This document provides guidance and checklists for humanitarian agencies to incorporate protection into their programs across different sectors such as WASH, food aid, livelihoods, health, education, and shelter. It defines protection as ensuring civilian safety from harm, violence, abuse and deprivation. Key protection principles include prioritizing affected populations' safety, dignity and rights, ensuring their participation in program design and implementation, and doing no harm. Sector-specific checklists provide examples of how to design inclusive and equitable programs that consider protection risks, ensure access for vulnerable groups, and avoid fueling conflict or human rights violations.

1. Minimum Agency Standards for incorporating protection into humanitarian responses1
Draft version: 7 September 2010
Contents:
How to use this guidance p.2
What is protection? p.3
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into all sector programmes p.4
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into WASH programmes p.5
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into Food Aid and Non-Food Items (NFI) programmes
p.6
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into Livelihood programmes (Agriculture and Cash for
Work) p.7
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into Health programmes p.8
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into Education programmes p.9
Agency Checklist for incorporating protection into Shelter programmes p.10
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This document is based on excerpts and ideas from the Caritas Australia/ CARE Australia/ Oxfam
Australia/ World Vision Australia publication “Minimum Agency Standards for Incorporating Protection into
Humanitarian Response. Field-testing version” (July 2008), a World Vision working draft document:
Humanitarian Protection Operational Checklist by Sectors (2007), HPG policy brief 29: Protective action:
incorporating civilian protection into humanitarian response (December 2007) and ALNAP (2005),
“Protection: An ALNAP guide for humanitarian agencies”
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2. How to use this guidance
The intention behind this document is to offer a potential tool that cluster/sector leads can share with
their members to use when developing projects to ensure they incorporate protection principles.
All the checklists provided are more or less standard checklists and some of the points listed may not
apply to the context agencies are working in.
The document is divided into several sections:
The first section describes what is meant by protection. There are two working definitions provided and
a list of the main protection principles that apply to all humanitarian agencies, whether they have a
specific protection mandate or not.
The second section provides a checklist for all sector programmes, regardless of the sector they are
working in.
This is followed by sector-specific checklists for WASH, Food Aid and NFI, Livelihoods, Health,
Education and Shelter.
Agencies using this document should at a minimum read the agency checklist for all sector programmes
on p. 4 and the sector-specific checklist relevant to their scope of work.
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3. What is protection?
Protection is about seeking to ensure the safety of civilians from harm. It is increasingly recognized that
the vast majority of humanitarian agencies have a role to play in seeking to ensure the protection of
civilians. In particular, they have a responsibility to understand the nature of the risks that affected
populations face, and to consider the positive and negative impacts of their work on these risks. It is
imperative to ensure that humanitarian interventions do not undermine or jeopardize the dignity or
integrity of affected populations.
There are many definitions for protection, but the most commonly accepted in the humanitarian field is
the definition applied by ICRC:
“All activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the
letter and the spirit of the relevant bodies of law, i.e. human rights law, international humanitarian
law and refugee law.”
However, many humanitarian agencies find this definition quite theoretical and prefer to use the Oxfam
definition of:
“Safety from violence, abuse, coercion and deliberate deprivation”
There are many protection principles that can be applied by all sectors and clusters among which the
most important are2
:
• Focus on the safety, dignity and integrity of affected populations
• Think about law, violation, rights and responsibilities and accountability – there is a
need to recognise that much of prevailing humanitarian need or civilian suffering in situations
of armed conflict or occupation is often a result of violations of international law.
• Aim to ensure respect as well as providing assistance – this is part of the ‘rights based
approach’. Respect for the dignity and integrity of affected populations is essential.
• Build on people’s own self protection capacity – it is essential that people are involved in,
and often take the lead on, decisions concerning their own protection and thus targeted
populations should be systematically engaged as informed partners in responding to
protection concerns, at every stage of programme development and implementation.
• Do no harm - Humanitarian response programmes should be based on a comprehensive
analysis of the context that includes analysis of protection issues and risks.
2
Adapted from the ALNAP guide to protection for humanitarian agencies, (2005)
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4. Agency Checklist for Incorporating Protection into all Sector Programmes
• Your agency has conducted an assessment of the protection risks your targeted population is
facing.
