An Agenda for a Dignified and Sustainable Rohingya Refugee Response in Bangladesh different understandings of protection in the humanitarian response resulting in uneven and fragmented delivery of protection services.152 While protection mainstreaming trainings have been delivered, implementation remains an ongoing challenge with varying degrees of refugee protection expertise and prioritisation among humanitarian partners.153 Focal points for protection, child protection, GBV and Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) along with Protection Emergency Response Units (PERU) are deployed at camp-level to ensure camp-level coordination, community engagement and identification/referral of protection cases. 154 Protection mainstreaming can also be strengthened through greater engagement with human rights mechanisms and actors in line with GCR commitments and the whole-of-society-approach. Globally, UNHCR’s alliances with human rights systems has yielded positive protection outcomes such as changes in national legislations and policies, improved programming and coordination as well as follow-up and referrals in individual cases. The complex humanitarian coordination structure in the Rohingya refugee response in a restrictive protection environment has affected protection delivery. It is imperative that technical expertise is complemented by innovative programming, strong networks, operational partnerships and diversified/independent funding streams for protection NGOs in order to successfully prioritise and centralise refugee protection.155 3.3.1 Leadership and meaningful participation of affected communities Independent evaluations of UNHCR, UNICEF and IOM’s response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh found gaps156 in accountability to affected populations (AAP). 157 Since 2019, the Joint Response Plans have incorporated an Accountability Manifesto158 to ensure that timely and accurate information is provided, feedback collected from refugee and host communities through multiple channels and effective resolution of feedback/complaints by relevant actors. The manifesto is to be implemented across camps and sectors by the Communications with Communities (CwC) Working Group. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of accountability mechanisms and awareness of the manifesto among different stakeholders, including affected communities. 152 Lewis Sida and Ed Schenkenberg, Synthesis of Rohingya Response Evaluations of IOM, UNICEF and UNHCR, December 2019, p. 14, available at https://www.unhcr.org/5e453ea64.pdf 153 Sida et.al, supra n. 57. 154 2020 COVID-19 Response Plan, Addendum to the Joint Response Plan, Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis, April-December 2020, available at https://rohingyaconference.org/doc/BGD_JointResponsePlan_Covid19_Addendum.pdf 155 Sida et.al, supra n. 57, p. 64 156 Sida and Schenkenberg, supra n. 152, p.29 157 Accountability to Affected People (AAP) is the active commitment of humanitarians to ensure communities themselves have the power and influence to determine and act on their own priorities for preparedness, response and recovery. See, OCHA, Accountability to Affected People, Global Humanitarian Overview 2021, available at https://gho.unocha.org/delivering-better/accountability-affectedpeople#:~:text=Accountability%20to%20Affected%20People%20(AAP,for%20preparedness%2C%20response%20and%20re covery.&text=Systematically%20sharing%20timely%2C%20relevant%20and%20actionable%20information%20with%20co mmunities. 158 CwC Working Group Cox’s Bazar, The Accountability to Affected Populations Manifesto (AAP) Manifesto: Strengthening Accountability through Communication and Community Engagement, January 2019, available at https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/accountability_man ifesto_cwc_wg_20190801.pdf Act for Peace / May 2021 35