• The Protection WG started to plan having a thematic discussion on a different topics of concern and interest to the members. Agenda for the thematic discussion has been finalized in April and agencies lead were assigned for each theme. • During April PWG meeting, UNHCR gave a detailed presentation on the new Amnesty was announced by the GOJ(criteria and updates). The amnesty will continue until 27 Sep 2018. After five weeks of the start of the amnesty, around 9,000 families registered for an appointment to rectify their situation. Data segregated by age and gender will be shared with PWG later on.

• Sub-Saharan Africa Update, Africa’s Pulse reports that economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is showing some resilience, despite uncertainty in the global economy and restricted fiscal space. Regional growth is expected to reach 3.5 percent in 2025 and further accelerate to 4.3 percent in 2026-2027. However, countries rich in resources and those facing fragility, conflict, and violence are growing more slowly than the rest of the region, and the region is struggling to reduce poverty and create enough good jobs for its young population. It recommends Governments focus on providing quality public services and fairly-regulated market competition. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/africa-pulse

• SGBV SWG finalized key coordination tools for the first quarter of 2018. This includes the SGBV SWG 2018 workplan, and a guidance on safe referrals for non-GBV specialized agencies. • GBV IMS taskforce hold a signatory ceremony of the new Information Sharing Protocol, endorsed by seven organizations.. The new Information Sharing Protocol is setting out guiding principles and procedures for sharing anonymous aggregated data on reported cases of SGBV with consent of survivors.

• During March, SGBV and Child Protection sub-working groups conducted a join coordination meeting that aimed to strengthen the linkages between the two sectors on standing cross cutting issues. Main topics that were discussed during the meeting were Mandatory reporting under the law on protection from family violence and the national framework for protection from family violence. Furthermore, the work plan of the national child marriage task force was shared with members noting that input from key national and international CP/SGBV originations was included in the work plan. Preliminary reports CPIMS, GBVIMS 2017 were discussed.

• CP & ESWG Meeting: During April CP SWG and Education Sector Working Group conducted a join meeting, The purpose of the join meeting is to focus on cross cutting issues between the CP and the Education sectors and have an in depth discussion on the issue of violence against children (VAC), the group came up with a list of recommendation as a way forward.

• As of 31 January 2023, a total of 10,650 individuals (2,868 families) had cumulatively been repatriated since the second phase of the voluntary repatriation movements started in July 2022, and 10,851 individuals comprising 2,922 families since the first phase of the voluntary repatriation programme from Mantapala settlement started in December 2021.

• A meeting was organized on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, by the Zambia Civil Liberties Union (ZCLU), a local NGO, with Members of Parliament to discuss refugees and statelessness. Many MPs attended the session, asking several questions and expressing political concerns. Clarifications were provided to the concerns raised by the MPs. The UNHCR Representative, the Commissioner for Refugees (COR), and refugees attended the meeting. UNHCR, directly or through partners, will continue to engage different stakeholders to further the interest of the people we serve.

“UNHCR is not promoting returns to Burundi at this stage, but we continue to work with the governments of Burundi and host countries, including Tanzania, to assist those who feel now is the time for them to return home.”