• These identified protection risks have been considered in all stages of the project cycle.
• The targeted population –in particular especially vulnerable groups - has been consulted at all
stages of the project cycle – that accessibility requirements (physical, informational etc) are
met to ensure inclusion from design to implementation and review.
• Men and women within the targeted population have been consulted on the development of
beneficiary lists and the design of interventions.
• Procurements should be done from the occupied people alone unless absolutely impossible.
• Programmes been designed to include and support particularly vulnerable categories within
the overall vulnerable population (e.g. women, girls, boys, people with disability, elderly
people)
• Your agency has a policy on how to respond to witnessed human rights abuses and IHL
violations of staff and beneficiaries. Policy should include referring cases to receive legal aid.
All staff is aware of the policy and using it3
• All staff have been trained in international human rights and humanitarian legal standards.
• A gender responsive complaints mechanism is in place for beneficiaries to feed back on
concerns.
• Men, women, girls and boys have equitable access to the services provided.
• All reasonable measures have been taken to ensure that people with disability are able to
access the services provided.
• All ethnic, religious and other social groupings have equitable access to the services
provided.
• The gender/ethnic/persons with disability balance of humanitarian staff is appropriate to meet
the needs of the population.
• All humanitarian staff are sensitized to disability issues so as to promote inclusive practices
across their work efforts.
• Your humanitarian intervention will not be used for it to be used to fuel further conflict or to
further disadvantage a particular social group.
• Ensure your humanitarian intervention does not encourage directly or indirectly IHL and HR
violations through the whole cycle of project planning/implementation/evaluation. For example
– not submitting to illegal permit regime for construction in area C in case of lack of
cooperation of military authorities.
• Ensure response plans are short-termed and do not substitute long-term development goals.
• A yearly assessment to ensure intervention's impact does not undermine long-term
development goals
• Beneficiary selection criteria are based on need alone, and are not influenced by religious,
political, racial, ethnic or social grouping criteria.
• Be transparent and make criteria and evidence-based decisions. For example, if, justified on
the basis of need, your agency chooses to provide one group among neighbouring groups
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Depending on the mandate, resources and capacity of agencies, the policy could prescribe different
responses. The minimum response should be to report the human right abuse to the relevant authorities or
relevant human rights organisations
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5. more or a different type of humanitarian aid, this has been clearly communicated to your
beneficiaries, together with the reasons.
Key protection concerns in water and sanitation programmes
• Access to appropriate water and sanitation facilities for each man, woman, girl and boy in the
target population.
• Safety and appropriateness of water and sanitation facilities for different people within the
targeted vulnerable populations (e.g. men, women, boys, girls, elderly, people with
disabilities).
Agency Checklist Incorporating Protection into Water and Sanitation Programmes
• Water pumps are located where all members of the community can physically access them
regardless of their ethnic, political or racial grouping.
• No one group has ownership of, or control over, the water source. If one does, steps have
been taken to address the problems experienced by other groups accessing the source.
• Information on the location of water points, toilets, bathing areas, etc. are disseminated to the
target population taking into account the provision of accessible formats (e.g. over the radio,
in large print, using simple language, etc).
• Separate cubicles for washing are provided for men/boys and women/girls.
• Separate, secure and easily accessible toilets are provided for men/boys and women/girls.
• Toilets are in well-lit and visible areas.
• Women and men, particularly people with disabilities, have been consulted on the safety and
appropriateness of the water and sanitation facilities.
• Water pumps are designed so that they can be used by children, elderly people and people
with disabilities (e.g. not too high, on flat ground, etc).
• There are specifically designed water carriers for children, elderly people and people with
disability so that they are able to easily collect and carry the water.
• Systems are in place to ensure that assistance is given to people with disabilities who are, for
whatever reason, unable to access water points.
• Universal design principles are applied so that toilets can be accessed and used by people
with disability (e.g. provision of handrails).
• Toilets are child safe. E.g. the opening is narrow enough in diameter that children cannot fail
down them
• There is adequate space for women to be able to clean sanitary materials with privacy and
dignity.
• There is an accessible mechanism for individuals or groups to raise concerns about the water
and sanitation facilities.
• Are mechanisms in place to advocate for the right to water and health among duty bearers?
