Mali

Operational environment

The operational environment in Mali is expected to continue volatile in 2019. Terrorism, crime and violence remain major constraints, coupled with intercommunal clashes likely due to lack of basic social services and inequitable access to justice.
 
The estimated number of people of concern in Mali in 2019 stands at 89,000, including some 24,400 refugees. The majority of refugees are from Mauritania (15,300), followed by Burkina Faso (7,400) and smaller numbers from the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The number of IDPs is expected to be some 62,600, majority displaced due to ethnic violence, incidents with armed groups and the interventions of G5 Sahel forces.
 
Despite instability, Mali remains hospitable to asylum-seekers and refugees. Asylum-seekers have access to refugee status determination procedures and receive government certificates that protect them from unlawful detention and expulsion, while recognized refugees receive five-year renewable identity cards.  Moreover, the Government of Mali is favourable to naturalization for long-term refugees and the inclusion of people of concern into its national development programmes.
 
Developing strategic partnerships is one of UNHCR’s key priorities for 2019. UNHCR is involved in the development of the 2019-2022 Cadre strategique pour la Relance Economique et le Développement Durable du Mali (CREDD) and the 2020-2023 UNDAF+ to ensure policy coherence between these plans and the 2018-2019 multi-year, multi-partner (MYMP) protection and solutions strategy. In 2019, UNHCR will also join other coordination mechanisms such as the Groupe des Partenaires Techniques et Financiers and the Commission de Réhabilitations des Zones de Post-Conflits.
 
UNHCR works with international and national NGOs, as well as two governmental partners CNCR and DNDS, respectively representing the Malian Ministry of Territorial Administration and the Ministry of Solidarity and Humanitarian Action in charge of refugee status determination and registration for returnees and internally displaced people. UNHCR is aiming at limiting the number of its traditional partnerships while promoting joint programming with development actors.
 
As the lead agency for the Protection Cluster and co-lead for the Shelter Cluster, the operation will enhance its engagement to ensure a more effective inter-agency response.
 
The MYMP strategy developed in 2017 focuses on bringing Malian legislation in line with international standards and ensuring that Malian refugees and IDPs, including the most vulnerable, return in safety and dignity and sustainably reintegrate in the 20 priority communes.  The strategy also emphasises working towards the self-reliance of, and comprehensive solutions for, refugees.
 
 

Key priorities

 In 2019, UNHCR will focus on:
 

• facilitating durable solutions for refugees in protracted situations by promoting their access to socio-economic integration, legal documentation and naturalization, in cooperation with the government;
• expand the use of cash-based interventions to cover the basic needs of targeted households;
• improved documentation, including advocating the government to recognise birth certificates issued for Malian refugees in countries of asylum;
• access to education;
• prevention of sexual and gender-based violence;
• voluntary and sustainable return of Malian refugees and IDPs, including support to the government in ensuring the safety and dignity of repatriation
• protection monitoring and peaceful coexistence with hosting communities;
• identifying and submitting the cases of people in need of resettlement;
• prevention and reduction of statelessness through support to  the government in revising the concerned legislation, and the identification of stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness.