Private sector partners will play a key role in galvanizing pledges; UN entities commit to supporting refugee inclusion in host communities.
GENEVA – Held every four years, the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is the largest international conference on refugee issues. The 2023 GRF will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 13 to 15 December and will seek to focus the international discussion on solutions rather than crises.
Co-hosted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Government of Switzerland, the forum has been co-convened by Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda. It aims to focus a range of actors on finding solutions to the plight of refugees, and to support the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees as affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018.
Participants – including states, the private sector, international financial institutions, UN agencies, humanitarian and development organizations, cities and local authorities, NGOs, refugee-led organizations, faith groups and others – will take stock of the progress made since the first GRF in 2019 and make concrete pledges and contributions to improve the lives of 36.4 million refugees around the world.
Contributions to the GRF can take many forms: financial, material or technical assistance, including places for resettlement and other paths to admission to third countries, enabling better resourced countries to share the responsibility for refugees; as well as measures to support host communities, prevent conflict and build peace. Organizations can pledge alone or combine efforts in groups.
Some of the world’s leading companies, foundations and philanthropists will be represented at the GRF, emphasizing the important and multifaceted role of the private sector in supporting refugees. These actors are already making a key contribution to life-saving assistance and sustainable solutions. Private sector contributions include direct support to refugee and host community entrepreneurs as well as refugee-led organizations; the provision of jobs and skilling opportunities; pro bono legal and consulting services, such as financial services, clean energy and digital learning solutions.
During the GRF, 32 UN organizations and 49 UN Country Teams will sign up to a “UN Common Pledge 2.0”, committing to support refugee-hosting countries with the inclusion of refugees in national plans, budgets and service delivery systems – such as education, health, water and sanitation, housing and social protection; as well as access to decent work.
Including refugees on the same basis as nationals is essential – at least until they can return safely home. It is also a cost-effective solution to transition away from humanitarian assistance, particularly in protracted situations, while enhancing refugee self-reliance and resilience.
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