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6. 6

7. Key protection concerns in food aid and NFI programmes
• Each eligible man, woman, girl and boy has access to food and age appropriate non-food
items.
• Safety for men and women in targeted populations prior to, during and after distributions.
• The needs of particularly vulnerable groups (e.g. women, boys, girls, elderly, people with
disabilities).
• Deliberate starvation or deprivation of targeted population.
Agency Checklist Incorporating Protection into Food Aid and NFI Programmes
• Distribution rations are clearly displayed.
• Distribution points are set up in places where vulnerable groups such as elderly people,
people with illnesses, people with disabilities, female headed households, etc are able to
easily and safely access the site.
• Accessible priority lanes are set up at distribution points for people with disabilities and
elderly people.
• Support mechanisms are in place for vulnerable individuals who may not be able to collect
the food themselves and/or prepare the food themselves (such as people with disabilities who
are immobile).
• Women and people with disabilities are able to be registered for support and aid distribution
in their own name.
• Food monitors check that the food is reaching the intended vulnerable groups.
• Women, particularly women with disabilities, are not exposed to gender-based violence or
sexual exploitation associated with food distribution.
• Individuals or groups are not exposed to intimidation and violence associated with food
distribution.
• Measures are in place to prevent, monitor and respond to intimidation, violence and sexual
exploitation associated with food distribution.
• Provisions are made to ensure that food is nutritionally appropriate/easy to eat and digest for
people with disabilities.
• NFIs take into consideration assistive devices and aids for people with disabilities as per their
stated needs.
• Are mechanisms in place to advocate for the right to equitable standard of living among duty
bearers?
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8. Key protection concerns for livelihood programmes
• Equitable access to livelihoods opportunities and resources.
• Safe livelihood practices and strategies.
• Self-determination of livelihood practices and protection mechanisms.
• Increased resilience.
Agency Checklist for Incorporating Protection into Livelihoods Programmes (Agriculture
and Cash for Work)
• Livelihoods programmes are designed to equally meet the needs of targeted men and
women.
• Livelihoods programmes are designed and adapted to ensure the safety of users.
• Safe access to farming and grazing land and to fishing areas is ensured for male and female
farmers, herders and fishers.
• Safe access is ensured for women and men to all livelihood inputs (e.g. water, equipment
repair parts, fertilizer etc.)
• Men and women in the targeted populations been consulted on the safety of livelihoods
programmes
• Livelihoods programmes are designed to increase resilience of male and female headed
households as well as communities.
• There is a mechanism in place for men, women and groups to have input into the design of
livelihood programmes and to raise concerns during implementation.
• Is your agency aware of the national laws regarding land title, particularly those relating to
indigenous communities and other specific ethnicities?
• Indigenous rights to land and resources are respected.
• No ethnic, gender or other discrimination denies men or women the right to own or inherit
land.
• Are mechanisms in place to advocate for the right to equitable standard of living among duty
bearers?
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9. Key protection concerns in health programmes
• Safe and equitable access to health facilities and services for each man, woman, girl and boy
in the target population.
• Health services for victims/survivors of human rights abuses.
• Respect for religious and cultural practices in health care.
Agency Checklist for Incorporating Protection into Health Programmes
• If necessary, arrangements have been made to assist those members of the targeted
vulnerable population that are unable to pay for health care if fees are in place.
• Health services are physically accessible to people with disabilities or alternative provisions
are made to ensure that everybody is able to receive health care.
• Steps have been taken to protect medical records and if medical records have been lost or
misplaced during an emergency event, objectives have been designed or partnerships
considered addressing the loss.
• Health staff maintain the confidentiality of medical records and data, especially when
related to trauma caused by human rights abuses.
• Safe and confidential health services are available for patients of rape, domestic violence,
sexual exploitation, forced marriage, forced prostitution, trafficking and abduction.
• There are no gaps in the availability of preferred birth control products, safe birthing kits,
PEP kits, emergency obstetric services or key drugs.
• Health staff members are trained on the processes for reporting human rights abuses, and
in particular the steps for obtaining informed consent for the sharing of such information.
• Health staff are trained on disability issues, particularly surrounding communication
methods (e.g. Braille, sign language).
