Indonesia

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Operational Environment

The increased number of vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers in need of assistance, the reduced opportunities for resettlement, and the need for longer-term in-country solutions, including access to education and livelihoods, are the major factors influencing UNHCR’s multi-year protection and solutions strategy. Although full implementation has been delayed, the 2016 Presidential Regulation on the Handling of Refugees provides a good legal framework for the development of UNHCR’s activities in Indonesia.
 
UNHCR diversified its partner base in 2018 with an aim to identify new stakeholders who can support furthering the protection of people of concern. For example, the office has partnered with ILO on a project targeting both refugees and the local population. The partnership with ILO builds on cooperation that goes beyond humanitarian and refugee affairs alone, and has potential to grow further.
 
The cooperation with IOM will also be further enhanced, especially in light of decreased financial support for refugees and asylum-seekers in Indonesia. UNHCR and IOM may need to double coordination efforts in order to achieve the same level of results as in the past. In 2019, UNHCR will also pilot a partnership with a strategically selected learning centres managed by refugees. These centres will prepare refugee children for attending Indonesian public schools through the provision of Bahasa language classes.

Key priorities

UNHCR priorities in 2019 centre on providing expertise and support to government ministries responsible for implementing the Presidential Regulation in order to ensure protection is provided to refugees in line with international standards. This will include advocacy for a range of temporary stay measures and solutions, in light of the limited resettlement places. To ensure the effective protection of refugees, support to the Government will focus on registration and documentation, two areas that are specifically provided for under the Presidential Regulation. UNHCR will continue to use refugee status determination (RSD) strategically to address the Government’s concerns, and will identify resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable while promoting access to livelihoods opportunities that benefit both refugees and host communities. Community-based protection mechanisms will be strengthened to promote mutual support and self-reliance, while UNHCR will continue to focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable among the population, particularly women and children. These needs include access to basic assistance, healthcare, and education.