MRF NAIROBI BULLETIN

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1 MRF NAIROBI BULLETIN INSIDE THIS ISSUE: KENYA HOLDS FIRST NATIONAL CONSULTA- TION ON MIGRATION HEALTH 1 V O L U M E 5, I S S U E 1 1 M A Y KENYA HOLDS FIRST NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON MIGRATION HEALTH and partners this consultation will act as a concrete stepping stone for ensuring we make a real impact on securing quality health care for all those who reside within Kenya. RWANDA: IOM HANDS OVER START-UP KITS TO 953 RETURNEES TANZANIA: IOM ASSITS EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT ONE- STOP-BORDER POST SYSTEM SOMALIA: BUILDING SOMALI S MIGRATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY KENYA:IOM SUPPORTS PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES (YOUTH) TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE REGIONAL: IOM STEPS UP EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PROTECTION CROSS- BORDER VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING The National Consultation on Migration Health was attended by various ministries, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, migrant representatives and embassies. Dr James Gesami, Assistant Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, acted as the Guest of Honour (front row, Centre) IOM 2011 The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the World Health Organization, and partners, last month hosted a National Consultation on Migration Health to reach a common consensus on a way forward for securing quality and equitable health services for migrants and mobile populations in Kenya. Migrants and mobile populations face many obstacles in accessing essential health care due to a number of factors, these include irregular immigration status, language barriers, a lack of migrant-inclusive health policies, and geographical inaccessibility of services. Such disparities are impacting upon the well-being of migrants and host communities, and undermine the realization of Kenya s health goals, such as preventing HIV and containing tuberculosis. The National Consultation on Migration Health, held in Mombasa from 4-5 May 2011, also served as a platform to operationalize the World Health Assembly Resolution Health of Migrants, a resolution that calls upon Member States to ensure equitable access to health services. Speaking at the consultation, Dr. Abdoulie Jack, the World Health Organization Country Representative, called for multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing migration health issues. The health of migrants is by no means just the business of the health sector, or an agency like the World Health Organization, indeed, the management of migration health requires close cooperation and collaboration among sectors, and related institutions involved in the migration process, he stated. With strong commitment, accountability and coordination from the Kenyan Government and partners this consultation will act as a concrete stepping stone for ensuring we make a real impact on securing quality health care for all those who reside within Kenya. International Organization for Migration Mission with Regional Functions For Eastern Africa, Church Road, Off Rhapta Road, Westlands PO Box Nairobi, KENYA Phone: /174 Fax: piunairobi@iom.int Website: I want to urge all of you to think of migrants and mobile populations as people who deserve to live healthy lives among us. We must welcome and accommodate them in our laws, policies, and health care systems. We are a country that runs ahead of others, and it is our duty to show strong leadership in the area of migration health, states Honorable Beth Mugo EGH, MP. Ashraf El Nour, the Regional Representative for the International Organization for Migration added: With strong commitment, accountability and coordination from the Kenyan Government The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and partners, will continue to push recommendations formed at the National Consultation, including the mainstreaming of migration health in all legislation, policies, programmes and strategies, supporting the development of a national forum for coordinating migration health, and strengthening partnerships for developing and implementing a national plan of action.

