Burkina Faso : Une convention pour l'accès d'étudiants réfugiés à l'enseignement supérieur https://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refdaily?pass=52fc6fbd5&id=60374ba33

KENYA - Household Surveys -- WB published new data from its household phone surveys, indicating stagnant levels of compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, and a slight drop in food shortages as well as in trust in government. The weekly survey covers urban and rural Kenyan populations, as well as refugees, in cooperation with UNHCR. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/kenya/brief/monitoring-covid-19-impact-on-households-and-firms-in-kenya

UNHCR Burkina Faso successfully relocated about 1400 Malian refugees from Djibo to Goudoubo camp in Dori, where they will be accessible and better provided with assistance.

In 2020, 39.4 million persons of concern received COVID-19 assistance including access to protection services, shelter, health, and education. This includes over 8.5 million individuals who received cash assistance.

Burkina Faso - Région du Sahel : Les populations hôtes et déplacées internes partagent les bonnes pratiques d’un vivre-ensemble pacifique https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article102517

ACNUR y OIM aplaudieron hoy la iniciativa de Colombia de otorgar un estatuto de protección temporal de diez años a los venezolanos y venezolanas en el país. “Este valiente gesto humanitario sirve de ejemplo para la región y el resto del mundo. Es un gesto que cambia la vida de los 1,7 millones de personas venezolanas desplazadas que ahora se beneficiarán de una mayor protección, seguridad y estabilidad, mientras están fuera de su país”, destacó el Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados, Filippo Grandi, quien se encuentra actualmente en Colombia.

UNHCR and IOM today praised Colombia’s initiative to provide ten-year temporary protection status to Venezuelans in the country. More than half of Venezuelan population in Colombia lack regular status, affecting their ability to access essential services, protection and assistance. “This bold humanitarian gesture serves as an example for the region and the rest of the world. It is a life-changing gesture for the 1.7 million displaced Venezuelans who will now benefit from added protection, security and stability while they are away from home,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who is currently in Colombia.

UNHCR and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 03 February 2020, with the overall goal of ensuring refugees and other forcibly displaced can access vaccines on par with nationals. The MoU also looks at expanding coverage and quality of immunization services, promoting equity in access and uptake of vaccines, and strengthening health systems at community and primary care level.

The IKEA Foundation awards €30 million grant to the International Rescue Committee to support livelihoods development for urban refugees in East Africa. Today, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is announcing a new initiative with the IKEA Foundation in the form of a five-year, €30 million partnership focused on transforming livelihoods opportunities for urban refugees in East Africa. The large-scale initiative, called Refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for Livelihoods Development (Re:Build), will provide employment support to 20,000 refugees and other local community members living in Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda. East Africa hosts more than five million refugees from within and outside the region, with many living within rapidly growing cities such as Nairobi and Kampala. High levels of unemployment, lack of documentation and access to financial services, and skills and language gaps restrict livelihoods opportunities for this population, often forcing them to seek informal work and resort to lower wages and unsafe working conditions. With COVID-19 and the effects of climate change, these challenges have only been further compounded. Working with a diverse group of partners, Re:Build will build upon cutting-edge research to create opportunities for refugees and other local community members to start and grow businesses, find employment, and receive increased access to financial services. To achieve this, Re:Build will offer apprenticeships, business grants, mentorships, skills training and certification, and more. Through this inclusive, community-driven approach, Re:Build aims to serve as a model for future livelihoods efforts throughout East Africa and beyond. The IRC will partner with the Center for Global Development for the program’s research and advocacy work as well as to share key learnings. The program will also work closely with local and regional-based private partners, civil society organizations, city authorities, and refugee and community-led organizations to create lasting and meaningful change.

Despite an estimated 1.44 million refugees in urgent need of resettlement globally, less than 23,000 were resettled through UNHCR last year. These are the lowest refugee resettlement numbers UNHCR has witnessed in almost two decades. The drop stems from low quotas put forward by states, as well as the impact of COVID-19, which delayed departures and programmes.