STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT
FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE
TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reect the views of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply expression of any opinion
whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or
boundaries.
IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benets migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM
acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in the meeting of operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of
migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
Author: Marta Leboreiro Núñez Country missions and OSE Collaborators: Belén Rodríguez (GVB and PSEA, Ecuador and OSE), Dayan
Corrales (Human Tracking & Smuggling, OSE), Edmundo Carbo (Emergency Unit, Ecuador), Elena Pedrazzani (AAP, OSE), Elizabeth Adragna
(Emergency Unit, Argentina), Juan Carlos Castillo (Emergency Unit, Colombia), Liane Rosa Guglielmetti (PSU, OSE), Livia Manente (Caribbean,
OSE), Rogelio Quintero (Programmes, OSE), Sarah Thai-yen Stemmler (Integration, OSE) and Vanina Modolo (M&E, OSE) Headquarters
Technical support: Alberto Alcalde (Shelter and Settlements), Francisco Astudillo (CBI) and Patricia Ocaña (CCCM).
Proofreading: Milen Emmanuel and Maja Linnea Soa Svensson.
Cover Photo: © IOM Panama / Magda de Garcia.
Published by: Oce of the D.G. Special Envoy for the Venezuelan Situation (OSE).
© 2022 International Organization for Migration.
The technical terminology for shelter and settlement that will be used throughout the strategy is aligned with Venezuela’s Regional Response Plan
for Refugees and Migrants (R4V). More details at: Guidance Note for Shelter Sector Partners. Implementation of RMRP 2022 (only available
in Spanish).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TO WHICH CONTEXT DOES THE IOM INTERNAL R4V SHELTER & SETTLEMENTS
STRATEGY AIMS TO RESPOND? .....................................................................3
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE IOM R4V SHELTER & SETTLEMENTS STRATEGY? ................4
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO SERVE AS ....................................................................... 4
AND HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR .........................................................................4
HOW IS THE STRATEGY STRUCTURED? .............................................................5
AREAS OF INTERVENTION .........................................................................6
IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS .......................................................................7
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENTS ......................................................................12
KEY COMPONENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
ANNEX 1. IOM ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................24
ANNEX 2. IMPACT AND LINKAGES WITH OTHER SECTORS ......................................... 39
ANNEX 3. COMMON MISTAKES WHEN DESIGNING PROPOSALS ....................................42
ANNEX 4. BUDGET DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................45
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
TO WHICH CONTEXT DOES THE IOM INTERNAL
R4V SHELTER & SETTLEMENTS STRATEGY AIMS TO
RESPOND?
1
In recent years, countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have been facing one of the largest humanitarian crises
ever experienced in the history of the region due to a mixed inow of continental and extracontinental migrants and
refugees. To date, from Venezuela alone, more than 6.8 million migrants and refugees from Venezuela are outside their
home country, an estimated 5.7 million of which reside within the region.
The unprecedented movement of Venezuelan migrants and refugees, added to the preexisting mixed movements happening
in the region with continental and extracontinental migrants and refugees, has impacted the regions demographic makeup
and placed growing pressure on receiving States and hosting communities. Host countries in the region are contending
with overstretched public services and budgets, social tensions arising from discrimination, xenophobia and stigma against
migrants and refugees, and pressure to revise existing entry requirements or establish new ones.
The precarious conditions that migrants and refugees face while transiting across the region or after reaching their country
of destination make them more vulnerable when accessing shelter and/or adequate housing which has become a challenge.
Reducing homelessness and protection risks both of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is also a
challenge.
On 12 April 2018, the UN Secretary-General, tasked United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
International Organization for Migration (IOM) to lead and coordinate a response to the migrants and refugees Venezuelan
situation in the region. The two agencies have since established an inclusive, overarching Regional Inter-Agency Coordination
Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) to steer the response to the Venezuelan migrants and refugees
situation. The R4V aims at developing a coherent and coordinated regional operational response, in support of government
authorities and its mirrored R4V subregional/national platforms, covering 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Since 2022, the ocial inclusion of other nationalities in the response has been approved, becoming part of a mixed
movement strategy.
The R4V works as a humanitarian sectorial structure. It is composed of 9 dierent thematic sectors and 3 sub-sectors
and, several working groups and thematic focal points. The shelter sector aims at strengthening the shelter, settlements,
management, and coordination of temporary collective shelters
2
and essential household items
3
response in a coordinated
and coherent manner by, for example, supporting partners through capacity building, coordination meetings, and dening
the (bi-)annual strategy at the Regional Refugees and Migrants Response Plan (RMRP).
4
While the strategy is focused on IOM’s operational and interagency role under R4V for Shelter & Settlements,
it is possible to expand its implementation to the general context of mixed ows in the Americas region,
including Central American countries that are not part of R4V due to their humanitarian country structure.
1 Please refer to the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinaon Plaorm for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela website for updated information. Link
2 Traditionally named Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in the LAC region the term used is Temporary Collective Shelters.
3 Following the regional terminology Non-food items (NFI) is not the recommended term, Essential Household items will be used instead.
4 The Background section has been adapted from the IOM R4V Regional Protection Strategy
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE BEHIND THE IOM R4V
SHELTER & SETTLEMENTS STRATEGY?
As of 2023, IOM R4V country missions are implementing Shelter & Settlements (S&S) activities in 16 out of 17 countries
where R4V is recognized
5
. In all the countries the response is based on the contextualized needs of migrants and refugees
based on country legislation as well as norms and regulations, mission priorities and capacity, etc.; which means there is a
wide variety of S&S activities and modalities of interventions. The present strategy does not aim to capture all the approaches
and activities of each of IOM country missions, rather than providing an overview and a framework to continue developing
their programs following the international minimum standards and guidelines to achieve the organization’s programmatic
priorities under the R4V. As well as to make sure the response is aligned with IOM’s Strategic Vision: Resilience, Mobility
and Governance
6
and the Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF)
7
, and mainstreaming other IOM’s cross-cutting
strategies and operational frameworks
8
.
The IOM R4V Shelter and Settlements strategy is based on bilateral country mission meetings in July 2021, and follow-up
calls in 2021 and 2022, the analysis of IOM appeals against the RMRP from 2020 to 2023-24, and information gathered
through the inter-agency shelter sector coordination meetings. The strategy has been consulted and reviewed by regional
IOM experts and S&S program managers, as well as commented on by regional oces and headquarters. In case of
contradictions or unresolved elements, the prevailing strategy is the global IOM Shelter & Settlements Strategy (to
be published, estimated for 2023).
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO SERVE AS
A tool for IOM R4V country
missions to plan and design
their S&S programs based
on common programmatic
priorities
A guideline to provide
direction to IOM R4V
S&S teams for activity
implementation, including
cross-cutting issues
A guide for IOM R4V
Communication and Project
Support Units to reach out
to donors and media with a
unique message
A monitoring framework
to evaluate IOM
R4V performance on
achieving our objectives
with the expected quality
AND HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR
Programme
Managers to
support the design
and planning of the
S&S Programs
Field Ocers
to implement
and monitor
the response
following IOM
S&S standards/
principles
Knowledge
Management
Ocers to gather
lessons learned
and case studies
in line with the
priorities and work
streamlines of R4V
IOM S&S response
Programme Support
Units to develop
concept notes and
proposals in line
within the R4V
IOM response, and
is a key element
to support donors
relationships
Monitoring
and Evaluation
Ocers to have
a harmonized
and guided
monitoring
framework
5 Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, México, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad
and Tobago, and Uruguay. (Aruba is the only country not implementing S&S activities due to its norms and regulations)
6 IOM’s Strategic Vision: Resilience, Mobility, Governance. Link
7 Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF). Link
8 It is recommended to have basic knowledge of the following IOM cross-cutting strategies, operational frameworks, and approaches. Here there is a list
of the main identied ones for the development of this document: IOM Gender-based violence in crises. Link; IOM AAP Framework. Link; Protection from
Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: IOM awareness-raising and reporting procedures. Link; MECCC – Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment, and Climate
Change 2021-2030 Link; CBI Manual (Field Edition – December 2021) Link; IOM strategy for Humanitarian Cash-based Interventions 2019-2021 (new
strategy to be published in January 2023) Link; Right-based Approach to Programming. Link
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
HOW IS THE STRATEGY STRUCTURED?
IOM R4V SHELTER AND SETTLEMENTS OBJECTIVE (page 6)
AREAS OF INTERVENTION (page 6) TYPES OF ACTIONS (page 7)
Following minimum standards and taking into account
intersectoral approaches and dierent contexts.
Provision of access to adequate:
1. TEMPORARY COLLECTIVE SHELTER
2. INDIVIDUAL SHELTER/HOUSING SOLUTIONS
3. SETTLEMENTS
4. ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
The strategy is implemented through the following key
actions, adapted to each response phase, geographical
location, and IOM capacity:
1. DIRECT ASSISTANCE
2. INFRASTRUCTURE INTERVENTIONS
3. CAPACITY BUILDING
4. COMPLEMENTARY ACTION
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENTS (page 12)
Core transversal issues to ensure that provision of shelter and settlement assistance is eective and dignied.
1. MULTISECTORAL APPROACH
2. INCLUSIVE APPROACH
3. ACCOUNTABILITY
4. DO NO HARM
5. MARKET-BASED APPROACH
6. CLIMATE CHANGE – GREENING THE RESPONSE
7. INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION
KEY COMPONENTS (page 20)
For consideration when implementing S&S assistance.
1. DURABLE SHELTER SOLUTIONS AND LONG-
TERM SUSTAINABILITY
2. CULTURAL APPROPRIATENESS
3. SECURITY OF TENURE - HOUSING LAND
AND PROPERTY (HLP)
4. CASH-BASED INTERVENTIONS
5. MARKET-BASED PROGRAMMING
6. EXIT STRATEGIES
7. DATA-DRIVEN RESPONSE – DTM
8. LOCALIZATION
9. LOCAL INTEGRATION AND INCLUSION
IN NATIONAL PROGRAMMES – NATIONAL
HOUSING POLICIES
ANNEXES (Page 24)
- IOM ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS
- IMPACT AND LINKAGES WITH OTHER SECTORS
- COMMON MISTAKES WHEN DESIGNING PROPOSALS
- BUDGET DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
It is important to agree on the denition of Shelter and Settlements. This strategy will be guided by the Sphere
Handbook (2018 Ed.), taking the denition from the “Essential Concepts in Shelter and Settlements” section, in
the “Shelter and Settlement” Chapter.
y “Shelteris the household living space, including the items necessary to support daily activities.
y “Settlement is the wider location where people and community live.
For more information on terminology, consult the: Guidance Note for Shelter Sector Partners. Implementation
of RMRP 2022 (only available in Spanish)
IOM R4V SHELTER & SETTLEMENTS OBJECTIVE
Provide eective and dignied shelter and settlement support at scale to in-need refugees, migrants, and host communities
in LAC using context-appropriate methods, with the upmost focus on timely life-saving interventions in the framework of
the R4V interagency response; with the ultimate goal of ensuring the right to access adequate housing.
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
Adaptation of the objective through the types of interventions, geographical location, population groups, and phase of the
response is key to achieving IOM R4V shelter and settlements commitment.
9 Under the R4V the Camp Management and Camp Coordination (CCCM) activities are part of the Shelter & Settlements mandate, however, at IOM both
are part of the Preparedness and Response Division under Department of Emergency but part of dierent units: CCCM and Shelter and Settlements. For
Temporary Collective Shelter Global consults refer to: CCCM Support globalccc[email protected], while for the following 3 areas of intervention to: Shelter Support
ShelterSuppor[email protected].
AREA OF INTERVENTION 1
TEMPORARY COLLECTIVE SHELTERS
9
Migrants and refugees have access to adequate and properly
managed temporary collective shelter solutions meeting
minimum standards, where a multisectoral protection
response and basic service provision are guaranteed thanks
to the close coordination of all responsible stakeholders
and active participation of the sheltered population.
y It refers to communal solutions for accommodations.
Collective shelters are pre-existing or new buildings and
structures in which a large group of migrants and refugees
are hosted for a short period of time while durable
solutions are sought. Various pre-existing facilities can be
used as collective centers: community centers, town halls,
entire hotel buildings, gymnasiums, warehouses, unnished
buildings or disused factories. Planned collective shelters
(camp setting) are included, as well as other camp-like
settings like collective, reception, and transit sites, etc.
