Canada gives Zambia $2.7 million

The government of Canada has given the Zambian government in partnership with United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) US$2.7 million for the implementation of the local integration program in favour of former Angolan refugees and Zambians.

In a press statement released Wednesday, Canadian High Commission Head of Office in Zambia, Mr Kumar Gupta, announced the contribution in the Zambian capital, Lusaka and said that his government was pleased to be associated with the support to the local integration programme – to benefit and enhance the quality of life for former Angolan refugees, Zambian citizens settling in the new resettlement areas and the host community in Western and North-Western Provinces of Zambia.

Mr Gupta said the Canadian Government attaches great importance to finding durable solutions for refugees, hence its support to the local integration programme, meant to find a lasting solution to former Angolan refugees who have opted to remain in Zambia. He commended the Zambian Government for its exemplary hospitality to refugees over the years, especially in seeking durable solutions for them. Mr Gupta described the local integration programme Zambia has embraced as a rare and exemplary initiative in Africa worth supporting by various co-operating partners, as it will bring a permanent solution to eligible former Angolan refugees. The Canadian Head of Office looked forward to the successful outcome of the local integration programme in Zambia.

UNHCR Representative in Zambia, Ms Laura Lo Castro, described the Canadian contribution as timely as it will help kick-start the implementation of the local integration programme, which has reached a critical stage. She described Canada as a key partner for UNHCR in protecting and assisting refugees, especially those in protracted situations.

“UNHCR needs the sustained support of its key partners to implement protection and assistance programmes in support to Government’s efforts, especially now at the onset of a critical phase of the local integration programme for former Angolan and Rwandan refugees. We are extremely grateful in particular for the support of the Government and people of Canada. This contribution highlights Canada’s continued commitment to durable solutions and demonstrates the true spirit of burden-sharing in this humanitarian endeavour. The contribution will benefit former refugees and Zambian people settling in the new resettlement schemes as well as the host community in areas around Meheba and Mayukwayukwa Refugee Settlements. I wish to assure the people of Canada that our office and our partners remain committed to ensure optimum utilization of the resources put at our disposal,” explained Ms Lo Castro.

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Ngosa Simbyakula, also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Canada for their generous support toward the local integration program in Zambia.

The Minister urged other co-operating partners to support the programs targeting former refugees and Zambian citizens. He also assured the international community of Government’s commitment to full accountability in the use of donated funds. The Minister announced that the local integration program, implemented jointly by the Government of Zambia and UNHCR, requires an estimated US$20 million to cover the needs of the three years of implementation (2014-2016). The Canadian funding is, so far, the very first and so much appreciated contribution towards the program.

The funding will support legal integration through paying for residence permits for the most vulnerable former refugees and rehabilitation of crucial social infrastructure (schools and health centres) in the areas designated for local integration. Furthermore, the funding will provide support to skills and small business development, start-up farms inputs to Heads of Households, creation of cooperatives, environmental protection, support to school feeding and trainings.

Zambia currently hosts over 53, 000 people of concern mainly from Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia, with the majority residing in the two settlements, while the rest are in urban areas or self-settled.