with UNICEF’s support. This aims to gather information on the needs, challenges and recommendations based on the learning experiences of children with disabilities during the COVID-19. The study will be finalized in mid-August 2020 and will inform guidance on learning from home for these children.

Partners’ Response Overview

Education

Gaps and Constraints

Lack of access to internet, electricity, TV and radio as the media for distance learning persists in several areas in Indonesia, especially in the rural areas. Based on the rapid survey conducted by UNICEF, bad internet connection is a major obstacle (35% of students) to Learning from Home.

Many districts open the schools, which is not in line with the joint agreement between the four ministries, especially outside of the green and yellow zone.

The school’s readiness in the green and yellow zone to meet the requirements, especially on the availability of health mapping at the school level and communication with the school’s committee and parents.

Schools’ readiness especially teacher’s capacity to implement the teaching and learning activities during the pandemic situation both on the face-to-face meeting and distance learning. The rapid survey from UNICEF has shown some of the children also feel boredom, more than 65% children feel unhappy with distance learning.

The activation of the Education Post as the information management centre for education sector at the sub-national levels is not well monitored and implemented. This caused some of the data needed by the national government to have a low response rate, for e.g. the school re-opening data.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

WASH

Vulnerabilities

Many primary health care facilities face challenges with basic hygiene and disinfection – with 20% having no water source within 500m of the facility, 52% of facilities with inadequate wastewater management and only 33% having Handwashing with soap facilities (UNICEF 2019).

Partners’ COVID-19 response

WASH

Activities

As part of the Hygiene Behavior Change Coalition global partnership with DFID/UNILEVER, UNICEF supports the development of the national coalition for public-private partnerships for handwashing with soap. The initiative is endorsed by the Ministry of Health, BAPPENAS and Ministry of Public Works. To operationalize sub-national protocols for WASH and Infection Prevention and Control, UNICEF supported 11 trainings for health care centres and trained 405 health facility staff.

A rapid assessment survey has been developed, tested and disseminated to all provinces. UNICEF has finalized WASH data analysis and costing tool to assess the gap in WASH services in schools and the funding requirements, alongside a video tutorial to support dissemination of hand washing with soap guidance for schools.

Distribution of WASH supplies is ongoing at health facilities, schools, public places and households in six provinces, reaching a total of 1,777,861 beneficiaries to date. Disinfection protocols and services have been implemented in 1,202 healthcare facilities, 196 schools and 2300 public places. Handwashing with soap stations have been installed in 408 HCFs, 59 schools and 193 public places. Through the Indonesian Red Cross Society, Unilever soap bars were distributed to 132,700 households. To operationalize WASH and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols, UNICEF supported 37 trainings for health care centers and trained 651 health facility staff. Orientation sessions for setting up handwashing with soap (HWWS) units and ensuring good operations and maintenance are conducted for the provincial and district offices.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

WASH

Cont. Activities

Save the Children’s handwashing stations and hygiene kits reached 103,829 people, which also received RCCE services.

UNICEF-supported the development of new guidelines for Community-based Total Sanitation that include precautionary measures to safeguard community members and front-line workers against COVID-19 transmission during community mobilization activities. On 30 July, the UNICEF WASH team organized a school reopening workshop convened by the Papua Provincial government that was attended by 22 district government officials, school administration staff and school associations. WASH technical and advocacy resources for improving WASH conditions in schools including WASH in schools’ data analysis, costing tool, HWWS technological options and funding guidance for school improvements were disseminated at the workshop.

In collaboration with WHO, the WASH-FIT HCF assessment tool will be piloted in one of UNICEF support provinces with a view toward national scaling up activities.

Wahana Visi Indonesia established or maintained 260 public hand-washing stations.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

WASH

Cont. Activities

To further roll-out the Reopening of Schools agenda, UNICEF supported two webinars convened by the Directorate of Senior Secondary Schools of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) and the Directorate of Madrasah of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) to disseminate HWWS guidance to 5,000 madrasah and schoolteachers across Indonesia. Additionally, in collaboration with the Early Chilhood Development (ECD) Teachers’ Association UNICEF supported national dissemination of WASH in ECD and HWWS guidance to 500 ECD teachers.

The UNICEF WASH team has designed and used a 3M (handwashing with soap, wearing a mask and social distancing) real-time monitoring system to monitor access and compliance with key hygiene behaviours related to curbing COVID-19 transmission. The system is being piloted in DKI Jakarta before national rollout by end of August in conjunction with over 30,000 national volunteers.

Partners’ Response Overview

WASH

Gaps and Constraints

Handwashing rates remain low in the country with high numbers of open defecators and limited access to safely managed water and sanitation services. Access to handwashing is limited in major transmission risk areas including health facilities, schools and public transport points. More than half of the schools do not have access to basic handwashing facilities.

A data analysis of 1484 schools in the 15 green districts in Papua set for the phase one of schools reopening revealed that only 10% of schools have access to basic sanitation, 15% to handwashing with soap facilities and 35% to adequate water facilities.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Nutrition

Activities

Protocols for the safe resumption of essential nutrition services are finalized, with UNICEF support. Continued advocacy and technical support has been provided to the national and sub-national governments to implement the protocol, with intensive coaching and capacity building workshops to accelerate implementation.

UNICEF has supported assessments of essential nutrition services and Infant and Young Child Feeding; and the development and dissemination of guidance re-opening of essential nutrition services.

UNICEF provided lead technical and advocacy support to the government in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week from 1-7 August in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. A few landmark events were organized, including a series of webinars and talk shows engaging thousands of key stakeholders to highlight the importance of breastfeeding during the pandemic, and to launch a national breastfeeding campaign. UNICEF and WHO issued a joint press release, which resulted in a national media coverage urging government and stakeholders to prioritize services and programmes to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as a critical component of the health and nutrition response during the pandemic.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Nutrition

Cont. Activities

Engaging school age children and adolescents on nutritional issues has been a key focus area of UNICEF. First, UNICEF organized a Tik Tok live event engaging a celebrity doctor and chef to highlight the importance of good nutrition which engaged more than 220,000 youth participants. UNICEF also conducted and disseminated findings from a U-Report survey on adolescent dietary intake, physical activity and utilization of nutrition services during the pandemic.

In addition, upon the request of the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and WFP have agreed to develop a series of innovative nutrition education materials targeting school-age children, which will be disseminated to millions of children through government’s digital platforms.

Key nutrition and social behaviour change communication messages, materials and tools disseminated through online and offline platforms by UNICEF have reached more than 7.7 million people. The MoH and UNICEF have jointly organized webinars on various nutrition topics such as stunting, nutrition in emergencies, adolescent nutrition, infant and young child feeding, and maternal nutrition, that were participated by tens of thousands of stakeholders.

Partners’ COVID-19 response

Nutrition

Cont. Activities

UNICEF is also developing online training materials for frontline workers and caregivers to improve access and quality of counselling services during COVID-19. A chatbot has been developed to facilitate online counselling of mothers and caregivers of malnourished children while minimizing the risk of infection for health workers and community volunteers.

UNICEF continues to support the National Nutrition Sub-cluster which hosts weekly meetings of key nutrition stakeholders. Sub-national task force groups are established to focus on critical issues such as infant and young child feeding.