ReHoPE Strategic Framework Refugee and Host Population Empowerment

Bridging the gap between humanitarian and development programming: The transformative programme towards sustainable refugee protection which will strengthen public service delivery and stimulate economic empowerment for refugee and host communities in Uganda

as much as 30% of the population of some districts

a

9 % of the population of the nine refugee hosting districts

a

Refugee and Asylum Population in Uganda: x 482,569 as of August 2015 x 3rd largest in East and Horn of Africa by end of 2014 x 9th largest in the word by end of 2014

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Uganda’s refugee asylum policy and refugee settlement approach is widely regarded as an exemplary model where refugees are integrated within the host communities and have access to the same services as nationals. They have the right to work and establish businesses, the right to go to school, freedom of movement, access to documentation, and are allocated land for agricultural use. Uganda’s refugee legislation (the 2006 Refugees Act) reflects international standards of refugee protection. The Act promotes refugees’ self-reliance and clearly favours a development-based approach to refugee assistance. This has been emphasized further by the 2010 Refugee Regulations, which provide a pathway for refugees to become self-reliant.

Refugees represent:

1% of the National Population

a

Why Uganda is different x Since the 1950’s over 160,000 refugees are hosted in Uganda in any given year x Progressive and exemplary refugee policy x Refugees live side by side with host communities rather than being confined to camps

Uganda demonstrates how a progressive refugee policy is economically and socially advantageous for both refugees and the host communities. When communities recognize that refugees are agents of development and that they positively contribute to the sustainable development of their district, the refugee asylum space is not only protected, but strengthened. Specifically for refugees, the Government of Uganda has established the legal and regulatory framework that provides them with the potential to achieve self-reliance. The freedom of movement, the right to work, and other supportive refugee laws are necessary prerequisites for refugee self-reliance – but alone are insufficient. ReHoPE is the means by which the potential to achieve self-reliance is translated into tangible and realisable outcomes.

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Uganda. The model country. x The opportunity

ReHoPE is expected to deliver:

x Sustainable livelihoods based on: o modernized agricultural practices

and improved market linkages o market-driven technical skills and

small-scale enterprise.

x Integrated and Sustainable Social Service Delivery with District Local Government systems focused particularly on the health and education sectors.

x Community and system resilience based on dialogue and peaceful co-existence.

Key Objectives

Goal ReHoPE is a self-reliance and resilience* strategic framework targeting refugee and host communities in Uganda’s nine refugee-impacted districts. The ReHoPE strategy provides the basis for proposed joint programming of up to $350 million over five years, involving UN agencies, the World Bank, the Government of Uganda, development partners and the private sector. Through a multi-sectorial partnership, new development programming will enable refugee and host communities to meet their immediate needs and prepare them for future shocks. It is also envisaged that support for self-reliance and resilience will serve refugees equally in the event of a prolonged stay in Uganda, as well as upon their eventual return to their countries of origin. As a shared commitment, ReHoPE reflects and supports the priorities of the Government of Uganda, the UN and the World Bank. Not only is it in line with humanitarian prerogatives, but it is also incorporated into the National Development Plan II of Uganda.

x Fostering socio-economic empowerment for refugees and host communities through livelihoods and local economic development

x Promoting integrated service delivery with local government

x Preparing refugees for solutions, such as building knowledge, skills, and capacities for refugees when they return home

x Protection including emergency response Preserve equal and unhindered access to territory and protection space and promote the full enjoyment of rights, while maintaining the civilian character of asylum

x Creating an enabling protection environment for refugees to live in safety, harmony and dignity with host communities

The ReHoPE approach x A people-centred approach to sustainable economic empowerment x A shared five year commitment

3 3 *FAO/UNICEF/WFP define resilience as “a capacity that ensures stressors and shocks do not have long-lasting adverse development consequences”. The FAO/UNICEF/WFP approach is recommended for ReHoPE because it has a capacity focus. Is multi-dimensional, shock and context specific, and linked to an outcome of interest (food security), and it is already tested in Uganda in Karamoja

