Support for Refugees

An average of 10 to 15 years pass before refugees are able to return to their home countries. It is therefore important to develop solutions that effectively combine short-term aid measures with longer-term structural approaches regarding development cooperation. Support for the host communities is a particularly important issue here, as their supply infrastructure is often put under immense strain as a result of the high number of refugees. The direct consequences are overburdened water, sanitation and energy supply systems, overcrowded schools and healthcare facilities as well as a shortage of living space and rising rents. In order to safeguard the willingness of communities to take in refugees and to prevent conflict situations from arising between the local population and the refugees, the capacities of the local supply infrastructure must be quickly adapted to the required scale.

Jordan and Lebanon have taken in many refugees in recent years, e.g. from Iraq and Syria. In order to improve the precarious electricity and water supply, KfW, on behalf of the German Federal Government, is financing the construction of a photovoltaic system in the Zaatari camp in Jordan, where around 80,000 refugees live. This system will reduce the overall strain on the region's power supply network, ensuring that the local Jordanian population benefits as well. KfW also supports the Jordanian school system in the education of Syrian children and with an employment programme for Syrian refugees. In Lebanon, it supports income-generating measures, vocational (advanced) training programmes and business and legal training and advisory services for both refugees and members of the host Lebanese communities.

KfW’s commitment in Jordan

KfW’s commitment in Lebanon

Many of the current causes of conflict and displacement are of a political nature (for example, state repression, discrimination and persecution, serious human rights violations). However, natural disasters and lack of economic opportunities may also force people to leave their homes. Many of the projects supported by KfW mitigate the causes of flight and migration by aiming to reduce poverty and inequality (for example, income-generating measures, developing social security systems), to promote good governance and transparency (for example, decentralisation projects) and boost resilience in the face of any crisis (for example, disaster preparation, insurance approaches).

For example, on the Horn of Africa, KfW is helping to strengthen the drought resilience of inhabitants who live from cattle farming. Measures are selected with the participation of the population and implemented in the areas of water supply and sanitation, cattle and pasture farming, as well as alternative income opportunities and basic services. This is helping to strengthen the local population's production system, diversify their income sources and increase food security in the region over the long term.

KfW´s commitment in Ethiopia

As soon as the situation in the refugees’ regions of origin has stabilised, KfW Development Bank supports their voluntary return and reintegration on behalf of the Federal Government: For example, KfW is supporting economic reconstruction in Iraq by reviving the local economy. Medium- to long-term prospects for generating income are created for internally displaced Iraqis, voluntary returnees from abroad and needy residents in Iraq, and opportunities are developed.

KfW’s commitment in Iraq