AREA OF INTERVENTION 2
INDIVIDUAL SHELTER/HOUSING SOLUTIONS
The most vulnerable migrants and refugees without access
to housing or living in non-adequate/substandard dwellings
benet from temporary and/or durable individual shelter
solutions through enhancing safety, dignity, privacy, resilience,
security of tenure, building retrotting, and/or support to
any additional vulnerability caused by the shelter condition.
y It refers to dispersed individual solutions in a dened
area that ensure the right to access adequate housing.
Practically meaning any type of shelter/housing
assistance that enables a household to live independently
in a shelter/house that protects them. Including actions
of construction/repairing of existing or new buildings,
rental, and hosted arrangements, etc.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
AREA OF INTERVENTION 3
SETTLEMENTS RESPONSE
Multisectoral and multistakeholder response in unplanned or
deteriorated areas (formal or informal settlements) where
migrants and refugees live without adequate access to basic
services. Paying particular attention to the improvement
of physical living conditions through safe and dignied
temporary and/or long-term site infrastructures, promoting
social cohesion, resilience, and access to livelihoods and
essential services, such as health and education, in a safe
environment.
y It refers to the interventions in a dened location where
people and communities live to support/increase social
cohesion and integration through urban and shelter
strategies. Divided into soft interventions focused on
information gathering and sharing, communication with
communities or strengthening peoples’ governance
10 Find all relevant information at the IOM Implementing Partner Selection Toolkit Link
11 Refer to the Sectoral Cash Section for Shelter on the CBI Manual (Field Edition – December 2021) Link
abilities and structures, and hard components to ensure
access to basic infrastructures such as water and
sanitation, energy, or public facilities/spaces.
AREA OF INTERVENTION 4
ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Provision of essential lifesaving and life-sustaining household
items to the most vulnerable migrants and refugees to
support restoring and maintaining health, dignity, and safety,
and undertaking daily domestic activities in and around the
home.
y Refers to a group of context-appropriate items used
for sleeping, food preparation and storage, eating and
drinking, thermal comfort, lighting, and personal clothing.
For example, cooking utensils, ashlights, blankets, warm
clothing, etc.
IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS
The way assistance is delivered inuences the quality, timing, scale, and cost of the response. The implementation option
must be decided based on a good understanding of local markets, organizational capacity (including skills and resources),
preferred options by the targeted people (participation in the process). The nal impact of the response will be highly
aected by the implementation option selected during the design and planning phases, impacting at the end on participation
and sense of ownership, gender dynamics, social cohesion and livelihood opportunities of those migrants and refugees
participating in the S&S program.
There should be no dierence in the use of this strategy whether the total or partial achievement of the objectives is
done by IOM or by an implementing partner (IP). Internal instructions on IP Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)/
agreements must be followed
10
including the IOM Code of Conduct and PSEA instructions. The IP becomes the face and
representation of IOM for the implementation, so it is critical that the country’s mission makes the IP aware of this
strategy before signing a contract.
IMPLEMENTATION OPTION 1
DIRECT ASSISTANCE
Provision of assistance directly to migrants and refugees
through shelter and settlements interventions. It includes
both modalities: any in-kind (direct distribution of items/
materials) or in-cash (nancial support for accessing goods,
services, or meeting S&S needs)
11
assistance that directly
impacts the life of migrants and refugees and generally, it
is complemented/supported with other actions (secondary
interventions, see point 4 in this section). And in-kind and
in-cash assistance can be complementary within the same
intervention; the decision should be taken based on local
market conditions.
E.g.: distribution of essential household items kits, provision
of cash for rent payments, equipment of Temporary
Collective shelters with furniture…
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
IMPLEMENTATION OPTION 2
INFRASTRUCTURE INTERVENTION
Direct interventions on both private and public
infrastructures for improvements in quality construction,
building expansions or remodeling, or works for service
provision, among others. This type of intervention generally
requires the availability of IOM technical sta
12
(otherwise,
a technical consultancy may be considered) and/or the
contracting of a construction company. Interventions can
go from small (e.g. wall painting or housing minor repairing
works) to large scale (e.g. public street lighting or building
construction); for the small-scale interventions a link with
cash-for-work
13
modalities can be explored, always keeping
in mind the country norms and regulations.
IMPLEMENTATION OPTION 3
CAPACITY BUILDING
Interventions focused on strengthening the knowledge or
provision of new skillsets to IOM sta, partners, authorities,
and/or migrants and refugees, among others, participating
in response to improve the quality of it. In the case of
12 With qualied technical sta, the strategy refers directly to have engineers and/or architects on the team.
13 Refer to the Sectoral Cash Section for Shelter on the CBI Manual (Field Edition – December 2021) Link
14 For more on Monitoring and Evaluation, refer to the IOM M&E Guidelines. Link
migrants and refugees built up their abilities to have more
opportunities to participate in the response, as well as
access to livelihood opportunities.
E.g.: CCCM training...
These actions require a strong monitoring component after
the provision of the training, as a way of accompanying
during implementation to consolidate the knowledge
acquired by participants.
IMPLEMENTATION OPTION 4
COMPLEMENTARY ACTIONS
It is worth mentioning that most of the interventions do
not achieve the programmatic objective/s by themselves,
they require complementary actions to achieve optimal
maximum and sustainable impact. Actions such as technical/
legal assistance and quality assurance or commissioning/
contracting labor are part of this implementation option.
E.g.: awareness-raising campaigns, studies, data collection
and assessments, legal support in the framework of HLP,
and a long etc.
To, rst, better inform the response IOM should design, plan, and implement being able to adapt it to the context;
second to learn and improve our work, and third for accountability with the aected population (AAP); all
interventions must consider:
y Context analysis to ensure do no harm, promote sustainability, etc
y Data collection (e.g.; assessments, registrations…)
y Monitoring & Evaluation
14
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Summary Matrix of (Potential) IOM R4V Activities by Objectives and Implementation option
Areas of intervention from 1 to 3 can be achieved by a combination of the 4 implementation options that are summarized
above, however, intervention 4 on Household Items can only combine with implementation options 1,3, and 4. However,
not all programs/activities can be carried out through the 4 modalities, given their characteristics, each activity can be carried
out through 1 or 2 types of action.
On the following graphic only the most representative interventions and main activities have been listed, becoming an example
for reference of what IOM R4V country missions could develop in the S&S response. It does not reect complementary
activities. Dierent activities can be implemented if the context requires it. Any activity must be contextualized, responding
to the needs identied by IOM or other partners’ assessments.
1. TEMPORARY
COLLECTIVE
SHELTERS
Management of TCS Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation option 4
Infrastructure intervention Main implementation option 2
Secondary implementation options 3, 4
Provision of equipment Main implementation option 1
Secondary types of action 3, 4
Training of managers and TCS sta Main implementation option 3
Secondary implementation option 4
2. INDIVIDUAL
SHELTER
SOLUTIONS
Hotel/Hostel rooms accommodation Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation option 4
Rental Assistance Programs Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 2, 4
Shelter Repairing / Retrotting Main implementation option 3
Secondary implementation option 4
Shelter Construction, including tool
kits and materials distribution
Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 2, 3, 4
3. SETTLEMENTS
RESPONSE
Settlement community coordination
support
Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 3,4
Public infrastructure intervention Main implementation option 2
Secondary implementation options 3, 4
Community Resource Centers* Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation option 4
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
4. ESSENTIAL
HOUSEHOLD
ITEMS
Distribution of emergency household
items (in transit)
Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 3, 4
Distribution of essential household
items (at destination/transit)
Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 3, 4
Distribution of furniture or other
essential household items to equip a
house (at destination)
Main implementation option 1
Secondary implementation options 3, 4
IMPORTANT: Consult Annex 1 on IOM R4V ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS to better understand how to
implement the strategy in practice.
* In the R4V the Community Resource Centers (e.g.: Orientation and Information Points, Referral Centers,
Support Spaces, Integr-Habitat Centers, etc) are generally part of the Protection or Integration Sectors or Support
Spaces Working Group, depending on the curricula of the center. However, the community and settlement-based
approach for its implementation, makes them overlap with the Shelter and Settlements response. To keep this strategy
in line with the R4V structure and RMRP, Community Resource Centers will be left under the mandate of the other
sectors or WG, however it does not mean that it is exclusive to them for its implementation.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Documents of interest to consult for objectives achievement and clarication
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
The Sphere Handbook Minimum Standards for
Camp Management
Settlements Approach
Guidance Note
Distribution, Shelter materials,
NFI, and Cash - Guidance to
reduce the risk of GBV
R4V REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Refugee and Migrants
Response Plan (RMRP) 2022
Guidance Note for Shelter Sector Partners.
Implementation of RMRP 2022 (only available in Spanish)
Collective Shelter
Management Toolkit
Guide for Adequate
Housing in Response to
migrants and refugees from
Venezuela in LAC
Key considerations: How
to achieve sustainable and
durable Rental Assistance
Field handbook for rental
housing market assessment.
Latin America and the
Caribbean.
National Guidelines:
Harmonization of Non-Food
Items (Ecuador version, only
available in Spanish)
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENTS
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 1
MULTISECTORAL APPROACH
15
In seeking to improve IOM emergency, transition, and integration response on shelter and settlements in the context of
migrants and refugees in LAC, it is important to understand the wider impacts of emergency shelter and settlements
interventions from an inter-sectorial perspective.
Basic shelter and settlements assistance meet some of the most essential and life-saving needs, and can contribute to
improving health and hygiene conditions, and provides physical protection, privacy, and security; after COVID-19 it has been
made clear that also it is a key element for health. However, maybe less obvious, there are other outcomes that are directly
linked and improved thanks to the provision of shelter and settlement assistance. .For example, basic shelter assistance can
contribute to improve access to legal protection (HLP), an improved psychological state and conditions through a sense of
normality, serving as a platform to access to basic services and supports socio-economic integration, among other things;
and, at the end, support achieving the right to access adequate housing.
In Annex 2. Linkages with other sectors. There is a non-exhaustive list of examples of the positive impacts of
access to shelter/housing and settlements.
15 The Wider Impacts of Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements. Key Findings report. Link and Link
.
WASH and Health,
including MHPSS
.
Protection,
including gender
and family life
.
Food Security
& Nutrition
.
Education
.
Enviroment
(DRR)
.
Levelihoods &
Socioeconomic
Integration
Shelter &
Settlements
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 2
INCLUSIVE APPROACH
Gender and disability groups’ norms, and the lack of generational and intercultural approaches continue to pose a risk
to people, making them particularly vulnerable in contexts of mobility and emergencies. Migrants and refugees report
discrimination and xenophobia, and other forms of marginalization and inequality, related to access to S&S. Here is a non-
exhaustive list of points to consider when implementing S&S programs:
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN CRISES
16
DISABILITY INCLUSION
17
y Gender is a risk not just for women and girls.
y People including men, women, boys, and girls who are
non-conforming with gender norms and have diverse
SOGIESC
18
can experience be target of violence and
abuse or exploitation.
y Gender norms can aect/obstruct access to shelter.
y IOM as an R4V partner is committed to promoting
gender-responsive programming.
Examples of gender-inclusive approach programming
are: design S&S projects targeting women/girls in all their
diversity, integrating LGBTIQ+ organizations in Temporary
Collective Shelter activities…
y Persons with disabilities are estimated to represent
15 percent of the world’s population. In humanitarian
contexts, they may form a much higher percentage.
y IOM is committed to the inclusion of persons with
disabilities in its humanitarian response, including
shelter and settlements programs.
Examples of disability-inclusive approach programming
are: design S&S activities to reduce physical barriers to
access temporary collective shelters/dwellings, use and
advocate for accessible communication …
GENERATIONAL / LIFE CYCLE PERSPECTIVE
19
INTERCULTURALITY
y Individuals according to their age are aected by dierent
risks and protective factors.
y S&S interventions can impact on the well-being of all
people during their lives and also future generations, if
age is taken into account.
y IMPORTANT: Child protection minimum standards
must also be considered.
20
y Minority populations are often more exposed to the
damaging eects of crises. The R4V considers specic
needs of afro-descendant and indigenous groups.
y Lack of cultural adequacy on shelter and settlements
responses and policies aect way of living of minority
groups, impacting, for example, their identity,
participation in the community where migrants and
refugees settle, or access to basic services.
y Ethnic minorities, by being located in at-risk areas and
living in inaccessible or remote areas, are at a higher
risk of being marginalized.
