Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Enhanced Integrated Framework ...

The Government will implement the followingpriority policies to achieve the sector objective:• prepare and implement more visible andeffective reintegration programs and interventionsand to improve mechanism fordelivering immediate reintegration assistanceto returning refugees and IDPs;• improve social protection and disaster preparedness;• address concerns of long-staying Afghansthat prefer to remain in exile;• develop broader policy responses to populationmovements;• retain the Tripartite Agreements is an importanttool to ensure policy coordinationand respect for refugee law and humanitarianprinciples;• improve access to land for the refugee andthe IDP population;• improve inter-ministerial coordination; and• improve aid coordination and increase aideffectiveness.Specific activities the Government will undertakeare detailed below.Maintaining frameworks to managerepatriationsWithin the region, the principle legal and operationalframework governing voluntary repatriationis provided by the Tripartite Agreementssigned between Afghanistan, UNHCR,Iran and Pakistan respectively. These agreementsare serviced by regular meetings of TripartiteCommissions at both Ministerial andworking level.The Tripartite Agreement with Iran was renewedfor a further year in February 2007; anextension of the agreement with Pakistan forthree years was signed in August 2007. Afghanistanhas signed similar agreements withDenmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway,the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland.The Government is committed to continueworking with Iran, Pakistan and the UNHCRon the implementation of the Tripartite Agreementand the Tripartite Commission.Specifically, the most important measures to betaken to support implementation of the strategyare to:• fully reflect the principles of voluntary,dignified and gradual return in the Tripartiteagreements between countries of asylum,Afghanistan, and UNHCR;• discuss and agree the annual return planningfigures with the Governments of Pakistanand Iran within the Tri-Partite Commissions;• strengthen the management of cross bordermovements and economic migration; and• promote a national framework and policyguideline for the protection of IDPs as wellas the IDP mapping exercise.The Government’s policy supports the voluntary,planned and sustainable repatriationmovements. At the same time, the Governmentis committed to increasing the overall rateof returns. This requires improving the livelihoodsand welfare opportunities in the country,increasing the attractiveness of the countryto displaced persons.The Government will work to address the constraintsreturnees face on returning, includingincreasing economic opportunities (employment)and social services (health and education).The Government, with support from the internationalcommunity, will develop a range ofpolitical and practical solutions to work withand address the concerns of neighbors on therecent slowing of repatriation rates. This willassist in reducing bilateral tensions on this issue.The retention of the Tripartite Agreements is animportant tool to ensure policy coordinationand respect for refugee law and humanitarianprinciples. Ensuring the voluntariness of returnis critically important in improving sustainabilityand minimizing humanitarian distress.In view of the potential political andhumanitarian consequences of large inducedreturns, and taking into account the need todevelop broader policy responses to populationmovements, future policy actions willbenefit from the active involvement of a widercross section of Government ministries.132Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS)