Rwanda 
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Facts and Figures
Latest News Overview Migration ActivitiesRwanda has experienced several waves of displacement, most significantly after the 1994 genocide. Fifteen years after the genocide of 1994, Rwanda has been achieving constant economic growth in recent years, despite social and economic challenges. The UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are 72,530 Rwandan refugees outside of Rwanda, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while 11,790 have returned as of January 2009. Many refugees returned in the peaceful years following the 1994 genocide; however, a large proportion of refugees decided to stay in exile and today form strong Diaspora networks especially in French-speaking countries in Europe and North America. In October 2009, the Government of Rwanda and UNHCR agreed to work toward resolving the country's protracted refugee problem by establishing a roadmap for enacting the cessation clause for all Rwandan refugees by the end of 2011, which would acknowledge that international refugee protection is no longer required, withdrawing their refugee status and ending related rights and benefits. This is expected to impact Rwandan refugees still residing in neighboring countries by increasing return rate to Rwanda. The Government of Rwanda has achieved a number of decisive steps in the reconstruction and reconciliation processes of the country and its people. However, much remains to be done in regard to socio-economic reintegration of returnees in rural areas. In addition, Rwanda hosts thousands of refugees, mainly from the DRC. The relatively strong economy in the capital city, Kigali, has also attracted numerous economic migrants from the region. IOM has currently a growing presence in Rwanda and is encouraged by the Government of Rwanda to increase its presence. IOM’s main focus in the country is on building the capacity of the government in migration management (particularly border control issues) and in migration and development (via links with the diaspora). Movement, Emergency and Post-Crisis Migration Management Refugee Resettlement Programme. IOM Rwanda provides assistance to non-nationals who have been recognized and protected as refugees in Rwanda and who are seeking resettlement in third countries (United States of America, Canada, Australia and Europe). Working in close collaboration with IOM Nairobi and UNHCR in Rwanda, IOM Rwanda facilitates the movement of mainly Congolese refugees who have been approved for resettlement to third countries. The resettlement process encompasses three key stages: Health Assessment, Cultural Orientation and Travel Facilitation. Project
Donor
Migration for Development (MIDA) in Africa for Great Lakes. The Rwandan Government has been a strong and active partner of IOM’s “Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) – Great Lakes region” programme. Since 2002 this programme, which is funded by the Belgium Development Cooperation Agency and also encompasses activities in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is jointly implemented in partnership with the Rwanda General Diaspora Directorate within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINAFFET) in Rwanda, which hosts the national MIDA coordination office following the handover from the Ministry of Labour and Public Service in 2009. In its fourth phase, the MIDA Great Lakes programme is supporting selected institutions in the key development sectors of health, education, and rural development by funding three-years capacity building projects for these institutions with the strong involvement of the Diaspora (For more information visit: www.midagrandlacs.org. Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) for Rwanda Health Professionals. In May 2010, the Minister of Health and the IOM Director General agreed to explore the idea of a Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) type programme for Rwanda, in order to mobilize health professionals from the diaspora to assist with direct service provision as well as training for different cadres in various health disciplines in-country. Both partners agreed on the need to conduct a scoping mission by IOM officials to Rwanda, for further discussions with the Ministry of Health to identify potential areas for joint action with particular focus on a possible MIDA Health programme. In a follow-up to the meeting and subsequent request for assistance, IOM expressed its commitment to work with the Government of Rwanda and the Ministry of Health, and sent an exploratory mission to Rwanda. The needs assessment mission to Rwanda carried out by IOM’s Regional Office in Nairobi on 17-19 January 2011 and its recommendations form the basis for the immediate interventions in the project proposal. The project funding is being processed, and that will ultimately result in consequent development of a larger programme. Donor
Enhancement of Socio-economic Opportunities to Facilitate Reintegration of Rwandan Returned Refugees and Vulnerable Groups, including Community Development Support - Phase II. As an extension of efforts made in the first phase (2010), this second phase aims to enhance socio-economic reintegration of Rwanda returnees and other vulnerable community members, through enhancing capacity of local and central government response institutions and strengthening local training institutions capacity for technical vocational and skills provision as well as direct support in livestock development and small scale community development projects to the target beneficiaries in up to 5 additional districts in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. IOM has further worked closely with and all relevant national counterparts at district and community levels in regards to the identification of the beneficiaries in the Eastern province to ensure returnees’ needs are well targeted with an understanding of the needs of the community into which they wish to fully reintegrate themselves into. The lessons learned from the first phase showed that there is also a need to support small scale community projects in order to meet the needs of returnees’ communities. This project entailed the following five components:
Donor
Enhancement of Socio-economic Opportunities for the Reintegration of Rwandan Returned Refugees and Other Vulnerable Groups 2010. IOM has strong experience globally and in the region to facilitate the return and reintegration of refugees in collaboration with UNHCR and local partners. Through discussions with the Rwanda Government, especially the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), IOM identified a particular gap within the response to returnees with regard to their socio-economic reintegration, specifically in terms of skills and vocational training. The project aimed at strengthening the capacity of the counterpart ministry and local government response structures and other relevant national counterparts to manage returnee data collection and analysis as well as the capacity of local training institutions to provide marketable skills training to 2,000 returnees and other vulnerable individuals and to promote other alternative livelihoods opportunities.IOM has therefore enhanced socio-economic reintegration opportunities for 2,000 returnees, through institutions providing technical skills training. This project entailed the following components:
Enhancing Linkages between the Rwanda Government and Diaspora to Promote Development and Investment 2009-2010. IOM has fully completed a pilot project funded by IOM’s internal development fund in 2009 with the objective of enhancing linkages between the Rwandan government and its diaspora to promote development and investment. The project was implemented in close partnership with the Directorate General for Diaspora in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to enhance its communication and collaboration with the Rwandan diaspora in Belgium. The overall objective of the project intended to create an effective and efficient communication link between the Diaspora Directorate General and the Rwandan diaspora in Belgium in order to encourage members of the Rwandan diaspora to contribute to the development of their country by way of remittances, transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills, as well as promoting investment in Rwanda. The project involved collecting data on the skills, capacities and the needs of the Rwandan diaspora. The information has facilitated the creation of an interactive website that provides information on investment and employment opportunities in Rwanda, for the Rwandans in the diaspora. Projects
Building Capacity for Migration Management in the Great Lakes Region: Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania. During 2008-2009, IOM implemented a Japanese TICAD-funded project to enhance the border management capacity of Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The project was implemented through a combination of national and regional components. The component included provision of border management assessments, legislative, procedural and travel document reviews as well as border infrastructure improvements at several key border sites, supported with on-site training. The main achievements with regard to Rwanda were:
A second phase of the same project funded by Japan (Supplementary Budget) is being implemented in Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi. Project
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IOM Rwanda
For more information on IOM activities in Rwanda, contact the IOM Regional Office for Southern and East Africa.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Regional Office for Southern and East Africa
PO Box 55391
Arcadia 0007
Republic of South Africa
| Tel: | +271.23 42 27 89 |
| +271.23 42 14 97 | |
| +271.23 42 19 61 | |
| Fax: | +271.23 42 09 32 |
