UNHCR and African Development Bank conduct joint mission to CAR on sustainable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons | African Development Bank

Representatives from the African Development Bank and the United Nations Refugee Agency have jointly visited the Central African Republic to explore the potential of joint sustainable solutions initiatives to support the return of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The UNHCR team, led by Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, along with Director of the Transition States Coordination Office at the African Development Bank Yero Baldeh, Dr. Yvette Glele-Ahanzo, Director of Portfolio Monitoring and Service Delivery and Country Manager Mamady Souare and their teams visited Bria, 580 kilometers north of Bangui.

During the height of the armed conflict, more than 50,000 people fled the capital to seek refuge in Bria, near the United Nations military camp. Today, about 35,000 Bria residents still hope to return home. The joint visit took place from 21-25 February 2023.

The representatives met with national authorities and development partners working with the people of the Central African Republic to consolidate progress towards sustainable peace and inclusive socio-economic recovery. In addition, the two organizations have committed to deepening partnerships through more systematic cooperation in selected target countries.

The third from the African Development Bank Strategy for addressing vulnerability and building resilience in Africa (2022-2026), focuses on conflict prevention and inclusive post-conflict reconstruction and development. This includes empowering forcibly displaced persons and host communities, such as in the Central Africa region, and finding regional solutions. The Bank’s active portfolio of more than $450 million in CAR includes agriculture, transportation, governance and social sector projects in support of the government’s development agenda.

Baldeh, said the joint visit to Bria underlined the urgent need for strong cooperation between humanitarian and development partners. “This ties in closely with Dr. Adesina to promote peace and development in fragile contexts, such as here in the CAR. That is why we aim to scale up and accelerate our support to the poorest and most vulnerable, especially displaced youth and women, returnees and host communities,” said Baldeh.

“The internally displaced people we met in Bria have expressed very clearly their desire to return to their homes as security conditions continue to improve,” said Mazou. “We encourage national authorities to continue to restore security to the country, and we are keen to continue working with development partners such as the African Development Bank to help returnees rebuild their communities,” he added.

The two organizations have committed to further deepen their partnerships through more systematic cooperation in selected target countries and regions. This includes cooperation in other forced displacement hotspots on the African continent and implementation of the Yaoundé Declaration and the CAR Solutions Support Platform.

Joint visit of the AfDB and the UN to Bria, Central African Republic, led by HE VIRGINIE BAIKOUA, Minister for Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation.