Operationalizing the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus

The project in brief

Implemented by

Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) / Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany

Country

Global: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda

Duration

2018 - ongoing

Description

The new global programme implements joint approaches and various modes of delivery in selected contexts of forced displacement. One of the work streams focuses on the energy sector, where joint approaches promote sustainable and cost efficient energy solutions in refugee camps / settlements and host communities in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. GIZ and UNHCR also work jointly to support social, cultural and labour market integration for displaced persons in Mexico. In Niger, UNHCR focuses on social housing as alternatives to camps with financial and advisory support from GIZ. In Rwanda, a designated Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) advisor in the government supports the implementation of the CRRF.

Project aims 

The global programme aims at strengthening UNHCR in its role as coordinator of the GCR implementation in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The objectives of the programme are:

• The Nexus approach is implemented in two exemplary country contexts, i.e. displaced persons in Niger and Mexico have been supported with regards to their socio-economic integration in the host communities
• The Nexus approach is implemented in the context of sustainable energy in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia
• The capacities of the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) in UNHCR and the national structures for implementing the CRRF are strengthened

Main activities of the Good Practice

Within the global programme GIZ and UNHCR plan their interventions jointly and share the responsibility of implementation. In total, the programme has three areas of activities:

1. Joint nexus approaches in the partner countries Mexico and Niger on specific issues. GIZ supports and complements UNHCR on coordination and bringing in long-term perspectives for structural formation and development orientation to benefit both displaced persons and host communities.
2. Joint nexus approaches in the energy sector in the partner countries Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. GIZ and UNHCR improve access to sustainable energy for refugees as well as host communities. This involves capacity building for distributing and repairing solar products and promoting market-based approaches with the private sector.
3. GIZ supports the capacities at the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) at UNHCR and deploys an advisor to the CRRF Secretariat (MINEMA) in Rwanda. This contributes to implementing the Nexus approach on a strategic level.

A global comprehensive monitoring system is to be established that will facilitate inter-institutional knowledge management. Lessons learned will be consolidated and published.

Partners

• Main partner: UNHCR
• Partner countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda

Challenges and how they were overcome

Coordination: The programme has a complex stakeholder environment, since it does not only involve BMZ, GIZ and UNHCR but also various government entities in the partner countries as well as further local and international implementing partners. Good coordination among stakeholders is vital to the success of the programme and an inherent component.

Context-sensitivity: The programme is implemented in various volatile and dynamic contexts with constrained security situations. There is an increased risk for violent conflicts which might hamper the programme implementation. In addition, the target group consists of vulnerable groups such as IDPs and refugees. In order to avoid any non-intended negative results, the programme is establishing a comprehensive monitoring system that also observes and analyses external factors, risks and mitigation measures. The programme is implemented in a context-sensitive manner, following the Do-No-Harm principles.

Results of the Good Practice 

Primarily displaced persons and host communities will benefit from the programme. By targeting both groups, the programme contributes to mitigating local conflicts and strengthening social cohesion. The activities in the energy sector will improve the target group’s access to energy and thereby contribute to improving their livelihoods.

Implementation of the joint approaches increases the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of German development cooperation and UNHCR interventions worldwide. The continuous exchange of experiences and joint planning and implementation contributes to long-term trust building and capacity development among the partners.

How the project meets the GCR Objectives

The experiences and lessons learned of these joint approaches will be analysed, consolidated and shared, which can result in better-informed and better-coordinated programming and implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and the humanitarian-development-peace Nexus in contexts of forced displacement. In addition, the programme contributes to mutual learning between the partners BMZ, GIZ und UNHCR.

The Global Compact on Refugees calls for burden- and responsibility sharing, strengthening the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and promoting refugee inclusion in host communities. The new global programme “Support in the implementation of the UN Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework” strives to address these objectives through supporting UNHCR as a facilitator of the GCR in the Nexus.