Deadline: 05-Sep-2025
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting expressions of interest from qualified partners to support the voluntary repatriation of refugees and asylum seekers in Tanzania’s Kigoma Region, ensuring their safe, dignified, and informed return to their country of origin.
Focus Areas: Durable Solutions, Voluntary return.
The project will be implemented within the framework of the Tripartite Agreement of May 2001, supporting the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in facilitating the voluntary return of Burundian refugees, a process that began in September 2017. Voluntary repatriation is recognized as a fundamental right of refugees and asylum seekers and is guided by the principles of voluntariness, safety, dignity, and family unity. Alongside resettlement and local integration, it is one of the three traditional durable solutions available to those under UNHCR’s mandate.
Since the start of the operation, more than 179,000 individuals have returned to Burundi through UNHCR-supported efforts, with transportation, logistical assistance, and weekly organized return trips coordinated in collaboration with both the Tanzanian and Burundian governments. The initiative also supports transit movements for refugees repatriating from Uganda to Burundi via Kagera region, providing essential services such as water and sanitation, hot meals, and security arrangements.
The selected partner will work closely with UNHCR and government stakeholders to facilitate these returns, ensuring that all beneficiaries make informed decisions and are assisted throughout the process in accordance with international protection standards.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
