Portraits from PROSPECTS - Visualizing change in host and refugee communities: Depicting stories of host and refugee individuals with improved self-reliance and resilience, an exhibition led by ILO PROSPECTS programme at the colonnade of ILO Headquarters will underpin ILO’s approaches promoting inclusive socio-economic growth and decent work for both host and forcibly displaced communities. The exhibition will be on from 14 December to 11 January in its first phase. See the potraits here: https://www.ilo.org/global/programmes-and-projects/prospects/news/WCMS_906775/lang--en/index.htm

• A meeting was organized on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, by the Zambia Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU), a local NGO, with Members of Parliament to discuss refugees and statelessness. Many MPs attended the session, asking several questions and expressing political concerns. Clarifications were provided to the concerns raised by the MPs. The UNHCR Representative, the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), and refugees attended the meeting. UNHCR, directly or through partners, will continue to engage different stakeholders to further the interest of the people we serve.

• Zambia's Vice President led a delegation from the government to attend the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon departure in Lusaka, the Vice President said that Zambia will continue to shelter people seeking refuge from other countries due to conflicts, as mandated by the UN. Therefore, programmes such as the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva are important for the country to participate in. "As a country, we have hosted refugees for many years, and we will continue to provide shelter to those seeking protection from conflicts in our region," she said. The UNHCR Representative also attended the GRF in Geneva. While in Geneva, the Vice President will also take part in the celebration of the UN's 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Vice President's attendance at a UNHCR function is a significant political representation and commitment by the Government of Zambia to the Global Compact on Refugees.

A total of 10,851 individuals (2,922 families) voluntarily repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo between December 2021, when the first phase of the repatriation began and January 2023. The 3rd Phase of the Congolese repatriation is planned to commence in October 2023. Between 1 January and 30 September 2023, a total of 9,931 individuals were registered in the database. These comprised birth registrations, new arrivals and in-situ registrations. Of the 9,931, some 4,901 were new arrivals, with the majority from the DRC. From 1 January to 30 September 2023, some 2,409 individuals have cumulatively been submitted to various resettlement countries for resettlement consideration. 750 individuals have departed on resettlement so far this year to different countries. KEY INDICATORS 2,015 refugees were submitted to the USA as of 30 September 2023. 673 individuals departed on resettlement to various countries between 1 January and 30 September 2023. 67,197 individuals received treatment and care from the 10 settlement health facilities from 1 January to 30 September 2023. 13,096 are enrolled in schools across the three refugee settlements in Zambia, with 13% being from the host community. MAIN ACTIVITIES UNHCR and its partners support the Government to provide legal and community-based protection and social support. These interventions reached 19,817 persons in Lusaka and other urban areas, 39,838 people in the Meheba refugee settlement and 24,252 persons in the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement in the North-Western and Western Provinces, respectively, and 8,138 persons in Mantapala settlement in Luapula Province are supported. Financial Information Contributions for the Zambia refugee operation (in US$) Total UNHCR financial requirements in 2023 for Zambia amount to US$ 25.5 million. Total recorded contributions for the UNHCR operation in Zambia as of 30 September 2023 amount to US$7,554,129 (70% funding gap). UNHCR is grateful to all donors for their continuous support. UNHCR is also grateful for unearmarked contributions made at the global level, which allow UNHCR critical flexibility to reach people in the greatest need and at the greatest risk.

The African Development Bank hosted the Africa Resilience Forum in Abidjan, advocating for “peace and security in Africa to be a goal of investment decisions” and urging closer collaboration between governments, civil society and private sector. The AfDB signed an MoU with Interpeace, to jointly promote “peace positive” economic and social development.

From 1 January to 31 August 2023, some 1,552 individuals have cumulatively been submitted to various resettlement countries for resettlement consideration. 673 individuals have departed on resettlement so far this year to different countries. 1,552 refugees were submitted to various countries for resettlement consideration between 1 January and 31 August 2023. 58,531 individuals received treatment and care from the 10-settlement health facilities from 1 January to 31 August 2023. 13,096 are enrolled in schools across the three refugee settlements in Zambia, with 13% being from the host community. MAIN ACTIVITIES UNHCR and partners support the Government to provide legal and community-based protection and social support. These interventions reach 19,299 persons in Lusaka, 39,499 people in Meheba refugee settlement and 23,906 persons in Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement, in the North-Western and Western Provinces, respectively, and 7,943 persons in Mantapala settlement in Luapula Province are supported.

Today, UNHCR and 64 partner organisations have published a revised inter-agency Sudan Emergency Regional Refugee Response Plan - May to December 2023 (Revised August 2023) appealing for USD 1 billion to provide essential aid and protection to over 1.8 million people expected to arrive in five neighbouring countries by the end of 2023, fleeing ongoing conflict in Sudan. There is also a 2-page summary: Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan – May-December 2023 (Revised August 2023) – At a Glance - https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/103175

RefugePoint Unveils New Five-Year Strategy: RefugePoint’s 2023-2027 Case for Support outlines their five-year strategy and plan to transform refugee response. Central to the strategy is the collective reimagining of what refugee response looks like in partnership with refugees themselves, so that their voices, strengths, and needs guide the strategy. Read more here: https://www.refugepoint.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2023/08/RefugePoint-2023-2027-Strategy.pdf

During the month of June, 38 cases comprising 183 individuals were submitted to various resettlement countries such as the USA (97), Finland (20), Australia (32) & Canada (26), Norway (8) for resettlement consideration. 6,232 individuals (new births, new arrivals and in-situ) were registered by UNHCR between January and end of end of June 2023. In June, as part of UNHCR’s distribution of Quarter Two (April, May and June) cash-based intervention (CBI) disbursement, 2,109 refugees (1,159 females and 950 males) received a total of $189,510 in multi-purpose cash support.

The World Bank – Toolkit to Support Countries After Natural Disasters: On 22/06, the WB announced a comprehensive toolkit to support countries after natural disasters. At the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, Ajay Banga announced an expanded toolkit for crisis preparedness, response and recovery that includes: 1) pausing debt repayments; 2) redirecting financing; 3) linking crisis preparedness and financing; 4) backstopping development projects with private sector support, and 5) building enhanced catastrophe insurance without debt. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/ycy62h3v