Mali

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Working environment

 
The implementation of Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation from the Algiers process, completed in June 2015, continues to slowly advance, but has not yet produced the stability and security needed to ensure genuine peace in northern Mali. The volatile security situation resulting from ongoing violence amongst armed groups, intercommunity tensions and escalating threat of terrorism, particularly along the transboundary zones with Burkina Faso and Niger, continue to hinder humanitarian access in the north, necessitating specific risk reduction measures for UNHCR staff on mission to specific areas. The ongoing insecurity coupled with limited economic opportunities and the lack of access to basic services in parts of the north and centre continues to prevent the voluntary returns of high numbers of Malian refugees and IDPs.
 
Despite the volatile security situation, Mali continues to welcome refugees and asylum-seekers. It remains in favour of supporting the naturalization and integration of protracted refugees.
 
UNHCR works with the Government of Mali and its partners in the Humanitarian Country Team, the UN Country Team, development banks, the technical and financial partners to support a more favourable environment for the protection of refugees, refugee returnees, IDPs and IDP returnees. UNHCR plays a key role in the strategy and planning of humanitarian responses as lead of the Protection and the Shelter/NFI clusters.
 

Key priorities

 
UNHCR’s priorities focus on durable solutions. The legal integration of protracted refugees will be supported through the advocacy and advancement of naturalization and accompanied with local integration assistance, while those who wish to voluntary return will receive assistance to facilitate their secure and dignified return. Urban refugees and asylum-seekers will be assisted through cash-based interventions, documentation, health, education and SGBV prevention.
 
UNHCR will work with partners to improve conditions in priority zones of return, and ensure the sustainable and voluntary return of Malian refugees and IDPs through cash-based assistance, protection monitoring, SGBV prevention and response, documentation and social cohesion activities. It will continue to work with the government in the revision of its laws in order to prevent and reduce statelessness in Mali.
 
Funding constraints will negatively impact the already limited assistance to the populations of concern, particularly Malian returnees who remain in a volatile protection environment.