UNHCR and UN-Habitat Afghanistan signed LoI-Letter of Intent and are committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership by building on the Agencies’ respective areas of expertise considering the Global MoU of 2019. The overall objective of this intent is to achieve durable solution and sustainable integration for person of concerned/ returnees and Internally displaced persons, both organizations seek to protect, assist and empower returnees, refugees and internally displaced people (IDP) with a view to the sustainable solution.

Within the Comprehensive Refugee and Returnee Framework (CRRF) as well as the Global Compact on Migration (GCM) visioning, UN-Habitat will focus on the five-key action/outcome areas to strengthen return and reintegration/durable solutions for displaced populations in cities and towns:

1. Access to basic services is increased and community resilience and social cohesion enhanced.
2. Returnees and IDPs have access to both adequate Land and Housing.
3. Voluntary, gradual, and safe return, regular and responsible migration and mobility facilitated through the implementation of well-planned and managed policies.
4. Access to livelihoods and jobs enhanced through market-based programs.
5. Ensure that reintegration settlements are well planned with adequate basic services and infrastructure.

UN-Habitat and UNCHR signed the Lol-Letter of Intent

UN-Habitat will implement the above 5 key actions/outcomes in the umbrella of SHURA-Sustainable Human Settlement in Urban areas to support Re-integration in Afghanistan, which is the government flagship programme, implementing with technical support of UN-Habitat funded by the government of Kingdome of Denmark, and EU in Afghanistan.

SHURA aims to Ensure adequate, permanent access to adequate housing and basic services and to provide a foundation for re-integration of returnees and protracted IDPs to become self-reliant, resilient, and productive citizens of Afghanistan.

The Lol-Letter has been signed by the country program managers of UN-Habitat and UNHCR

The SHURA programme is operationalizing the PD 108 in Kabul and Herat provinces, with a view to up-scaling nationally in the medium term. The SHURA programme intended to develop two sustainable IDP and returnee settlements, with programme beneficiaries benefitting from legal land ownership, appropriate housing, and being well integrated into social, economic and governance systems, this programme provides a model for the upscaling of the PD 108 nationally.

SHURA programme is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” and Goal 16: “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.

To this end, technical documents will provide an evidence base for sustainable and equitable land allocation processes to support the future rollout across the country.