Overview
The National Refugee Policy (2023) is Zambia’s first comprehensive policy framework dedicated to the protection, welfare, and inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, former refugees, and returnees. Zambia has hosted displaced persons since the 1940s and, as of 2022, sheltered more than 105,000 persons of concern, mainly from Central and Eastern Africa.
The policy is aligned with Zambia’s Constitution, Vision 2030, the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), and international commitments such as the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, the New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants (2016), and the Global Compact on Refugees (2018).
Rationale
While Zambia has maintained an open-door policy, several challenges persist:
- Weak reception and admission systems at border points.
- Limited access to documentation, leading to statelessness and vulnerability.
- Inadequate access to education, healthcare, energy, and housing for refugees.
- Restricted livelihoods and employment opportunities due to legal and financial barriers.
- Fragile co-existence between refugees and host communities due to disparities in support.
- Limited inclusion of refugees in national development plans.
The Policy seeks to address these gaps through strengthened protection, service provision, inclusion, and durable solutions.
Vision
“A just and inclusive society for asylum seekers, refugees, former refugees and returnees.”
Guiding Principles
The Policy is guided by:
- Human rights and dignity for all.
- Inclusiveness across gender, age, and ability.
- Non-refoulement, ensuring no refugee is returned to danger.
- Partnerships and burden-sharing between government, host communities, and international partners.
- Transparency and accountability in implementation.
Objectives & Key Measures
1. Strengthen Protection
- Improve reception, admission, and refugee management systems.
- Enhance civil registration and documentation.
- Expand access to justice.
- Prevent and reduce statelessness.
2. Improve Access to Social Services
- Expand access to education and skills training.
- Strengthen healthcare and WASH services.
- Modernise refugee settlements and improve housing.
- Provide social protection for vulnerable groups (women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities).
3. Promote Livelihoods & Self-Reliance
- Enhance agricultural production and diversification.
- Support entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
- Strengthen resilience to economic and climate shocks.
4. Foster Co-existence with Host Communities
- Promote socio-cultural exchanges and shared community structures.
- Strengthen inclusive community governance.
- Raise awareness on the benefits of refugee-host cooperation.
5. Strengthen Durable Solutions
- Facilitate voluntary repatriation in dignity and safety.
- Enable resettlement to third countries.
- Support local integration of former refugees.
6. Enhance Coordination & Inclusion
- Integrate refugees into national development plans and statistics.
- Establish stronger coordination mechanisms among ministries, CSOs, and international partners.
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation of refugee programmes.
Implementation Framework
- Lead Institution: The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security through the Commissioner for Refugees.
- Supporting Ministries: Finance, Agriculture, Health, Education, Justice, Lands, Labour, Local Government, Community Development, Commerce, and others.
- Partners: UNHCR, UNDP, WFP, CSOs, private sector, and traditional leaders.
- Legal Framework: Anchored on the Refugees Act (2017), with reforms proposed for other related laws (Citizenship Act, Immigration Act, Education Acts, Anti-GBV Act, Employment Code, etc.) to strengthen protection.
- Resource Mobilisation: Government funding, cooperating partners, NGOs, private sector, and innovative financing.
- Monitoring & Evaluation: A dedicated M&E framework with annual reviews, mid-term evaluations, and refugee data integration in national statistics.
✅ In summary: The 2023 National Refugee Policy positions Zambia as a leader in refugee protection and integration. It shifts the approach from basic humanitarian assistance to a comprehensive, rights-based, development-oriented model that safeguards refugees while promoting their inclusion in national development and peaceful co-existence with host communities.
