IOM has signed a comprehensive agreement with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) to provide sustainable socio-economic
reinsertion assistance to former combatants and ex-members of
self-defence groups.

The USD 1.4 million, six-month programme, funded by the UN's
Peacebuilding Fund, aims to provide vocational training and in-kind
assistance to set up the first 250 of 1,000 micro projects that
will benefit 1,300 individuals who are currently demobilized in the
Central and Western departments of Séguéla,
Duekué and Guiglo.

The micro projects will seek to support agricultural, cattle
farming, small business and retailing activities, through the
provision of a reinsertion kit, which will include a set of
essential equipment and tools.

Priority will be given to former combatants and members of
self-defence groups who choose to work together on common
income-generating projects.   

"Cote d'Ivoire is currently in a post-conflict phase with
elections scheduled for the coming months," says Jacques Seurt,
IOM's Chief of Mission in Abidjan. "It is therefore critical to
ensure the sustainable reinsertion assistance for former
combatants, particularly in areas that have been worst affected by
the conflict."

To date, some 10,000 ex-combatants have been disarmed,
demobilized and regrouped throughout the country. A further 34,000
combatants and 20,000 members of self-defence groups are still in
need of disarmament and demobilization assistance.

For more information, please contact:

Jacques Seurt

IOM Abidjan

Tel: +225 22 52 82 00

E-mail: "mailto:jseurt@iom.int">jseurt@iom.int