Remarks at IGAD-EAC High-level Ministerial Conference on Durable Solutions for Refugees

• Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of East African Community Affairs of Uganda
• Honourable Ministers Present,
• Executive Secretary of IGAD,
• Executive Secretary of ICGLR,
• Secretary General of EAC,
• AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development,
• Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors,
• Representatives of Development and Humanitarian Community,
• Representatives from Civil Society and Private Sector,
• Regional Directors of UN Agencies Present,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand here on behalf of the United Nations system in Uganda, at this ‘final ministerial segment’ of the High-level Ministerial Conference on Durable Solutions for Refugees to express our sincere gratitude to IGAD-EAC Member States for the signing of the ‘Munyonyo Declaration’ later in the afternoon. At this point, I am looking forward to hearing some bold commitments from all Governments representatives (ministers present), towards addressing the root causes and drivers of displacement across the region and make solutions to displacement sustainable.

I extend the UN’s appreciation to the IGAD/EAC and their member states and the leadership of the Government of Uganda for bringing together Governments of 11 Member States of IGAD/EAC as well as other humanitarian and development practitioners and partners, to collectively reflect on the current regional ‘protection environment and root causes of forced displacement’. I am aware that the conference has served as an opportunity to also explore comprehensive durable solutions for over 5 million refugees and asylum seekers, as well as 12 million internally displaced persons in the region.

Over 1.5 million refugees are hosted by Uganda, the largest refugee situation in Africa. Thankfully, Uganda continues maintaining its generosity and continued ‘open-door policy’ to new arrivals.

Distinguished Delegates,

The heart of the matter, as we may all know, is what we have been deliberating in this conference, which is addressing the root causes and the triggers of displacement, including violent conflict, localized instability and insecurity, prolonged droughts, flooding, and food insecurity that are further exacerbated by extreme weather events caused by climate change. Therefore, the first step to addressing the causes of forced displacement is our coming together with sincerity and commitment to develop complimentary national, regional, and international solutions.

Durable solutions must be comprehensive and innovative to cater for the needs of refugees in all situations – refugees in transit or in settlements, refugees living in rural or urban communities. Such an approach will require understanding and tackling problems of dynamic conflict situations head on, putting in place a better early warning system to mitigate risks, and responds with early actions to shocks before they turn into a displacement crisis.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

For facilitating displaced people and refugees to return to their homes safely and voluntarily requires conducive conditions in the countries or place of origin. This involves repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation, and reconstructions, particularly in post-conflict situation. Although this may seem the most challenging task currently, it is one of the most reliable solutions, especially if the recurrence of mass outflows is prevented.

Local integration and local solutions on the other hand, require strong political will of Governments and matching resources. Uganda’s leadership around advancing refugees’ socio-economic inclusion is commendable. Significant progress has been made on refugee inclusion under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework of Uganda. Refugees have been included in national system and services, including in the National Development Plan III and (education/health) Sector Plans, and in the upcoming Census.

As part of economic inclusion, refugees are allowed to work, many have access to land for their livelihoods, and refugee children go to same schools alongside host children. Such excellent result has been achieved with sharing of responsibility, hence, equally laudable are the humanitarian and development partners for their continued support. Despite over 46 percent gap of funds annually on average, between 2018-2022, humanitarian partners have availed $ 2.3 billion for Uganda’s refugee response; and $ 112.6 million was delivered by the UN Central Emergency Fund since 2014 in response of forced displacement (refugees). In addition, $ 1.83 billion has been committed to ongoing development projects in refugee hosting districts, with $ 536 million delivered already. A ‘transition strategy’ is being prepared aimed at sustainable solutions, with greater emphasis on self-reliance. Building on these lessons, important is to consider also the third option of durable solutions, which is resettlement to third countries in the spirit of true burden and responsibility sharing.

Resettlements to Third Countries and Complimentary Pathways represent another key solution response to protracted refugee situations in the region.  The resettlement countries must re-commit to this solutions which is a manifestation of responsibility sharing. It provides an opportunity for refugees with special protection needs to resume a normal life. Pathways to legal migration must be multiplied to avoid refugees and migrants resorting traffickers and embarking on unsafe journeys.  The Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact on Migration have a key role to play. We must also think outside the box and pursue complementary pathways within the region which include labour mobility and education schemes in the IGAD and EAC sub-regions. These regional solutions can impact the lives of the thousands of displaced persons in the region.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Durable solutions for refugees cannot be attained by UNHCR or UN Agencies alone. This task requires system-wide consideration and systematic inclusion of refugees into both humanitarian and development planning and programming instruments.  Now please allow me to share the Uganda UN Country Team’s commitments. The UN family (11 Agencies, including the Office of the Resident Coordinator), together with the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda, has recently (in March-April) undertaken a robust consultative process in co-creating UN’s country-level commitments on refugee inclusion to inform the UN (global) Common Pledge 2.0.

Interestingly, the process amplified the need for investing more on climate actions, clarifying critical linkages between climate change and access to livelihoods or to decent work – for both refugee and host communities. It also underlined the importance of quality funding and applying humanitarian-development and peace nexus approach, including cross-border collaboration.

The UNCT Commitments thus, are an ambitious 4-year vision, formulated using development-lens to explore durable solutions that are aimed to advance refugee integration, as well as to begin tackling drivers of displacement. It is expected that such an approach will eventually, usher the departure from year-on-year humanitarian response to a multi-year triple nexus programming and funding. Our commitments are fully aligned with priority themes of the Global Refugee Forum Roadmap of Uganda; and they are broadly articulated around four themes:

First, the UNCT will continue to support the Government of Uganda to advance dialogue on durable solution for identification of solutions and pathways to achieve them. This includes strengthening national capacity for applying the humanitarian-development and peace-Nexus approach.

Second, we will work with development and social partners to further strengthen integration of refugees and climate change actions in development programs for sustainable solutions. These solutions include, but limited to, the resilience and self-reliance, access to labour market, and economic inclusion of refugees and host communities.

Third, our support will focus on advancing localization for enhanced data, evidence and analysis around refugee movements and intentions for developing credible solutions. 

Fourth, we will continue to promote cross-border UN approach to better assess needs, and advocate for actions towards addressing drivers of displacement. This means strengthening UN systemwide approach in the region.

As such, the UNCT Uganda estimates a requirement of US $ 235 million for delivering these commitments. There is a need for transforming the way we work –plan, mobilise and allocate our resources. Our experience shows that piecemeal funding is less helpful in delivering sustainable results; rather pooled and unearmarked funds prompt flexibility and joint planning, ensuring effective utilisation of limited resources.

Over and above, strengthening broad partnerships (with IFIs, bilateral donors and regional entities alike) is key to pursue any durable solution. The UN family is committed to advance these partnerships as we deliver our support to Uganda, as a co-convener of Global Refugee Forum, 2023. The High-level Ministerial Conference is, therefore, a significant milestone as the IGAD-EAC countries have come together to make a step forward in signing the ‘Munyonyo Declaration’.

Distinguished Delegates,

I wish to congratulate you all as I look forward to the next steps. Congratulations! I wish you success in the implementation of ‘Mynyonyo Declaration’.

Finally, let me conclude with a quote of a bright young refugee, Mr. Peter Gift, a refugee leader for the Rhino camp settlement in Uganda. He spoke these words during a Refugee Engagement Forum meeting in April.

Quote: “Let us advance on the durable solutions, because durable solutions will give us peace back at our home. And where there is peace, we will go back home.”

Thank You.