Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The program's goal is to urgently respond to the emergency needs of distressed migrants by reducing acute vulnerabilities and improve resilience considering the increased surge of migrant caseload and mounting socio-economic challenges in Tunisia.

Expected results

1.1: Vulnerable migrants have benefitted from safe spaces, protection, access to critical services (health, housing, food, non-food-items such as blankets and hygiene kits, mental health and psychosocial support, legal assistance) and cash-based interventions such as vouchers.

1.2: Medium term needs are met to facilitate transition from emergency shelter and assistance to sustainable solutions. Through workshops, informational sessions, vocational trainings, and activities at the shelters and through government, NGO or private sector partners, migrants will have enhanced knowledge of resources, opportunities, and services in Tunisia supporting their transition out of the shelter.

Through the Austrian contribution the following specific results will be achieved:

- Through safe and healthy accommodations, protection and assistance with case management, the urgent needs of 1,400 vulnerable migrants are met to prevent them from destitution and increase their resilience.

- 220 of the 1,400 vulnerable migrants targeted under output 1.1, especially unaccompanied migrant children (UMCs), have benefitted from opportunities such as vocational trainings and apprenticeships that will develop competencies and skills.

- 160 of the 1,400 targeted beneficiaries have received assistance to return to their countries of origin with dignity as well as reintegration assistance upon return.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The Austrian contribution will support 1,400 beneficiaries directly. Specifically, the target group benefitting from the contribution will be migrants in the most vulnerable situations, such as those currently without any accommodations. The sub-groups prioritized for protection and assistance, including accommodation in the emergency shelters will be: Survivors of gender-based violence, victims of trafficking, exploitation, or trauma such as shipwrecks and related deaths; UMCs; single female-headed families; migrants with acute or chronic illnesses and underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, HIV, tuberculosis, etc., migrants with mental health and psychosocial needs, migrants with disabilities and older migrants. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible and will consider the complexity and urgency of all cases, including single, adult males.

Activities

- Activities 1.1: Refurbish/establish emergency shelters as priority and/or pursue other forms of temporary accommodations such as private buildings to address urgent needs and procure related equipment including goods such as furniture; recruitment and training of relevant protection personnel, provide protection and assistance, case management, provide incoming orientation training to migrants, provide medium-term housing for complex cases in other accommodations.

- Activities 1.2: Organize a robust program of vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities for migrants to improve skills, competencies for, and knowledge of socio-economic opportunities in Tunisia; provide socio-economic support interventions for UMCs, in coordination with child protection authorities, and vulnerable migrants, provide exit orientation and referrals; and provide durable solutions including return and reintegration assistance from Tunisia to migrants' countries of origin.

Context

In 2021, IOM Tunisia has witnessed a surge in assistance to migrants (3,166) rescued at sea in 43 operations, land arrivals particularly from Algeria, with a record-high number of UMCs (431). This has resulted in a much greater need for shelter, and other assistance to meet the immediate humanitarian and protection needs of rescued, stranded, and other vulnerable migrants to prevent situations of destitution. The IOM-operated shelters for vulnerable migrants are at maximum capacity, and thus is it pertinent to secure and establish additional emergency shelters while also planning and supporting sustainable solutions. As the number of migrants in vulnerable situations continue to surge in Tunisia amidst exacerbated conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, humanitarian measures are necessary to respond to the situation with medium-long terms solutions explored in parallel.