Uganda Refugee News: Edition 5: May 2020

Uganda Refugee News - May 2020 Welcome to Edition 5 The website continues to grow - not only are there the previous editions of this newsletter but now there is a page that provides links to regularly updated information sites on the refugee response. Please check it out here - it currently has 13 links but this will grow as we come across the useful sites. In addition, during research for this newsletter, we discovered to our horror, that we aren't perfect (!) and had missed some research published in previous months. So to right that wrong, we have added the missed items to the appropriate website version of the newsletter. To save you time, we've tried to make them easy to spot - the new additions all start with the word NEW so you can skim down the newsletter to see what's new. Submissions to the newsletter are extremely welcome – please send to Ugandrefugeenews@gmail.com and wherever possible, they will be included in the next version. Please feel free to share this with anyone who you think might find it useful and they can sign up by clicking here Sector specific:

Education:

- NEW - Frontiers in eduction - Compounded Exclusion: Education for Disabled Refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa

Environment: - Ministry of Water and Environment - Final Water and Environment Sector Refugee Response Plan - https://www.mwe.go.ug/sites/default/files/library/Final%20Water%20and%20Environment%20Sector%20%20Refugee%20Response%20Plan.pdf

Health: - NEW - Protection analysis: impact of COVID-19 measures on PSNs in refugee communities in Uganda

- NEW - DRC - Multi-sector Needs Assessment: COVID-19 Situation in Uganda

- Reproductive Health Journal - Determinants of modern contraceptive use among married Somali women living in Kampala; a cross sectional survey - This study found that only 29% of women were using modern contraceptives, of which 51% used oral pills, 15% condoms and 15% injectables; that there is a need for improvement of girl child education, contraceptive awareness and male involvement to increase contraceptive uptake in this community and that research looking at attitude of this community towards use of long term contraception is recommended - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12978-020-00922-x

- CARE - Uganda COVID-19 RAPID GENDER ANALYSIS - This study looks at how COVID 19 is affecting men, women, boys and girls, from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds, in the urban, rural and settlement contexts. It follows earlier RGAs conducted prior to the outbreak and seeks to identify where there have been changes of note as a result of the pandemic. On this basis, it provides a number of recommendations to donors and for implementing organisations - http://careevaluations.org/evaluation/uganda-covid-19-rapid-gender-analysis/

- Maternal and Child Health Journal - A Multi-Methods Qualitative Study of the Delivery Care Experiences of Congolese Refugees in Uganda - This study explores the SRH experiences of Congolese refugees living in Nakivale and Kampala and ways that services could be improved with this article focusing on delivery care-related results. It found that Congolese refugees experience significant challenges accessing delivery care in both camp and urban settings. Many of the issues identified are well documented and include language barriers, discrimination, lack of supplies and staff and corruption. (paid for content) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32377926

- Reproductive Health Journal - Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: prevalence and associated factors - Adolescent pregnancies are persistently high among refugees. This study found that modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents was very low and few reported a desire to become pregnant, leaving them vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies. Least likely to use modern contraceptives were participants who were married/cohabiting and those having older partners implying a gender power imbalance in fertility decision making - https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-020-00921-y

- Journal of Adolescence - Child labor, sex and mental health outcomes amongst adolescent refugees - This study explores prevalence of child labor amongst adolescent refugees from South Sudan in two refugee settlements in Uganda (Adjumani & Kiryandongo), to understand impacts of child labor on mental health outcomes and examines the influence of sex on these impacts. (paid for content).- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140197120300610#abssec0025

- British Medical Journal - Delivering infectious disease interventions to women and children in conflict settings: a systematic review - This systematic review (including Uganda) aimed to synthesise the literature on mechanisms of delivery for a range of infectious disease-related interventions provided to conflict-affected women, children and adolescents - https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/Suppl_1/e00196

