Challenges and Prospects of Ethiopia’s Pledges Under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework
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Date
2025-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethiopia's commitment to supporting refugees and host communities is demonstrated by its 2016 pledges under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and subsequent pledges made in 2019 and 2023. The pledges made in 2016 was followed by legal reforms, including the 2019 Refugee Proclamation, which enshrined essential rights such as freedom of movement, access to work, education, and healthcare and other important rights. Despite these advancements, the implementation of the pledges faces significant challenges, including economic challenges, policy inconsistencies, and social tensions among refugees and local populations. This research assesses the legal and institutional frameworks governing these pledges, highlighting both opportunities for sustainable development and integration, as well as challenges that impede progress. Lastly, recommendations are provided to improve the implementation of the pledges made under the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and subsequent pledges. Enhancing economic opportunities and access both for refugees and local communities, strengthening coordination mechanisms between national and subnational actors and other stakeholders, strengthening the normative and institutional frameworks for refugee protection, creating trust among the refugees and local communities and taking other supportive measures are some of the recommendations made by this paper. Ultimately, fostering self-reliance among refugees and enhancing their contributions to the local economy are crucial for achieving long-term stability and resilience in Ethiopia.