Protocole ILO/UNHCR Assistance aux Réfugiés

Under the framework of the ILO-UNHCR Partnership for the socio-economic integration of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), ILO and UNHCR are able to set the framework for the rapid deployment of ILO Livelihood Experts to UNHCR’s country operations, supporting both the reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin, as well as refugees’ self-reliance in their asylum context. Peace and relative stability in Liberia and Sierra Leone have allowed the return of the vast majority of the 600,000 registered refugees since the nineties. Yet, close to 65,000 Liberian and 8,000 Sierra Leonean refugees are likely to remain in the country of asylum, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gambia. A confluence of factors currently provides an environment in which refugees may pursue self-sufficiency and locally integrate in their countries of asylum. Seizing the opportunity presented by these circumstances, UNHCR and its partners have begun putting in place mechanisms to assist states in integrating the 73,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees in West Africa. The effort is being approached from a regional perspective. Not only will this directly benefit the 73,000 refugees, but it will help to improve the quality of life of refugees and host communities and allow a more consistent and effective approach to regional issues such as child trafficking and livelihoods. The deployment of technical expertise within the context of the existing partnership between UNHCR and ILO will bring the required livelihood expertise to UNHCR and improve the design and implementation of livelihoods and integration strategies and projects at the field level, with the aim of ensuring sustainability of interventions and effective impact on refugees/IDPs lives and solutions.

Project symbol

RAF/10/08/HCR

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Dakar

Start date

01/01/2011

End date

31/12/2012

Total allocation

562577

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

500374

Development Partners

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Country/Countries

Africa - regional

Outcomes

Labour Migration