Zambia

Year-end Overview

Operational Environment

The political and economic situation in Zambia is expected to remain stable during 2019, with its open door policy towards asylum-seekers projected to continue. The 2017 Refugee Act provides the legal framework for protection, assistance and solutions for refugees in Zambia. Since late 2017, Zambia has received over 20,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo leading to the opening of Mantapala refugee settlement in Luapula Province. The estimated total number of people of concern to UNHCR in 2019 stands at some 105,400.
 
The Government has provided land for Meheba, Mayukwayukwa and Mantapala refugee settlements. In addition, health, education, water and sanitation services in Meheba and Mayukwayukwa settlements are provided by national services. UNHCR and the Government are currently co-leading the refugee response under the Refugee Coordination Model. Inter-agency coordination is taking place both at capital and field levels.
 
UNHCR’s cooperation with the Government is expected to remain close and constructive with increased interactions under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The roll out of CRRF in Zambia will focus on the areas of i) admission and rights, ii) inclusion of refugees into national service delivery programmes, iii) self-reliance and access to livelihoods, and iv) durable solutions including local integration and third-country solutions. The operation will also implement a multi-year, multi-partner protection and solutions strategy in line with the CRRF.

Key Priorities

UNHCR will advocate for the effective involvement of development partners and NGOs in protection and assistance of refugees as well as, in line with CRRF principles, the inclusion of people of concern in overall national planning and programmes.
 
In 2019, UNHCR will focus on:

• Ensuring that asylum-seekers and refugees have access to biometric registration and documentation;

• Expanding the use of cash-based interventions to other sectors beyond the provision of cash-for-food;
• Facilitating durable solutions for refugees with emphasis on voluntary repatriation and local integration.