- African Journal of Traumatic Stress - Major depressive disorder and associated factors among adult refugees attending a refugee center in Kampala, Uganda - https://apro-ug.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MAJOR-DEPRESSIVE-DISORDER-AND-ASSOCIATED-FACTORS-AMONG-ADULT-REFUGEES-ATTENDING-A-REFUGEE-CENTER-IN-KAMPALA-UGANDA.pdf

- The Lancet - Self-help or silenced voices? An ethnographically informed warning - a short piece related to a an article in the Lancet that was in URN February 2020 - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30106-6/fulltext

- The Lancet - Self-help or silenced voices? An ethnographically informed warning – Authors' reply - the authors of the original piece respond to the piece above - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30105-4/fulltext

- Self-help psychosocial interventions for refugees in northern Uganda: a band-aid on a bullet wound? - https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/internationaldevelopment/2020/05/28/self-help-psychosocial-interventions-for-refugees-in-northern-uganda-a-band-aid-on-a-bullet-wound/

- COVID-19 insight from refugee community leaders Uganda - To find out what sort of information was getting through to refugees in the settlements as well as behaviours, trust, and the economic impact of the virus, Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) in late April conducted phone interviews in Kiswahili and English with 30 community leaders from the ten most populous settlements of South Sudanese and Congolese refugees in Uganda (Adjumani, Bidibidi, Imvepi, Palorinya, Rhino, Kiryandongo Kyaka II, Kyangwali, Nakivale, and Rwamwanja) - https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/COVID_19_bulletin_uganda_2020.pdf

- UNHCR - Uganda COVID-19 response bi-monthly update - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76212

- UNHCR - Covid-19 Quarantine facilities in refugee hosting districts 6 May 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/76036

- UNHCR - Covid-19 Isolation Units in refugee hosting districts 6 May 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76037

Livelihoods - NpM- Platform for Inclusive Finance - Advancing Financial Inclusion for Refugees in Northern Uganda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-fFnQpZNvw

- Wageningen University - Circular refugee camps: Co-creating meaningful business - This report provides insight into the creative process undertaken to develop new strategic cooperation and potential business cases to adapt, connect and boost circular solutions to improve living conditions and livelihood opportunities in and around refugee camps. Uganda, along with Kenya and Jordan, were chosen as pilot countries - https://library.wur.nl/WebQuery/wurpubs/fulltext/513651

- GoU, UNHCR, WFP - Analysis of Refugee Vulnerability in Uganda and Recommendations for Improved Targeting of Food Assistance - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/72299

- UNHCR/WFP - Updated Minimum Expenditure Guidance note for Uganda May 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76328

- REACH - COVID-19 Market Monitoring - Refugee Settlement Price and Market Functionality Snapshot, 15-30 April 2020 - https://www.impact-repository.org/document/reach/5663ff5b/REACH_UGA_COVID-19-Market-Monitoring-Snapshot_April2020.pdf

- Uganda: U-LEARN COVID-19 Market Monitoring Snapshot April 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76669

- FEWS-Net - Uganda Food Security Outlook Update April 2020 - https://fews.net/east-africa/uganda/food-security-outlook-update/april-2020

- FEWS-Net - Uganda Price Bulletin, April 2020 - https://fews.net/east-africa/uganda/price-bulletin/april-2020

Protection - UNHCR - PSN SWG Protection analysis impact COVID 19 on PSNs refugee communities - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76279

WASH - Cogent Medicine - Barriers and motivators to participation in hand washing promotion programs at household level among refugees in Rhino Settlement, Arua District - The major aim of hand washing promotion programs is to persuade people to change their behaviour to reduce high-risk hygiene practices and use. Unfortunately, in a refugee setting, there is a dearth of information about participation in hand washing promotion programs. This study found that only 19.6% had participated in hand washing promotion programs. Significant barriers to participation were; no formal education and staying in the camp for more than 3 years. Conclusion: There is need for relevant stakeholders to come up with interventions to increase participation among the refugees while taking into consideration the potential barriers and motivators to their participation as identified by this study -https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331205X.2020.1757184

