The refugee programme in Ethiopia for 2019 and beyond is informed by extensive engagements with a wide range of stakeholders at the field, regional level and federal levels. Within the context of the CRRF, UNHCR will foster the expansion of partnerships with government actors - including regional, zonal and woreda level authorities - traditional and non-traditional donors, UN agencies, financial institutions, private sector and international and national NGOs. This multi-stakeholder approach seeks to ensure a more effective response to the developmental needs and aspiration of refugees and host communities alike. The CRRF structures, with the National Steering Committee headed by the Prime Minister’s Office and Technical Working groups structured around the Government Pledges, will provide a platform for the multi-stakeholder consultations.
UNHCR’s collaboration with the World Bank, European Investment Bank and the Ethiopian Investment Commission will continue, particularly in light of the Jobs Compact. UNHCR will support the World Bank and the Government of Ethiopia in the management of the DRDIP (Development Response Displacement Impact Program) to improve access to basic social services, expand economic opportunities, and enhance environmental management for host communities and the Bank’s IDA-18 regional sub-window for refugees and host communities.
UNHCR in Ethiopia maintains an active lead in the daily coordination and delivery of Protection and Assistance to refugees and other Persons of Concern in Ethiopia. Fully operationalizing the Refugee Coordination Model, the operation ensures monthly coordination of humanitarian actors in the refugee programme in Ethiopia through the use of coordination structures and platforms such as the Refugee Task Force (RTF) the Refugee Protection Working Group and related Sub-working groups such as the Child Protection, SGBV, WASH and Education groups. UNHCR will continue its engagement with IDPs through active participation in the cluster set-up and lead of the Protection Cluster at national and regional level.
Within the context of the wider humanitarian forum, the operation ensures active participation in the UN Country Team, the EHCT and related coordination mechanisms such as the Operations Management Team (OMT), the Programme Management Team (PMT) and relevant UNDAF working groups
The Government of Ethiopia is expected to maintain its strong commitment to the 1951 Refugee Convention and a favourable protection environment. The Pledges made at the Leader’s Summit in September 2016 and engagement in the CRRF process present an unprecedented opportunity for the implementation of hitherto unchartered initiatives such as the expansion of the Out of Camp Policy, local integration and access to work permits for refugees.
Refugees’ engagement is foreseen trough the RCM structures as well as through consultations related to the 2016 pledges of the GR. Camp committee structures, cross-community structures engaging hosts and refugees as well as Participatory Assessments and strengthened community protection structures allow for an informed participation of refugees.
2019