Addis Ababa: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, today lauded Ethiopia’s “Makatet” refugee inclusion policy as a significant stride towards sustainable refugee solutions globally, urging the international community to uphold its shared responsibility in supporting refugee-hosting nations like Ethiopia. Speaking at a high-level event, Grandi emphasized Ethiopia’s long-standing generosity and leadership in implementing forward-looking policies for refugees.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the High Commissioner, a frequent visitor to Ethiopia, acknowledged the country’s unique position in a troubled region, consistently receiving significant refugee flows. Grandi commended Ethiopia’s historical generosity, recalling his early days as a field officer in the region. He noted the evolution of Ethiopia’s approaches in hosting refugees, highlighting the country’s pioneering policies and strategies.
Grandi also highlighted Ethiopia’s instrumental role in the establishment of the Global Compact on Refugees in 2018 and its co-convening of the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019. He stressed Ethiopia’s exemplary application of the Global Compact principles, particularly through its inclusive ‘Makatet’ approach. The commissioner affirmed the effectiveness of combining resources and policies, as demonstrated by Ethiopia’s success.
The UNHCR commissioner specifically praised the breadth of the Makatet initiative, which extends beyond traditional services like health and education to include work opportunities, proper documentation, digital connectivity, and land allocations for settlements, moving away from conventional camp settings. Grandi commended Ethiopia’s “all-of-government” approach to refugee matters, noting the presence of various state ministers at the event.
While acknowledging the many challenges that remain, Grandi underscored the significant progress made, citing the 2019 Proclamation as a global positive example in refugee policies. He shared a personal experience, recalling his visit to Melkadida in Ethiopia as one of his “brightest moments” in nearly ten years as High Commissioner. Melkadida is described as an extraordinary experiment in new approaches, supporting both refugees and host communities.
The High Commissioner concluded by urging the international community to uphold its shared responsibility in supporting refugee-hosting nations like Ethiopia, emphasizing the need for continued financial and development support. He particularly highlighted the World Bank’s crucial role in integrating refugee support into broader development initiatives. Grandi observed the emergence of a new track of aid, emphasizing the active nexus between humanitarian and development aid in Ethiopia.
Grandi encouraged Ethiopia to share the ‘Makatet’ model with other countries and apply similar inclusive approaches to address its challenges of internal displacement. Finally, he expressed his profound gratitude to Ethiopia: “Thank you very much, Ethiopia, and when I say Ethiopia, I say all of it, not just the government. Thank you very much, Ethiopia, for what you’re doing.”