Côte d'Ivoire

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Operational environment

 Following a tense 2020 presidential election marked by violent incidents, which triggered displacement within Cote d’Ivoire and towards neighbouring countries, political dialogue between leaders has resumed and the security situation has stabilized. As the political and security context improves, many Ivorians who fled to neighbouring countries are expected to progressively return during 2021.

On the country’s northern border, the spillover of the Sahel conflict represents a potential security risk in 2021, with possible internal population movements, from Burkina Faso and other neighboring countries. Côte d’Ivoire is also one of the main country of origins of mixed movement towards Europe through the Mediterranean Sea route.

Prevention and reduction of statelessness remains a strategic priority for UNHCR in 2021. Host to some 1.6 million persons at risk of statelessness, in September 2020 Côte d’Ivoire formally established a new set of procedures to regularize the status of stateless people and provide new pathways for people to receive identity documents, enroll in school, access health services, seek lawful employment, open a bank account and buy land. UNHCR is now closely supporting national authorities to help prevent and resolve statelessness and stands ready to assist Côte d’Ivoire in implementing these new statelessness determination procedures.

The search for durable solutions for refugees and returnees remains a primary concern. The social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to weigh on the livelihoods of the country’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those displaced (which include more than 274,000 returnees, 75,430 returned with UNHCR’s assistance and the 2,076 refugees living in protracted displacement in Côte d’Ivoire). In this context, UNHCR will sustain its direct assistance through cash-based interventions and livelihoods activities to address the most pressing needs of these populations and foster their self-reliance and socio-economic inclusion.  

Key priorities

In 2021, UNHCR will focus on:

• Supporting Government efforts to reduce and prevent statelessness, and protecting persons at risk of statelessness, by developing prevention-focused information campaigns and using individual case management to help identify and assist them.
• Facilitating the repatriation of Ivorian refugees hosted in neighbouring countries, in accordance with Côte d’Ivoire’s roadmap for return and reintegration, as well as IDP return and reintegration within the framework of the inter-agency response. UNHCR will provide return packages, shelter and livelihood opportunities and continue mobilizing development projects that favour host communities.
• Continuing its incremental exit and complete handover of the refugee and returnee assistance programme to Ivorian authorities.
• Establishing a strong protection monitoring system within affected communities, data collection and analysis on displacement and protection incidents to inform programming, advocacy and resource mobilization.
• Preventing mixed movements towards the Mediterranean by implementing the Live Learn and Participate project, which informs children and youth on the risk of migration and provides them with alternatives in Côte d’Ivoire.