The location of the United Republic of Tanzania on the east coast of Africa and its political stability in relation to its neighbors has always exposed it to a variety of migratory flows – as a country of origin, transit and destination.
Border traffic is significant, with eight neighboring countries to the north, west and south and a long coastline to the east with many natural ports. Migration to, from and within countries produces a complex and ever-changing picture. This trend has been dominated by large movements of migrants from rural to urban areas, large movements of refugees to northwest Tanzania from neighboring countries, international labor migration, and irregular migration.
Tanzania is one of the eight pilot countries for the “Delivering as One” United Nations reform programme. Delivering as one reform involves streamlining programs, focusing on areas where the United Nations can have an impact, reducing duplication of effort, and making more effective use of human and financial resources. As other pilot countries, the United Nations in Tanzania is constantly testing new working methods and tools. As a related organization to the United Nations, IOM operates within the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP II) 2016-2021, a single plan for all United Nations funds, programs and agencies in Tanzania, which succeeded the United Nations Development Program (2011-2016) which was completed From in 2016. IOM Tanzania’s primary focus is on active delivery within the Social Protection and Refugee Program working groups in the areas listed below. More information about each region is available in the “Programs” section.
Humanitarian support for refugees in western Tanzania
Since April 2015, more than 124,000 Burundians have fled to Tanzania as a result of political instability. As the lead transport agency, IOM has transported more than 100,000 refugees by land and water to refugee camps, in accordance with the Tanzania Government’s Camp Policy. Once overcrowding in the Nyarugusu refugee camp reached a critical level, with a population of more than 150,000 people residing in a camp designated for 50,000 residents, the international community worked with the government to relocate the refugees to two new locations, Nduta and Mandila. The move to Nduta commenced on October 5, 2015 and the move to Mandali began in January 2016.
IOM activities under this project are funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the European Commission’s Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) and by the Government of Norway through the United Nations OneFund. This project is being implemented jointly with the Government of Tanzania and UN organizations (with comprehensive coordination from UNHCR) as part of the Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan. IOM intends to continue to facilitate the timely and dignified transportation of Burundian refugees.
Resettlement
The United Republic of Tanzania is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and for the past 40 years has hosted one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. As of January 1, 2016, a total of October 28, 2015, a total of 191,063 refugees in the region were hosted in three camps in Kigoma District in northwest Tanzania: Nyarugusu refugee camp, Nduta refugee camp and Mtendeli refugee camp. The largest number of residents in the camps are newly arrived refugees from Burundi as a result of the influx that began in April 2015 and continues.
The refugee resettlement program targets the protracted number of Congolese refugees who have been residing in the Nyarugusu refugee camp for more than 20 years. Approximately 30,000 individuals are scheduled to be referred to USRAP over the next five to seven years. To help with this process, the International Organization for Migration:
a) Medical examination of refugees accepted for resettlement.
b) Provides logistical arrangements and travel assistance for refugees scheduled to leave for the resettlement country
c) Organize cultural orientation courses for refugees accepted for resettlement at the request of IOM Nairobi and RSC Africa
mixed migration
The Mixed Migration Unit works on issues related to mixed migration flows across the Tanzania region. Mixed migration flows are complex population movements including refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants, smuggled migrants, unaccompanied minors, and other migrants. These are characterized as regular (documented) and undocumented (unregistered) immigrants. The unit’s projects and activities to assist these individuals are as follows:
a) Equipment and infrastructure support for the Government of Tanzania
In response to the mass deportation of illegal migrants that occurred under “Operation Kimbunga” in 2013, IOM collaborated with the government to register more than 22,282 irregular migrants in Kigoma District in 2014 and 2015. IOM facilitated the procurement of electronic registration equipment and register More than 22,282 irregular migrants in the Kigoma region of western Tanzania between 2014 and 2015. The project, which was funded by the UK’s Department for International Development, ensured that registered migrants would receive a two-year protected stay in the country. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) plans to conduct a verification process of migrants registered under this program and to extend the electronic registration process to other areas of Tanzania.
b) Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) for Migrants
In Tanzania, the International Organization for Migration collaborated with the government to facilitate the return of stranded migrants to their countries of origin and to assist in the process of reintegration into their communities. IOM Tanzania has assisted emergency response and rehabilitation for 3,216 migrants so far, and in 2016, plans to assist 500 more migrants. The AVRR program is funded by the Government of Japan and the European Union.
c) Workshop activities and capacity building
In cooperation with the government and with funding from the European Union, IOM organized capacity building events to raise awareness and train law enforcement officials and the media on aspects of mixed migration flows.
d) awareness activities
Awareness campaigns are organized to increase public awareness of the complexities of irregular migration and to enhance understanding of migrants’ rights.