2 P A G E 2 RWANDA: IOM HANDS OVER LIVELIHOOD START-UP KITS TO 953 RETURNEES Eastern Province of Rwanda. As an extension of efforts made in the first phase, the second phase aims to enhance socio-economic reintegration of Rwanda returnees and other vulnerable community members, through enhancing capacity of local government response structures and strengthening local institutional capacity for technical vocational and skills provision as well as direct support in agriculture productivity, livestock development and small scale community development projects. IOM will expand on the achievements of the first phase which included a crucial needs assessment that established baseline data on returnees in 10 target districts in the Western and Southern provinces. IOM Hands over livelihood start-up kits as part of a reintegration effort for Rwandan returnees and other vulnerable community members IOM 2011 Rwanda s Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), H.E. General Marcel Gatsinzi and the Head of Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Didacus Obunga, last month handed over livelihood start-up kits to 953 Rwandan returnees and other vulnerable community members in Nyrunguru District, Southern Province. Both returnees and community members were provided with technical skills training to enhance their socio-economic reintegration opportunities back into their communities. The project titled Enhancing socio-economic reintegration opportunities for Rwandan returned refugees and other vulnerable groups is funded by the Government of Japan. The returnees received skills training in carpentry, mechanics, masonry, welding, hair dressing, cooking, tailoring, knitting, fishing, decoration, bakery, shoe and soap making, as well as in tomato and potato farming. During phase one of the project, IOM supported 2,016 selected beneficiaries in 10 priority districts in the Southern and Western Provinces with initial project funds of US$ 2 million from the Government of Japan. Based on expressed needs, half of beneficiaries received direct assistance for livestock training and others received skills training. The project has strengthened the capacity of some 78 skills training institutions through training of trainers to enable them provide training to beneficiaries and building partnership with public-private sectors. Key achievements of the first phase of the programme was the enhancement of service delivery by Rwanda s Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR) and some targeted District Social Welfare Officers. A database on returnees was also created. IOM trained central and local government staff in the identification of beneficiaries and development of monitoring and follow up procedures and mechanisms for a sustainable reintegration of returnees. Since February 2011, IOM has signed partnership agreements with 78 skills training service providers to train, monitor, and coach beneficiaries in order to improve their livelihoods through technical skills training and other assistance towards creation of income generation activities and self-employment opportunities. IOM s project will continue adopting a collaborative approach for the implementation of this project by working hand in hand with the line ministry and other relevant government counterparts, target districts and communities to ensure the sustainable delivery of project results. IOM has since February 2011 signed partnership agreements with 78 skills training service providers who train, monitor, and coach beneficiaries. After the successful completion of phase one of this project, IOM Rwanda received an additional USD 1 million from the Government of Japan (GoJ) to implement a second phase of improving livelihoods through skills training and direct assistance to 1,000 beneficiaries in five additional districts in 2011 in the Some of the returnees have received carpentry training

3 P A G E 3 TANZANIA: IOM ASSISTS EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT ONE STOP BORDER POST SYSTEMS One-Stop Border-Post. To assist the EAC countries mainstream migration and related issues, IOM has established a migration desk officer within the EAC Secretariat. In addition, a Regional Advisory Committee was established as a technical arm to advise EAC Chiefs of Immigration on the implementation of the migration aspects of the EAC Common Market Protocol. Mr. Ashraf El Nour, the IOM Regional Representative for East and Central Africa gives remarks during the official opening of the workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania IOM 2011 A major step needed to put into practice the East African Community s (EAC) regional integration agenda took place with the coming together of 25 senior East African immigration and customs officers for a four-day technical workshop that took place last month in the Tanzanian city of Arusha. This is the first time that immigration officials and customs officials from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda have jointly discussed the advantage of inter-agency coordination and cooperation, cross border information sharing and networking, as part of an integrated border management system that will lead to the implementation of the One-Stop-Border-Post System. One of main aims of the EAC s Common Market Protocol is to fast-track the free movement of persons, labour, goods and capital amongst its members, a target that will be addressed through the One-Stop-Border-Post System. The system will allow travellers to exit one country and enter another in a single stop by complying with all required border controls in a single joint facility. With the establishment of the One-Stop-Border-Post, IOM hopes to see a fast and efficient border management system practically implemented at all the major EAC country border crossing points. This will make a big