A new cooperation agreement to boost NCA's humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene work in the next years was signed during the annual meeting between NCA and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The new cooperation agreement on WASH for 2016, 2017 and 2018 was signed on Thursday last week during the annual meeting between NCA and MFA.
The total grant of 55,5 million NOK will contribute to improved coordination on global and national level, improved capacity to respond both at NCA Head Office (HO) and Country Offices (CO), as well as improved timeliness, relevance, quality and documented accountability of the humanitarian responses.
"The main aim of this agreement is to increase the volume and quality of NCA's humanitarian WASH work and contribute to the goals we have set out in our global strategy, Faith in Action. It is a great tool that the whole organisation needs to utilize in the right way, keeping our humanitarian ambitions in mind", says Anne-Marie Helland.
Under the new multi-year agreement, NCA will continue to support the Global WASH Cluster's Field Support Team and take an active role in various Technical Working Groups and national coordination platforms. Several trainings on WASH and humanitarian topics will be held each year, and these will be accessible to relevant NCA HO, CO and partner staff.
The 2015 annual report and the annual plan for 2016 for the Thematic Programme on Reduction of Gender Based Violence in Conflict and Post-conflict Settings were also approved during the meeting. This means that Burundi has been included as a pilot country.
NCA also responded to several question posed by MFA in advance during the meeting. The topics included risk management, humanitarian access, diversion of aid, partnership approach, accountability to affected populations, inclusion of vulnerable groups and UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security.