AfDB, UNHCR partner on addressing displaced communities in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) group and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) are partnering to address forced displacements in Africa.

Both organisations reached an agreement on Friday in one of the events marking the closure of the Africa investment forum, market days 2024, in Rabat, Morocco.

The event had ‘Leveraging innovative partnership for scale’ as its theme.

Officials said the AfDB and UNHCR partnership aims to unlock the economic potential of displaced communities and promote sustainable development.

“We need to be bolder and work together to make a lasting impact. It’s not about competition or visibility, but about changing lives,” Hassatou N’Sele, AfDB vice-president for finance and chief financial officer, said.

“The partnership will focus on renewable energy, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and financial services to support refugees and displaced persons.

“By combining humanitarian aid with long-term development finance, the AfDB and UNHCR aim to create sustainable solutions for these communities.’’

Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for refugees, said Africa is at a transformative moment with an urgent need to approach forced displacement comprehensively.

“The business case is clear: refugees and IDPs must be part of the economy of the country or community that welcomes them,” he said.

Mazou said by working together, the AfDB and UNHCR could help create a brighter future and promote sustainable development across the continent.

DISPLACEMENT IN AFRICA

There are now an estimated 40 million forcibly displaced Africans, comprising internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and asylum seekers.

More than 77 percent of the 40 million are internally displaced within their countries.

According to the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), an additional 3.2 million Africans were displaced due to conflict over the past year.

Data from the ACSS ranked Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, South Sudan, and Nigeria as the top five countries on the continent with the most displaced persons.