difference for migrants who frequent these borders and create a positive experience for first time users, said Ashraf El Nour, IOM s Regional Representative for East and Central Africa. The bill to establish the One-Stop-Border-Post system in East Africa is currently under review by the EAC Legislative Assembly. IOM s Regional Office for East and Central Africa has been actively involved in assisting the East African Community Secretariat to operationalize the Common Market Protocol which came into force in July The One-Stop-Border-Post is expected to fast-track movement across the borders. It will also boost trade within the EAC. The workshop was funded by the French Embassy in Tanzania and Trade Mark East Africa, a multi-donor agency supporting East African integration. Currently, all countries within the EAC have their own individual immigration, customs, health offices and border police post procedures. The new system will harmonize all immigration steps and effectively save time and money spent at border crossing points. A pilot project to implement the One-Stop-Border-System is currently under discussion for the Kenya/Tanzania border point at Namanga and the Kenya/Uganda border point at Busia. The One-Stop-Border-Post concept is based on the successful operating system at the Zimbabwe/Zambia border point at Chirundu, which was opened as the first of its kind in Africa on 5 December, 2009 managed by the Secretariat of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. Immigration and customs officials from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda pose for a group photograph IOM 2011 The Arusha workshop, organized by IOM, the EAC Secretariat and the African Capacity Building Centre (ACBC), assisted the participants to identify their roles in the implementation of the

4 P A G E 4 SOMALIA: BUILDING SOMALIA S MIGRATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY Somalia s porous borders allow for trans-national crimes which include trafficking in humans, smuggling of goods, arms trafficking and terrorism, making the country a transit for illegal trade to the Middle East and Europe. Enhancing border and immigration control not only prevents or minimizes such risks but will greatly assist to make travels within Somalia more orderly. Hence, the great need to build the capacity and strengthen the service delivery of immigration and security officers and their supporting institutions, which come into daily contact with migrants at border regions and ports-of-entry. Participants at the Somalia planning meeting in Djibouti IOM 2011 A series of planning meetings of some 40 senior immigration officials from the Ministry of Interior, Finance and Planning, Civil Aviation as well as the Ports Authority from Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia was conducted in Djibouti City, Djibouti in May The authorities from each zone met with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from 19 to 25 May, 2010 to discuss how to build their capacity in migration management in their regions as well as to jointly analyze the findings of a recently completed IOM needs assessment on ports-of-entry and immigration offices, and to practically plan specific programme interventions until the end of the year. The workshop successfully produced a more specific work plan, detailing specific support required such as the provision of equipment including office furniture, desktop computers and document examination kits for border and immigration control as well as of immigration officers on donated equipment and technical processes. IOM is implementing its Japanese funded, ten-month project entitled Capacity Building for Somalia by adopting a three-pronged approach, in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia, with the aim of supporting the Somali authorities and people through improved migration management capacities. IOM in close cooperation and consultation with local authorities implement the programme goals through skills transfer training, and improved livelihoods through market driven and sustainable job creation as well as vocational training programmes and Diaspora investments. KENYA: IOM SUPPORTS PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES (YOUTH) TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE IOM continues to engage the pastoralist host communities in Dadaab in livelihood activities in an effort to strengthen the youth s capacity to adapt to climate change. IOM s efforts are geared towards minimizing resource-based conflict among pastoralist communities in Northern Kenya and strengthening capacities to adapt to the ever increasing direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Livelihood interventions that are supported by IOM with funding from the Government of Japan specifically target the youth who are often involved in armed violence as they engage in livestock rustling and compete for dwindling natural resources. Building on earlier migration management initiatives supported by IOM in Somalia in 2010, which included for example the installation and equipping of the Bosasso Airport Immigration Department booths and the installation of the Personal Identification and Registration System (PIRS), as well as the establishment and renovation of an immigration training centre; new will establishing an integrated network at key ports-of-entry and immigration headquarters for efficient communication and sharing of PIRS data. The authorities have communicated to IOM, that they are interested in strengthening their institutions such as the Department of Immigration, Civil Aviation and the Port Authority through the secondment of Diaspora experts to ensure closer collaboration among the different ministries for better border and Youths from the host community training to be mechanics

