Stabilizing Refugee Host Communities

Stabilizing Refugee Host Communities
Tanzania
Decades of strife have taken a severe toll on the
of a joint o≤ce in Kigoma city, meeting regularly and
Great Lakes region of Africa, not only claiming mil-
sharing insights about their work. The programme
lions of lives but also tearing apart communities
gets support from the United Nations Trust Fund
and displacing people on a colossal scale. Since
for Human Security, whose latest funding guidelines
1993, the violence has driven at least 600,000
emphasize such multi-sectoral approaches.
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Burundians and Congolese into northwestern
Tanzania. This influx of refugees has compounded
many problems in the Kagera and Kigoma regions,
including arms tra≤cking, food insecurity, lack
of education, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the
destruction of environmental resources.
Yona Rukwakwa grew up in the Kigoma region, but
he managed to escape much of this upheaval. The
reason: he was in prison, serving a 15-year sentence
for violent crimes he committed as a gang member.
“This programme is unique for Tanzania, as it
bridges the gap between humanitarian assistance
and long-term sustainable development support,”
says Joachim von Bonin, who coordinates the joint
programme. “At the same time we try to put into
practice the UN reform vision to act as one United
Nations instead of each agency working on its
own.”
One component of the programme seeks to reduce
i
Since 1993, violence in the
Great Lakes region has driven
at least 600,000 Burundians
and Congolese into northwestern
Tanzania. This young
girl is on a boat with her
parents returning home to
the Democratic Republic of
Congo. UN/JULIE PUDLOWSKI
Yet since his release in 2005, Rukwakwa has been
the number of small arms and light weapons in
set on mending his ways. He now owns a small
the area, which put residents at heightened risk of
shop in Kibondo town, selling fresh bread, soap and
armed violence. To that end, the United Nations
other wares. He also leads a self-help group for for-
Development Programme (UNDP) has teamed up
mer prisoners who are intent on earning an honest
living by pursuing business ventures of their own.
“We named our group Mkombozi,” says Rukwakwa,
40, using the Swahili word for ‘redeemer.’
Mkombozi grew out of a comprehensive e≠ort to
bring stability to the communities hosting refugees
in northwestern Tanzania. Together, six United
Nations agencies have developed a coordinated
response aimed at reversing the proliferation of
small arms, safeguarding natural resources, improving
food security and fostering life skills among
vulnerable populations. The agencies operate out
with District Defense and Security Committees
(DDSCs), whose members include the district
commissioner, the district security o≤cer and other
law enforcement o≤cials. Together, they have
enlisted religious leaders, radio broadcasters, exprisoners
and crime victims in a campaign to collect
and destroy illicit guns. In its first three months,
the campaign brought in 1,863 pistols, rifles and
sub-machine guns in the Kigoma region alone.
Because low incomes fuel the demand for weapons,
UNDP and the DDSCs also promote livelihoods that
o≠er viable alternatives to crime. They convene
u
Civilians trained to assist local
police on a celebratory march
in Kibondo region, where
law enforcement budgets are
stretched thin. The programme
designates one man and one
woman from each street as
community liaisons. They do
not carry guns, but help protect
their neighborhoods by knowing
the law and keeping in
close touch with the police.
UN PHOTO/EVAN SCHNEIDER

Six UN agencies have developed
a coordinated response to
help mitigate the threats facing
refugee host communities in
northwestern Tanzania.

workshops throughout the two regions where vul-
and process food. Much of this work takes place
nerable men and women learn how to form self-
through agricultural extension projects that build
help groups, develop entrepreneurial skills and gain
vocational and life skills. It has enabled people like
access to microcredit. Rukwakwa formed Mkombozi
Stamili Yasin, an 18-year-old in Kandaga village, to
with several other ex-prisoners after taking part in
produce more food, generate additional income and
one of these sessions in 2005. Some of his peers took
improve the health of their families. Altogether, it
out a loan to open a garage, just around the corner
reaches an estimated 15,000 families.
from his shop, where they repair cars and trucks.
Several former prostitutes started a group of their
A fourth component of the programme focuses on
own, Wimana, and opened a restaurant nearby.
environmental security. Access to safe water and use
of proper sanitation is as low as 40 percent in north-
A second component of the programme addresses
western Tanzania. The e≠ects of forced migration
the low rate of school enrollment in Kagera and
from neighboring countries have put an additional
Kigoma, which has longterm implications for the
strain on land and water resources. UNICEF is work-
region’s socioeconomic development. Through
ing with a non-governmental organization known as
complementary basic education courses developed
TWESA, short for Tanzania Water and Environmental
by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),
Sanitation, to protect and rehabilitate these environ-
many adolescents have begun catching up with
mental assets. Together with UNDP and local govern-
their peers and entering formal schools, often for
ment, they are also developing laws to improve water
the first time. The courses also develop life skills to
supply and sanitation. Because of these e≠orts,
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help students avoid such perils as HIV/AIDS.
every village in Kibondo district has passed a set of
environmental by-laws—a first in Tanzania.
Juliet John, now 16, had been working as a domestic
servant in Rulenge village since she was seven years
old. Putting in 17-hour days, she had no time for
study or play. But in 2001 she was able to reduce her
working hours and attend a basic education course
sponsored by UNICEF. After three years of study, she
passed a national examination allowing her to enter
grade five at an ordinary primary school; she just
completed her first year there.
In each aspect of the programme, the O≤ce of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) works closely with the other agencies to
ensure that UN support follows a cohesive strategy.
In the long run, all six UN agencies hope to scale back
their roles in the region. Accordingly, a core principle
of the joint programme is to help local government
and communities develop the capacity to identify,
protect and empower vulnerable groups in a timely
i
Children brushing their teeth
at a water pump in Kigoma,
where UN agencies are working
with government and civil
society groups to improve
water supply and sanitation.
UN/JULIE PUDLOWSKI
u
A farmer tending his field in
Tanzania, where UN agencies
are working together to
promote better ways to raise
livestock, grow crops, store
harvests and process food.
UN/JULIE PUDLOWSKI
A third element of the programme seeks to improve
and e≠ective manner in the future. “This programme
food security at the household level. Three agen-
is unique in combining the technical knowledge,
cies—the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),
implementation capacities and comparative advan-
the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United
tages of six UN agencies,” says von Bonin. “If we
Nations Industrial Development Organization
succeed in transferring this know-how to the people
(UNIDO)—are working together to promote better
living in these fragile communities, it could ensure
ways to raise livestock, grow crops, store harvests
their survival, livelihoods and dignity.”