Examples of a generational-inclusive approach programming
are infrastructure interventions considering age needs (e.g.;
railings, slope % of ramps, lighting…), activities scheduled at
temporary collective shelters time-friendly for all ages…
Examples of ethnic minorities-inclusive approach
programming are through participatory process includes
ethnic minorities in the design of shelters, Specic needs
assessments targeting minority groups to design the
response…
16 IOM Gender-based violence in crises. Link
17 IASC Guidelines, Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, 2019. Link
18 SOGIESC: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression or Sex Characteristics.
19 Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
20 Consult the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Emergencies (2019 Ed.), Pillar 4: standards to work across sectors. Standard 27: Shelter and
settlements and child protection, and Standard 28: Camp management and child protection. Link
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CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 3
ACCOUNTABILITY
21
The needs and rights of individuals and communities aected by crises should be at the core of every humanitarian response
(protection mainstreaming). Accountability promotes that humanitarian actors give power back to aected populations to build
trust and ensure responses are appropriate and eective for their needs. As part of this strategy, accountability is achieved through:
ACCOUNTABILITY TO AFFECTED
POPULATIONS (AAP)
IOM AAP FRAMEWORK
22
y AAP ensures that operations respond to the current
context and needs of migrants, refugees, and host
communities, being able to respond with the most
appropriate shelter and settlements intervention.
y Accountability goes beyond reporting to donors, and it
is more about listening and responding than doing.
y Community Participation, information sharing/outreach,
feedback mechanisms, and leadership & coordination
are at the core of accountability.
y It is an active commitment to use power responsibly by
taking account of, giving account to, and being held to
account by the people aected in a crisis.
y A rights-based approach and aid eectiveness are two
operational principles.
P
A
R
T
N
E
R
C
O
O
R
D
I
N
A
T
I
O
N
PARTICIPATION
COMPLAINTS
AND FEEDBACK
MECHANISMS
INFORMATION SHARING
AND TRANSPARENCY
L
E
A
D
E
R
S
H
I
P
Some general examples of AAP actions are local leadership committees, participatory assessments, hotlines,
focus group discussions, mailboxes, Communication with Communities (CwC)…
23
The clearest example of it
is the Settlements-Based Approach implementation, where community participation in a specic location is the
core action of the whole intervention.
PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE (PSEA)
24
y Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) is a form of GBV and an egregious breach of AAP.
y Preventing and addressing SEA by IOM sta and its implementing partners in all operations, including shelters
and settlements, is key to promoting protection outcomes.
The R4V has set up a PSEA Regional Community of Practice (IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF)
25
, as part of the work of
this community, please consult the PSEA Risk Assessment Toolbox
26
.
21 From IOM R4V Regional Protection Strategy
22 IOM AAP Framework. Link
23 Most of these examples are part of “Type of interventions: D. Complementary Actions”
24 IOM Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: IOM awareness-raising and reporting procedures. Link
25 The R4V Regional Community of Practice has established at the 2023-2024 Regional Refugees and Migrants Needs Assessment 6 priorities that can be
mainstreamed or support by the S&S interventions, these are: a) establish a network or regional focal points, in order to oer technical support in PEAS to
sub-regional and national platforms, b) oer technical training in the interagency principles of PEA, c) training materials and TOT, d) develop tools for inter-
agency risk assessment, e) support the establishment and strengthening mechanisms to receive SEA reports/complaints, and f) support, together with the Child
Protection and GBV subsectors, access to response services for SEA survivors)
26 Available from January 2023
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SEA CORE PRINCIPLES
1. SEA is a ground for terminantion of employment 2. Sexual activity with children is prohibited
3. Exchange of money, employment, goods or
services for sex is prohibited
4. Any sexual relationship that involvesimproper use
of rank or position is prohibited
5. Humanitarian workers are obligated to report any
concerns of SEA
6. Humanitarian workers must create and mantian
an enviroment which prevents SEA
Some examples of PSEA actions: CCCM training to Temporary Collective Managers include PSEA sessions on
the curricula, during a kit distribution mitigation measure for PSEA are in place and sta trained…
© OIM 2020/Alfonso GIRALDO / Arauca, Colombia
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CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 4
DO NO HARM
27
The Do No Harm principles is an ethical position that recognizes and measures the power of aid and humanitarian
interventions on the lives of vulnerable populations. It means visualizing the eects of interventions in the short-, medium-
and long-term on the life of communities and individuals. It implies monitoring and critically reviewing the impact of the
actions that are developed and accepting that the interventions that work in one context are not necessarily the most
appropriate ones in other locations.
Humanitarian assistance, including Shelter and Settlements interventions, can have negative impacts on the communities and
individuals with whom IOM and partners’ work. The high value of aid resources (e.g., the cost of a multipurpose tent in a
collective site or a household items kit for an individual) as well as the powerful position of humanitarian workers can lead
to the exploitation and abuse
28
, competition, conict, and misuse or misappropriation of aid. Aid can undermine livelihoods
and market systems, drive resource conict and amplify unequal power relations between dierent groups. Anticipate these
potential negative eects, monitor and take actions to prevent them if possible.
WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS THAT IOM CAN TAKE TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE?
General examples, that apply to the S&S
response
y Be aware of cultural practices. Examples include:
o Biased targeting of girls, boys, or specic castes
o Use of tools and items that individuals do not
identify with or are not relevant/could aect
the context (e.g.: axe or hatchet in context of
(potential) violence, female hygiene items that
girls and women do not recognize or are not
culturally accepted…)
o Any other forms of discrimination or
preferential treatment
y Safe and responsive feedback and complaints (CFM)
mechanisms can reduce abuse and misuse.
o Sta should welcome and seek out suggestions
and complaints.
o Sta should be trained in how to exercise
condentiality and refer sensitive information,
such as disclosures of exploitation and abuse.
Shelter and Settlements examples
y Use of safe construction materials, avoiding, for
example, asbestos.
o Take into account personal safety and order
and cleanliness of construction areas
y Shelter construction in locations out of risk (e.g.:
landslides, tsunamis, landlls/dumps, close to
industrial or insecure areas…)
y Contextualized Security of Tenure interventions:
o In some contexts, a humanitarian shelter
intervention can lead to the eviction of
vulnerable groups.
o In others, highlighting security of tenure issues
can increase the risk of eviction for vulnerable
groups.
o A due diligence approach will identify security
of tenure risks facing dierent groups.
o In some cases where the risks to security of
tenure are too great, it may be best to do
nothing at all.
27 Specic reference to Do No Harm Principles from the “Core Humanitarian Standards” and the “Shelter and Settlements” Chapters at the Sphere
Handbook (2018 Ed.) Link
28 More information on PSEA at the Cross-cutting issue 3 section above (page 14-15).
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CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 5
29 Based on the Global WASH Cluster “Guidance on Market-based programming for humanitarian WASH practitioners. Version 1. April 2019” Link
30 USAID denition on “Market-Based Approached” Link
31 Based on an Oxfam report. June 2022. “Market-based Programming (MBP), What’s it all about?” Link
32 Shelter Cash and Markets Community of Practice at the Global Shelter Cluster. “Market-based programming (MBP) and Shelter Guidance Note” Link
33 Market-based Approach (MBA) is not a synonym of Market-based Programming (MBP), more details at the “Key Component 4 and 5: Cash-based
interventions (CBI) and other market-based programming” section (pages 21 and 22)
34 Guidance on the operationalization of the minimum environmental requirements and recommendations for EU-funded humanitarian aid operations
(pages from 46, and from 74) Link
35 MECCC – Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change 2021-2030 Link
MARKET-BASED APPROACH (MBA)
There are no market-neutral interventions, as humanitarian
actors, including IOM, are market actors and have a
(intentional or unintentional) signicant impact on local
markets. Markets are a central element of people’s life
and livelihoods; migrants and refugees rely on markets
to cover at least a part of their needs (including shelter
needs) and/or to generate incomes. S&S responses cannot
ignore the market when designing, planning, implementing,
and evaluating its sectoral response, as all S&S activities
interact with the market regardless of the modality of the
intervention (in-kind or cash) through which the support
is provided to migrants and refugees.
29
MBA is a way to
address development and humanitarian challenges more
sustainably and/or at scale
30
, as well as if S&S interventions
are based on the market dynamics it means that our
response is proactively taking measure to avoid causing any
harm in our response (Do no harm principle).
31
For the purpose of this strategy, it refers to a situation
when migrants and refugees during transit and once at
their destination are buying, selling, and exchanging goods
and services, and markets are the system for it, a platform
where buyers and sellers come together for the exchange.
As part of this strategy and IOM R4V S&S position on
localization, greening the response, cultural appropriateness,
and other topics mentioned along the present document;
implementation of S&S activities should meet the shelter
needs in a way that does not undermine existing economic
relationships and activities, so as to facilitate economic
recovery and ensure lasting impact.
32
What can IOM R4V S&S team do on MBA?
To ensure that IOM R4V S&S interventions do not undermine existing economic relationships and activities through
all phases of the response and across all technical areas of expertise within the S&S programs, it is crucial to consider
the existing markets at the intervention location (geographical scope based on the project intervention scale) by:
- Assessment
- Analysis
- Programming
33
Consult the Key Components 4 and 5 (pages 21-22) related to market and cash to know more about the specic
interventions that IOM S&S teams can take.
CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 6
CLIMATE CHANGE – GREENING THE RESPONSE
Migrants and refugees, and host communities, in LAC are directly aected by environmental degradation, climate change
and disasters, while on the move and at areas of destination. S&S programming carries one of the highest risks of negative
environmental impacts among humanitarian activities. However, it also represents an opportunity to minimize potential
environmental impacts by thorough assessments/screenings and robust environmental management
34
. It is IOM’s institutional
commitment, reected in the MECCC – Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment and Climate Change 2021-2030
35
,
to mainstream environmental sustainability through its strategies.
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For this strategy, on the operationalization of the MECCC, it is important to highlight that an environmentally friendly
response on S&S at the country level does not mean that country missions must completely shift their strategy or give up
on their current standards or performance. It is expected that IOM missions can adapt their S&S responses by identifying
opportunities to take small actions that can have big impacts, considering mainstreaming along the project cycle the
protection, restoration, and improvement of natural environments.
REDUCING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
OF S&S RESPONSE (examples)
IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT AS PART
OF THE RESPONSE (examples)
1. Reduce the material (plastic in particular) consumption
and CO
2
footprint when purchasing essential
household items or building shelters, by:
a. Market-based interventions. Prioritise purchases
at the local level, as well as local labor
b. Local solutions and materials, or use of recycled
materials (e.g.: debris)
c. Think about the life-cycle of the assistance from
the planning phase of the project: Reducing,
Reusing, Repurposing, and Recycling current
shelter solutions (e.g.: RHU, tents, tarpaulins,
jerrycans, plastic bags…)
d. Maximize the usage of the material through
correct and ecient use
2. Partner with local institutions for measuring CO
2
emissions levels and the impact on the S&S response
3. Protect, restore, and improve the ecological value of
sites such as temporary collective shelters during and
after use (including environmental restoration)
1. Increase Security of tenure to promote local long-
term investment on land, promoting environmentally
friendly uses
2. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) building approaches
to prevent and mitigate future disasters and
environmental deterioration
3. Settlements-based approach and Waste Management
Resources at Temporary Collective Shelters
4. Provide and promote the use of eco-friendly energy
sources at the household level for daily tasks (e.g.:
low-/ ecient-consumption stoves, solar lighting…)
5. Capacity building of sta, stakeholders, local
authorities, and communities on greener construction
materials and methods, and DRR
6. Piloting innovative more environmentally sustainable
shelter solutions
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
y When selecting implementing partners include in the process environmental criterion/environment markers to
evaluate the proposal.
y Consider the recommerecommendations through UNEP Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser Tool
(VEHA)
36
, which includes, linked to S&S indicators, recommendations for a greener response,
37
or the Nexus
Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT+)
38
.
36 VEHA tool of UNEP Link
37 UNEP Training materials and tools from September 2021 session to R4V Shelter Sector co-leaders on VEHA are available here: Link
38 More information at the dedicated website: NEAT+ Link
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CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 7
INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION
IOM as a member of the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) is committed
to following the RMRP strategy and the (bi-)annual response in member countries of the R4V, as well as, participating, feeding,
monitoring, and evaluating it, and promoting it across its partners (strategic and implementing partners to be considered).
IOM is co-leading the Regional Shelter Sector, as well as at national and subregional levels:
Caribbean Co-leading the subregional platform. There is no formal subregional Shelter Sector Active
Central America & Mexico Co-leading the subregional platform. There is no formal subregional Shelter Sector Active
Southern Cone
Co-leading the subregional platform. There is no formal subregional Shelter Sector Active.
