Noosheen Mogadam & Mahsa Shekarloo (17.02.2012)
In line with global efforts to counter massive Afghan displacement, NRC has established an office in Tehran to assist the Government of Iran in supporting and helping Afghan refugees.
The LINK Project
The NRC – initiated LINK project in Iran (Long-term Solutions through Information Management and Knowledge Building towards Return and Reintegration in Afghanistan) aims to provide information assistance and counseling, shelter, water and sanitation, and develop livelihood initiatives in order to increase access to basic services and sustainable livelihood opportunities in Iran and Afghanistan for vulnerable and returning Afghan refugees:
Information and Counseling Assistance – LINK plans to implement cross-border counseling activities for those wishing to return in order to access services in their areas of origin in Afghanistan. This will improve their coping strategies upon return.
As part of the information and counseling component of the project, LINK will partner up with NRC’s experienced Information Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) program in Afghanistan. This will enable us to provide Afghans with useful descriptions of the conditions in their home villages and areas of return in Afghanistan.
Shelter and WAT/SAN – LINK plans to provide shelter and WAT/SAN materials where needed, and to assist in the upgrading of refugee homes in camps and settlements.
Livelihood initiatives and vocational training – Where not already established and active, LINK will develop livelihood development programs to ensure that basic first needs are met. Marketable skills training will also be provided for those wishing to return in order to pave their integration in Afghanistan’s local market economy.
The LINK Project will primarily target the Afghan refugee population living in Iran. However, NRC will also support the Bureau of Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (B.A.F.I.A.) and UNHCR in the implementation of the ‘Solutions Strategy’ which intends to provide a new framework for managing displacement in the sub-region (Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan) and give due weight to the reality of economic migrations and long stay outside of the country of origin.
From the onset of the intervention, NRC will promote the participation of the target groups in the design of the activities to ensure the LINK Project is adequately tailored to different degrees of vulnerabilities and capacities, and to age and gender. NRC will in addition place special emphasis on the involvement of women in the decision-making processes leading to the implementation of the activities.
In the immediate, NRC will begin to analyze refugee adaptation patterns, future intentions and return trends, and identify and study coping strategies and vulnerabilities of refugees wishing to return and reintegrate in Afghanistan.