Refugee-hosting Communities to Receiving Development Support from UN & Partners

The United Republic of Tanzania has been hosting refugees for several decades warranting greater support, not just to the humanitarian response, but also for the sustainable development for host communities. 

The UN responded to this need through the Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) which was launched in 2017 and concluded in June earlier this year. The KJP Phase One (KJP I) built a more equitable response to the region's responsiblity of hosting over 250,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi. The UN in Tanzania, in collaboration with National and Regional Authorities and many other partners, managed to build the resilience of host communities and refugees through developmental interventions in refugee hosting areas and service provision for all.

KJP I operated through six (6) themes which are: Youth and Women Economic Empowerment; Agriculture; Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC); Education; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); and Health+.

Through the interventions under these thematic areas, more than 400,000 people were reached mainly from the refugee hosting districts (67% being women). The evaluation report of the programme, joint assessments and testimonies from the region affirm that there have been significant improvement people’s lives in these areas.

Looking to build on these interventions, the UN, together with the Government and other development stakeholders, have today launched the KJP Phase Two (KJP II) which will run from 2022-2027. Whereas KJP I focused only on the districts that were hosting refugees in the region, KJP II aims to cover all six districts of Kigoma Region, namely Kigoma, Uvinza, Buhigwe, Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko. In line with the SDGs principle of leaving no one behind, KJP II will target the most vulnerable people including those living with disabilities.

Speaking at the launch, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zlatan Milisic, highlighted the four outcomes of phase two and emphasized that, "As the UN in Tanzania, we reiterate our recognition to the refugee host communities as agents of change in our efforts toward sustainable development in Tanzania. Approximately USD 92.5 million will be required to achieve all outcomes in all the targeted populations and geographical areas of which USD 20.6 million is committed by participating UN Agencies and generous support/pledge from our development partners, some of them are present with us here - asanteni sana!"

KJP II Outcome Areas

The four outcome areas of the KJP II are aligned to the overall outcome areas of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) which will guide the work of the UN in Tanzania from 2022-27. The four outcome areas as the apply to KJP II are:

People

Ensuring more people in Kigoma, particularly the most marginalized and those affected by humanitarian situations, participate in equitable and inclusive quality education and skills development, climate resilient WASH services, integrated, resilient and gender-responsive health and nutrition services and protection.

Prosperity

Ensuring people living in Kigoma Region working in MSMEs and small-scale agriculture, especially the most vulnerable, women and youth, achieve increased and more sustainable productivity and incomes with more equitable access to productive resources.

Planet

Ensuring communities in Kigoma Region have improved capacity to manage and conserve natural resources and land, increased resilience to disasters and adverse effects of climate change and have greater access to efficient and renewable energy.

Enabling Environment

Ensuring that communities in Kigoma participate in and benefit from more effective, inclusive, and accountable economic, migration, governance, peace, security and justice systems.