Government of Afghanistan launches SHURA, a New Programme to support Reintegration of Returnees and Displaced Persons
Kabul-04 April 2018- UN-Habitat is pleased to support the launch of a new programme by the Government of Afghanistan addressing the re-integration needs and livelihood opportunities for returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Funded by the European Union and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sustainable Human Settlements in Urban Areas to Support Reintegration in Afghanistan (SHURA) programme supports the provision of durable solutions for returning refugees and the internally displaced.
This thirty month programme aims to reduce the creation of camp neighborhoods or open-ended crisis situations through the establishment of safe and planned communities, providing the opportunity for families to enjoy inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable settlements, as reflected in UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.
Under the overall guidance provided by the Afghanistan high-level Displacement and Return Executive Committee (DiREC), the SHURA Program will be implemented by the Ministry of Refugees and Returnees (MORR), the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MUDH), the Afghanistan Independent Land Authority (ARAZI) and the Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG), with technical cooperation provided by UN-Habitat.
The approach under SHURA is based on the allocation of well-located land in proximity to suitable livelihood opportunities as the foundation for self-reliance and integration. Following the identification of vacant state owned land, a rapid assessment and rapid allocation process will facilitate the parallel delivery of humanitarian assistance and permanent development interventions to the most vulnerable families in order to augment their self-reliance.
The programme is part of the UN humanitarian and development response in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Providing support to Afghan returnees and the internally displaced will guarantee security of tenure while building inclusive and resilient communities.
For more information, please contact UN-Habitat’s Head of Communications in Afghanistan, Mr. Koussay Boulaich,