Checklist For A Camp Management Agency

Recruiting, Training and Supervising Staff

  • Staff on the team at camp level have a balance of skills and capacities, whether in protection, assistance, technical sectors, administration, IT, conflict management, information management and/or community mobilisation. 
  • Women are adequately represented on the team, ideally reflecting the ratio of men and women in the camp as well as persons with specific needs. 
  • Each member of camp management staff has clear terms of reference, job descriptions, roles and responsibilities. 
  • There are clear procedures for the monitoring and appraisal of staff performance. 
  • There is a plan and budget in place for on-going training and staff development. 
  • Awareness and specialised training on protection is provided to staff. 
  • Awareness and specialised training on PSEA is provided to staff. 
  • All staff clearly understand the mandate of the Camp Management Agency. 
  • All staff have been trained in and signed the code of conduct, in an appropriate language. 
  • Staff have been trained in integrating the needs of people with specific needs into programming. 
  • Standards, policies and guidelines are part of the training that staff members receive.

Coordinating and Monitoring Assistance and Service Provision

  • A comprehensive assessment of the protection and assistance needs of the camp population has been carried out. 
  • Coordination and monitoring procedures are agreed upon and well-communicated to all key stakeholders. 
  • Ongoing monitoring at the camp level is in line with, and feeding into, a total camp response strategy. 
  • The Camp Management Agency has the trust and legitimacy required to coordinate effectively at camp level. 
  • Weekly (or bi-weekly) coordination meetings are taking place in the camp. 
  • Sector specific meetings are taking place in the camp regularly. 
  • Ongoing community-based assessment and monitoring systems are in place. 
  • Participatory strategies involving camp residents, including women, children and members of groups with specific needs, are being monitored. 
  • Available national services are being mobilised and ­coordinated to benefit the camp population. 
  • Service providers are coordinating and collaborating to achieve shared goals for the benefit of the camp population. 
  • A protection focus is integrated into the monitoring of sector-specific interventions. 
  • The protection and care of groups and individuals with specific needs and those at heightened risk is being monitored. 
  • Protection monitoring is being carried out with due regard for staff training, confidentiality and response capacity. 
  • The cultural, religious and social appropriateness of specific sector programmes is being monitored 
  • Reporting and feedback system exists for all interventions being monitored. 
  • The views and concerns of a range of stakeholders, including the camp residents, are captured by reports. 
  • There are mechanisms to ensure that lessons learned in coordination and monitoring inform future planning. 
  • The Camp Management Agency is providing coordination and monitoring to ensure provision of assistance and protection programmes in the camp. 
  • Adequate and appropriate standards, indicators, policies and operational guidelines have been established and disseminated to shape camp level interventions. 
  • The aims and capacities of the Camp Management in a camp are clear and transparent and in line with the overall camp response strategy. 
  • The Camp Management Agency coordinates effectively with the Cluster/Sector Lead Agency in ensuring agreed upon standards are respected. 
  • Standards are monitored and reported on regularly.

Setting Up Governance and Community Participation Mechanisms

  • Local leaders are regularly involved and consulted. 
  • Leadership is representative and seen as legitimate by the camp population. 
  • There are agreed codes of conduct in place for camp leaders.
  • Participatory strategies and forums are used to implement camp activities and deliver services. 
  • Children, women and members of other marginalised groups are provided appropriate opportunities to talk about their concerns, ideas and questions. 
  • Groups with specific needs are involved in the life of the camp. 
  • Information about the services and programmes within the camp is well-mapped and disseminated. 
  • Community coordination forums, mechanisms and information channels are effective. 
  • Sector specific and cross-cutting camp committees are established. 
  • Camp committees have clear and agreed terms of reference. 
  • The camp community is represented in decision-making processes. 
  • There are procedures for ensuring that feedback from the camp population informs changes and programme planning.

Ensuring the Maintenance of Camp Infrastructure

  • The infrastructure in the camp meets agreed standards and indicators. 
  • Existing standards enable the displaced population to enjoy their basic human right to life with dignity. 
  • Sector-specific service providers have the capacity to repair and maintain camp infrastructure. 
  • National authorities have the capacity to take responsibility for the upkeep of camp infrastructure as appropriate. 
  • The Camp Management Agency has the capacity to fill gaps in the maintenance of camp infrastructure as needed. 
  • The general living conditions and social organisation of the displaced population allow for the protection and care of persons with specific needs. 
  • The status of the camp infrastructure is being reported to the Cluster/Sector Lead Agency and in coordination meetings.

Managing Information

  • There are complaints and feedback mechanisms in place in the camp. 
  • Reporting and referral of violations and abuses systems are in place. 
  • The camp population, including women and children and people with disabilities, know where to report a case of humanitarian misconduct or abuse. 
  • Qualified staff are hired for data management and reporting. 
  • The Camp Management Agency is working closely with the Cluster/Sector Lead Agency on the management of information. 
  • The national authorities are involved in effective management of information. 
  • There are agreements with service providers about who is gathering what information and why, at camp level (to avoid duplication and camp community data fatigue). 
  • The camp population is registered. A continuous registration system is established. 
  • Detailed demographic information is being regularly updated. 
  • Data is stored in a secure location and being used confidentially. 
  • A baseline database has been established on camp welfare issues for future comparisons. 
  • Camp management staff are trained in the collection of data. Data is being collected for a reason. 
  • Data is being analysed and disseminated for the benefit of all service providers. 
  • Information is cross-checked for accuracy and regularly updated. 
  • There is response capacity in place for the data that is collected.

Disseminating Information

  • Information on the applicable code(s) of conduct has been made available to the camp population. 
  • The Camp Management Agency’s mandate and project plan have been made available to the camp residents. 
  • The camp population knows the roles and responsibilities of the Camp Management Agency. 
  • The Camp Management Agency and the camp population have a relationship built on trust and mutual respect. 
  • The local language(s) is used when interacting with camp residents. 
  • When translators/interpreters are used, the message to be communicated is double-checked for accuracy. 
  • A variety of information dissemination and sharing mechanisms are being employed. 
  • The needs of the non-literate are being catered for. 
  • Complex messages are being handled sensitively and with clarity. 
  • The camp population knows what information channels are available, both to give and receive information. 
  • Camp committees and other representative groups are used as vehicles for the dissemination of information. 
  • Camp leaders act to facilitate effective communication between the camp population and the Camp Management Agency. 
  • The needs of groups with specific needs are acknowledged in the design and use of communication mechanisms. 
  • There are agreed and effective ways for dealing with disagreements and disputes between the camp population and the Camp Management Agency.
  • There is a communication focal point on the camp management staff. 
  • Communication between the camp population and the Camp Management Agency is a safe, accessible and two-way process.

Participation in Strategic Planning With Camp Coordination and Camp Administration

  • A contingency planning for the camp and the CCCM Cluster/Sector is in place. 
  • Exit strategy and camp closure planning are in place. 
  • In close collaboration with the displaced community, the Cluster/Sector Leads and the national authorities, perspectives for durable solutions are discussed and planned for.