Migration and health
IOM’s migration health programs include activities in the Partnership on Health and Mobility in Southern and Eastern Africa (PHAMESA) program and the provision of migration health assessment services, travel assistance, health promotion and migrant assistance.
The PHAMESA program offers a holistic approach to public health, addressing health concerns that particularly affect migrants and mobile populations with a focus on HIV prevention, treatment, care, and related conditions such as tuberculosis and reproductive health. PHAMESA aims to improve migration health management and reduce migrants’ vulnerability to HIV by responding to their health needs throughout the migration process. Within the framework of the PHAMESA project, IOM is a recognized partner in key coordination structures such as:
a) Technical Working Group (TWG) on TB in the Mining Sector
b) TWG of the Tanzanian AIDS Committee on HIV in Mining
c) National Interministerial Coordination Group on Ebola Prevention
Apart from conducting health assessments for resettled refugees, since 2005 IOM has also been providing tuberculosis screening to individuals applying for a UK visa for a period longer than six months at the request of the British immigration authorities in London (in coordination with the Department of Health).
Anti-trafficking
Irregular movements of migrants from the Horn of Africa, through Tanzania, to South Africa and beyond have increased over the past years. Tanzania has been identified as a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficked people. The country is characterized by large movements of migrants from rural to urban areas and many of these internal migrants are at risk of being trafficked. In Tanzania, IOM’s anti-trafficking work focuses on capacity building and awareness raising activities with the Tanzanian government, civil society organizations and the general public. Its activities are as follows:
a) Capacity building and technical assistance to the Tanzanian Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons
b) Assisting trafficking victims through partnerships with local NGOs
c) Training of trainers on child trafficking and providing assistance services to victims
d) Mapping of service providers and referral networks
Migration and / for development
Migration for development has always been the strategic focus of the work of the International Organization for Migration, to maximize the positive relationship that exists between migration and development. The program aims to contribute to the international community’s goal of harnessing the development potential of migration, to benefit host communities and migrants.
One of the major development challenges facing Tanzania and many other African countries is the loss of valuable human resources associated with high migratory flows. This process affected many key sectors such as health and education, and contributed to a huge human resource gap in terms of skilled professionals. Globally, among governments, agencies and other actors involved in development issues, there is a growing tendency to recognize the human resource gap as a case of brain drain and to explore ways for diasporas to contribute to development in their home countries.
The IOM’s Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) Initiative was established over a decade ago to address the human resource gap by engaging diasporas in short-term assignments in their home countries and through the transfer and exchange of knowledge and skills. The first diaspora conference was held in Tanzania in 2014. The following projects are currently being implemented in close cooperation with the Government of Tanzania:
a) Strengthening the migration evidence base for the development of Tanzania. This project is funded by the International Organization for Migration Development Fund and aims to improve the evidence base on migration through the creation of a national migration profile and the creation of an online portal for diasporas.
b) Support the government in formulating strategic interventions towards effective and sustainable management of labor migration and information exchange in Tanzania.
African Capacity Building Center
In 2009, the African Capacity Building Center (ACBC) was established in Moshi to enhance the migration management capacity of African countries, enhance inclusive migration governance and facilitate a variety of migration and border management projects and trainings. ACBC is hosted by the Tanzania Regional Migration Training Academy (TRITA) and this unique partnership has benefited in terms of joint training programs and workshops as well as regional support. Between 2009 and 2015, ACBC trained 3,890 immigration and border management officials from 47 different African countries in 158 training courses.
CONTACTS
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Slipway Road, Off Chole Road, Plot No. 1365, Msasani Peninsula P.O.Box 9270, Dar es Salaam
Email:
iomdar@iom.int
Phone Numbers:
+255-(0)689-103-096
+255-(0)685-701-941
Global Website:
www.iom.int