IOM has signed a comprehensive agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide sustainable socio-economic reinsertion assistance to former combatants and ex-members of self-defence groups.
The USD 1,4 million, six-month programme, funded by the UN's Peacebuilding Fund, aims to provide vocational training and in-kind assistance to set up the first 250 of 1,000 micro projects that will benefit 1,300 individuals who are currently demobilized in the Central and Western departments of Séguéla, Duekué and Guiglo.
The micro-projects will seek to support agricultural, cattle farming, small business and retailing activities, through the provision of a reinsertion kit, which will include a set of essential equipment and tools.
Priority will be given to former combatants and members of self-defence groups who choose to work together on common income-generating projects.
"Cote d'Ivoire is currently in a post conflict phase with elections scheduled for the coming months," says Jacques Seurt, IOM's Chief of Mission in Abidjan. "It is therefore critical to ensure the sustainable reinsertion assistance for former combatants, particularly in areas that have been worst affected by the conflict"
To date, some 10,000 ex-combatants have been disarmed, demobilized and regrouped throughout the country. A further 34,000 combatants and 20,000 members of self-defence groups are still in need of disarmament and demobilization assistance.
For more information, please contact Jacques Seurt at IOM Abidjan, Tel: +225 22 52 82 00, Email jseurt@iom.int