Other: - NEW - Climate change induced displacement in the Horn of Africa - This policy briefing

reviews climate change-induced migration and policy options in the Horn of Africa including Uganda. https://media.africaportal.org/documents/Tegebu_-_Final.pdf

- Journal of Refugee Studies - Conflict resolution as cultural brokerage: how refugee leaders mediate disputes in Uganda’s refugee settlements (paid for content)- This article examines the efforts undertaken by refugees to guarantee peaceful coexistence within and around settlements in northern Uganda. https://academic.oup.com/jrs/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jrs/feaa037/5827895

- The African Review - The Significance of the EU Trust Fund for Africa on the Ugandan Refugee-Hosting Model (paid for content) This article examines the three main frameworks of the Ugandan policy on refugees, it scrutinises three EU projects in Uganda and discusses their relationship with the CRRF, ReHope and STA. Finally, this paper analyses the importance of the EU projects on the refugee policy in the National Development Plan III (2020–2025) - https://doi.org/10.1163/1821889X-12340018

- Computers, Environment and Urban Systems - Breaking ground: Automated disturbance detection with Landsat time series captures rapid refugee settlement establishment and growth in North Uganda - Despite refugee settlements being essential spaces for physical protection and humanitarian aid distribution and reception, the sheer rate of refugee influx and settlement growth has introduced uncertainties around site planning, aid delivery, food security, and landscape change. There is little publicly available information on settlement establishment, growth, or changes in land use/land cover for the vast majority of UNHCR-managed settlements in Uganda and around the world. To address this shortcoming, this research characterizes the spatial and temporal patterns of refugee settlement landscape dynamics using the case study of the Pagirinya Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda, to aid refugee response and evaluation efforts that are central to Uganda's refugee hosting and settlement plans (paid for content) - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0198971520302325

- UN Women - Guidance note: How to promote gender-responsive localization in humanitarian action - Uganda is a case study - https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Guidance%20note%20-%20how%20to%20promote%20gender-responsive%20localization%20in%20humanitarian%20action.pdf

- UNHCR - Operational update - Feb 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76249

- UNHCR - Uganda refugee statistics dashboard - April 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76150

- UNHCR - Uganda active population by settlement - April 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76151

- UNHCR - Uganda refugee and asylum seekers statistics map - April 2020 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76013

- UNHCR Uganda: 2020 Funding Update (as of 29 April 2020) - https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Uganda%20Funding%20Update%2029%20April%202020.pdf

- UNHCR - Palorinya settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76219

- UNHCR - Rhino settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76220

- UNHCR - Lobule settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76221

- UNHCR - Adjumani settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76225

- UNHCR - Bidi Bdi settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76226

- UNHCR - Palabek settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76222

- UNHCR - Imvepi settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76223

- UNHCR - Kiryandongo settlement dashboard Q4 2019 - https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/76224

- IOM - Flow Monitoring Dashboard: Uganda/South Sudan Border (March 2020) - https://displacement.iom.int/system/tdf/reports/Uganda-SSD%20border%20Flow%20Monitoring%20Dashboard%20March%202020_0.pdf

- IOM - Flow Monitoring Dashboard: Uganda/DRC Border (March 2020) - https://displacement.iom.int/system/tdf/reports/Uganda-DRC%20border%20Flow%20Monitoring%20Dashbooard%20March%202020_0.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=8650

Training, Events, Funding opportunities etc:

- EU - Call for Proposals to Support Peaceful & Safe co-existence within the Refugee and Host Communities in Refugee Hosting Districts in Uganda - Deadline June 10 - Euro 450-750,000, 24-36 months - https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/uganda/77879/call-proposals-%E2%82%AC31m-support-peaceful-and-safe-co-existence-within-refugee-and-host-communities_en