IOM is the Shelter Adviser member of the Basic Needs Sector in Bolivia
Brazil
Co-leading the national platform. Co-leading the National and Local Shelter Sectors,
including the Informal Settlements Working Group
Chile
Co-leading the national platform. Co-leading the National and Local Multisector, which
includes shelter theme
Colombia
Co-leading the national platform. Co-leading the National and Local Multisector, which
includes shelter theme
Ecuador
Co-leading the national platform. Co-leading the National Multisector, which includes
shelter theme
Peru
Co-leading the national platform. Co-leading the National Multisector and under it the
Shelter Working Group
39 More information at the dedicated website: “Ciudades Incluyentes- Comunidades Solidarias” Link
40 Regional Refugees and Migrants Needs Assessment (RMNA) 2022. Link
41 GIFMM Colombia: Caracterización de Alojamientos Colecvos Temporales. Link and Evaluación de sio – Alojamientos temporales Link
IOM, when possible, will support inter-agency regional,
subregional, national, or multi-country initiatives on S&S,
e.g.: joint needs assessments, specic SOP, joint projects, etc.
Successful examples of this include: “Ciudades Incluyentes-
Comunidades Solidarias” an EU-DEVCO Regional project
with UN-Habitat and UNHCR
39
, the annual Joint Needs
Assessment (JNA) for the Regional Refugees and Migrants
Needs Assessment (RMNA)
40
, and the IOM support to the
R4V on the Temporary Collective Shelters Characterization
through the DTM tool
41
.
In continuation of CROSS-CUTTING ELEMENT 1:
MULTISECTORAL APPROACH. At the coordination level,
the response must also consider its direct and indirect
synergies with other thematic sectors, paying special
attention to Protection (including the sub-sectors: GVB and
Child Protection), Integration, WASH, and Health, as well
as Communication with Communities (CwC) and Cash and
Vouchers Assistance (CVA) Working Groups.
IMPORTANT:
y IOM S&S response must be under the umbrella
of the RMRP, and activities approved for
implementation registered in the RMRP appeal.
For new activities under R4V funding that are
not reected on the original RMRP appeal, it is
important to consider contacting the Programmes
Unit at IOM OSE in Panamá.
y IOM activities submitted under the RMRP shall be
guided by this strategy in order to ensure quality
submissions in like with IOM S&S standards.
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KEY COMPONENTS
In this section, pay special attention to footnotes and references, as main highlights of each
topic are mentioned without developing all the details of each of the key components.
In the footnotes, the reader will nd the links to the key documents for a better understanding of each of the
key components. Referring to two types of documents:
1. IOM internal guidelines and position papers on the matter
2. Existing literature of reference, only the most relevant documents have been listed.
42 IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons. Link
KEY COMPONENT 1
DURABLE SHELTER SOLUTIONS AND LONG-
TERM SUSTAINABILITY
Durable shelter solutions refer to lasting settlement for
migrants and refugees, meaning they no longer have specic
assistance or protection needs or vulnerabilities directly
linked to the displacement and can exercise their human
rights without discrimination related to it
42
. It is key to plan,
since the beginning, the response aiming to implement
actions that help achieve long-term sustainability, meaning
that migrants and refugees can settle in a place of their
wish in a safe and dignied manner for a long period of
time in adequate housing conditions following international
minimum standards. Durable solutions support socio-
economic integration and social cohesion of migrants and
refugees by covering shelter needs allowing households
to focus on other needs and preferences, increasing
participation and representativeness at community level,
and reinforcing the sense of belonging to the place and the
community, among others. Examples of durable solution
interventions do not focus only on the type of construction
materials used or the permanency of buildings, it also looks
to capacity building of construction workers to increase
job placement opportunities or support local construction
markets, security of land tenure, support to local authorities
on developing national housing programmes, etc; some of
the examples are expanded along other Key Components
in this section.
KEY COMPONENT 2
CULTURAL APPROPRIATENESS
Migrants and refugees from dierent groups (e.g.: economic
and educational backgrounds, rural vs urban communities,
ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+…) are settling in a vast territory
with dierent climates and norms from their country/area of
origin. IOM R4V S&S response must ensure, in line with the
Do no harm principle, that migrants and refugees’ identities
and diversities are respected not only through the space
or items that are distributed/provided but also by ensuring
that dierences are not a barrier for migrants and refugees
to integrate locally. IOM R4V S&S response should help to
reduce this gap.
y In the R4V special attention must be dedicated to
indigenous groups in transit, in particular, those in Brazil,
Colombia, and Guyana border areas with Venezuela, in
most of the cases stranded or in a pendular situation
without receiving any particular response from authorities
or humanitarian actors. IOM R4V S&S response must
look at how to provide an appropriate response in the
area, including exit strategies.
y Do not forget this is a mixed movement response,
including extracontinental migrants and refugees that
transit, generally from Brazil-Colombia, through the
region with the intention to reach the United States of
America (U.S.A), the IOM S&S response should take
them into account when providing assistance.
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KEY COMPONENT 3
SECURITY OF TENURE - HOUSING LAND AND
PROPERTY (HLP)43
Security of tenure means that people can live in their
homes without fear of forced eviction, whether in
communal settlement situations, informal settlements, host
communities or after return (meaning at all phases of the
response). It is the foundation of the right to adequate
housing
44
and many other human rights. In the humanitarian
context, an incremental – or step-by-step – approach may
be the most appropriate.
45
Related not only to the provision
of a safe shelter but also to access to and secure livelihoods
in the long-term, as well as to protect land from further
deterioration and the impact of climate change.
In the framework for the R4V IOM response, Housing Land
and Property (HLP) is mainly focused on private housing,
however it can also look at land and/or property assets.
Despite the idea that HLP is just about ownership rights,
for migrants and refugees, the importance of focusing on
the rights of tenants (renters) and informal sector dwellers
without secure tenure is key to achieving the long-term
sustainability of the response
46
.
y IOM S&S unit can develop HLP thematic intervention
on tenure security and/or crosscut the activities through
existing S&S Programmes to improve their quality and
reinforce the impact of the response, e.g.: conrm the
tenure of the houses for rent by owner, and if not
secure, proceed to support with register, for example,
secure tenants tenure on Rental Assistance Programs
with verbal/written contracts based on national norms
and regulations, awareness campaigns on tenants’ rights,
prevention of eviction campaigns to owners and local
and national authorities
47
.
43 Guidance Note: Integrating Housing, Land and Property Issues into Key Humanitarian, Transitional and Development Planning Process. Link
44 Fact Sheet No. 21 (Rev. 1): The Human Right to Adequate Housing- OHCHR and UN-Habitat 2010. Link
45 Sphere Handbook. 2018 Edition Link
46 More information on: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), The Importance
of Addressing Housing, Land and Property (HLP): Challenges in Humanitarian Response (2016). Link
47 Housing Land and Property Standard Operational Procedure Template for the IOM R4V missions, under development. Publication estimated for 2023
48 CBI Manual (Field Edition – December 2021) Link and the IOM CBI Strategy (2022-2026), under development. Publication estimated for January 2023
49 Under the R4V, CBI remains as the organizational term, while the ocial terminology by the community of practice is Cash and Voucher Assistance
(CVA). For more details on the denition: Calp Network Glossary. Link
KEY COMPONENT 4
CASH-BASED INTERVENTIONS (CBI)
48
IOM is increasing its response through CBI
49
modalities in
its humanitarian response, as well as supporting longer-term
outcomes that go beyond just the emergency response
(Double Nexus). When properly implemented, CBI can
have many advantages over in-kind distributions, such as
reduced response time, lower cost, enhanced self-reliance
and resilience as recipients take their own decisions on how
to use cash to cover their needs and preferences. It can
also have a multiplier eect, which can lead to increased
employment and expanded markets, therefore supporting
the community as a whole.
y For this strategy, CBI sectoral cash on shelter (and
essential household items) provides an opportunity for
meeting migrants and refugees’ needs on the matter
and can be a tool for programming to enable access
to products and services that migrants and refugees
cannot aord during their transit and/or in destination.
The assistance can be delivered through cash or
vouchers (physically or electronically), based on previous
assessments conducted.
y It is key to making sure that markets can respond
appropriately to changes in demand and supply (e.g.:
there are houses available for purchase or rent, there
is a stock of essential household items such as kitchen
sets or clothes and shops are open). Therefore, market
assessments are essential to inform the design and planning
phases of a shelter sectoral response, determining if cash
and/or voucher modalities is the appropriated type of
response required for the situation, as well as to increase
the impact on the response. One of the key issues that
market assessment helps to address is aordability,
critical in the case of access adequate housing through
rent, for example.
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KEY COMPONENT 5
MARKET-BASED PROGRAMMING (MBP)
50
MBP, also known as market-based interventions, is generally
understood to be projects that work with, through or support
local markets. The term covers all types of engagement with
market systems, ranging from actions that deliver immediate
relief to those that proactively strengthen and catalyze local
market systems or market hubs
51
. Simplifying, it refers to
any humanitarian, transition or development program that
uses, supports, or develops local markets.
52
- By using markets this document refers to the action
of buying and/or selling goods/services using existing
markets, that are still functioning, to assist migrants,
refugees and host communities.
- By supporting markets to the actions taken to re-
establish supply chains/essential services and help
existing market actors recover from the impact of a
shock, if the market has been disrupted by a shock, or
to remain them functional after the shock.
- By developing markets to the long-term engagement to
bring a (positive) change into the market system.
y For the IOM R4V S&S response, the key types of shelter
and settlements markets are, in order of relevance:
housing and land (e.g. rental properties), commodities
and materials (e.g. essential household items), utilities (e.g.
energy or water), labor (e.g. skilled or unskilled labor for
construction repairs) and legal and nancial services (e.g.
related to the security of tenure or to informal or formal
credit mechanisms).
o Examples of market-based interventions are:
use of markets for assistance delivery procuring
locally, like providing a voucher to be spent in
local shops for purchase of essential household
items, or support markets to recover from shock
through reinforcing the supply chain, for example
supporting traders to increase their stock capacity
on essential household items).
50 Shelter Cash and Markets Community of Practice at the Global Shelter Cluster. “Market-based programming (MBP) and Shelter Guidance Note” Link
51 Denition of MBP from the Calp Network Glossary. Link
52 Based on an Oxfam report. June 2022. “Market-based Programming (MBP), What’s it all about?” Link
53 IASC. Guideline exit strategy for humanitarian actors in the context of complex emergencies 2003. Link
KEY COMPONENT 6
EXIT STRATEGIES
53
Exit Strategies refers to the process of moving from
emergency to transition and integration, and how to address
the role of IOM R4V S&S response and the participation
of migrants and refugees on it to (re)gain self-reliance. In
practice this means:
y Migrants and refugees have the right to plan and develop
their future without the need to rely on humanitarian
aid, maintaining their pre-shock independence (mainly
nancial). Activities that promote self-reliance and
resilience, especially access to income generating
opportunities, is fundamental to this in the R4V
framework, so the response in Temporary Collective
Shelter or the provision of hotel/hostel rooms and the
distribution of essential household items should not be
perpetuated over time. The IOM R4V S&S programs
should be designed from the outset with a socio-
economic integration perspective, so the population on
the move can settle in the destination areas of their wish
or, when/where possible, be supported to continue the
migratory route. E.g.: Include Financial Saving Planning
as a Temporary Collective Shelter activity, coordinate
the S&S response with Humanitarian Transportation
actors…
y When the context allows for a shift away from
the emergency response in favor of transition and
integration, IOM R4V S&S emergency activities should
be adapted accordingly. Meaning a shift in strategy from
ad hoc to longer-term support. E.g., linking emergency
shelter response with settlement-based programs or
long-term Rental Assistance. During this phase of the
response, it is critical to understand the limitations of
S&S work and be able to identify the correct time to
ensure coordination and/or the programs hand over to
integration units within the organization if they exist, or
to other humanitarian actors, if more appropriate.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
KEY COMPONENT 7
DATA-DRIVEN RESPONSE - DTM
IOM thanks to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)
54
,
has positioned itself as a key humanitarian actor in gathering
and analyzing data to disseminate critical multi-layered
information on the mobility, vulnerabilities, and needs of
displaced and mobile populations, enabling decision makers
and responders to provide these populations with better
context-specic assistance. This ocial DTM denition,
and its methodology, includes specically the Shelter and
Settlements sector, meaning that DTM becomes a critical
tool for informing the IOM R4V S&S response, moreover
when DTM is present in all the R4V countries in a dierent
manner. The use of data helps to better engage with migrants
and refugees, plan a contextualized response to their needs,
and avoid duplications of the assistance provided improving
coordination with other actors or humanitarian structures,
among others.
