97 Congolese refugees (32 households) were repatriated from Mantapala settlement to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the first week of January, In January, WFP distributed cash for food assistance, under the Cash-based Transfer (CBT) programme, to 16,965 refugees (8,309 men and 8,656 women) in Mantapala settlement. UNHCR’s livelihoods partner, Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) commenced the distribution of agricultural tools to 526 families out of the targeted 672 families in Meheba refugee settlement. received the tools. .

IMF – Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa: On 28/04, the IMF released the regional economic outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, estimated growth has been revised upward from 3.7 to 4.5%. This progress has been offset by recent events. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, economic activity is expected to slow to 3.8% in 2022. The shock to global commodity markets will add to inflation, hit the region’s most vulnerable households, exacerbate food insecurity, raise poverty rates and possible add to social tension. Looking beyond the current set of crises, decisive policy action is needed to enhance economic diversification, promote regional integration, unleash the private sector’s potential and address the challenges posed by climate change.

Meteorological and humanitarian agencies sound alert on East Africa: Meteorological agencies, including WMO, and humanitarian partners have issued a joint alert that the threat of starvation looms in East Africa after four failed rainy seasons and that the situation is set to worsen. A statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on behalf of 14 agencies said that the current extreme, widespread, and persistent multi-season drought affecting Somalia, the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, and Ethiopia’s Belg-receiving and eastern and southern pastoral areas, is unprecedented. Four consecutive rainy seasons have failed, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years. Read the statement here: https://www.fao.org/3/cc0312en/cc0312en.pdf

Quick wins aren’t the way to coherence between social protection and humanitarian assistance in Cameroon. Humanitarian actors have tended not to be very good at working together with state social protection systems in countries where they work. Although they are often doing the same thing – identifying those who badly need material help and giving them money every month – they still work in parallel worlds, with different languages, different ways of working and even different objectives. The good news is that this has been recognised as a problem. It leaves countries dependent on international aid, rather than using aid to build up the state’s own ability to meet its responsibilities. And it is hugely wasteful. Creating two systems of bureaucracy is bad enough, but the humanitarian system is typically several times more expensive to operate. Read more here: https://odi.org/en/insights/quick-wins-arent-the-way-to-coherence-between-social-protection-and-humanitarian-assistance-in-cameroon/

World Bank Approves $180 Million to Step-Up Support for Refugees and Host Communities in Ethiopia: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the second phase of the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project in the Horn of Africa (DRDIP II) for $180 million in International Development Association (IDA*) financing to help Ethiopia improve access to basic social and economic services, expand livelihood opportunities, and enhance environmental management for refugees and their host communities.

VoA - Refugees Gain Financial Inclusion in Kenya through Microlending Project by IRC. The IRC program is called Refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for Livelihoods Development, or Re:Build. It’s a 5-year project to empower 20,000 urban refugees with their own businesses in Nairobi and the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The IRC says the micro-loans have already helped 260 refugees in Nairobi to become their own bosses. Read more here: https://www.voanews.com/a/6622102.html

On 22 June, for the first time in two years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNHCR and the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) of the Ministry of Interior, brought together refugees, host communities, government officials, members of the diplomatic community and humanitarian and development partners to celebrate the courage, talent and resilience of millions of Afghans exiled in the country. A photography exhibition showcasing Iran’s long history of hosting refugees, starting from the 16th century with Armenians to this date, was one of the main features of the event. A refugee handicraft bazaar also attracted large numbers of people to appreciate Afghan crafts, cuisine and music at the landmark Milad Tower.

New group of refugee traders live their dreams at QVM: A man who fled civil war in East Africa more than two decades ago is among a new group of refugees realising their dreams at the Queen Victoria Market (QVM). Read more here: https://www.cbdnews.com.au/new-group-of-refugee-traders-live-their-dreams-at-qvm

Developing a State-led Social Safety Net System to Boost Human Capital and Build Resilience in Somalia: The Baxnaano Program: Since its launch in 2019, Baxnaano has provided a platform for the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to play a new and continuing role in social safety net provision to households facing chronic poverty and the aggravating impacts of multiple climate-related shocks: https://bit.ly/3CIqEpJ

UNHCR celebrates DAFI’s 30 years of refugee scholarship support: This month, the UNHCR celebrated 30 years of providing scholarship opportunities through the German-backed DAFI scholarship program to displaced persons, transforming their lives and prospects. Over 21,500 refugee students’ lives have been positively impacted through Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) scholarship program. These students have majored in diverse fields ranging from medicine to business administration, social and behavioural sciences, mathematics, and computer sciences. During the celebrations, the UNHCR urged for more investments in refugee tertiary education in order to achieve the 15 by 30 target – to ensure that 15% of eligible refugees can access tertiary education by 2030. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3FyQnDO