Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework
UGANDA
Translating New York Declaration Commitments into Action
Globally
The New York Declaration has mandated UNHCR
Global objectives:
to develop and initiate, through a multi1. Ease pressure on the host country
stakeholder approach, a comprehensive refugee
2. Enhance refugee self-reliance
response that protects and promotes the rights of
3. Expand access to third country solutions
refugees as enshrined by international law, whilst
4. Support conditions in countries of origin
easing the pressure on the country of asylum.
The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) is detailed in Annex One of the 19 September
2016 New York Declaration, and will be informed by the practical application in different countries in an
effort to develop and adopt a Global Compact on Refugees by 2018.
The basics of what the CRRF entails
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Covers everything that happens from the time of displacement until durable solutions are found
To be developed and initiated by UNHCR
A multi-stakeholder approach
Protecting the rights of refugees under international law and enhancing opportunities and solutions
Easing the pressure on the country of asylum, which includes support to host communities. As much
as the title states ‘refugee response’ the document clearly articulates the necessity of providing
support to refugees and host communities alike.
Enhanced support to the country of origin
Uganda; translating commitments into action
In Uganda, given its long history of providing asylum, a comprehensive response is already being pursued
under the leadership of Government and UNHCR, and the country is applying many of the principles set
out in Annex I of the New York Declaration.
Uganda objectives:
1. Support Government policy and protect asylum space
2. Support resilience and self-reliance of refugees and host communities
3. Expand solutions, including third country options
4. Support Uganda’s role in the region and invest in human capital and transferrable skills
The Five Pillars of the CRRF in Uganda
The CRRF is being applied in Uganda and will be documented and supported through five pillars. The pillars
are mutually reinforcing and cover support provided to refugees, host communities, the Government and
support to the countries of origin as outlined by the global objectives.
The Uganda CRRF Secretariat
A multi-stakeholder Secretariat to support the application of the CRRF is being established under the
leadership of the Government. The Secretariat will be the knowledge hub and platform for strategic
discussions on matters relating to the overall application of CRRF in Uganda. Recognising that existing
structures are already in place that engage on different aspects of the five pillars, the Secretariat will
support and build on these structures where necessary.
Prepared by UNHCR Uganda, Draft 23 March 2017
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework
UGANDA
The Basics of the Five Pillars
The five pillar model takes the content of the global CRRF and applies it to the Ugandan context. Uganda’s
advanced policies and strategies on bridging the humanitarian/development divide provide key entry
points to delivering on the commitments of the New York Declaration. The pillars are mutually reinforcing.
Pillar One – Admission and Rights
 Pillar One covers the rights provided under international law which have been adopted through
Ugandan policy, including the 2006 Refugee Act and 2010 Refugee Regulations. This covers key
aspects of the CRRF, including access to territory, provision of individual documentation, freedom of
movement, and the right to work.
 Support needed for the full implementation of the laws and policies provided includes: effective
registration, documentation (e.g. birth registration); advocacy on right to work with employers.
Pillar Two – Emergency Response and Ongoing Needs
 The humanitarian response is critical in providing refugee protection and delivering on the immediate
needs of refugees, as well as support to host communities and government affected by the influx.
 This includes: registration, provision of non-food Items, food, shelter and water, as well as service
delivery.
 Support needed is in ensuring the humanitarian response is fully funded. Exploring solutions from the
onset – for example by developing infrastructure and integrated service delivery – is critical. Both longterm development interventions and the humanitarian response need to be pursued simultaneously.
Pillar Three – Resilience and Self-Reliance
 Pillar Three provides the key entry point for development interventions and providing the opportunity
for refugees and host communities to be self-reliant. This primarily covers livelihood opportunities,
enhanced service delivery, as well as peaceful coexistence.
 Building resilient institutions is also important, thereby bringing in a preparedness component.
 Support by development actors is a key aspect of Pillar Three and a component is the ReHoPE
framework as an integrated part of the UN Development Assistance Framework.
Pillar Four – Expand Solutions
 Pillar Four primarily covers third country options, which in Uganda is mainly through resettlement.
 In efforts to expand solutions, other opportunities such as work placements and scholarships should be
explored.
 Opportunities for naturalization would also be covered by Pillar Four if and when deemed relevant.
Pillar Five – Voluntary Repatriation
 For voluntary repatriation of refugees to be realized, support to especially Pillar Three in terms of
preparing refugees to return through skills development is critical.
 When conditions in the country of origin become conducive to return, this pillar will be key in terms of
providing support to reintegration, and rehabilitation of the areas in which refugees resided in the host
country. Enhanced development support will be necessary to hosting communities once refugees
return.
 Support to the country of origin so that voluntary repatriation is a realistic option is critical. A central
aspect of this is also supporting Uganda’s role in the region in relation to peace, security and
development.
Successful application of the CRRF in Uganda, requires multi-stakeholder engagement and political
commitment to support the Government to deliver on its commitments. One agency alone cannot
deliver on the full commitments detailed in the New York Declaration.
Prepared by UNHCR Uganda, Draft 23 March 2017
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework
UGANDA
Linking CRRF to existing frameworks
The development of the CRRF provides an opportunity to consolidate ongoing initiatives and provide more
coherence and collaboration between actors and existing frameworks. It also brings global attention,
given that the CRRF, through the New York Declaration, was agreed upon by all member states at the
General Assembly in September 2016.
Uganda’s progressive policies provide a number of opportunities that have already brought on board a
variety of stakeholders including humanitarian agencies, development actors, private sector, academia,
civil society and more. The application of the CRRF serves both as a way to better coordinate existing
action, but also to map out gaps and needs – both in terms of actors and funding.
Positioning existing frameworks within the five pillars:
2006 Refugee Act and 2010 Refugee Regulations
 Supports all pillars
The CRRF outlines a broad range of policies and rights to be implemented in response to mass displacement.
The majority of these rights are addressed by the 2006 Refugee Act and the 2010 Refugee Regulations,
including: access to territory and the principle of non-refoulement, provision of individual registration and
documentation, access to social services including education and health, the right to work and the right to
establish business.
Humanitarian Response
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Supports Pillar One and
Two and lays the
foundation for all other
pillar interventions.
Pillar One and Two receive
support in relation to the
humanitarian
response
which is coordinated by
UNHCR under the Refugee
Coordination Model.
The focus is to ensure dignity
and access to asylum while
meeting
immediate
humanitarian needs.
As the pillars are mutually
reinforcing, it is critical that
the humanitarian response
is fully supported to ensure
the delivery and results on
the other pillars.
Settlement Transformation Agenda
 Supports Pillar Three, with indirect support to pillars two, four and five
The inclusion of refugees in national development planning is one of the
policy actions indicated in the New York declaration. The Government of
Uganda included refugees in its Second National Development Plan
through the STA. This decision provides a clear entry point for a range of
actors to support both the objectives of refugee self-reliance through
development interventions and serves as a basis to support on easing the
pressure on the host country and communities.
Refugee and Host Population Empowerment Strategy
 Supports Pillar Three, with indirect support to pillars two, four and five
ReHoPE is a self-reliance and resilience initiative that is a key building block
to delivering on the CRRF in Uganda, given its multi-stakeholder approach
spanning the humanitarian-development divide.
ReHoPE is integrated into the UN Development Assistance Framework and
represents the combined development response of all UN agencies to the
refugee hosting districts.
Globally the CRRF focuses on self-reliance of refugees and easing the
pressure on the host country – both of which are addressed through ReHoPE.
Prepared by UNHCR Uganda, Draft 23 March 2017
Prepared by UNHCR Uganda, Draft 23 March 2017