GROUP &
LOCATION
DTM
HH AND
INDIVIDUAL
MOBILITY TRACKING
REGISTRATION
FLOW MONITORING
SURVEYS
systematically tracks mobility and
cross-sectoral needs in locations
of interest to target assistance
registers individuals and
households for beneciary
selection, vulnerability targeting
and programming
gathers specic information
using sampling from the
population of interest
tracks movement ows
and the overall situation at key
points or origin, transit locations,
and points of destination
KEY COMPONENT 8
LOCALIZATION
55
The rst responders during crises are local organizations,
they are able, to quickly deploy their sta and volunteers,
channeling eorts and working with communities, as well
as coordinating local and diaspora donations, having access
to isolated places that international organizations cannot
reach. When humanitarian actors talk about localization
it is not just about providing funding to local NGOs or
CSOs, it goes beyond that, it means that we recognize and
respect the value of their work and their knowledge. Local
organizations make the work of most international actors
possible
56
, including IOM. From a S&S vision, localization is
part of the eorts of, rst, recognizing local organizations,
54 IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix – DTM. Link
55 For more information, visit the IASC website on The Grand Bargain. Link
56 IASC materials on “Localisation. Link
57 R4V Shelter Sector 5W dashboard. Link
58 RMRP 2022 Monitoring dashboard. Link
and second, strengthening local actors’ leadership, delivery,
and capacity of the aected communities in addressing
their needs. IOM R4V S&S can support this process by
building the capacity of local organizations, strengthening
the participation, engagement, and communication of the
organization within the national R4V shelter structures, as
well as on implementing the S&S strategy jointly. In practice,
actions such as: building long-term capacity of local and
diaspora leaders, materializing AAP work in specic actions,
opening, and advising on the R4V shelter sector structure
to local organizations (including leadership positions), and
providing funding (if possible 25% of the project budget)
to local and diaspora organizations, are contributing to the
localization agenda.
y Currently, IOM on Shelter and Settlements is working
with more than 30 implementing partners of which
12 are local organizations, including national Red Cross
Societies
57
, and 9 are diaspora associations led by
migrants and refugees
58
. These numbers clearly show the
importance of local and diaspora organizations in IOM’s
implementation.
KEY COMPONENT 9
LOCAL INTEGRATION AND INCLUSION IN
NATIONAL PROGRAMMES – NATIONAL HOUSING
POLICIES
Inuence and participate in the development of National
Housing Policies, and regulations to allow the inclusion
and integration of migrants and refugees in the country.
Policies must incorporate the needs of migrants and
refugees, aiming to ensure access to adequate housing at all
stages, regardless of immigration status. Eorts toward the
inclusion of migrants and refugees in national programmes,
at emergency, transition, and integration phases should be
secured, and must be aligned to other national regulations,
including access to documentation and regularization of
those who remain undocumented and/or in an irregular
situation. This action is focused not only on the inclusion
of migrants and refugees, it also serves as a path to
promote their local integration and contribute to the host
communities.
23
IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
ANNEX 1. IOM ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS
This section is developed based on the combination of IOM programmatic priorities and the RMRP Shelter
Sector strategy under the R4V. Designed as non-exhaustive list of activities to serve as a reference for IOM
country missions. The section does not aim to dene each type of activity, in case of need, please consult the
Appendix 4 of the Shelter and Settlements Section at the Sphere Handbook (2018 Ed.)” or the “Guidance
Note for Shelter Sector Partners. Implementation of RMRP 2022(only available in Spanish). The section
is focused on providing key concepts for project proposals and implementation of each activity and its
complementary ones, based on IOM priorities gathered in the RMRP appeal for 2023-24.
In this section, pay special attention to footnotes and references, as main highlights of each topic are
mentioned without developing all the details of each of the key components.
In the footnotes, the reader will nd the links to the key documents for a better understanding of each of the
key components. Referring to two types of documents:
1. IOM internal guidelines and position papers on the matter
2. Existing literature of reference, only the most relevant documents have been listed.
General suggested standard indicators (These can be adapted to specic activities):
y # refugees and migrants provided with shelter and settlement support
y # of shelter and settlements interventions
y # of individuals who improved their skills, abilities and capacities to provide S&S support
Color coding to read Annex 1:
Priority activities for IOM interventions
Complementary activities for IOM prioritized interventions
Non-prioritized or non-recommended activities for IOM
Complementary activities to non-prioritized or non-recommended activities for IOM
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
EMERGENCY PHASE
Life-saving interventions (1
st
arrival – In-transit migrants and refugees)
Provision of emergency household items
59
Essential household items can be provided at dierent stages (and locations) of the response, and the type of items
included in the kit will vary depending on the population needs as well as on the location of distribution (e.g.: mosquito
nets for jungle or coast areas, blankets and winter clothes at the Andean corridor), it must be always sector aligned.
Especially at border points or rst urban centers of arrival of migrants and refugees’ distribution of life-saving items
are a must. In some countries, these kits have been named as humanitarian kits, transit safety kits, emergency kits, etc,
and in general, are distributed or, at least, designed at individual level. The content of it must be agreed upon among
partners for standardization and must be adapted to the weather conditions of the geographical location where the
distribution is taking place.
Emergency household items can also be crucial at arrival to Temporary Collective Shelter or other types of centers/
hubs for humanitarian assistance distributions, such as Support Spaces. In this case, the kit can be focused on the
household level, not only at the individual level. The content of the kit must be planned based on the duration of the
stay in the location, and it is recommended to adapt it to the demographic characteristics of the household.
Recommended articles include backpack, basic clothes (e.g.: shocks, raincoats…), blankets, solar lamps. They should
be complemented with WASH/Health articles such as water bottles, mosquito repellent, suncream, nail clippers…
The average kit price should be between 80 to 150 USD.
Sensitizations + Information gathering & provision
As the rst responder, IOM will be the rst organization the individual/household will interact with, it is important to
use the time of providing the kit to also support the person/s in the following ways:
1. Create a bond: kindly ask for their name and their needs, including how they feel and if they need some
urgent assistance such as health or protection services.
2. Provide key information to continue the journey: distance to the closed location and services available there,
if there is a humanitarian transportation provision in the area, key country phone numbers, and referral
pathways, etc.
3. Take the opportunity also to sensitize about protection, hygiene, and health explaining the use of any
distributed items, etc.
4. Gather basic information while registering the individual/household: the place of origin, intentions/expectations
for settling, number of household members, etc. Include the phone number (WhatsApp number better, as
phone lines, can change from country to country) to monitor the individual/household after the provision of
the assistance. (It can be combined with DTM data collection rounds)
59 More information at: Distribution, Shelter materials, NFI, and Cash - Guidance to reduce the risk of GBV. Link and R4V Shelter Sector: Standardization of
Household Items Survey (Estimated to be published by February 2023)
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Provision of emergency household items
59
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees and migrants receiving essential households items (following minimum standards)
# of essential households item kits distributed (following minimum standards)
# of refugees and migrants beneting from distribution of essential household items through CBI
# of refugee and migrants household targeted by distributions that report having appropriated household items
# of refugees and migrants sensitized on … (based on the project objectives and/or population needs)
# of community sensitization sessions conducted on … (based on the project objectives and/or population needs)
Management and Coordination of Temporary Collective Shelters
60
Camps and camp-like settings must be avoided and used only as a last resort. The recommendation is to use existing
infrastructures adapted to host migrants and refugees collectively for a short period of time. Important: IOM cannot
purchase buildings or other facilities for this purpose and, even less, without an exit strategy that includes the
handover of the site and its responsibilities.
It includes as part of its core activities: the management of the site, the coordination of the services and participation
promotion through AAP, CwC and other mechanisms.
Due to IOM capacity and internal structure in the region, it is recommended the use of Implementing Partners (IP)
for management of the Temporary Collective Shelters, only provide it directly as IOM in case the mission has previous
experience or qualied sta (e.g., site planners, CCCM trained teams, engineers/architects …) for it, as well as funding
to sustain the response as long as necessary. In general, it is recommended to prioritize the following activities:
60 More information at: Collective Shelter Management Toolkit. Link and at the IOM CCCM Community of Pracce. Link
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Management and Coordination of Temporary Collective Shelters
Managers capacity building Infrastructure interventions
(and maintenance)
Provision of equipment
Through the existing knowledge
and capacity within IOM, it is
recommended to train managers
of directly supported sites and/or
those part of the national Shelter
(CCCM) Sector.
Recommendations:
y In-person training or a
combination of virtual & face-
to-face training, led by a CCCM-
certicated trainer.
y Include the following themes:
o Roles & responsibilities
o Country norms and
regulations (administration)
o Protection in practice
o Cross-cutting issues such as
AAP (CFM), GBV, PSEA…
o Exit Strategies
The intervention must be designed
considering the specic portfolio
and characteristics of the collective
shelter, not only to adequate it in
terms of general habitability, but
it must also consider the specic
needs of vulnerable groups, with
special attention to people living
with disabilities, children, women,
and elders. Actions such as Safety
Audits can help to decide the type
of intervention required.
Examples of types of interventions:
y Building retrotting/adequacy
works for those in very bad
conditions, evaluate the transfer
of the shelter to a better
building.
y Building extension to increase
capacity or add new functional
spaces.
y WASH interventions: water
and sanitation provision, latrines
repair works… (Important:
To be reported under WASH
sector)
y Small interventions: wall painting,
oor repairing, accessibility, etc.
Based on in-country IOM capacity:
y If IOM counts with qualied
technical sta such as
engineers and architects with
eld monitoring capacity:
interventions of any size and
type can be conducted. If the
mission or subregional oces
count on a Construction Unit, it
is important to coordinate the
work with them.
Provision, including installation,
maintenance and payments of
guarantees, if required, of basic
furniture, appliances, or any other
kind of items that are required
for the daily functioning of the
temporary collective shelter.
Recommended proceeding with an
assessment prior to procurement
of the items to ensure it addresses
the most urgent needs. There is no
average kit price, it should be based
on the center needs.
Note that this is not considered
a provision of essential household
items or shelter kits.
27
IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Management and Coordination of Temporary Collective Shelters
Managers capacity building Infrastructure interventions (and
maintenance)
Provision of equipment
y If IOM does not count with a
construction unit or qualied technical
sta: Only small interventions are
recommended. In case there is no
technical capacity do not conduct
retrotting or large-scale works.
Due to the norms and regulations in
the region, Cash-for-Work interventions
are not recommended for this activity.
Migrants and refugees hosted for long
periods of time, more than 1 or 3
months, can voluntarily participate in
the intervention as part of the collective
shelter activities, or if someone has
the expertise can be hired. In general,
a construction company must lead the
process.
* If possible, do not reduce the concept
of the activity to exclusively “repairs” in
project proposals as it limits the extent
of possible interventions carried out
during project implementation. Words
such as “intervention” or “adequacy
works” are recommended.
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees and migrants hosted in temporary supported collective shelter solutions
# of temporary collective shelter supported through CCCM actions/site management / … (based on the project
objectives and/or population needs)
# of temporary collective shelter partners (IP) supported for site management
# of interventions in temporary collective shelter solutions supported with infrastructures improvements to achieve
minimum standards
# of temporary collective shelters that are improved/rehabilitated complying with agreed international standards
and guidelines
# of new temporary collective shelter solutions established complying with international agreed standards and
guidelines
# of managers trained in the coordination and management of temporary collective shelter solutions and other
related topics
# of individuals trained on Shelter assistance, Camp Management and Coordination
# of governance structures, that are inclusive and eective, supported/created in the temporary collective shelter
# of CFM established and functioning in temporary collective shelters
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Hotel and Hostel Accommodation
This type of activity is recommended only for locations where there are no Temporary Collective Shelters working, and
for a short period of time only. The reason for this is the high cost of the intervention vs temporary collective shelters
(at individual unit cost) and the individual case management approach that it has for its implementation, requiring a large
number of sta at the eld level with basic shelter and protection background. If it is not measured based on the number
of nights, meaning it is counted on weeks and months, short-term rental assistance programmes must be considered.
Take into account that if a full hotel is rented by IOM, it is considered a Temporary Collective Shelter (see prior activity
description), as IOM becomes the manager of the center with private sector support. Generally, this activity is focused
only on individual hotel/hostel room booking.
Provision of food and access to other basic services such as laundry, internet connection, hygiene articles, etc; must
be considered. As well, as linkages with other sectors for activities during the daylight (e.g.; access to Support Spaces
or social centers, community activities and centers, etc). And consider that household pets do need a place to stay,
hotel/hostel may have specic policies for them.
Intervention modalities can be in-kind or CBI, generally the rst one through IOM agreements with service providers.
Airbnb type of programmes (with a duration of less than a week) can be considered part of this action.