- CERAH - Sexual violence in conflict settings & emergencies in Uganda (1 week short course) - 22 - 27 Nov 2020 Registration deadline 9 Oct 2020 - This executive short course focuses on the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of sexual violence.This course is delivered in partnership with the ICRC, MSF, HI, OHCHR, UNFPA and UNHCR (also available as a distance course) - https://www.cerahgeneve.ch/education/executive-short-courses-in-health-in-humanitarian-settings/sexual-violence-in-conflict-settings-and-emergencies/

- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Pathway for East Africa - a self paced online course of 8 hours designed to provide an in-depth overview of DRRM for humanitarian professionals in East Africa. It draws on the very latest global practice and theory combined with expert content from East Africa and around the world to advance knowledge and learning on this expanding area of practice and research. https://kayaconnect.org/course/info.php?id=1209

- Webinar Series: Sustainable Energy in Humanitarian Settings - Knowledge and Solutions from and for the Field - This webinar will shed light on why access to reliable energy is pertinent for powering health facilities in humanitarian settings, especially in the current COVID context. Presentations from Sustainable Energy for ALL and MSF will discuss the importance and options for achieving reliable energy access along with an example of renewable energy system implementation in health clinics. A renewable energy system specialist will then provide practical guidance for enabling reliable energy supply to build the resilience of health systems. - https://energypedia.info/wiki/Webinar_Series:_Sustainable_Energy_in_Humanitarian_Settings

- Upcoming Webinar: Providing Financial Services to Refugees under COVID-19 - in this webinar financial service providers (FSPs) that serve refugees discuss solutions to some of the problems created by the COVID-19 crisis. After a presentation of findings on the situation of refugees before and after the lockdown, three FSPs that work in refugee settlements in Uganda will showcase how they have adapted their operations. They will then engage with each other and with the audience to identify options for overcoming remaining challenges - https://www.digitalfrontiersinstitute.org/2020/05/29/upcoming-webinar-providing-financial-services-to-refugees-under-covid-19/

Featured country: Burundi In 2015 Burundi saw violence and insecurity following political unrest surrounding the presidential elections that saw President Nkurunziza re-elected for a controversial third term. Over 400,000 Burundians have since left the country and the vast majority remain refugees in neighbouring countries. Almost 15% or 48,287 are in Uganda. The Burundi refugee situation is the lowest funded globally. The Presidential term in Burundi is five years and elections took place on 20 May 2020 with official results due out 4 June (though unofficial results show the ruling party won with over 60% of the votes). As such, we thought it would be useful to include some information on the context on the ground to help the analysis and planning for potential new arrivals into or returns from Uganda.

- OHCHR - The UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi: An electoral campaign marred by a spiral of violence and political intolerance - https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=25885&LangID=E

- UN News - WHO seeking further details on staff expulsion from Burundi - https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1064082

- Joint Statement by the African Union Commission and the Secretariat of the United Nations on the elections in Burundi - - https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020-05-17/joint-statement-the-african-union-commission-and-the-secretariat-of-the-united-nations-the-elections-burundi-scroll-down-for-french

- ISS - Could elections lead to another political crisis in Burundi? https://issafrica.org/iss-today/could-elections-lead-to-another-political-crisis-in-burundi

HRW - A Perfect Storm Is Brewing in Burundi - https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/14/perfect-storm-brewing-burundi

- Burundi Human Rights Initiative - A façade of peace in a land of fear: Behind Burundi’s human rights crisis - https://burundihri.org/rep/Report-Jan-2020-Engl.pdf

- UNHCR - Burundi Situation: 2020 Funding Update (as of 29 April 2020) - http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/Burundi%20Situation%20Funding%20Update%2029%20April%202020.pdf

- OHCRC: Burundi's elections aren't 'credible and free' - https://www.dw.com/en/ohcrc-burundis-elections-arent-credible-and-free/a-53513705

- Burundi's leading opposition party will start filing challenges to election results - https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Burundi-opposition-to-contest-polls-loss/4552908-5565014-p13vf8/index.html

UNHCR's Burundi refugee portal