Partnership between refugees and hosts shows dividends

A Zambian pilot project aimed at reducing poverty as well as friction between refugees and their local host communities has begun to show dividends.

The Zambia Initiative, launched two years ago, covers agriculture, health, education and infrastructure projects identified by the government and local communities.

According to Commissioner of Refugees Jacob Mphepo, the residents of Mayukwayukwa and Nangweshi refugee camps in Western province have helped their local communities in Kaoma, Senanga and Shang'ombo districts to produce 1,000 mt of maize, of which 560 mt was recently bought by the World Food Programme.

The partnership between communities and the refugee population has also led to the construction of three schools in and around Mayukwayukwa and Nangweshi.

"The objective of the programme is to improve the productive capacity of the host population to support the refugees, by using the potential of the refugees to become productive members of the community and ensure a better use of available resources," Mphepo said.

The cooperative venture, which is monitored and run at provincial, district and village levels, also involves the refugee population in its decision-making processes.

The five-year pilot project is expected to be replicated in other provinces, Mphepo said. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has helped to raise funds for the US $25 million programme.

Zambia is home to more than 200,000 refugees and hosts Africa's largest refugee camp, Meheba.