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees and migrants (single users) receiving short-term accommodation support in hotel rooms
# of nights booked at hotels/hostels for temporary accommodation of refugees and migrants
© OIM /Marta Leboreiro Núñez, Iquique Chile
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
TRANSITION PHASE
First steps through socio-economic integration and part of the humanitarian exit strategies (2
nd
stage of
the response – Generally for stranded migrants and refugees and/or those gathering nancial means to
continue the journey, as well as those at the nal destination in their rst 3 months of arrival to the location)
Short-term Rental Assistance Programs
61
Short-term refers to actions that do not support the family to achieve a sustainable settlement of a household in a
location, rather than covering an immediate need such as avoiding the sudden risk of eviction or reducing household
stress on rent payment (prevent household indebtedness). Generally, it is focused on less than 3 months support.
To ensure that households are living, at least, following the minimum humanitarian standards on habitability, it is
recommended the use of IOM Habitability checklists
62
. It is considered also good practice to: have a mapping of
appropriate locations for renting houses (e.g; Rental Housing Market Assessments), household monitoring on monthly
basis to mitigate landlord-tenant conicts/abuse and to promote a safe and comfortable stay for the household, as
well as one that lasts for the established period of time; or having a plan for household pets in case landlords do not
accept animals. The main goal is to ensure the right to access adequate housing
63
.
Rent-related debt/ eviction prevention payments can be considered; however, those are seen more as a protection measure
that can be considered under Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPC). For this type of intervention take into account that
links with livelihoods programs are a must to make it sustainable, if not, it will end being a postponement of the eviction.
For mitigation of the organizations risk during the implementation of activities the legal department, known as LEG,
has drafted specic forms that must be followed before assistance provision
64
.
Airbnb type of programmes (with a duration longer than a week) can be considered part of this activity.
Short-term Rental Assistance Programs
Provision of cash for rent payments
(Cash-for-rent)
Security of Tenure Provision of Basic
Essential Household Items
This refers only to the action of the provision of
cash assistance to the family for rent payment
purposes. By itself, just the provision of cash is
not enough to be considered Rental Assistance
and achieve the programmatic priority (to have
access to an adequate housing).
Mainly focused on securing
that both landlords and
tenants have access to
ocial contracts following
the country’s norms
and regulations. Verbal
and written contracts
are an option of choice
depending on the context.
Through the provision of
household items such as
kitchen sets, mosquito nets,
blankets, jerrycans or buckets.
61 The prevailing document on the matter is the “IOM Key Consideration in Rental Assistance” Link
62 Habitability checklists and complementary tools. Link
63 Habitability is only a part of the conceptualization of “Adequate Housing”. More information available at: Fact Sheet No. 21 (Rev. 1): The Human Right to
Adequate Housing- OHCHR and UN-Habitat 2010. Link and Guide for Adequate Housing in Response to migrants and refugees from Venezuela in LAC. Link
64 IOM LEG requirements. Link
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Short-term Rental Assistance Programs
Provision of cash for rent payments
(Cash-for-rent)
Security of Tenure Provision of Basic
Essential Household Items
It is recommended that this is given to
migrants and refugees directly as an
unrestricted conditional cash transfer, which
assumes the risk of a household not dedicating
the cash provided to the rent payment and
prioritizing it to cover other needs.
In cases, where the national norms and
regulations do not allow the direct provision
of cash to migrants and refugees, it can be
directly given to the landlord (e.g; where
migrants and refugees are not allowed to have
a bank account, irregular migrants are not
allowed to rent houses...)
65
Provision of information
about HLP rights is basic in
this phase to avoid abuse
or exploitation by any of
the parties, in particular,
abuse of power by
landlords.
The budget can vary between
80 to 200 USD/kit, depending
on the context. This activity,
if the context allows it, is
recommended to be done
through CBI. Generally, with
supermarket vouchers.
* See the section on
“Provision of emergency
household items”, including
the subsection on:
“Sensitizations + Information
gathering & provision”.
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees and migrants receiving short-term rental support (less than 3 months)
# of refugees, migrants and host community members that have seen their rental tenure secured
# of refugees and migrants provided with basic essential household items
# of essential household items kits distributed
65 For more information on the matter, contact: CBI Support cbisuppor[email protected]
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
INTEGRATION PHASE
Actions focused on achieving socio-economic integration (Based on the 2023 context, last stage of the
response – migrants and refugees at nal destination)
Long-term Rental Assistance Programs
66
The main recommendations are similar to the Short-term Rental Assistance Programs, however with the purpose of
increasing the chances of achieving durable solutions and socio-economic integration, through ensuring the right to
access adequate housing. There is a set of other complementary activities that are recommended to consider when
implementing this program, in addition to the short-term ones.
67
Provision of assistance contingent upon monitoring visits throughout the agreed period of assistance by IOM to the
tenants. The assistance can be stopped when tenants by their choice are no longer living in the rented house or if one
of the parties involved fails to comply with any other conditions for the provision of the assistance.
66 The prevailing document on the matter is the “IOM Key Consideration in Rental Assistance” Link, as well as IOM LEG requirements. Link
67 More information at: Key considerations: How to achieve sustainable and durable Rental Assistance. Link
© IOM / Magda de García / Darien, Panama.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Long-term Rental Assistance Programs
Conict resolution Right of Adequate
Housing
sensitizations
68
Housing
improvements
(Occupancy free
of charge
69
)
Housing equipment
Monitoring of the relationship
between both parties
involved, including mediation
in the case of conict. IOM
is not responsible for the
contract signed between
both parties, however, based
on humanitarian principles,
including Do No Harm,
IOM should make sure
that migrants and refugees
housed through IOM
funding have the best living
conditions possible out of
any risk, including eviction
or homelessness. As part
of prevention activities for
harmonic living in the shelter,
conict resolution must be
addressed. I will also help to
achieve long-term solutions.
It can end in support to
nd for a new house to be
rented.
There are several lines of
work. Here the two main
ones:
1. Advocacy campaigns
and work with
local and national
authorities to
include minimum
standards on
Adequate Housing
on their norms and
regulations including
migrants and
refugees.
2. Work with migrants
and refugees to raise
awareness on their
rights to access to
adequate housing,
to avoid any abuse/
discrimination due to
lack of information
on their rights.
Alternative or
complementary action
to the provision of
Cash-for-rent which
(simplifying) consist of
the improvement of
housing conditions by
repairing/retrotting/
adequacy works
of the house to be
rented in exchange for
the security of tenure
for the agreed period,
Through the provision of
household items such as
mattresses, basic furniture,
appliances, and other assets
needed to inhabit a house.
Consider that these kinds of
kits are much more expensive
than essential or emergency
household items. The budget
can go up to 1,000-1,200
USD/household. This activity,
if the context allows it, is
recommended to be done
through CBI. Generally, with
supermarket vouchers.
Remember to include installing,
maintenance and guarantees,
costs, when required.
*See the section on
“Sensitizations +
Information gathering
& provision”, at the rst
activity recommendations
“Provision of emergency
household items”
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees and migrants receiving long-term rental support (more than 3 months)
# of refugees, migrants and host community members that have seen their rental tenure secured
# of refugees, migrants and host community members sensitized about the rights to access adequate housing
# of houses repaired, following minimum habitability standards, for rental purposes
# of host community members supported with shelter repairs in exchange of rental payments for refugees and migrants
# of rented houses equipped with furniture and appliances
# of refugees and migrants provided with basic furniture and appliances
# of refugees and migrants beneting from distribution of basic furniture and appliances through CBI
# of refugee and migrants household targeted by distributions that report having appropriated furniture and appliances
68 More information at: Guide for Adequate Housing in Response to refugees and migrants from Venezuela in LAC. Link
69 Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) terminology
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Provision of shelter construction materials and tools
These types of activities are recommended when: 1). Land/House tenancy is secured, 2). Settlement is recognized or
formalized, and/or the intervention counts with local authorities’ approval, and/or 3). There is an intention of migrants
and refugees to remain in the location for a long period of time.
It is key that the kits respond not only to the place where the intervention is happening but also to the cultural
identity of the migrants and refugees supported. This refers to including in the kits construction materials with which
the population identies, as well as construction tools and techniques. On the other hand, it is essential to take into
account all the environmental aspects linked to the construction in a specic location.
Kits generally include the most expensive construction materials or those that are not locally available, for example,
corrugated sheets or other industrialized materials; and household complement the kit based on their nancial and/or
human capacity (e.g.; construction time as labor or provision of construction materials available in the local markets).
And the number of items as well as their type is generally directly related to the usability of such materials to cover
at least a minimum area to accommodate a 5-member household (approx. 17.5 s.q.m. in an emergency context, up
to 30 s.q.m.in a transition/development one).
Capacity Building on Construction Techniques Right to Adequate Housing sensitizations
Key interventions to build the capacity of migrants
and refugees to create resilience and empower them,
as well as to create capacities that are required
in the employment markets, increasing livelihood
opportunities.
It is better to be conducted through vocational training
programs with ocial certication, however even if
done informally it is an important asset for households,
being key for self-construction initiatives.
* Consult the same section on Long-term Rental
Assistance Programs. Note that the goal of the
section is to raise awareness among authorities and
to migrants and refugees about it, and their right to
claim it when renting houses, etc: in this occasion,
it is about building houses that follow minimum
standards, their characteristics, etc.
Suggested standard indicators
# of refugees, migrants, and host communities receiving housing support (e.g.; new, improvement, repairs works)
# of shelter materials kits distributed
# of refugees, migrants, and host communities receiving shelter materials
# of construction tools kits distributed
# of refugees, migrants, and host communities receiving construction tools
# of refugees and migrants beneting from distribution of shelter materials/construction tools through CBI
# of refugees, migrants, and host communities supported with shelter cash-for-work assistance
# of days of work supported with cash assistance
# of refugees, migrants and host communities who improve their construction skills, abilities and capacities
# of refugees and migrants beneting from distribution of essential household items through CBI
# of refugee and migrants household targeted that report having improved their shelter living conditions
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Settlements-based interventions
70
A part from the Sphere Handbook, settlement is also dened as: “The place where people live as a socially dened and
spatially bound unit, which reects the interaction of dynamic social, cultural, economic, political and environmental
features in space and time.
71
Interventions focus on a geographical, administrative and/or social-cultural dened area of a city or peri-urban zone
72
,
in which a community is identied (in this case, the community is understood as a group of people who live together
in a dened physical space, and they identify with the territory they occupy). Meaning it doesn’t need to focus only
on an ocial administrative level; it can be an area dened by the population themself.
The framework of these interventions is based on the Area-based approach/Settlements-based approach dened by
the CCCM and Shelter Global Clusters
73
.
The main ideas to consider are:
1. Interventions are not limited to migrants and refugees; it is imperative to include the host community; and
plan all the actions considering the characteristics of each group by identity, gender, etc.
2. Participation/Community leadership is key to (re) building the social tissue for cohesion and reduce future
tensions
74
,
3. Local authorities are the main stakeholder in these areas, create strong linkages for coordination (intervention
approval included) is crucial for adequate support and management of basic service provision;
4. It is a multisectoral and multi-stakeholders approach, so coordination and representation roles must be clear,
and inclusiveness must be considered,
5. It is a way to achieve durable solutions for migrants and refugees, and to develop the host community,
building resilience to future shocks while covering immediate needs
6. Interventions must take into consideration municipal urban plans/strategies for urban development/urban
policies, being aligned or even supported with the intervention.
7. Teams are recommended to be diverse; in shelter interventions, there is a tendency to have exclusively
technical sta members; professional diversity can increase the chances to reach the population in all the
dimensions of the work required.
70 IOM S&S Global Unit is developing the internal guidelines on the matter; once nalized and published, it will prevail over the recommendations mentioned
here (Publication estimated for March 2023). The IOM CCCM Global Unit is also developing the IOM Position note on Area-based Approach (Publication
TBC).
71 Relevant information at the: “The State of Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements 2018 - Beyond the Better Shed: Prioritizing PeopleLink and “Using the
Sphere standards in urban settings. Part 2, 2020. Link
72 Specic for the R4V Context which is largely urban/peri-urban. The settlement-based approach can also be implemented in rural areas, generally by
groups of small villages/communities. Specic materials on ABA in urban settings: Link
73 Relevant informaon at the: Settlements Approach Guidance Note of the Global Shelter Cluster Link and at the Area- based approach Working Group
of the Global CCCM Cluster. Link
74 See the IOM’s community-based planning manual. While the manual is nalized and ready for implementation the link for publication is pending. Contact
with Transition and Recovery Unit at IOM (TrD Unit) for more information.
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Settlements-based interventions
Settlement community coordination support Public/Community Infrastructure
intervention
Actions focused on the “soft” component of the
Settlement-based approach, which is sometimes from
a CCCM perspective, on the “out-of-camps” strategies.