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Situated within national and global dynamics and policies Regional dynamics in East and Central Africa expose Uganda to multiple and continuing refugee influxes. As a result, Uganda operates within several regional policy frameworks. These include the Framework of Hope: Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region, the High Commissioner’s Global Initiative for Somali Refugees, and the Comprehensive Strategy for the Rwandan Refugee Situation. Continuing exposure to refugee influxes resulted in the Government of Uganda taking the bold decision to include refugees in its development planning and the National Development Plan II (NDP II). This led to the integration of the Settlement Transformative Agenda (STA) in the NDP II, which has become the Ugandan Government’s strategic approach to refugee management and protection, now part and parcel of Uganda’s domestic development. To support this progressive focus, ReHoPE – as a stated outcome of the 2016-2020 UN Development Assistance Framework for Uganda (UNDAF) – is integrated within the National Development Plan II along with the STA. Furthermore, the World Bank Country Strategy (WBCS) is directly aligned with the objectives of the NDP II. On a global level, ReHoPE is clearly reflected in Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it “promote[s] peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development”.

The policy environment

Sustainable Development Goals People. Planet. Partnerships.

UNDAF/WBCSP

NDP II

Settlement Transformative

Agenda

ReHoPE: Towards institutional and community self-

reliance and resilience

Sustainable Livelihoods

Social Services integrated with Local

Government

WB/OPM exploring linkages with NUSAF III

Building upon Existing Initiatives The following initiatives and activities have been launched in support of ReHoPE:

x OPM-WFP-UNHCR Joint Project for Self-Reliance – a partnership targeting 3,500 refugee and host community households in agriculture and non-farm income generating activities.

x Koboko Partnership – a public-private partnership targeting 7,500 refugee and host community households in modern, commercial-scale agriculture.

x Yunus Social Business – a social entrepreneurship initiative designed to empower and capacitate youth in refugee and host communities.

x The Enhanced Japan-UNHCR Uganda Partnership – a comprehensive partnership with JICA, Embassy of Japan, and private sector supporting rice value chain upgrading, vocational training, and rehabilitation and construction of vital infrastructure.

Linking Programmes The interventions under the Settlement Transformative Agenda and the ReHoPE Strategic Framework will be designed in a collaborative manner, in order to harmonise management and implementation. The two interventions will complement each other’s objectives and outcomes by supporting the socio-economic development of refugee and host communities.

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Galvanising support through innovative partnerships

Sub-pillars of the ReHoPE foundation

OPM-WFP-UNHCR Joint

Project

Koboko Model

Yunus Social Business

Socio-Economic Empowerment Livelihoods and local economic development are at the core of improving the quality of life for refugee and host communities. Investments into building human capital (broader learning and skills development and social protection) and productive economic assets (e.g. roads, agriculture silos, marketplaces) will yield long-term dividends to the community. These economic assets will be community owned and maintained, and will equally benefit all residents living in the district.

Integrated Essential Service Delivery In the emergency setting, humanitarian partners should ensure that essential services, such as health, education, water and sanitation, will complement and augment district structures. Short-term emergency assistance should build the long-term capacity and needs of the refugee hosting district. This approach will enhance the quality and sustainability of services for the entire district, and ultimately reduce the overall costs for the refugee protection. Service delivery will be focused within health and education as well as incorporating WASH, child protection, women and gender equality, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, SGBV prevention and response, environmental protection and enhanced security.

Settlement

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ReHoPE interventions x Bridging the humanitarian-development gap

ReHoPE Strategic Framework

Settlement Transformative Agenda

Enhancing Peaceful Coexistence and Social Cohesion Uganda is hosting refugees at historic highs. In Adjumani District, one in three persons is a refugee. The maintaining and strengthening of good relations between refugee and host communities is vital to ensure peace and security. The equitable development of the district will foster peaceful co-existence and further protect the refugee asylum space. By including both refugees and nationals in interventions, ReHoPE aims to bolster economic, social, and service delivery support to the wider refugee hosting districts.

Preparing Refugees for Solutions ReHoPE aims to build knowledge, skills, and capacities for refugees and host communities. The return on investments in human capital has life-long and transformative impacts on individuals and societies. Degrees, certification and other forms of accreditation will yield an “income premium” for the individual.

