The French government through its embassy in Uganda has announced its yearly support towards the sustainability of refugees in Uganda.
It should be noted that France has been a reliable partner to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is one of UNHCR’s top 10 largest donors. In 2022, 20 percent of the annual contribution from France was unearmarked, giving UNHCR critical flexibility to address emerging crises or underfunded situations.
In 2020, the contribution from France to UNHCR represented 38 920 000 €; in 2021 it represented 84 180 000€. The global contribution of France to UNHCR represented 91 000 000 € in 2022.
While announcing the donation at his residence in Nakasero, H.E Xavier Sticker the French Ambassador to Uganda told guests that France’s contribution to the activities of UNHCR in Uganda has been constant: 500 000 euros per year on the past two years, even if there was no fund earmarked for Uganda in 2022.
“France is very pleased to announce its voluntary contribution of €900,000 to the UNHCR Uganda for 2023. This significant additional funding will finance the implementation of two projects developed by the UNHCR itself, which will aim to provide 250 primary school teachers and 100 secondary school teachers and give access to comprehensive gender case management services (medical, legal, psychosocial) to 1,000 refugees at increased risk of gender-based violence and survivors of gender-based violence among others.”
The voluntary contribution, according to Xavier, takes place in a year where France is the co-convener (alongside Colombia, Japan, Jordan, Niger and Uganda) of the next Global Refugee Forum which will take place on the 13th and 15th of December 2023. “The French President, Emmanuel MACRON, made a commitment to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2022.”
Xavier revealed that, “Our Embassy remains committed to supporting the refugees response, especially given the pioneer open doors policy that Uganda has traditionally been implementing. Through our Food Aid Programming, we have also been consistent in supporting Action Against Hunger in refugee settlements, especially in Kyangwali and Nakivale. Since 2019, this Embassy has supported ACF with a total of 1 400 000 euros (including 500 000 euros for 2023). The projects are quite innovative and efficient, with the distribution of Fresh Food Vouchers, training in agro-ecology and the development of farmers’ schools to enhance access to market.”
France under “UNIV’R programme,” implemented by the UNHCR, the “Francophone University Agency” (AUF) and the “Migrants in Higher Education Network” (French Ministry of Higher Education and Research) in partnership with leading French universities, has also been instrumental in fostering higher education for refugees by contributing to award them scholarships to study in our country.
Matthew Crentsil, UNHCR Representative in Uganda highlighted the continued commitment made by France towards the betterment of challenges faced by refugees in Uganda and Worldwide.
Much as UNHCR is doing incredibly well towards its mandate, Crentsil stressed the need to close the huge funding gap so as to be able to address the challenges faced by the country in handling the refugees’ issue.
“Uganda has emerged as a model for refugee hosting and integration in Africa, welcoming over 1.5 million refugees. However, the country faces challenges due to increasing arrivals and funding shortfalls. To respond effectively to the refugee crisis in Uganda, an estimated USD 846 million is needed for the Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (UCRRP).”
Crentsil added that, “Currently, the UCRRP is only funded at 13% (with 114.2M received) and the overall UNHCR operation in Uganda is funded at 26% (USD88.4m), leaving a significant funding gap of 74% (USD 255m). This highlights the urgent need for additional support to provide vital interventions, protection assistance and emergency responses for new arrivals in 2023 but with the support from France, UNHCR is sure to further strengthen efforts to protect Women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among other areas through comprehensive case management including offering survivors medical, legal and psychosocial support among other needs.”
The press conference was followed by a panel discussion running under the theme “Acting for refugees and host communities: which partnerships and initiatives to build a momentum” that was embraced by The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Uganda, the Acting Commissioner for Refugees, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, a representation of the refugees and the French Ambassador to Uganda.
The high-level discussion was tailored towards sensitive topics with which the key mentioned stakeholders and players were expected come up with possible and positive solutions, innovative ideas from the ground especially but not only in the areas of gender and refugees, sport and refugees and environment and refugees with various questions on the state of art of the refugee crisis including; What the political developments in the refugee’s crisis in Uganda and worldwide (especially France) are? What analysis can be made of the current and upcoming challenges to the global refugee crisis, what synergies have been created between development partners and political actors in Uganda and What policy responses and cross-country strategies should be expected from the Global Refugee Forum among others.