Some examples are:
y Community governance structures including
representation of: migrants and refugees, host
communities, local authorities, small private businesses
and service providers, local associations, etc. Generally,
these structures already exist, formally or informally
recognized, which means the work must be focused
on, for example, strengthening them by providing
capacity building or giving them a voice and linking
them with other structures. Eorts should be made
to make these structures more inclusive, giving, for
example, voice and capacity of action to people with
disabilities and women.
y AAP: access to feedback mechanisms, information,
assistance, and any specic solutions according to their
needs and vulnerabilities. It is important to create
channels on Communication with Communities.
y Information gathering (and sharing) about service
provision and capacity in the area. Services may be
overwhelmed by the arrival of the new population, it
is important to understand if those are available for
migrants and refugees and if they have enough capacity
to continue providing the assistance. (e.g.: Area-based
Assessments (ABA) of REACH-IMPACT
75
or IMMAP
Settlements mapping
76
)
y Coordination with other stakeholders to ensure
inclusive service provision in the area.
y Creation of community hubs, physical, mobile or non-
physical points of information sharing and referrals,
entry point to the community for migrants and
refugees, coordination between stakeholders, etc. (e.g.;
Support Spaces, Humanitarian distribution assistance
hubs, Integr-Habitat Centers…)
Actions focused on the physical environment of
the settlements, specically in improving existing or
building new infrastructure or services in the area.
These set of sub-activities required high technical
skills, combined with soft abilities, generally focused
on community participation and AAP/CwC. Some
examples are:
y Construction, improvement, and/or maintenance
of community infrastructures and public open
spaces, considering environmental and disaster
risk reduction concepts (e.g.: rehabilitation of a
communal kitchen, construction of a park
y Contribution to community infrastructure (e.g.:
delivery of materials or equipment, maintenance
kits, technical supervision)
y Information, orientation and legal assistance in
Housing, Land and Property for settlements
y Technical guidance to municipalities and other
relevant stakeholders on urban planning and
development
Important: WASH, Educational and Health
infrastructure interventions must be reported to
the thematic sector under the R4V Structure.
75 Examples at REACH RESOURCE CENTER
76 IMMAP methodology for new settlements mapping. Link
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Settlements-based interventions
Suggested standard indicators
# of area-based assessments conducted
# of governance structures, that are inclusive and eective, supported/created at settlement level
# of refugees, migrants, host communities and local authorities who improve their communication/conict
resolution skills, abilities and capacities
# of refugees, migrants and host communities members participating of community activities at settlement level
# of meetings conducted between refugees, migrants, host communities and local authorities on … (adapt based
on the project objectives)
# of refugees and migrants and host community members benetting from settlement infrastructures and/or
settlement management
# of interventions in settlement infrastructures undertaken through supported construction
# of settlements/community infrastructures that are improved rehabilitated
# of refugees, migrants and host community members supported with cash-for-work assistance
# of days of work supported with cash assistance
# of refugees, migrants and host community members participating in construction activities
# of refugees, migrants and host communities who improve their construction skills, abilities and capacities
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AT ANY PHASE
Shelter (and CCCM) coordination
Within the structure in which IOM R4V S&S response is taking place, the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for
migrants and refugees from Venezuela, IOM has a co-leadership role for the regional and country coordination of
Shelter (and CCCM). Please, refer to “Cross-Cutting Issue 7: Inter-Agency Coordination” in page 19 of this document
for more information.
Suggested standard indicators
# of coordination meetings facilitated/conducted
# of interagency shelter and settlements technical guidelines published
# of Joint Needs Assessments supported/conducted
The context is not allowing, currently, durable housing solutions such as the provision of land or housing to migrants
and refugees or repairing/retrotting works on houses owned or new housing construction (dwellings) for/by in-
destination migrants and refugees. This is due to the increased nancial requirements which IOM currently does not
have access to as well as the lack of access for migrants and refugees to private ownership of real estate assets due
to lack of nancial means, irregular status, and/or uncertainty about their long-term settlement. In 2021 and 2022,
some exceptions have been identied in countries like Uruguay and Brazil, where some land access has been observed
or creation of housing cooperatives with the support of diaspora groups; however, IOMs position has remained
focused on the provision of shelter construction materials or tools for housing construction/improvements, and on
the support for the improvement of informal settlements.
If a change in the context is observed, the strategy will be reviewed and will include more development-oriented
shelter activ|ities.
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ANNEX 2. IMPACT AND LINKAGES WITH OTHER
SECTORS
77
“Timely shelter and settlements support can save lives
in the initial stages of a crisis. In addition to providing
protection from weather, shelter is necessary to promote
health, support family and community life, and provide
dignity, security and access to livelihoods.
78
.
WASH and Health,
including MHPSS
.
Protection,
including gender
and family life
.
Food Security
& Nutrition
.
Education
.
Enviroment
(DRR)
.
Levelihoods &
Socioeconomic
Integration
Shelter &
Settlements
In seeking to improve IOM emergency, transition, and
integration response on shelter and settlements in the
context of migrants and refugees in LAC, it is important
to understand the wider impacts of emergency shelter
and settlements interventions from an inter-sectorial
perspective.
Basic shelter and settlements assistance meet some of the
most essential and life-saving needs, and can contribute
to improving health and hygiene conditions, and provides
physical protection, privacy, and security; after COVID-19
it has been made clear that also it is a key element for
health. However, maybe less obvious, there are other
outcomes that are directly linked and improved thanks
to the provision of shelter and settlement assistance. For
example, basic shelter assistance can contribute to improve
access to legal protection (HLP), an improved psychological
state and conditions through a sense of normality, serving
as a platform to access to basic services and supports
socio-economic integration, among other things; and, at
the end, support achieving the right to access adequate
housing.
The following page provides a non-exhaustive list of
examples of the positive impacts of access to shelter/
housing and settlements:
77 The Wider Impacts of Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements. Key Findings report. Link and Link
78 Sphere Handbook. 2018 Edition Link
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Health and WASH: Access to adequate and good quality shelter/housing:
1. Prevents severe illnesses and reduces the risk of living with disabilities.
2. Reduces inter-generational health inequalities, infectious diseases, and child mortality; and increases
life expectancy and satisfaction.
3. Lowers mental stress/anxiety and improves physical body conditions when living close to green
areas.
4. Reduces expenses on healthcare and hospitalization.
o Children Health and Development: 1. Housing is a core element of family life. 2.
Reduces the incidence of childhood-developed diseases and mental conditions. 3. Determines
future socioeconomic status and exposure to early-onset delinquency.
o Mental Health: 1. Creates a feeling of control and decision-making capacities, reducing
emotional stress and therefore doctors’ visits, increasing happiness/life satisfaction. 2. Reduce
stress linked to GBV.
o Well-being: 1. Gives autonomy, identity, and control over the living environment.
Livelihoods and Employment – Social Cohesion, Resilience, Poverty Reduction, and
Economic Development: A shelter/a house can mean:
1. A physical and nancial, as well as a social, asset.
2. The provision of a place from where people can access other opportunities, e.g.: A) A place to
open a business or be rented, becoming source of income; or B). Have a postal address and ocial
access to public services: mail, water, sewage, or public lighting.
3. Jobs creation (and capacity building) through construction programs, positively aecting the local
markets.
4. An increase in community integration, showing higher rates of involvement in leadership and
participation, improving family social relationships.
5. An increase in investment in settlements by the own community, also leading to social interaction
in public spaces.
6. An improvement in social stability and security at the neighborhood level.
Education: Shelter/Housing helps the creation of stable environments that:
1. Are the most eective to secure school registration and attendance, and educational performance.
3. Reduce child labor.
4. In the long-term increase access to better employment opportunities.
Food Security and Nutrition: Access to shelter/housing:
1. Improves the capacity to secure food and access to better quality food.
2. Reduces the impact of malnutrition and other food-related conditions on children and women
during pregnancy.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Gender and Family life: Access to shelter/housing:
1. Allows access to other basic human rights
2. Reduce family tensions and stress, reducing family breakdowns and GBV or other forms of domestic
abuse; and prevents family separation.
3. Increase access to equal opportunities for single female-headed households
4. Reduce social harassment, a consequence of economic vulnerability or SEA by landlords.
5. Increases privacy and sense of security.
Disaster Risk Reduction: Access to reliable shelters/housing with higher construction standards
can:
1. Reduce vulnerability to future disasters, avoiding, for example, future land and resource damages,
and so reducing negative impacts on climate change.
2. Market contribution to reducing nancial shocks in a community.
3. Build people self-reliance to face future extreme events.
© OIM / Marta Leboreiro Nñuñez, Colchane Chile
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
ANNEX 3. COMMON MISTAKES WHEN DESIGNING
PROPOSALS
NARRATIVE
Prior to writing
y Donor requirements: Each donor is dierent and has their own requirements. It is important to research each
donor’s specic project and proposal requirements including:
o Proposal format/template requirements
o Technical requirements for S&S interventions (e.g.; ECHO – Environmental requirements, USAID – Mosquito
nets specications, or BHA – emergency repairs restrictions)
y Coordination: Prior to developing the proposal, coordinate with other organizations, through the humanitarian
structures in the country/region, to avoid duplication and create synergies. If partnerships identied, it is important to
mention them in the proposal.
y Secondary Data Review and Needs Assessment: should serve as the baseline of the proposal. Identify
key data that can be mentioned throughout the narrative, that will explain project context, explain the need for an
intervention and justify the interventions proposed. For instance, DTM reports frequently include information about the
main needs of migrants, and shelter/housing is usually mentioned among the top needs.
y Feasibility: Proposals should be designed taking into account project feasibility, meaning, are proposed activities
achievable within the project timeline, operational context, organization capacity and budget.
o Feasibility Assessment: Recommend doing a quick analysis of the population/authorities’ needs against
organization resources and proposal time frame.
o Context/ Organization Feasibility: It is particularly important in S&S proposals to assess procurement and supply
chain feasibility prior to proposing interventions, for example, when international and/or large-scale purchases
are required as they require longer internal administrative procedures, as well as an administrative process with
customs release/nationalization. These considerations should be included in the proposal risk matrix. On the
same matter, consult the availability of items at the IOM Global Stocks, managed by Global Procurement and
Supply Unit (GPSU) in your region (For the Americas in Panama: UNHRD warehouse; also Oxfam and IFRC
stock hubs in Panama are available for IOM purchase)
o Implementation type: it is important to decide if the project will be implemented directly or through an
Implementing Partner, as this will impact project design, as well as project timeline. Review existing MoUs/
contracts and consider the timeframe for signatures of new contracts, as well as the timeframe for coordination
with Implementation Partners in the setup, ongoing implementation, and reporting of the project. These should
be reected in the project workplan.
While writing
GENERAL COMMENTS
y Flexibility: To the extent that the donor formats allow, present project initiatives in a exible manner, indicating that
the implementation context may change and be unpredictable.
o Complete the Risk Matrix taking into consideration political, economic and social risks that could aect project
implementation.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
o Ensure risk reduction measures are part of the project design and are well communicated throughout the
document. This demonstrates the organizations capacity and planning, as well as safeguards the donors
investment.
o Avoid providing excessive details that could compromise implementation. Provide only the information request
by the donor, or information necessary to explain the proposed response. For example: If the donor does not
require the exact list of items, including items specications, in an essential household item kit, just give examples
of the items type.
y Contextualize activities: Activities must follow the countrys norms and regulations. In the past, some
proposals suggested activities that, due to the country’s norms and regulations, could not be implemented (e.g.; not
considering the regulatory status of the people targeted) or ended up being more expensive than planned (e.g.; not
considering taxes, fees or ination)
o Standards: Refer to international standards (e.g. SPHERE), country norms and regulations, and country/regional
interagency agreements/response plans (e.g. RMRP, HRP), as well as this strategy, with which the project is
aligned.
o Data: Mention key data from existing assessments, DTM reports or other relevant studies to contextualize the
proposal.
y Implementation Type: It is important to analyze IOM’s capacity for implementation when designing the project.
Consider if IOM has the capacity to implement activities directly or if an implementing partner should be contracted to
guarantee the technical capacity.
y Implementing partners (IPs): whether a newly identied or an MoU exist, must be mentioned in the proposal, to
demonstrate if the project will be implemented directly or through a partner.
o For IPs, consider checking on existing contracts and expiring dates with IOM Global Procurement and Supply
Unit (GPSU).
y Terminology: Each country has its own S&S terminology, which is used by IOM sta on daily basis, however, donors
may not be aware of it. It is important to use international humanitarian/development terminology in the
proposal documents. Activities and indicators must be aligned with humanitarian sectors (e.g.; Temporary Collective
Shelters should be under CCCM Sections, HLP in most of the cases is under Protection Sections). Similarly, make sure
to incorporate key donor-provided indicators (i.e ECHO´s KOI and KRI).
