Applying the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Overview

Applying the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework Overview: regional approach to the Somalia situation Last updated: December 2017 I. Context Somalia continues taking significant steps towards stabilization. A Federal President was elected in February 2017 as well as a new Parliament of which a quarter of its MPs are women. The vibrant young population, accounting for more than 70%, is key to Somalia’s future once tangible peace dividends such as education and employment are accessible to them. Challenges are significant and Al-Shabaab still controls large areas of the country. The recent drought has led to more than 1 million displacements combined with more than 1.6 million internally displaced persons in a protracted situation, fuelling competition over limited resources. Due to the Government’s limited financial resources, basic public infrastructure such as schools and hospitals remain inadequate or lacking in many parts of the country. Substantial investment and support are required across a range of areas in order to address root causes of displacement in Somalia and stabilise conditions to enable voluntary return and sustainable reintegration of Somali refugees. Although Somali refugees have injected economic dynamism in host countries in the region, such as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Yemen, their protracted presence has had social and environmental impacts, especially on hosting communities. Innovative and predictable approaches benefiting both refugees and host communities must be found across the region for host countries to preserve asylum space and maintain appropriate levels of protection and assistance. Specifically, greater attention must be given to enhancing international cooperation, solidarity and responsibilitysharing, as well as improving access to education, health services and self-reliance opportunities for host communities and Somali refugees. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Summit on Somali refugees of 25 March 2017 has laid out the way forward by adopting the Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia (Nairobi Declaration), including a Plan of Action and a Regional Results Framework. Ministerial Roundtables held during the London Conference on Somalia in May and subsequently in Brussels in September have affirmed that the Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action constitute the regional application of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) for the Somali Refugee Situation, and demonstrated the region’s resolve to finding durable solutions for refugees. II. Towards a comprehensive refugee response As part of a regional approach, applying the CRRF to the Somalia situation addresses two key objectives. It supports Somalia’s stabilisation through State- and peace-building, as well as fostering conditions for the voluntary return of Somali refugees in safety and dignity. It also seeks to support countries in the region that host Somali refugees and local host communities. To support the process, the High Commissioner appointed Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey as Special Envoy for the Somali refugee situation. III. Strategic roll-out of the CRRF The strategic roll-out of a comprehensive response for Somali refugees is centred on implementing a regional approach involving Somalia’s neighbouring countries in the East and Horn of Africa hosting significant numbers of refugees. It also engages a wide range of stakeholders including Government authorities in Somalia and the region, UN Agencies and NGOs, international and regional financial institutions, as well as private sector and civil society actors, and displacement affected communities. Up to present, the roll-out has included activities, such as: • Supporting the Government of Somalia to host a National Forum on Durable Solutions for Refugees and IDPs, which was successfully held in Mogadishu in August. The forum resulted 1

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in a draft National Policy for Refugee-Returnees and IDPs, and a draft National Action Plan to support the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration/ Regional CRRF. National consultations with federal government ministries, Federal Member States and community stakeholders are ongoing to enable widespread input into the final National Action plan, which is planned to be executed in January 2018. Recruiting a Senior Advisor for the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. Somalia’s 2017-2019 National Development Plan (NDP), which is coordinated by the same ministry, incorporates the implementation of a comprehensive approach to displacement. The explicit recognition of durable solutions as an objective under the NDP is a landmark development in Somalia. Supporting, through the Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI), UN coordination and information sharing on programmatic interventions that work towards longer-term objectives of reintegration and local integration for Somalia’s displaced communities. Strengthening cross-border engagement between Somalia and its border countries (namely Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen), including supporting education and livelihood initiatives, as well as addressing the root causes of displacement. Exploring new partnership opportunities, including mobilising local communities and expanding collaboration with Gulf States, the private sector and the Somali diaspora.

