About The United Nations Kigoma Joint Programme

The UN Kigoma Joint Programme (UN KJP) phase I and II is an area-based cross-sectoral programme intended to improve human security in the region of Kigoma, Tanzania, which receives refugees from the neigbouring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN KJP supports the humanitarian-development nexus by linking together the existing UN response to refugees and migrants with an expanded development support to the host communities. Initially, the project focused mainly on the 3 districts of Kasulu, Kibondo and Kakonko surrounding the three existing refugee camps. However, over time, other districts, Uvinza DC, Buhigwe DC, and Kigoma MC, were covered as they are, in way or another, hosting refugees. The UN KJP phase I ended in 2022.

UN KJP phase I was implemented under the framework of Phase II of the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP II) 2016-2021. It consisted of 16 UN agencies cooperating in 6 outcome areas of sustainable energy and environment, youth and women’s economic empowerment (YWEE), ending violence against women and children (VAWC), education with a focus on girls and adolescent girls, water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and agriculture with a focus on developing local markets. UN-Habitat worked under the WASH programme together with UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (theme lead) and World Health Organization (WHO). The WASH theme was funded by Norway.

The WASH theme aimed at: (i) Enhancing the capacity of local government agencies to sustainably and equitably plan and scale up delivery of WASH; (ii) Increasing access to improved sanitation and promotion of hygiene practices; and (iii) Increasing access to safe drinking water among vulnerable communities, schools and health care facilities.

 

UN Habitat work under UN KJP I

Rehabilitation and construction of water supply systems 

  • Facilitated construction of the Nengo water supply project (solarized) in Kibondo whereby 7,000 people are accessing clean drinking water.
  • Facilitated rehabilitation of the Kabanga water supply project whereby more than 20,000 people are benefiting. 
  • Enhanced construction of the Kigoma Grand School water supply system (solarized) whereby 300 students and teachers are accessing clean drinking water. 
  • Facilitated construction of the Kibondo Hospital water supply system (solarized water system) whereby 6,000 people are benefiting. 
  • Facilitated construction of the Hwazi village water supply system (solarized) more than 3968 are benefiting. 
  • Facilitated construction of the Juhudi and Mudyanda water supply system- (solarized) with more 30,000 people set to access clean drinking water. 
  • Facilitating construction of the Lugufu water supply system (in progress)-once complete 2,000 people are set to benefit.

Support Community Based Water Supply Organizations and water utilities 

  • Enhanced capacity of 12 CBWSOs and 3 water utilizes (KUWASA, KUWASSA, and Kibondo WSSA) by training them on operating and maintaining water supply systems and supplying them with

    -Laptops 

    -Tool kits for O&M 

    -software accounting packages -3 Motorcycles for 3 water utilities (KUWASA, KUWASSA, and Kibondo WSSA) -Water flow meters · 

  • Supported rehabilitation of the Kabanga CBWSOs office, and equipped it with furniture (tables and office chairs)

School Sanitation

  • · Construction of 26 improved toilets in 26 schools project for 18,200 pupils. The benefited schools are Juhudi, Nyansha, Mwilamvya, Kibagwe, Kigondo, Bogwe, and Nyumbigwa (07) from Kasulu TC; Kasuba, Msimba, Nyangwe, Simbo, Kamara, Kiganza na Nyampemba (07) from Kigoma DC; and Nyanganga, Tambukareli, Lulengelule, Sunzu, Kalenge; Lugufu, Malagarasi, Lugonia A, and Mwamila, Nyambutwe, Miembeni, and Chakulu (12) from Uvinza DC. 
  • Enhanced capacity of school going children on SWASH whereby SWASH clubs with 612 were established in Kigoma Ujiji and Kasulu TC

COVID 19 Response 

Following the outbreak of the COVID 19 Pandemic in 2019, UN Habitat reprogrammed some of the WASH resources to respond to the crisis. It facilitated 

  • installation of handwashing stations and increased availability of water availability for handwashing. · installation of water storage tanks at Bulonge students (5000 litres storage tank) and connecting the school with KUWASA water supply system, providing services for 967 students and teachers. · 
  • Installation of water storage tanks at Kabingo primary (5000 litres storage tank) and connected the school with KUWASA water supply system providing access to water to 2,284 students and teachers. 
  • Installation of water storage tanks at Bulonge primary (5000 litres storage tank) and connected the school with KUWASA water supply system enhancing access to clean water to 1,778 pupils and teachers. 
  • Installation of water storage tanks at Mwasenga primary school s (5000 litres storage tank plus connect the school with KUWASA water supply system providing access to clean water to 2,765 pupils and students. 
  • Though not working nowadays, UN Habitat facilitated installation of handwashing facilities at Nazareth market, Kigoma central bust stop, and Kigoma Secondary.

Cross cutting issues-urban catchment management and protection

  • Over 6,000 trees have been planted in Kasulu TC and beacons erected to demarcate 60 meters from the river Chai banks.
  

Launched in November 2022 in partnership with local government authorities, development partners, the host community and civil society, the UN KJP phase II cuts across multiple sectors to improve development and human security in Kigoma region. The programme involves 17 different UN Agencies and is being implemented in cooperation with the regional and district authorities based on the development needs of the region

and the capacities of the UN in Tanzania. The KJP II applies a comprehensive approach to address a wide range of issues facing both refugees and migrants in the region as well as the surrounding host communities. By focusing on both the host population, refugees and migrants, the programme supports and forms part of the New Way of Working (NWOW). The humanitarian-development nexus is supported by linking together the UN’s existing response to refugees and migrants with an increased focus on developing the host communities.

The program builds on results achieved in the first phase of implementation which took place from 2017 to 2022 and draws from the lessons learned to outline the proposed interventions under the overall framework of the four priority areas of the 2022-2027 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). These priorities namely:

1. People,

2. Prosperity,

3. Planet, and

4. Enabling Environment

The above priorities match with the main concerns/challenges identified by the Kigoma Regional administration and other stakeholders including organization of people with disabilities in Kigoma.

Expanding and increasing the support to host communities also contributes to enhancement of co-existence between the refugee/migrant population and the host population. Through supporting stability and prosperity in Kigoma the programme contributes to the stability of the Great Lakes region.

The 17 participating UN agencies are cooperating across four Outcome areas which are People, Prosperity, Planet and Enabling Environment. These Outcome areas have a combined total of nine themes namely, Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Health, Agriculture and Economic Empowerment, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Smart Adaptation and Natural Resources Management, Energy and Governance.