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Self Report 2018

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 2D
    Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Poland commits to promote compliance with the international humanitarian law and human rights norms as an effective tool for prevention of humanitarian crises, in particular those caused by international and non-international armed conflicts.
    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability

    Knowledge of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights norms among participants of an armed conflict and its proper implementation is an important factor for prevention of humanitarian crises. Awareness raising activities in this regard are thus essential both on national and international level. To this aim Poland cooperates on a daily basis with ICRC and supports its projects and programs on promotion of IHL. At the national level, Poland's MFA cooperates with the Polish Red Cross Committee (RCC) and hosts the National Commission on IHL that promotes knowledge and compliance with IHL in Poland.

    In December  2017 Poland's MFA organized a meeting of the Commission on IHL. Issues of better cooperation between ministries and institutions dealing with IHL were discussed. The crucial role of the Polish RCC in promotion of IHL was underlined. The MFA was one of the co-organizers of the Radziejowice School of IHL that took place in November 2017.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Exchange of information among internal actors/institutions.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Human resources/capacity
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Lack of proper resources (human, financial) may have negative effects on effective promotion of compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights norms.   .  

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    In 2018 Poland is planning to organize two meetings of the National Commission on IHL and to prepare the fourth national report on implementation and dissemination of IHL in Poland.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Poland needs to ensure better coordination and more resources.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    -

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 2E
    Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Poland commits to support the establishment of a voluntary international mechanism for continuous reporting on the compliance with the international humanitarian law and human rights norms.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Poland's support was expressed during its active participation in two formal meetings in the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law, organized in Geneva in 2017. 

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Poland observes and monitors the results of discussion during the ongoing process in the framework of the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law and continuously supports the international community in this regard.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Human resources/capacity
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Overcoming above-mentioned  challenges might lead to more effective actions taken by Poland towards achieving the common goal of the establishment of a voluntary international mechanism for continuous reporting on the compliance with the international humanitarian law and human rights norms.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    Conducting further internal consultations and active participation in two formal meetings of the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law in Geneva (scheduled for May and December 2018). 
     

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    It is of utmost importance to achieve common understanding of the need to reach compromise among international community towards converging elements of discussion in the framework of meetings of the Intergovernmental Process on Strengthening Respect for International Humanitarian Law.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Internal consultations and consultations among states, as well as exchange of good practice, i.e. in voluntary reporting.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • Poland commits to dedicate at least 30% of its humanitarian bilateral assistance to support affected local communities that host refugees or IDPs, including in Syria's neighboring countries.



    • Financial
    • Leave No One Behind

    • Poland commits to link humanitarian activities in displacement situations with the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16: "Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies' through activities aimed at social integration and delivering aid in the sectors of education and health".


    • Policy
    • Leave No One Behind

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Acknowledge the global public good provided by countries and communities which are hosting large numbers of refugees. Commit to providing communities with large numbers of displaced population or receiving large numbers of returnees with the necessary political, policy and financial, support to address the humanitarian and socio-economic impact. To this end, commit to strengthen multilateral financing instruments. Commit to foster host communities' self-reliance and resilience, as part of the comprehensive and integrated approach outlined in core commitment 1.
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Refugees

    During 2017 Poland applied the requirements in all humanitarian calls for proposals for Polish NGOs with the aim: "implementation of humanitarian activities aimed at refugees and / or IDPs, and to at least 30% of the local population (as the final beneficiaries)". As a result, in 2017, 8 two-year projects were selected in education, shelter, health and social protection for a total amount of EUR 2.5 million, of which 30% (EUR 825,237) was directed to local hosting communities. Additionally, 7 projects from 2016 were continued for a total of EUR 3.4 million. Polish assistance in the Middle East is aimed at social integration and delivering health and education, in support of Polish engagement in promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies which clearly correlates to SDG 16. In  2017 Poland continued the German program of restoring schools in Lebanon, prepared and implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Lebanon.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    Progress is clearly observable in comparison to years without such 30% requirement. Polish NGOs implementing the projects provided reports regularly on the amounts of the aid delivered with quantitative distinction between the refugees/IDPs and the poorest local communities. The projects were also monitored on the ground by the MFA.