IV. Partnerships In pursuit of a comprehensive response for Somali refugees, the Government and its partners have been coordinating closely with IGAD and its member States to translate into action the Nairobi Declaration, and build upon existing initiatives in support of durable solutions. The Nairobi Declaration is a substantial shift in policy within the region, leading to the inclusion of refugees in national development plans and introducing a multi-stakeholder approach involving UN agencies, regional governments, civil society, and non-traditional actors such as private sector entities, and regional and international financial institutions (such as the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank) under the leadership of the Government. Given the relationship between the CRRF as a broad global framework and various frameworks already existing in Somalia as local situation specific initiatives, the CRRF in Somalia will be applied through existing frameworks in Somalia especially the DSI and the United Nations Strategic Framework (UNSF) based on the National Development Plan (NDP). To this end, monitoring the application of a comprehensive response for the Somalia situation will be aligned with the aid implementation architecture of Somalia, based on the NDP. V. Recent highlights and next steps Between the signing of the Nairobi Declaration in March, the London roundtable in May, and the Brussels ministerial meeting in September, several working sessions have taken place between IGAD, the EU, UNHCR, as well as IGAD Member States, partners and donors. These meetings have served to develop a regional roadmap and results framework to inform National Action Plans, by capturing issues that are common to all IGAD States. The Road Map and Regional Results Framework, which were validated by expert national authorities of IGAD member states in Addis Ababa in August, build on commitments made in September 2016 in New York as well as in the Nairobi Declaration, the essence of which will be incorporated into the national plans. Subsequently, IGAD will identify the support required to implement the Nairobi Declaration, followed by resource mobilisation efforts with potential donors. From a national perspective, countries are taking forward national-level commitments by enhancing refugee management policy and generating new refugee legislation to ensure access to, inter alia, 2

education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities. Currently, several IGAD Member States which also are CRRF roll-out countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda) are developing National Action Plans. These plans are aligned with the IGAD Regional Results Framework and form the backbone for its implementation. Regionally, following the validation of the Regional Results Framework, preparations are underway to conduct the first regional thematic meeting in Djibouti focusing on education. At this meeting, education ministers and partners will set an ambitious agenda to support refugee and host community children, covering aspects such as inclusion of refugees into national educations systems and taking into account education needs of refugees in national development plans and budgets. A second thematic meeting scheduled for early 2018 will discuss opportunities for self-reliance and economic integration. To mobilise international support, the first IGAD inter-ministerial stocktaking meeting is planned to take place in January 2018. It will provide an opportunity for a candid discussion on progress made in implementing the Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action, including the National Action Plans. Topics to consider include the demonstration of international solidarity and responsibility sharing to the Somali Refugee Situation; the ability to generate predictable, multi-year resources; as well as the availability of 3rd country options, including resettlement and complementary pathways for admissions. IGAD is generating a progress report in advance of this meeting, which will include evidence of achieved results for both refugees and host communities, as well as a mapping of donor contributions. VI. Key challenges • The humanitarian and security situation remains precarious and the scale of humanitarian and development needs inside Somalia is immense. • Developing National Action Plans and establishing CRRF governance and coordination mechanisms in countries of concern is at varying stages of progress. It would be important to ensure that structures are established simultaneously to the extent feasible, and with comparable leadership, composition and terms of reference to ensure a harmonised regional approach. • The displacement narrative in countries of concern is largely dependent on the demographics of displaced people in a specific country. For example, the displacement narrative in Djibouti is dominated by irregular migration, while in Somalia IDPs are the pressing priority for the government. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda are dealing with clear-cut refugee crises, though the latter is more focused on the ongoing South Sudanese refugee emergency, as opposed to protracted Somali refugees. These different narratives could influence government priorities, as well as discussions within coordination mechanisms and with humanitarian and development partners. • With a sound fiscal policy and planning, and with greater support from the international community, the Government could finance basic infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Much more investments are urgently required in Somalia to address the chronically underfunded response. VII. Funding, operational and advocacy asks to deliver a comprehensive response In line with a whole of society –approach, broad-based support is needed to effectively implement the Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action both regionally and at national levels. This includes additional and predictable financial support both through humanitarian and development channels. Sustained resources, advocacy and expertise (e.g. data management, sector-specific planning, monitoring and evaluation) is required throughout the different stages of implementing the Declaration and Plan of Action, including the National Action Plans. 3