UNHCR contribution to the end poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established as a result of General Assembly Resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950 “ The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ... shall assume the function of providing international protection to refugees and of seeking permanent solutions for the problem of refugees… The work of the High Commissioner shall be of an entirely non-political character; it shall be humanitarian”. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees is the key legal document defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. The 1967 Protocol removed geographical and temporal restrictions from the Convention. The role of UNHCR has recently been extended by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Principals to lead preparedness and response in protection, camp coordination and management and emergency shelter where the response addresses situations of internal displacement caused by conflict (rather than natural disaster).

UNHCR in Nigeria
UNHCR Nigeria is working in partnership with: 1) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA to Harmonize and Align its strategy with National Development Strategy (NEEDS/SEEDS/LEEDS) and NEPAD Objectives; 2) UN AGENCIES & INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS for Implementation of Development through Local Integration (DLI)/4Rs(Repatriation, Reintegration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction) strategies in line with UN Reforms towards achieving MDGs and NEPAD objectives in Nigeria, using CCA/UNDAF frameworks and country specific development programmes; 3)ECOWAS EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT: Capacity Building of ECOWAS Department of Humanitarian Affairs through Partnership in Action Strategy and Establishment of a Regional Center for Emergency Training in International Humanitarian Situation (e-Center); 4) NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS such as Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), National Commission for Refugees (NCFR) and National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) ; and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) like Justice Peace and Development Commission and Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS).


ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MALE AND FEMALE RETURNEES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES

UNHCR Nigeria has developed a joint programme (2006-2007) with eight other UN Agencies. The overall expected outcome of the joint programme is to prevent the recurrence of ethnic/communal conflicts by fostering peace and reconciliation through empowerment of male and female returnees and other communities (total population of some 500,000) in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba State. Expected outputs include construction of Spring water facilities and two small power plants with capacity of 430 KVA and 230 KVA at Tunga dam; rehabilitation of Gembu Power Plant, Educational and Health facilities; Capacity building of existing and new cooperatives associations to contribute directly to poverty reduction; Introduction of new skills in agriculture production; Procurement and distribution of grinding machines and honey preservation/cleansing equipments; Installation of Milk Processing and agro-processing units at Kakara; Provision of Open pollinated maize, NERICA rice and vegetable seeds to farmers; and Construction of community centers in returnee areas.


ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF MALE AND FEMALE REFUGEES IN ORU CAMP AND URBAN LAGOS

UNHCR is also working for durable solution to refugee situation in Nigeria. UNHCR is running skills acquisition centers and computer school for young boys and girls among the refugees from various nationalities in Oru Refugee Camp. UNHCR is also providing micro-credits to refugee women and men for petty trade and business activities in the camp and urban Lagos. UNHCR is also organizing cooperatives for agriculture for refugee men and women in Ogun State.

Contact for media: Uzoma Ihedirimadu-Abudu, Tel: 09-4616112, E-mail: IHEDIRIM@unhcr.org
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