UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas

2.1 ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

2.1.11 Coordination and sustainability planning

Recommendation: 4. Consider seconding experts to relevant government offices for a period of time to strengthen their institutional capacities on IE issues.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva.

Sample evidence: the evaluation concluded that conducting a stakeholder analysis and determining roles of partners is essential to ensure good coordination. Recognize the distinct objectives and modus operandi of humanitarian organizations (short- term) and business entities (long-term), and respect their different mandates, roles and approaches

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 1) Implement good practices that are well established in all programming and which should also be used in livelihoods programming with refugees dependent on the IE. These include:

• Regular consultation and interaction with refugees and local communities in program design. This should include the participation of refugees in assessing livelihood challenges and needs and analysing internal and external factors influencing livelihoods.
• Liaise closely and organise coordination with relevant ministries and other national and local authorities, partner agencies and other stakeholders aiming at joint advocacy and programme planning to integrate livelihood services for refugees into the public system
• Through advocacy activities, promote the productive and creative potential of refugees, their skills and talents
• Regular monitoring and impact evaluation
• Testing and pilots of programs, especially those that are designed in headquarters and imported into field settings.
• Adapting and customising for all such programs to be fully specific to the situation settings and should be piloted and revised before full funding is allocated.
• Providing clear explanations of the length of the program, related benchmarks, and the planned exit strategy.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva.

Evidence sample: the evaluation concluded that it is necessary to involve both local and refugee communities in all aspects of programme planning, implementation and monitoring. Increase interaction with refugee communities and communicate on a regular basis; organise reach-out activities and inform refugees about their livelihood-support options and eligibility criteria.

Liaise closely and organise coordination with relevant ministries and other national and local authorities, partner agencies and other stakeholders aiming at joint advocacy and programme planning to The integrate livelihood services for refugees into the public system.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 6) Provide support to both the host community and the internally displaced persons (IDP) or refugee population at the same time on informal economy activities as relevant in contexts where large IDP populations create an economic burden on the Host Community that might result in conflict.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva.

Evidence sample: livelihood programmes that also benefit local populations can address host government concerns about the presence of refugees in cities (economic competition, pressure on resources, etc.) and improve the asylum environment.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 10) Analyse the employment situation in the host country, especially the informal economy, as it holds more employment prospects for refugees.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva.

Evidence sample: the guidelines indicate that it is advisable to analyse the employment situation in the host country, especially the informal sector as it holds more employment prospects for refugees. Undertake a mapping of factors influencing livelihoods and opportunities. Analyse the information about refugee households’ livelihood assets and strategies.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 11) Map out available public and private livelihood-support opportunities with people dependent on the IE in urban areas. Develop effective modalities to enhance access.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva

Evidence sample: the guidelines recommend to map out available public and private livelihood-support opportunities in urban areas. Develop effective modalities to enhance access.

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2.4 APPROACHES TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

2.4.10. Strengthening IE with attention to migrants, refugees, trafficked persons

Recommendation: 12) In planning support for refugees, develop a plan to move from one level of support to another as people’s capacities and needs evolve through time. Specifically, follow a “graduation approach” to livelihood programming with people dependent on the IE. This should be based on the capacities and related support needs identified for each socio-economic group during the assessment. Gradually reduce the number in need of assistance and livelihood support through the attainment of durable solutions. Phase out the more costly short-term livelihood support measures gradually while maintaining medium to long-term sustainable livelihood promotion measures.

Reference: UNHCR, 2011, Promoting Livelihoods and Self-reliance Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas, General background document on issues in our research matrix, UNHCR, Geneva

Evidence sample: The guidelines recommend in moving from one level of support to another as people’s capacities and needs evolve through time

Follow a “graduation approach” to livelihood programming, based on the capacities and related support needs identified for each socio-economic group during the livelihood assessment. Gradually reduce the number in need of assistance and livelihood support through the attainment of durable solutions.

 Phase out gradually of short-term livelihood provisioning measures that are more costly than medium to long-term sustainable livelihood promotion measures.