Protection, Assistance & Durable Solutions for Populations Displaced by Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a number of complex and long-standing displacement crises, driven, among others, by armed conflict and political instability. The region hosts over 7 million refugees and 28 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom face prolonged displacement and limited access to basic rights and services. Women, children, and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, and host communities often struggle to provide support due to limited resources and infrastructure.

This action aims to address conflict-fuelled forced displacement through regional approaches in 12 target countries across West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa. It particularly intends to provide targeted solutions to displacement caused by the conflicts in CAR, eastern DRC, coastal West African countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo) and Nigeria, by focusing on refugees, IDPs, and refugee returnees, as well as host communities. It will provide assistance to CAR refugees in the DRC and Chad; DRC refugees in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda; and refugees and IDPs in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo of the Sahel crisis and its spill-over. It will also provide assistance to IDPs in DRC and in Nigeria.

With a total EU contribution of EUR 90 million, the initiative focuses on both humanitarian needs and long-term development by promoting resilience, self-reliance, and durable solutions for refugees, IDPs, returnees, and host communities.

Scope and objectives

Forcibly displaced people in Sub-Saharan Africa are often excluded from long-term development programmes, face legal and institutional barriers to inclusion, and are overly dependent on humanitarian aid. They lack access to services, livelihoods, and protection, and host communities are under pressure.

What the action will do:

Improve access to education, healthcare, housing, water, documentation, and GBV services for displaced and host populations.
Support livelihoods and income-generating activities, vocational training, and inclusion in green and climate-resilient economies.
Promote legal and policy reforms to include refugees and IDPs in national development plans and protect their rights.
Facilitate voluntary return and local integration, including access to land, basic services, and reconciliation processes.
Strengthen the capacity of local and national authorities and civil society to manage displacement and deliver durable solutions.
Promote social cohesion and conflict prevention between displaced and host populations through inclusive, community-led initiatives.
Ensure gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive approaches in all activities.

Results

By the end of the programme, forcibly displaced populations and host communities (particularly women in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, and children) should have enhanced access to basic services and employment.

The local integration of forcibly displaced populations will be supported in their host communities.

When conditions are suitable, the programme will also support the voluntary return of forcibly displaced populations.

About the project

In Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, the EU implements the programme alongside four UN agencies (with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as the lead organisation, together with the International Organisation for Migration, UNICEF, and the UN World Food Programme). They provide a joint response in the framework of a common action plan. The EU diplomatic delegation in Côte d’Ivoire is the project lead and coordinator of the other involved EU delegations as well as the contractual follow-up with implementation partners. Each EU delegation is in charge of national implementation and ensuring the project’s complementarity with the broader EU portfolio.

In Chad, Caritas CH is the implemening partner. The EU co-funds this project alongside the AFD and participates in the Steering Committee. This project was designed as a follow-up to a previous EUTF project (DIZA-Sud) that ended in October 2023.

In northeastern Nigeria, the implementing partners are a consortium of UN agencies (with the IOM as lead entity alongside UNHabitat and the UNHCR). Their activities cover the states of Yobe, Adamawa, and Kano. In the northwest, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) addresses IDP and host community needs in Sokoto State. The EU is in charge of the follow-up and coordination of the two projects as a single EU ‘Durable Solutions’ approach in Nigeria.

In Rwanda, the UNHCR is the implementing partner. The EU Delegation to Rwanda is financing the ETM phase III with EUR 11 M and will closely monitor implementation.

Implementing Partners

Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo: 4 UN agencies (UNHCR, IOM, UNICEF and WFP).
Chad: Caritas CH.
Nigeria: 3 UN agencies (IOM, UN Habitat and UNHCR) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC). EU’s role on the coordination & synergies with other EU funded actions implemented in the benefiting States. Assuring that ‘one UN approach’ is applied with inclusivity towards DRC.

Funding instrument

NDICI – Global Europe