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Camp Management Toolkit

The Camp Management Project is an inter-agency effort to improve the management of camps for the displaced. The shortcomings and often lack of coherence in camp management, particularly with respect to camps for internally displaced persons, had been evident for some time. This was emphasised by a report undertaken by UNHCR/Save the Children-UK in 2002, manifesting sexual exploitation of camp residents by humanitarian agencies in West Africa. As a response, a small Inter-Agency Working Group, comprised of the Norwegian Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, OCHA, UNHCR and the Sierra Leone government's National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), came together in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to start the work on enhancing camp management.

The group focused on mapping key areas of camp management responsibilities; identifying good practices and reviewing lessons learnt in camp situations. The aim was to develop a comprehensive overview of the camp management role, but also to provide practical and reference tools - as well as literature - to support managers in their daily work. There are also links to various organisations, networks etc.

The data gathered became the first draft of the Camp Management Toolkit, which was sent out for field-testing late 2003 in Liberia, Sierra Leone and partly in Angola. The results from the field-testing have been returned to NRC who coordinates the project, and feedback has been incorporated in the second version of the Camp Management Toolkit. Meanwhile, the Danish Refugee Council has joined the project.

The Camp Management Toolkit, which can be downloaded on www.nrc.no/camp, comprises 18 chapters. The aim is to have this second draft field-tested. We would welcome your comments as well (including additional tools). An updated version of the Toolkit will be published later on.

Training in camp management will be a top priority from the autumn 2004 on.

If you have any questions, please, contact the Camp Management Project at: camp@nrc.no