Supporting migrants, refugees, and host communities in the Horn of Africa

In response to challenges caused by migration, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) trade bloc in the Horn of Africa and Nile Valley has set up a Regional Migration Fund (RMF) with the support of the German development bank, KfW. The RMF aims to create economic opportunities, improve living conditions, and promote social cohesion among refugees, migrants, and host communities in the IGAD region by promoting inclusive, participatory investment planning, and implementation in selected areas.

In order to operate, continuously develop, and manage the Fund, NIRAS has been contracted to establish a Fund Management Unit (FMU). NIRAS operates the FMU, which is responsible for the setup, operation, and management of the RMF, the preparation and selection of specific interventions, and the support to individual measures at project level.

What we do

A participatory, holistic area-based development approach is applied to investment planning in cross-border areas along major migration routes and in protracted refugee settlements with most populations in close proximity and significant economic growth potential. This approach is accompanied by support to formulation of budgets for area investment and overseeing tendering, contracting, and implementation of large-scale projects.

By using the area-based approach with a focus on selected areas in project implementation, two types of interventions are combined, namely:

• Rapid cycle projects: small-scale, use local resources, have a quick turnover, and are strongly learning-oriented;
• Catalytic projects: larger-scale, longer-term and have impacts within and across economic sectors, and establish structural conditions for sustained and inclusive economic growth.