United Republic of Tanzania: Inter-Agency Operational Update (November 2022)

Operational Highlights

• Launch of the UN Joint Programme (KJP) phase II: The second phase of the UN Kigoma Joint Programme was launched on Monday 28 November 2022 in the Kigoma region following the conclusion of the first phase and the adoption of the final report by the Steering Committee. The second phase will build on phase I that started in 2017 to 2022, covering all the region’s six districts. The programme will continue to address refugee and host community needs in four broad outcome areas that include: People, Planet, Prosperity, and Enabling Environment, mirroring the outcome areas of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) launched earlier this year. The Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) was attended by Heads of UN Agencies, Development partners, Government officials at the district and regional levels, the donor community, and representatives of refugees and host communities, who entertained the guests with various traditional songs and dances. The SCM is co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator for Tanzania and the Kigoma Regional Commissioner.

• Come and Tell Visit: The operation received a first “come-and-tell” mission to Tanzania from 28 November to 1 December 2022. The mission’s objective was to inform refugees in Tanzania on the current conditions in Burundi and to strengthen information sharing. The mission was led by the Deputy Minister of Interior and Rural Development, and other seven Senior Government officials including Governors of Gitega and Rutana Provinces, the Director of Repatriation, Inspector General of the National Police, the Acting Consular General, and Headmaster- Patriotism and Civic Education. The delegation was accompanied by ten former refugees from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. The Burundian delegation held mass meetings with the refugees in both camps and questions and answers sessions, where they provided a detailed briefing on the conditions in Burundi, especially on security, livelihoods, education, shelter, land-related matters, and other public and social services. The former refugees also shared their experiences about their return to Burundi. The information shared is expected to help Burundian refugees to make an informed decision on voluntary repatriation.

• International Association of Refugee Law and Migration Judges (IARMJ) Conference: UNHCR supported the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) to hold a Regional Conference in Arusha, Tanzania. The theme of the conference was Access to asylum and justice. The conference, which took place from 16-18 November 2022, was preceded by a two-day- intensive training were delegates discussed issues related to access to asylum, refugees, statelessness, the right to nationality and forced internal displacement. The participants to the conference, who came from other African nations and beyond, were mainly judges, magistrates, officials involved in the refugee adjudication process, refugee experts/ researchers and members of the academia plus representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs - Refugee Services Department Tanzania. Closing remarks from the Deputy Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs – Hon. Godfrey Pinda highlighted the challenge of minimal resource allocation to country in hosting refugees. The IARMJ Africa Chapter adopted the Arusha Declaration of 2022 which, inter alia, underscored the importance/critical role of the judiciary in ensuring the due process of the law (ad minimum judicial/due process) in access to asylum and the refugee determination process at the end of the conference.

• United States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) and US Embassy visit to the refugee camps: UNHCR facilitated the mission of BPRM officials from Washington DC, Kampala, and delegates from the US Embassy whilst they visited Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camps. The mission met with government officials, held insightful focal group discussions with refugees, and visited PRM funded projects implemented by UNHCR, WFP, and partner agencies including Save the Children, Medical Teams International, IRC and DRC.

• Access to Support Services for Gender Based Violence victims: toto ensure refugees’ access to better services and safety, UNHCR constructed standard rooms for forensic evidence collection and handed them over to Medecins Sans Frontieres. The Forensic evidence collection project in Nduta was inaugurated after assessment of the GBV rooms by the Forensic Bureau and Forensic Biology and DNA services departments., Refresher training was provided to stakeholders to capacitate them on their roles and responsibilities.