Protection and sustainable solutions for migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean route

In view of responding to the increasing needs and to the joint commitments taken at the AU-EU Summit in Abidjan, this Action will further complement the existing EUTF support, approved in February 2018, strengthening the governance of migration in the region and providing protection and sustainable solutions for migrants along the central Mediterranean route.

The Action will therefore further support the activities of UNHCR in providing international and emergency protection, basic and live-saving assistance, to refugees evacuated from Libya in the framework of the Evacuation Transit Mechanism (ETM) and facilitating the resettlement of those eligible as already foreseen in February 2018. Additionally, it will increase the number of migrants benefitting from protection and voluntary return while ensuring their sustainable and dignified reintegration in the frame of the EU-IOM Joint Initiative.

The Action aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which refers to “the right of migrants to return to their country of citizenship" and the obligations of states “to ensure that their returning nationals are duly received" and their commitment to ensure, including through international cooperation, “safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants regardless of migration status, of refugees and of displaced persons” (see also sub-goal 10.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals 10 on migration policies).

Main objectives

The overall objective of the Action is to contribute to strengthen the governance of migration in the region and provide protection and sustainable solutions for migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean route.

The specific objectives of the Action are the following:

Component 1 – UNHCR
Specific Objective 1: Provide emergency protection and life-saving assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR in the framework of the Evacuation Transit Mechanism (ETM).
Specific Objective 2: Provide support to resettlement and complementary pathways for persons in need of international protection in the framework of the ETM.
In order to continue the implementation of the ETM activities, this action tops up the support of the activities of UNHCR in Niger and possibly Burkina Faso previously approved by the EUTF in February 2018 under the action "Protection and sustainable solutions for migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean route". Activities under this component target primarily persons of concern to UNHCR, including refugees and asylum seekers as well as others eligible for international protection 4 in Niger and possibly Burkina Faso.

Component 2 - IOM
Specific Objective 1: Improve protection, provide assistance to migrants and communities and enable the assisted voluntary return of vulnerable and stranded migrants in target countries.
Specific Objective 2: Improve the reintegration of returning migrants and strengthen capacities to manage reintegration in a dignified and sustainable manner.
Specific Objective 3: Enable migrants or potential migrants to make informed decisions about the migratory journey and raise awareness of communities on migration.
Specific Objective 4: Strengthen migration data and communication on migratory flows, routes and trends, as well as on the needs and vulnerabilities of migrants in the targeted countries, in order to support evidence-based policies and programmes design.

Activities under this component will target all categories of returnees, including stranded migrants, irregular migrants, regular migrants, migrants in vulnerable conditions, such as victims of trafficking, elderly people, unaccompanied migrant children and migrants with health-related needs. Given the high needs in terms of return and reintegration, IOM is currently reviewing its approach in order to further increase and optimize the reintegration support provided under the ongoing EU-IOM Joint Initiative. The number of migrants that are additionally targeted by the Action will be further defined during the contracting process.

Contracts

UNHCR and IOM

EUR 125 000 000

Protection and sustainable solutions for migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean route

Action Fiche

Addendum

Project studies

Cartographies et profils socioéconomiques des communautés de retour au:

Burkina Faso

Côte d'Ivoire

Cameroon

The Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Mali

Mauritania

Nigeria

Senegal

Other

Bi-annual reintegration report (2017-2019)