StARS Organizational Development and Support Initiative

•  As of February 2016 UNHCR had registered 179,200 asylum seekers and refugees in Egypt, including 119,300 Syrians, 27,851 Sudanese, 6,231 Somalis, 6,908 Iraqis, 6,916 Ethiopians, 4,166 South Sudanese, and 3,763 Eritreans. Registration by UNHCR of non-Syrian refugees increased by 65 percent in 2015 compared to 2014 as more are transiting through Egypt to cross the Mediterranean.
• Due to cuts in refugee assistance, UNCHR has reduced the number of its implementing partners, which affected refugees’ access to basic services, financial and medical assistance.
• For UNHCR this resulted in serving, only 26,000 Syrian refugees for cash assistance in 2015, down from 56,000 in 2014, additionally, the WFP food voucher dropped by 40% in value.
• Refugees are exposed to harrassment, including verbal and physical harassment, assault, gender based violence, and other forms of abuse.
• Gaps in legal services include access to assistance to register with UNHCR and apply for resetllement to a third country.

To improve protection services for the most vulnerable refugees and migrants in Cairo

Direct target groups:

• 15,300 individuals (5,100 per year) through protection; services will include one-on-one protection advice, referrals from refugee service providers and CBOs, cases referred to UNHCR for resettlement, individuals provided with advice in regards to refugee status determination per year. Assistance will also be provided to females who faced Sexual and Gender Based Violence. 
•  125 full- and part-time STARS staff will directly benefit from strengthened organizational capacity, increased collaboration between programs, implementation of a new case management system, and improved physical infrastructure 

Indirect target groups:

• 44,379 individuals (14,793 each year) through enhanced service provision in education and psychosocial programs

1. To improve provision of direct services to the most vulnerable refugees and migrants in Cairo
2. To support StARS organizational and human resource development

Risultati principali attesi:  

1.1 Cases facing protection issues (including difficulty securing official records such as birth, marriage and death certificates, lack of physical safety and security, and other issues related to lack of local integration) are advised on a one-on-one basis and through awareness sessions by the Refugee Aid Program proceedings relating to protection needs

1.2 Cases facing protection issues  are advised or represented by the Refugee Aid Program in refugee status determination and resettlement.

2.1 Improve StARS’ internal management policies, procedures, and data management

2.2 Improve StARS’ physical infrastructure

US Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM), OHCHR and St Andrew's United Church

The project will create synergies with other SDC funded projects: UNHCR/Caritas Alexandria and PSTIC Emergency Irregular Migration.

Fase 1 01.09.2016 - 31.08.2019   (Completed)