Briefing: Towards a Tanzanian Policy on Urban and Self-Settled Refugees

This briefing argues that the Government of Tanzania should adopt a Policy on Urban and Self-Settled Refugees or Urban Refugee Policy that allows more refugees to reside outside designated settlements or camps. Now, virtually all refugees and asylum seekers in Tanzania are required to reside in designated settlements or camps. However, many refugees and asylum seekers cannot reside in the camps because of protection concerns; others have the ability and skills to live outside of the camps and support themselves while doing so; and some choose to reside outside the camps outside the government’s sight. These self-settled refugees–refugees who settle outside camps either in urban or rural areas–do not, in most cases, have legal permission to do so.

This briefing details several reasons for the adoption of an urban refugee policy in Tanzania, including addressing refugees’ decisions to leave camps, the decreasing refugee population, the need to foster refugee self-reliance and the need for Tanzania to demonstrate its continued commitment to international protection standards.