Refugees are then able to contribute to the development of their host country and, when peace returns, towards the rebuilding and reconstruction of their homeland.

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Durable solutions x Expected outcomes x Planning for the future

Proposed Implementation The main geographic areas of intervention under ReHoPE are:

a) In Northwest Uganda (Koboko, Arua, Adjumani and Kiryandongo) where the focus will be on enhancing integrated service delivery within the health and education sectors.

b) In Southwest and Midwest Uganda (Hoima, Kyegegwa, Isingiro and Kamwenge) where socio-economic development and livelihood interventions will focus primarily on agriculture and improving food security.

c) In Kampala, where the focus will be on skills training and small-scale business development.

$50M Settlement

Transformative Project

Government of

Uganda’s programme in refugee settlements.

A soft loan of $50M has been requested from the

World Bank

$170M ReHoPE Joint Programme

Annual Implementation

Cost: $34M Annual Cost Per Person:

$13.60

Joint programme of UN and World Bank funded partly by UN Agencies’

core funds, supplementary

contributions, and donor funding.

$130M Linking and Leveraging Other

Development Projects

Development partner direct programming in

ReHoPE districts, private sector investments,

coordinated with – but managed separately

from ReHoPE Joint Programme.

Budget ReHoPE is jointly coordinated to ensure maximum outreach and quality of programme. Initial estimates of a United Nations-World Bank Joint Programme are set at $170 million. Over five years this could impact more than 100,000 households and a population of 500,000 through sustainable livelihood programming. In addition, another 2,500,000 persons would receive enhanced social services delivery.

Annual implement cost: $34M (for 2.5M individuals) Annual cost per person: $13.60

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Budget and implementation x Costs and impact

$350M for 9 Refugee Hosting Districts

$350M for 9 Refugee Hosting Districts

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Achievements to date • ReHoPE Strategic Framework developed • ReHoPE integrated into the UNDAF • STA consultation with local district government, refugees, and

host communities are ongoing • a soft loan of $50M requested by the Ugandan Government

from the World Bank in support of the STP • Initiatives launched: OPM-WFP-UNHCR Joint Project for Self-

Reliance, Koboko Model, Yunus Social Business, and Enhanced Japan-UNHCR Partnership

2015 (October – December) • Establish a multi-agency design team to develop detailed

project outcomes and outputs • ReHoPE programme consultations with district local

government, refugees, and host communities – linking to UNDAF Outcome 1.4

2016 - Onwards • Reinforce programme design of the ReHoPE Joint Programme • Continue ReHoPE programme consultations with district local

government, refugees, and host communities • Conduct mapping, analysis of risks, vulnerabilities and priorities • Develop a rigorous M&E framework with strong baseline • Implement ReHoPE Joint Programme

The way forward x Operationalisation of the strategic framework

Local Government • Ensure systematic involvement of local government and partners in the integration of refugees into district

development plans and other programming • Collaborate with partners to plan and budget agriculture stores, access roads, and shared social infrastructure

for the benefit of refugee and host communities

Operational Partners • Support shift from humanitarian to people-centred development approach

• Planning and budgets should accommodate long-term interventions • Humanitarian services to be aligned with Uganda National Standards (e.g. salaries, water access)

• Expand existing scope of work • Increase immediate refugee catchment to wider refugee hosting district • Include the nine refugee hosting districts in existing development programmes

ReHoPE Partners

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Where partners can engage x Humanitarian-development partnerships

Donors • Mobilize resources for collective funding and advocacy of the

ReHope Programme • Expand humanitarian aid to include development

funding sources • Link and leverage other development projects to

include refugees and host communities

“Addressing global challenges requires a collective and concerted effort, involving all actors. Through partnerships and alliances, and by pooling comparative advantages, we increase our chances for success.”

Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General

For more information: UN Resident Coordinator's Office UN Offices Plot 11 Yusuf Lule Road Nakasero Kampala, Uganda Sofie Johansen – Durable Solutions Officer johansen@unhcr.org +256772701172 UNHCR Kampala, Uganda