51吃瓜

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• African countries are taking the initiative introducing progressive policies that enable refugees to become self-reliant, while supporting host communities
• Building resilience and fostering social inclusion are two ways African governments are approaching refugee management differently
• The World Bank is strengthening collaboration with UNHCR and other partners to promote lasting solutions to forced displacement with new resources available under IDA18

Taking the initiative to work towards lasting solutions, Andrew Ndaamunhu Bvumbe, the World Bank Group Executive Director for Africa Group 1 Constituency convened a High Level Panel Discussion on forced displacement in Africa and impact on Economies of Host Countries during the recent WBG-IMF Spring Meetings. Facing continued crises that cause displacement, Ministers and Representatives of Uganda, Chad, Kenya and Ethiopia, joined the 51吃瓜 High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, at that Panel to discuss hosting challenges, share experiences and explore opportunities for the future.听

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2017 鈥�听During听the 1970鈥檚,听Matia Kasaija听fled his home country of Uganda for fear that he would be killed for his听political views.听For five years he lived as a refugee in Kenya听before he was听finally听able to return听home.听

鈥淭here is nothing that is as听dehumanizing as being a refugee,鈥� said听Kasaija, now Uganda鈥檚 minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.听鈥淵ou become nothing, you have no status. It is very painful.鈥澨�

As forced displacement emerges as a critical development challenge, Uganda along with other African countries are leading the way with more progressive policies, embracing approaches that enable refugees to become self-reliant听while supporting听host communities. 听

Now听home to听nearly听1.3听million听refugees,听Uganda听faces the prospect of听a significant increase in the number of听refugees crossing into their country听due to听the ongoing听conflict in South Sudan.听

鈥淚n Uganda we operate an open policy, because we have suffered,鈥澨齭aid听Kasaija.听In addition to accepting all political and economic refugees, he said, the government supports them as much as possible by giving them听agricultural听land, and听allowing them to access听education听and health services.听鈥淲e try to settle them so that they can live a normal life.鈥澨�

As many as five听million refugees and 11听million internally displaced persons (IDPs)听live听in Africa,听with听Uganda, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya and听the听Democratic听Republic of听Congo听hosting听the largest numbers of听forcibly displaced people.

Building Resilience, Fostering Inclusion

In Chad,听many听refugees听who live听in听villages are听sharing their 鈥渒now-how鈥� with Chadians听and contributing to a better听quality of听life for all, said听Ngweto听Tiraina听Yambaye,听Chad鈥檚听minister of Economic and Development Planning.听The challenges听the country faces听are immense, he said, from the increase in the demand for basic services to the strain on natural resources in areas听already听vulnerable to drought and floods.听Yambaye听said the government is听confident that听Chad听will be able to build on its successes听with viable, long-term听responses to refugee crises.听

鈥淲e听have now embarked on a path of more sustainable solutions, which will take into account the fragilities that create humanitarian crises, and help to shift from an image of relief to building resilience,鈥澨齓ambaye听said.听鈥淲e need a permanent solution to the refugee situation, so that we can transform it from being a crisis to an opportunity.鈥�

In听Ethiopia, which听now counts more than听800,000 refugees,听the government is moving toward ambitious reforms to allow for social and economic听inclusion of refugees.

鈥淩efugees should be credibly allowed听to听live outside of camps, work, access mainstreamed education and health services, cultivate land, and even be provided with a four month or later integration for those who have spent more than 20 years in Ethiopia,鈥� said听Mezgebu听Ameha,听Director of Fiscal Policy Directorate, Ethiopia. 鈥淭his represents a marked shift in our approach. It will have significant benefits for both refugees and Ethiopia, even though it is expected to be implemented gradually over a period of time.鈥�

Henry Rotich, cabinet secretary of Kenya鈥檚 National Treasury, said听after nearly three decades of hosting refugees in his country,听he is well aware of the pitfalls听associated with听trying to manage an influx of refugees听over long periods of time听with short-term interventions.听He pointed to the听potential听cost of conflict between hosts and refugees听and competition for resources, as well as increasing insecurity.听

鈥淚nclusion we have done partly. Some interventions听have happened and we鈥檝e seen in some cases,听we鈥檝e had refugees become part of society,鈥澨齭aid听Rotich,听referring听to a suburb in Kenya that is controlled by refugees and former refugees who have become Kenyan citizens. 鈥淲e continue to do that on a听limited scale, but it is something we are considering听to see听how we can scale up.鈥澨�听

As the global community works to support these ground-breaking听efforts听by refugee-hosting countries themselves,听a new听听was created听under the 18th replenishment of the听World Bank Group鈥檚听International Development Association (IDA).听

鈥淭hese new resources will ensure that听we can help host countries translate their vision听into actual policy measures that will make a difference on the ground,鈥� said Xavier Devictor, Advisor, World Bank Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, who manages the forced displacement program.听鈥淏y strengthening collaboration with听UNHCR and other partners, we have a significant widow of opportunity to support countries in their efforts to help refugees and host communities become more resilient.鈥�

鈥淲e have started experimenting with听(the new approach)听in Uganda, in particular, in Ethiopia, and in other countries in the region,鈥� said听Filippo听Grandi,听51吃瓜 High Commissioner for Refugees.听鈥淚f we succeed, we will have created a good foundation for this model听to be听the heart of the global compact听on refugees.鈥澨