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Field conditions, including insecurity and access
    • Preparedness
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Security concerns are the main potential threat to project implementation in the Middle East, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan. The unpredictable nature of conflicts can change the direction of priority sectors, e.g. by putting the emphasis on shelter or the majority of funds on the emergency relief.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    In 2018 the 2-year projects will continue under the 2017 call for proposals with the rule of at least 30% of aid for local communities. Total amount of projects continued in 2018 will be 150% of the budgets for 2017. Moreover, according to this WHS commitment, every potential Polish humanitarian call for proposal in the future will include this requirement. The Polish-German educational program that started in 2016 in Lebanon will continue in 2018.

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Creating conditions for better integration of the displaced people within local communities. Providing educational services and creating new jobs will give a chance to strengthen the potential of the new generation of the displaced.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Multi-annual humanitarian projects are an innovative solution that the majority of donors are still working on. Such options ensure the predictability of funding for Polish humanitarian NGOs for two consecutive years and provides continuity of aid delivered to the beneficiaries. The joint Polish-German educational initiative in Lebanon is a good example of working together by two EU member states with close cooperation with the government of the affected country. 

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Displacement, Education

  • 3B
    Address the vulnerabilities of migrants and provide more regular and lawful opportunities for migration

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Poland commits to support the development of institutional capacity of the countries directly or indirectly affected by humanitarian crises (e.g. caused by large migration flows), so that they can better deal with crises by increasing their self-reliance, efficiency and resilience (linking humanitarian and development aid).


    • Capacity
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. Highlight the concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2017 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures.

    Poland, in order to respond to the crisis in eastern Ukraine in the most adequate way, in 2017 was implementing both humanitarian and development activities in the region. Such an approach aims to reinforce the effects of assistance and strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of the beneficiaries. In 2017 Polish development assistance in Ukraine covered sustainable and long-term activities targeting internally displaced persons. Such measures complemented and reinforced the existing Polish humanitarian projects for IDPs and people affected by the crisis. Therefore, Polish humanitarian projects in the Ukraine were implemented in the sectors of health and social care, while development projects were based on these priorities: human capital, good governance, and entrepreneurship and the private sector.

    2. A. How are you measuring progress toward achieving your commitments? Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Through existing, internal systems or frameworks for monitoring, reporting and/or evaluation.
    B. How are you assessing whether progress on commitments is leading toward change in the direction of the transformation?

    The results of the MFA monitoring missions in the field and regular reports from Polish NGOs are positive and validated by the current needs assessment which recommends the continuation of such an approach in the Ukraine in near future. 

    3. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    As the needs of the affected population in Ukraine are evolving together with the changing nature of the crisis, we should regularly follow needs assessments in order to decide at what moment the development activities should prevail, and then, potentially, fully replace the humanitarian ones.

    4. Highlight actions planned for 2018 to advance implementation of your commitments in order to achieve this transformation.

    In 2018 there will be continuation of the 2-year projects for Ukraine under the 2017 call for proposals, as well as the 2- and 3-year projects for Ukraine under the 2017 ‘Polish Development Aid’ call for proposals. Moreover, Poland is now in the process of selecting annual and multi-annual development projects for Ukraine under the 2018 call for proposals, which also take into account the development-humanitarian joint approach to Ukraine

    5. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Creating conditions for better integration of displaced people within local communities. Providing educational services and creating new jobs will give a chance to strengthen the potential of the new generation of the displaced.

    6. List any good practice or examples of innovation undertaken individually or in cooperation with others to advance this transformation.

    Delivering both humanitarian and development assistance in Ukraine is an example where an integrated assistance approach is implemented by Poland. The main aim of such an approach is strengthening the capacity of the affected population in response to the changing nature of the crisis.

    Keywords

    Community resilience, Humanitarian-development nexus