• Health staff members are trained in identifying abuses that lead to health issues including
deliberate starvation of children, beatings or sexual abuse.
• A code of conduct, highlighting among other issues, safety and confidentiality, has been
signed by all health staff.
• Public health information is provided in accessible formats (e.g. leaflets in Braille) for people
with disabilities.
• Health facilities are adapted to the cultural context.
• Bodies are disposed of in accordance with traditions, and families are supported to carry
out appropriate rites.
• Are mechanisms in place to advocate for the right to equitable standard of health among
duty bearers?
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10. Key protection concerns in education programmes
• Equal and safe access to education facilities for girls and boys.
• Safety of children and learners in the learning environment.
• Physical accessibility and safety of the school structure.
Agency Checklist for Incorporating Protection into Education Programmes
• Girls, boys or groups are not being denied access to educational opportunities due to
discrimination, or due to administrative barriers.
• Male and female teachers and school managers can efficiently travel to and from school
without harassment or obstruction.
• Disaster-impacted persons, refugees and IDPs are able to access education as soon as
possible after displacement or emergency.
• Schools are available for each girl and boy within a reasonable distance.
• School sites are free from dangers such as landmines, ammunition, political or military
threats/ Males and female stakeholders have had input into the location, structure and
environment of education facilities and services to ensure the safety and security of boys and
girls?
• Girls or boys, particularly those with disabilities, are not subject to physical violence or
mental abuse at school. If they are, measures are in place to address this problem.
• Safety precautions are taken for girls and boys who have to walk to and from school.
• Equal numbers of male and female teachers have adequate training to provide
psychosocial support to students and to be supportive of students with disabilities.
• Hunger does not prevent girls or boys from concentrating and performing in school.
• School sites and classrooms are physically accessible to learners with disabilities.
• Water and secure toilets exist for girls and boys of all ages, including children with
disabilities
• Sufficient and appropriate teaching aids and materials are available to support children with
disabilities.
• Are mechanisms in place to monitor and respond to safety concerns in the learning
environment, especially concerning the abuse and exploitation of boys and girls?
• Has the targeted population, especially girls and boys (including those with disabilities), been
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11. consulted at every stage of the project/programme cycle?
• Are mechanisms in place to advocate right to education among duty bearers?
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12. Key protection concerns in shelter programmes
• Targeted women, girls, men and boys are sheltered in safety and dignity and confidentiality.
• Easy, safe and confidential access to essential services, resources and livelihoods from
shelter location.
• Agreed and equitable standards of shelter provided
Agency Checklist for Incorporating Protection into Shelter Programmes
• An assessment has been done regarding the potential threats of physical attacks from armed
groups in the proposed area for shelter. Measures have been taken to reduce or mitigate the
risks.
• Individuals and families are safe from forced evictions. If they are not, an assessment has
been done to determine the reasons for potential evictions and activities designed to mitigate
them.
• Adequate and accessible escape routes from shelter have been designed in the case of an
emergency evacuation.
• The privacy and dignity of different household members is ensured while family unity is
respected. Eg. There are separated sleeping areas in the house for girls and boys who have
reached school age.
• Shelter is located with easy and safe access to water and sanitation services and social
facilities including health care, schools, and places of worship. Eg. paths to these services are
lit, open, smooth and easy to walk.
• Separate living areas are available to particularly vulnerable groups such as single women,
and unaccompanied children.
• Shelter is located in an area with safe access to livelihood activities for women and men.
• Movement around the community and beyond is safe. If it is not, an assessment has been
done as to the limiting/ preventing factors and activities have been designed to mitigate them.
• No discrimination in standard or location of housing with regards to social, ethnic, gender or
religious groups exists.
• Shelters/homes are designed to accommodate access for the elderly people, persons with
disabilities and pregnant women.
• People with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are involved in the decision-making
regarding the design and location of shelters.
• If vulnerable groups such as women are exploited due to a reliance on men/other groups to
help with shelter construction, activities have been designed to prevent/mitigate the
exploitation.
• Vulnerable individuals and groups have property and land rights and objectives have been
included to strengthen and further advocate for these rights.
• Aid-funded new houses are registered in joint title where there are two spouses/partners.
Single headed households, whether male or female headed, will be facilitated equally to
register title.
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