Afghan refugees constitute the second-largest refugee population in the world and remain the largest population in protracted displacement. The Islamic Republic of Iran is host to one of the largest urban refugee populations worldwide, primarily Afghans.
The Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), developed and endorsed by the international community in 2012, in response to the Afghan situation in the region.
The Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), developed and endorsed by the international community in 2012, in response to the Afghan situation in the region and has served as a multilateral platform for consensus-building, partnership and engaging new actors. Today it continues to provide the regional framework for comprehensive, integrated policy development and joint interventions in support of voluntary return and reintegration as well as support to host countries and communities.
Developed by the Islamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the SSAR seeks to identify and implement comprehensive solutions for Afghan refugees in the region through joint interventions.
A Quadripartite Steering Committee, consisting of the three Governments and UNHCR, was formed in 2012 to guide the implementation of the Strategy at the regional level. The most recent meeting of the Committee was held on October 2019.
In addition, national steering committees, composed of representatives of line ministries and UNHCR, have been established in all three countries to support the implementation of the regional Solutions Strategy and the related Pillars at the national level. The national committees review and endorse project proposals consistent with the goals and objectives of the Solutions Strategy (SSAR) and report to the regional Quadripartite Steering Committee (QSC), composed of the three Governments and UNHCR.