Guidelines For The Formation of Refugee Leadership Structure Of Kutupalong and Nayapara Refugee Camps Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh

Annex 2: Terms of Reference for the Block Committee Under the supervision of the CIC, the Camp Management Committee will be supported and guided to perform the following responsibilities: 1. To mediate in minor quarrels between families and amongst block residents with the prior authorization from the CIC and consent of the parties in an unbiased manner. All cases mediated must be documented for future reference and easy access by UNHCR and the CIC. 2. To report all criminal activities within the block. Failure to report any criminal act will automatically make the committee a party to the crime. 3. To advocate for promote and maintain harmonious relationship amongst block residents and between the camp residents in coordination with CMC. 4. To represent the block through camp secretary and deputy camp secretary at all camp level coordination meetings. 5. To participate in all awareness activities organized by the CIC, UNHCR and or implementing partners. 6. To initiate and implement self-help activities including sanitation activities at block level for the good of their community. 7. To assist the CIC and other agencies in identifying, supporting and referring (to relevant agencies) extremely vulnerable refugees within their block. 8. To organize and chair monthly meetings with block members to discuss concerns/issues facing the block and identify local solutions with the support of UNHCR Community Services and Protection units. The report of said meetings must be shared with the CIC, UNHCR and the implementing partners for information and possible support. 9. To ensure the protection of all public facilities including latrines, schools, and bath houses within the block. 10. To maintain law and other within their block under the supervision of the CIC. Note: No activities should be done without the knowledge or prior permission of the CIC.

Annex 3: Code of Conduct for the Committees

1. No committee member shall act in a discriminatory manner towards any refugee on the basis of gender, race, religion, nationality, political opinion, age, caste or disability.

2. No committee members should engage in any criminal activity. Any member found to be engaged in or suspected of involvement in criminal act including Gender Based Violence will be immediately suspended from the committee by the CIC in consultation with UNHCR. If found guilty by a court of law such individual will be dismissed and will not be eligible to serve on any committee in the future.

3. No member shall receive or solicit benefits/bribe (in cash or kind) for the performance of his/her duties as a committee member. As such act compromises the neutrality of the committee, members found guilty primarily shall be suspended by the CIC. If found guilty such individual shall be dismissed and shall not be eligible to serve any other committee in future.

4. Members shall maintain straight confidentiality of all personal sensitive information received as a result of their duties. Personal sensitive information should only be shared with the relevant individual agencies with the consent of the concerned individual. However, where such information is of a criminal nature, it must be shared with the CIC and UNHCR without the consent of the concerned individual.

Background Introduction of Camp Management System during the recent years resulted in better management and participation of refugees in decision making was ensured. This also put an end to a dictatorial leadership structure referred to as Majhees, controlled by the some outside structures. This also enabled UNHCR and its implementing partners to come closer to the refugees and also helped to invited and support NGOs to implement various programs for the refugees more efficiently. Although there were substantial improvements using the new Camp Management system, there were some areas identified where more improvement could be achieved in view of the above UNHCR in collaboration with the GOB is undertaking the establishment and training of functional refugee leadership structure with representation from all refugee groups with gender consideration. The established structures will be provided training to enhance the performance of their duties. 1. Strategy for establishing the committees To establish Camp Management Committees and Block Management Committees, the existing structures were reviewed and the following proposals were placed for forming new Camp management Committee and Block management Committee along with the term of reference, code of conduct and other guidelines for running the said committees. 2. Composition of selection committee The selection committee shall comprise CIC, UNHCR representative, WFP representative, MTG IC of Police, IC of Ansar, Representatives from BORCS, TAI, RTMI, ACF and any other agencies engaged in the refugee program of the respective refugee camp. 3. Criteria for qualification for selection to a position of refugee leadership To become a member of a refugee leadership committee, any refugee should meet the following criteria: a. Must be registered and recognized by GOB and UNHCR; b. Must not have held any leadership position in the past 10 (ten) years; c. Must have reside in the refugee camp uninterrupted;

d. Must have no proven criminal records with UNHCR/GOB/CIC; e. Must have no pending criminal cases; f. Minimum age for being a member of CMC (except youth members) should be 25 years; g. Must be willing to serve without compensation; h. Must be full recipient of assistance provided by UNHCR and its partners; Note: No one from the immediate family members would be qualified to serve on the CMC.

4. Process/ Procedure for selection of the Committees The selection of the committees members shall be carried out in the following manners ensuring transparency: 4a. Procedure for Block Committee Selection: To select the male and female representative, the selection committee shall ask the adult male and female members of each household from each sheds to nominate one male and one female representative; All the selected shed representatives from each block shall be invited to the community center to participate in the selection process; At the meeting, they shall have to nominate 10 male and 10 female members for election; in case of more suitable candidates, the BMC members shall be selected through direct voting; Once the nominations are accepted the selection committee shall set up a table in one of the rooms and shall request the shed representatives to cast their vote secretly to their candidates of choice; The committee shall tally the casting votes and declare 3 male and 2 female candidates with highest vote. They will be declared as members of the respective Block Committee; After the selection is done, all the members shall meet together and select their Chairperson, Co-chairperson and Secretary in presence of the selection committee; One of the Imams from the block shall be selected through voting by the Imams of each block to serve as advisor of the Block committee;

 There will be a member from the teachers of a block who will be selected in the same manner by the teachers of that block like other committee members of block committee; The members of the Block Committee shall meet together and select a chairperson, co-chairperson and secretary; The selection committee shall keep all the records for future scrutiny or use (if needed); Note: -

The selection committee shall ensure that where the Chairperson is a male, the co-chairperson should be a female, vice versa. The selection of Youth member of the Block committee shall be of same manner like selection of other committee members. The age of youth members should be 18-24 years.

From the CWs, CTBs, HPs and CHWs, they shall have to select one representative from them to represent in the Block Committee. The selection from this category member of the Block Committee shall be of same manner like selection of other committee members.

4b. Camp Management Committee: The members of the Block Committees shall select one male and one female members from each block to represent in the camp management committee; in case of more suitable candidates, the BMC members shall vote to select the representatives to the CMC; One representative from the Imams shall be selected through voting to represent in the Camp Committee as advisor from all of the Imams; Once male and one female from youth group shall be selected through voting among the youth BMC members from the Block Committees to represent in the Camp Committee; in case of non-consensus, representatives shall be selected through voting among the youth members of the BMC; The teachers from the block committees shall select their representative to represent in the Camp Committee; in case of non-consensus, representatives shall be selected through voting among the teacher members of the BMC;

 One member each from CWs + CTBs + HPs and CHWs shall be nominated to represent in the Camp management Committee; in case of non-consensus, representatives shall be selected through voting; All the members of the CMC shall meet together and select a Chairperson, cochairperson and secretary for the Camp Management Committee; if candidates obtain identical voting results, a lottery shall be held to select the candidate. Notes: The selection committee shall ensure that where the Chairperson is a male, the cochairperson should be a female, vice versa. All the selection procedures should be done in presence of the selection committee. Once two members from the BMC are selected to be representatives in the CMC, the vacant post in the BMC shall be filled in by the candidates that receive highest voting order. 5. Membership Composition The members of each committee will comprise of representatives of the various refugee groups as follows: 5.1 Camp Management Committee (CMC): The CMC shall consist of 19 members including 2 representatives (1 male and 1 female) per block, 1 Imam, 1 youth, 1 teacher, 1 community volunteer and 1 CHW. The Imam shall be an advisor to the committee and shall not have any voting rights. The Chairperson shall have the deciding voting in case of non-consensus. 5.2 Block Committee (BMC): The block committee shall consist of 11 members comprising: 2 female, 2 male, 2 youth (1 male and 1 female), 1 teacher, 1 CHW, 1 Imam, 2 volunteers (1 male and 1 female). The Imam shall be an advisor to the committee and shall not have any voting rights. The Chairperson shall have the deciding vote in case of non-consensus. 6. Tenure of Office The tenure of office for the CMC and block committee shall be for 2 calendar years only. No committee member shall be allowed to serve two consecutive terms.

7. Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Committees. The responsibilities of the committee shall be carried out in line with the agreed terms of reference (annex 1 & 2). The TOR will be reviewed by UNHCR, the GOB and the refugee leadership when necessary. 8. Code of Conduct for all committees (Annex 3) As representatives of their community, members of the committee must maintain the highest standard of conduct. In this regard, they are expected to respect and adhere to the code of conduct. Any proven violation of the code shall result in immediate removal from the committee by the CIC in consultation with UNHCR.

Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Coxs Bazar No: RRRC/Repat/1-35/2010 Date: 22 March 2010

Subject:

Guidelines for the formation of Refugee Leadership structure

Dear Mr. Hussain, I am sending the guidelines for the formation of Refugee Leadership Structure for Kutupalong and Nayapara Refugee Camp which has been developed jointly by the RRRC office and UNHCR sub office, Coxs Bazar for next course of action at your end.

Mr. Syed Mahmood Hussain Head of Sub-office UNHCR, Coxs Bazar. Copy: For kind information: Secretary Disaster Management & Relief Division Ministry of Food and Disaster Management Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka Attn: Mr. Md. Hafizur Rahman Mollah Deputy Secretary, Refugee Cell.