6 \ outline of protection initiatives 2.1. UNRWA’s protection framework There are four components in UNRWA’s protection work. Two components are centred on UNRWA’s programmes and staff (and therefore have an internal dimension), and two are directed to entities external to UNRWA and depend primarily on them for their realisation (and therefore have more of an external dimension). These four components of the UNRWA protection framework are as follows: Internal (1) Protection in programming – Ensuring that protection needs are addressed in all aspects of programming, project design, policies, protocols and procedures, as well as in staff training. (2) Protection in and through service delivery – Delivering services in a manner that promotes and respects the rights of beneficiaries and ensures the security and dignity of beneficiaries and of UNRWA personnel. External (3) International protection – Promoting respect for Palestine refugee rights through monitoring, reporting and intervention. (4) A just and durable solution – Highlighting to the international community the urgent need for a just and durable solution to the plight of the Palestinian people and helping to ensure that in its elaboration the rights and interests of the refugees are safeguarded. 2.2. UNRWA’s protection methodology UNRWA is first and foremost responsible for ensuring that its own service delivery provides for the safety and dignity of refugees and adheres to international standards and best practice. UNRWA further provides protection to refugees through the provision of core services as well as through targeted assistance to address specific vulnerabilities of individuals and groups. These programmatic efforts go hand in hand with monitoring, reporting and intervening, either directly or indirectly to the authorities that have the primary responsibility to protect refugees. In order to facilitate implementation of protection UNRWA has developed various tools and methodologies to support the Agency’s management and staff. - Tool for Incorporating Minimum Standards on Protection into UNRWA Programming and Service delivery. This tool consists of a set of minimum standards, key protection principles and guidance notes for UNRWA’s protection work. It provides the Agency staff with concrete ideas about what “protection standards” referred to in the Medium Term Strategy and the Field Implementation Plans actually mean in practical terms for UNRWA. - Tool to Assess the degree of Alignment with UNRWA Protection Standards. This tool has been compiled primarily to provide a means of assessing progress towards mainstreaming protection in UNRWA programming and service delivery. It is meant to be used in conjunction with the UNRWA’s “Tool for incorporating minimum standards on protection into UNRWA programming and service delivery”, which lays out what UNRWA aims at in terms of protection mainstreaming. Assessing alignment of programming with UNRWA’s protection standards provides a baseline against which to measure progress, acts as a protection needs assessment to identify future areas of focus and helps to raise the understanding and awareness of UNRWA staff on protection issues. - Advocacy policies While UNRWA programmes and services mitigate the consequences arising from protection concerns, UNRWA also promotes respect for Palestine refugee rights by engaging directly or indirectly with the relevant authorities. This includes: • • Monitoring reporting and intervention with authorities, to prevent or deter violations and to pursue remedial or corrective action; Interventions to help create and consolidate an environment and practices in which rights are respected;