ACTIVITY SPECIFIC COMMENTS
y Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): is not considered shelter per se, even when the Minimum Expenditure
Basket (MEB) (and after it on the value transferred) includes shelter costs. Consider only Sectoral Cash, and MPC as a
complementary protection action.
y Non-food items (NFI): is not a synonym for essential household items. Non-food items also refer to dignity,
baby, school, and hygiene kits, which are not part of the shelter sector.
y Food Assistance:
o Food assistance cannot be included it under Shelter or Non-food items sections in donors’ proposals.
o When IOM is providing the food/canteen services in a Temporary Collective Shelter it is not part of
the management and coordination, nor infrastructure improvements of the shelter. It is important to
separate it from the shelter sector activities by including it in food security or nutrition sectors-depending on the
objective of the assistance and its characteristics. (This is also applicable to other sectoral services)
y Construction interventions: If possible, do not reduce the concept of the activity to exclusively “repairs” in project
proposals as it limits the extent of possible interventions carried out during project implementation. Words such as
“intervention” or “adequacy works” are recommended.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
BUDGET
y Consistency: Budget should be consistent with the narrative. Ensure the duration of the project, sectors/
activities and total budget amount in the budget document matches the narrative proposal document. The Budget
should include adequate funding for the time period of the project as well as the required capacity.
y Keep it simple: Avoid over-complicated budgets divided in an excessive number of lines per sub-activities or even
payments. It does not allow exibility and increased accounting complexity.
y Hidden Costs: Ensure the budget accounts for all activity support costs such as labor, loading, and unloading,
transport, or warehouses, and fees and taxes.
y Monitoring and Evaluation(M&E): M&E activities have specic costs. Ensure the costs such as mid- and end-project
evaluation, post-distribution monitoring surveys, eld monitoring visits, monitoring sta, etc., are included in the budget.
y IP costs: Ensure your Implementing Partners have included 30% budget cost to cover sta and oce costs in
their proposals to IOM, and that this total budget amount is reected in IOMs budget lines.
© OIM / Marta Leboreiro Núñez, Canaan, Membrillo, Panamá
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
ANNEX 4. BUDGET DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to support project proposal design, specically when coming to budgets, here is a non-exhaustive and non-exclusive
list of elements to consider including when designing a Shelter and Settlements project budget. Not all recommendations
are applicable to all contexts and implementation options.
The project does not need to have a line for each recommendation listed below, it is important to keep it simple
and exible, listing only the main activity. However, all the estimated costs to ensure project implementation must be
considered, several costs can merge in one budget line and reected as lumpsum or unit cost.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
On Sta and Oce Costs
While generally is responsibility of the Resource Management Unit (RMU), it is recommended to make sure that:
Always include enough budget for at least one technical person (engineer/architect)
Shelter is not just about construction. Include sta budget to hire a multidisciplinary team that could
include: lawyers, social workers, economists, information managers… Analyze the type of sta proles needed to
have a successful project implementation.
In the case of Temporary Collective Shelters, day and night sta is required when IOM manages the
site. Include enough funding for managers and support managers to cover all day hours.
Shelter teams will require basic stationary, visibility, and other items (including computers, but others
such as tools, helmets, etc, depending on the type of activities) to perform their tasks properly and safely.
Telecommunication cost (phone credit) for the shelter team
Warehouse management/maintenance funding (including rental cost, if applicable). For some donors
(e.g.; CERF) and depending on the project characteristics, it can be included it under operational cost.
If an exclusive S&S project (SN code), include enough funding for TDYs . (e.g.; daily eld trips, monitoring and
evaluation eld trips, donors visits…)
If there are not enough vehicles available in the mission, and those are required for daily work of the Shelter Unit,
make sure there is funding to purchase new ones or rent enough to ensure eld visits. (If the sta can move on
public transport by themselves, including a stipend to cover transportation costs)
Licenses for graphic design and engineering/architectural software for IOM sta, based on ToR and
needs.
In non-S&S exclusive projects (shared with other Units, and Departments within the mission) lines of: stationary,
visibility, IT, telecoms, warehouse, and transportation, can be separated per Unit Operational Cost. Conrm with
RMU.
If a non-exclusive S&S project, include under each activity or monitoring and evaluation lines the estimated cost of
required TDYs for the team.
Inclusivity goes beyond project activities; it also includes sta hiring. Therefore, it is important to consider, when
hiring people with disabilities, a budget allocation for Reasonable Accommodation in order to, for example,
adapt the workspace to the specic needs that allow the person to carry out the job or undertake a training
45
IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
Operational
Remember consultancy costs (including salary) are part of operational costs.
If IOM has a coordination role in the country, include funding for Shelter (and CCCM) Sector support
activities (e.g.; Joint Needs Assessment, trainings…)
For each main/big activity create a budget line to better monitor the intervention. Keep it simple and
exible. This line should include all the costs of the implementation as Lumpsum or total Unit Cost (see items
descriptions on the bullet points below).
For CBI activities check the Budgeting and Accounting Structures (ACO Alert No. #18
79
) for
budget line distribution and WBS assignation.
Internal sta capacity building funding, to participate of webinars, fora, etc; as well as to organize internal
training.
Include a Monitoring and Evaluation budget line
Cost to mainstream AAP/CwC and PSEA must be included in the budget, including Complain and Feedback
Mechanisms (CFM).
Incorporate enough budget to include S&S assessments and/or other information-gathering forms
that help informing the response.
Consider if the project is relevant enough for the S&S community of practice or the mission itself, funding to
produce a case study, produce communication materials such as videos or press notes, etc.
When implementation is done through an Implementing Partner, remember to add 30% of sta and oce
costs for their activity implementation
Always include an extra 10% cost based on total operational for contingency, mainly when large procurements
are envisioned.
ACTIVITY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
For any kind of essential household items, shelter materials and tools distribution
If in-kind:
Transportation to the warehouse and from it to the distribution location, including labor for loading and
unloading, and sta transport cost for the distribution day
Storage cost (see also the above-mentioned line on warehousing)
Purchase unit cost (consider if it is a local/national or international purchase, in case of international
include customs taxes costs (and delivery timing))
79 Link to CBI Global sharepoint. Link
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
If vouchers:
Cost of designing and printing the vouchers or cards
Potential fees associated to the vouchers/cards used by the beneciaries
Net cost of the assistance
If distribution is not managed case by case, individually, consider sta transport and other logistics for the
distribution day, see recommendations for in-kind and open spaces in this section.
IEC materials designing and printing cost
Stipend (cash-for-work) for volunteers, if necessary, during distribution
If market assessment is considered/necessary (depends on the size of the exercise and secondary data
available):
IT items for the information collection (including virtual surveys or interviews)
Day tool training costs (see in other activities costs to consider for training)
IM capacity (sta cost)
Transportation for the sta/enumerators/volunteers
Stipends (cash-for-work) for volunteers and/or enumerators
Graphic design consultancy if going to be published
In case of distribution in open spaces:
Materials for delimitation and signaling at the distribution area
Furniture such as tables and chairs (rent or transport from the oce)
Creation of shadow areas (rent or transport from the oce)
If vocational trainings or other capacity-building actions are considered:
Room/workshop rental cost
Catering cost (Food, Coee breaks)
Transport, Accommodation, DSA of participants and trainers (stipend)
Stationary and other support items + Materials printing
Sample materials or items for trainer demonstrations or trainee practice
Field visits
Trainer hiring cost if there is no capacity within the mission (Consultancy contract)
If sensitization activities are considered during distribution:
IEC designing and printing cost
Stationary and other support materials
Water bottle distribution depending on the duration and drinkable tap water availability.
Furniture such as tables and chairs depending on the duration (rent or transport from the oce)
If on an open space: Creation of shadow areas (rent or transport from the oce)
For Temporary Collective Shelter Interventions
IEC and signage designing and printing costs
Site manager oce items costs (e.g. IT, stationary, furniture…)
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Building/Land Rental cost for the implementation period of the project, if land or building is not public or
has not been a concession
Utility costs for the implementation period of the project (e.g.: electricity, gas, water, phone lines, Wi-Fi…)
Support services costs, such as laundry, computer room, etc; during the project implementation period.
Basic maintenance/repair works (labor and materials)
Cost of implementation and maintenance of Complaint and Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), including
organizational capacity to close the loop.
If governance structures (committees) are created or supported:
Capacity-building actions
Sensitizations
Materials/Items to perform their role
If capacity building activities are considered:
Room rental cost
Catering cost (Food, Coee breaks, etc.)
Transport, Accommodation, DSA of participants and trainers (stipend)
Stationary + Materials printing
Field visit to Collective Shelters (if necessary)
Trainer hiring cost if there is no capacity within the mission (Consultancy contract)
If infrastructure intervention activities are considered:
Need assessment of the site: Safety Audit, Technical Assessments, etc. See the market assessment
recommendations on the section above.
If IOM country mission does not have a technical/engineering person/unit:
o Analyze previous interventions to compare costs, based on the need identied. If not available,
check with other S&S partners in the country.
o Engineering/Architectural Oce consultancy subcontracting cost
o Construction company subcontracting cost
If IOM country mission has a technical/engineering person/unit:
o Compare previous interventions to compare costs, based on the need identied. If not available,
check with other S&S partners in the country.
o Prepare a basic budget including labor and materials costs, plus logistics such as material
transportation
If the provision of equipment is considered:
Transportation, including labor for loading and unloading, and storage cost
Purchase unit cost (consider if it is a local/national or international purchase, in case of international
include customs taxes costs (and delivery timing))
Include installing, maintenance, and guarantee costs.
Always consider the provision of non-food items (essential household or hygiene items) as a
complementary intervention, if no other actor is in charge of it.
Always consider having exible funding to cover basic service gaps at the collective shelter.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
For hotel/hostel accommodation
Unit cost per night per person at a hotel/hostel that achieves minimum habitability standards (It is important
to have previous hotels identied and assessed)
Include taxes, if not included on the unit cost per night.
Include three meals per day per person, if not included in the hotel rate (can be through CBI, and if mentioned
on the rationale, mention it is a complementary service or include it under food security/nutrition)
Transportation for the individuals from the place of registration/identication to the hotel/hostel (can be
through CBI)
Consider including laundry, phone, and other basic services costs during the stay at the hotel/hostel
Take into account that this is almost a case management type of intervention, which has high daily monitoring
costs (meaning sta and sta transport costs)
Always consider the provision of non-food items (essential household or hygiene items) as a
complementary intervention, if no other actor is in charge of it.
For Rental Assistance Programmes
Net cost of the rental assistance (the amount can be an average and change case by case)
Ta xes and fees of transactions for rent payment
IEC designing and printing costs
Assessments and information gathering/consultation costs, generally for: Habitability Assessments,
Housing Market Assessments and/or HLP Country Proles. See the market assessment and the training
recommendations in the sections above for “For any kind of essential household items, shelter materials and tools
distribution”.
Notary and/or Lawyer costs for contracts (based on country norms and regulations)
Rented house utilities costs during the period of coverage, if considered for the project
Take into account that this is almost a case management type of intervention, which has high daily monitoring
costs (meaning sta and sta transport costs)
If housing improvements are considered. See the infrastructure interventions recommendation on the section
“For Temporary Collective Shelters” and the full recommendations on “For any kind of essential household items,
shelter materials and tools distribution” sections on this checklist.
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
For Settlements-based interventions
Assessment (Area-based assessment, service mapping…) and information gathering costs. See
the market assessment and the training recommendations in the sections above.
For community participation activities:
IEC designing and printing materials
Furniture such as tables and chairs (rent or transport from the oce)
Stationary and other support materials
Water bottle distribution depending on the duration and drinkable tap water availability
If on an open space: Creation of shadow areas (rent or transport from the oce)
Stipends for those participating depending on the timing of the day and other considerations
For support of governance structures and work with authorities:
Meetings cost (transport, stipends, rooms, coee, etc...)
Capacity-building actions
Sensitizations
Materials/Items to perform their role
If urban infrastructure interventions are considered:
Include needs assessment and service/infrastructure mapping costs. See the market assessment and the
training recommendations in the sections above for “For any kind of essential household items, shelter
materials and tools distribution”.
See the infrastructure interventions recommendation on the section “For Temporary Collective Shelters
and the full recommendations on “For any kind of essential household items, shelter materials and tools
distribution” sections on this checklist.
See the community participation recommendations in this section
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IOM - STRATEGY FOR SHELTER AND SETTLEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELA SITUATION
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