SD4T

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Refugee Inclusion

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Rwanda has been hosting refugees for several decades. The protracted refugee situation and the country’s overall economic situation put pressure on the host country Rwanda. Moreover, while refugees have the legal right to access work and education, they face various obstacles for economic inclusion and access to markets. There is a general lack of quality business development services for existing MSMEs in refugee camps and refugees’ and host communities’ access to career guidance and job-matching services is very limited. Therefore, SD4T supports the GoR in stepping up its efforts for local inclusion and graduation of refugees out of humanitarian aid, reflected in the Joint Strategy on Economic Inclusion of Refugees and Host Communities in Rwanda by the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The programme places a specific focus on the improvement of self-reliance of refugees and the host population in Kirehe District. This includes measures aimed at enhancing protection services for refugees, such as access to legal aid and mental and psycho-social support. In addition, interventions aim at promoting the socio-economic integration of refugees and their host communities. For example, access for MSMEs in selected value chains to business development services in Mahama Camp and Kirehe are enhanced and active labour market measures offered in the Mahama Camp and surrounding host communities are strengthened from a gender perspective.