DRDIP Uganda Excel at the IGAD Regional Forum
Uganda was commended for having one of the most inclusive refugee management frameworks in the world and for exemplary implementation of DRDIP in the region.
DRDIP Uganda team participated in the Kampala Declaration Regional forum organised by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Nairobi, Kenya from (October 24 to 26,). The symposium run under the theme, “Promoting Self-reliant and Resilient Displacement Affected Communities”. Delegates from Uganda comprised, experts from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Department of Refugees, and DRDIP Project Manager, Caro Brenda Lorika headed the DRDIP Uganda team who included; district officials, partners and representatives of DRDIP community structures.
At the conference, Uganda was commended for having one of the most inclusive refugee management frameworks in the world and for exemplary implementation of DRDIP in the region. During exhibitions, Uganda was able to showcase what DRDIP has achieved so far for both refugees and host communities using the five-year World Bank funding. Products from the communities, particularly, livelihood items from strategic investments, energy and nutrition were exhibited. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, impact evaluation reports, component status reports and success stories were displayed by team DRDIP Uganda at Safari Park Hotel, where the meeting was hosted.
The forum broadly called for the inclusion of refugees into national systems by host countries within the IGAD region. The IGAD Head of Mission to the Republic of Kenya, Dr Fatuma Adan, noted that ensuring adequate inclusive framework for the refugees will enable them contribute to the development of the societies where they are. “Their inclusion into national systems will ensure we have self-reliant citizens in our IGAD region,” Fatuma remarked. Other countries that participated in the event included; Kenya, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan. The World Bank, and partners; UNHCR, WFP and GIZ also participated.
Member states stressed the need for inclusion of refugees into social protection systems by tackling issues of poverty and inequality through involving all categories of stakeholders. A panel discussion on social protection featured DRDIP Uganda Project Manager, Caro Brenda Lorika who cited the DRDIP Uganda case of undertaking the principle of graduation of social groups from Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) into Livelihood components following the core principles of; weekly meetings, savings, inter-loaning, timely repayment and proper record keeping. “We need to invest more on social registries, and capacity enhancement to enable all the actors to contribute positively “, Lorika stated.
Professor, Alex Ariho, of Excel Hort Consult, one of the DRDIP Uganda Implementing Partners presented in a panel discussion, on Incubation Model of the Eco system for sustainable natural resource management for resilience. Using the three Fs, (Food Availability, Food accessibility and Food affordability), the model is aimed at ensuring that both refugees and communities work together.
The Kampala Declaration on Jobs, livelihoods and self-reliance for refugees, returnees and host communities was signed on March 28, 2019, by IGAD member states. It obligates member states to; advance livelihood opportunities and economic inclusion of refugees, adopt the plan for action, roll out comprehensive national implementation roadmaps with a whole-of-society approach. It also compels the states to seek economic challenges affecting refugees, returnees and host communities.
IGAD was tasked to operationalise, follow-up and monitor implementation of the IGAD member states commitments made, which encompasses three thematic areas of; education, livelihoods and health.