5 In close collaboration with the host communities in Dadaab, IOM has established a hybrid energy center and a market center. Apart from supplying renewable energy to the adjacent market, the energy center also has an IT facility that offers four computer classes per day to up to 16 students per class. The center has created jobs for some 3 youths in Dadaab. Additionally, IOM is working with the youth to establish skills training centers to help build their capacity. Students are receiving skills development in carpentry, masonry, vehicle mechanics, and hair dressing. Up to 60 beneficiaries from the vocational training have received business start up kits, to enable them establish and operate their own businesses. Other income generating activities include a car wash, barber shops, maize mills, basketry and bead work. REGIONAL: IOM STEPS UP EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PROTECTION FOR CROSS BORDER VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IOM Kenya is currently implementing a regional project whose aim is to enhance the protection of cross border victims of trafficking in the East Africa region. Within this framework, IOM has conducted three workshops targeting border communities with the aim of increasing their capacity to identify and provide assistance to victims in their respective regions. The workshops also provided an opportunity for identifying partners in a bid to strengthen the referrals for appropriate assistance. The first workshop was held in March 2011 in Migori and drew participants from Kuria, Nyatike and Migori in view of the proximity to the Isebania border point of Kenya/Tanzania. In May 2011, IOM conducted a workshop in Malaba targeting communities along the Kenya/Uganda border point. In June 2011, IOM Nairobi in collaboration with IOM Dar-es-Salaam conducted a workshop in Tarime District with a focus on the communities in Tanzania who live close to the border point of Serare (Tanzania/Kenya). Tanzanian and Ugandan women are regularly enticed to cross the border into Kenya with promises of well paying job opportunities but end up in bars and hotels where they are forced to provide cheap labor and commercial sex services. All the three workshops brought together participants from government ministries and departments including Immigration, Gender and Children, Police, Provincial Administration as well as civil society organizations and the media. Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of human trafficking, identification of victims, direct assistance victim assistance. During the group work sessions, participants had the opportunity of mapping out the available services and resources available in their respective areas of operation for purposes of referring the cases appropriately for the relevant services. P A G E 5 During the discussions, the trends in the region emerged and the participants highlighted distinct trends across the Kenya/ Tanzania and Kenya/Uganda borders. It was noted that Tanzanian and Ugandan women are regularly enticed to cross the border into Kenya with promises of well paying job opportunities but only to end up in bars and hotels where they are forced to provide cheap labor and commercial sex services. Faced with threats, physical abuse and other forms of enslavement, these women find it difficult to leave these exploitative situations especially without alternative livelihoods in their countries of origin. The tobacco industry in Kenya (Migori town) attracts men and women from Tanzania- especially during the harvesting season. Some men and women are therefore lured into Kenya under the promise of employment in the tobacco farms but on arrival are forced into labor and/or sexual exploitation. These trends indicate the extent of cross border trafficking along the Kenya/Tanzania border point. Under age girls from Tanzania are trafficked through the areas surrounding Muhuru Bay (Kenya/Tanzania border point) into Migori and subjected to domestic servitude while women and girls from Migori are lured to other urban centers and subjected to domestic servitude. Harmful cultural practices e.g. forced/ early marriages and female genital mutilation are a common practice among the Kuria community along the Kenya/Tanzania border and this fuels a demand which in turns contributes to child trafficking. In May 2011, a seven year old girl was abducted from Tarime and trafficked to Nyamira District in Kisii (Kenya) for sale (Daily Nation, 11 th May, 2011 ). The Children s Department in the Ministry for Gender and Social Development (Kenya) conducted a rescue operation for minors who had been trafficked to Tarime and subjected to forced labour in agricultural farms. These trends indicate the extent of cross border trafficking along the Kenya/Tanzania border point. Abductions were also reported from Kuria (Kenya) to Musoma (Tanzania) for the purpose of organ removal by witchdoctors popularly known as omorogi. International trafficking was also mentioned whereby a young girl was lured from Migori to Nakuru and eventually to Mombasa by a German man who subjected her to perform sexual acts for pornographic films. This project funded through IOM s internal funding facility and has provided IOM an opportunity to train communities along the border areas thereby strengthening their capacity to identify and provide assistance to cross border victims of trafficking.

6 P A G E 6 MRF NAIROBI WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DONORS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE FEATURED IN THIS MONTH S NEWSLETTER AND WITH WHOSE SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMMES HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE International Organization for Migration Mission with Regional Functions For Eastern Africa, Church Road, Off Rhapta Road. Westlands PO Box Nairobi, KENYA Phone: /174 Fax: piunairobi@iom.int Website: