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Full programme for Friday 15 December

Friday 15 December

9:00 - 13:00 | Opening plenary session

  • Room: Details to be provided 
  • Languages available: Details to be provided

Opening remarks by the Co-Hosts

Statements by the United Nations Secretary-General and the Co-Convenors

Broadening the base

11:00-12:30 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees. 

Please note that some events have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details. 

Scaling up Climate Action in Displacement Settings

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: X
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85354820346

Moderator:

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers:

  • Mr. Jagan Chapagain, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • Ms. Joelle Hangi, Inclusivity Lead at the Global Platform for Action, United Nations Institute for Training and Research
  • H.E. Ambassador Gamal Hassan, Head of the IGAD Centre of Excellence for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Protection (CAEP), IGAD
  • Ms. Safia Mohamed, Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees and IDPs, Government of Somalia
  • Ms. Lotte Machon, State Secretary for Development Policy, Government of Denmark
  • Mr. Efa Muleta, State Minister of Agriculture, Government of Ethiopia

  • Ms. Susan Luak, Steering Committee Member, Africa Refugee Led Network

  • H.E. Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, European Union
Solidarity in Cities: Learning from Mayors on Refugee Inclusion in Urban Areas

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: V
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish 
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85826514648 

Moderators:

  • Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments

  • Ms. Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director, Mayors Migration Council

Speakers:

  • Mr. Farhad Ataee, Incubator Manager, SINGA
  • Mr. Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor, City of Amman, Jordan
  • Ms. Patricia Barandun, Chief of Section, Migration and Forced Development, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
  • Ms. Alcina Cerdeira, Councillor for Social Services, Inclusion and Equality, City of Fundão, Government of Portugal

  • Ms. Adriana Minerva Espinoza Nolasco, Vice Minister for Migration issues, State of Baja California, Mexico

  • Mr. Edward Infante López, Mayor, City of Carmen de la Legua, Peru
  • Mr. Sami Kanaan, Executive Councillor, City of Geneva, Switzerland
  • Mr. Filippo Mannino, Mayor, City of Lampedusa, Italy
  • Ms. Corine Mauch, Mayor, City of Zurich, Switzerland
  • Mr. Ron Nirenberg, Mayor, City of San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
  • Mr. Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, Mayor, City of Nyamagabe, Rwanda

  • Mr. Vitomir Miles Raguz, Head of European relations, Council of Europe Development Bank

  • Mr. Marvin Rees, Mayor, City of Bristol, United Kingdom
  • Ms. Sanya Wilson, Mayor, City of Koboko, Uganda
The Promise of Secure Housing, Land, and Property Rights – From Response Planning to Durable Solutions Programming: Myth, Legend, Opportunity?

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: P
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83157550333 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Mamadou Dian Balde, Director, Regional Bureau for the Eastern Horn of Africa and Great Lakes, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers:

  • Mr. Erfan Ali, Chief of Staff, UN-Habitat
  • Ms. Marit Glad, Global Programme Director, Norwegian Refugee Council
  • Dr. Joan Kagwanja, Chief of the Agribusiness Enabling Environment Section and Coordinator for the African Land Policy Center, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
  • Mr. Chris Lukkien, Chief Executive Officer, ZOA Netherlands
  • Mr. Jakub Mazur, Deputy Mayor of the City of Wroclaw, Poland
  • Ms. Elizabeth Moreno Barco, Coordinator for FISCH, Nansen Regional Award Winner for the Americas 2023, Chocó Solidarity Inter-ethnic Forum (FISCH) 
  • Hon. Martin Niteretse, Minister of Interior, Government of the Republic of Burundi
  • Ms. Natalie Roque, Minister of the Secretariat of Human Rights, Government of Honduras
  • Mr. Houliang Xu, Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
A Regional Approach to finding solutions for Displaced Populations and their Host Communities in the IGAD Region

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: K
Interpretation: English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84490733370 

Moderator:

  • Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Affey, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Authority on Development

  • Mr. Said Nouh Hassan, Minister of Interior, Government of Djibouti

  • Mr. Eng. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Government of Uganda

  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • Madame Fathia Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development Division, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

  • Ms. Adhieu Achuil Dhieu, Executive Director, MonyQadow

  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance & Peace, Directorate-General for International Partnerships

Resettlement

Time: 11:00-12:30
Room: W
Interpretation: English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84292827508 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Danijel Malbasa, Refugee Advisor to the Government of Australia

Speakers:

  • Ms. Yamamah Agha, General Manager Newcomers, Settlement and Integration, Settlement Services International
  • Ms. Shaza Al Rihawi, Co-Founder, Global Refugee-led Network
  • Mr. Sasha Chanoff, Chief Executive Officer, RefugePoint
  • Ms. Nina Gregori, Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum
  • Mr. Eyad Jaabary, Refugee Advisor on Resettlement and Complementary Pathway
  • Ms. Teddi Jallow, Executive Director, Refugee Dream Center
  • Mr. Marc Miller, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Government of Canada
  • Ms. Claire Putzeys, Director for Refugees at the U.S. National Security Council, Government of the United States of America
  • Ms. Paula Santacruz, Refugee Advisor for the New Zealand Government
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner-Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Kjetil Vevle, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, Government of Norway
  • Ms. Najeeba Wazefadost, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Network of Refugees
  • Mr. Senol Uzun, Head of Resettlement and Voluntary Repatriation Department

13:00-15:00 | Lunch break

13:30-15:00 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Please note that some events have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details. 

Context of Forced Displacement Related to The Central African Republic Crisis: CAR Solutions

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: K
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82169696373 

Moderator:

  • Ms. Virginie Baïkoua, Minister of Humanitarian Action and National Reconciliation, Government of Central African Republic

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General; Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic

  • H.E. Mr. Jean Pierre Baptist, Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Government of Chad

  • Mr. Hassan Hamid Hassan, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Government of Sudan

  • Hon. Angelina Jany Teny, Minister of Interior, Government of South Sudan

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner-Operations United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • H.E. Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations, Government of Cameroon
  • Ms. Irène Marie Cécile Mboukou Kimbatsa, Minister of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Humanitarian Action of the Republic of Congo
  • H.E Jean-Claude Molipe Mandongo, Vice Minister of Interior, Security and Customary Affairs of DRC
  • H.E. Mr. Félix Moloua, Prime Minister, Government of Central African Republic 
  • Mr. Stephan Maurer, Geneva Representative, Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
  • Mr. Gédéon Tanguy Just Panté, Refugee Expert from the Central African Republic
  • Mr. Mamady Souare, Keynote speaker for Core Group Resident Representative COCF, African Development Bank
Data & Forced Displacement: Fostering refugee inclusion through national statistics

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: V
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86840122833 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Xavier Devictor, Co-Director for the World Development Report & Manager in the Fragility, Conflict, and Violence Group, World Bank

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Dante Carhuavilc, Head of the National Institute for Statistics and Information, Government of Peru

  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Union

  • Mr. Felipe Muños Gomez, Chief, Migration Unit, Inter-American Development Bank
  • Ms. Anila Noor, CEO, New Women Connectors
  • Mr. Ole Thonke, Under Secretary of Development Policy, Government of Denmark
  • Dr. Baradine Zakaria Moursal, Director General for the National Institute for Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies, Government of Chad
Sustainable Integrated Human Settlements: Towards Refugees Inclusion and Self-Reliance and Community Resilience

Time: 13:00-14:45
Room: X
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88106375141 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Sami Kanaan, President, Global Cities Hub

Speakers: 

  • Mr. Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor of the City of Amman, Jordan
  • Mr. Mamadou Dian Balde, Director, Regional Bureau for the Eastern Horn of Africa and Great Lakes, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary, State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Government of Kenya
  • Dr. Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Minister and Water and Energy, Government of Ethiopia
  • Mr. Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Dr. Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator, Kenya
  • Ms. Lotte Machon, State Secretary for Development Policy, Government of Denmark
  • Mr. Sajjad Malik, Director, Division of Resilience and Solutions, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat
  • Dr. James Mwangi, Group Managing Director, CEO Equity Group Holdings and Executive Chairman, Equity Group Foundation
  • Ms. Suheyla Saad Vefai, Refugee Expert
  • Mr. Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director (CEO), Grundfos Foundation
  • Mr. Oumar Sylla, Director Regional Office for Africa UN-Habitat 
From pledges to results: Realizing a world free from statelessness through collaborative action

Time: 13:00-14:30
Room: W
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88517104880 

Speakers:

  • Mr. Azizbek Ashurov, Coordinator, Central Asian Network on Statelessness
  • Mr. Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director, Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Mr. Dennis Arvin L. Chan, Chief State Counsel, Department of Justice, Government of Philippines
  • Ms. Kareen Jabre, Director, Division of Programmes, Inter-Parliamentary Union
  • Mr. Paul Koreki, Conseiller technique chez le Cabinet du garde des Sceaux, Ministre de la Justice, Government of Côte d'Ivoire
  • Ms. Maha Mamo, Human Rights Activist, France
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR

13:30 - 16:00 | Speakers' Corner

  • Room: Exhibition space

Short, impactful talks from a range of experts working in forced displacement. Gain insights from humanitarians, government representatives, UN personnel, academics, and refugees themselves as they cover best practices, innovative approaches, and strategies to tackle upcoming challenges.

Speakers' Corner schedule

13:30 – 13:40

Transforming Sanitation Challenges into Solutions: Lessons from the Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Speaker: Mr. KAM Morshed, Senior Director of BRAC

13:40 – 13:50

Enhancing the support ecosystem for refugee entrepreneurs    

Speaker: Mr. Farhad Ataee, Refugee Expert, Economic Inclusion and Social Protection Pledge, and Incubator Manager at SINGA Paris    

13:50 -14:00

Together for Strong Asylum Systems: The Asylum Capacity Support Group at the Global Refugee Forum

Speakers:

  • Mr. Ajang Longar Adier, Law student at the Law Development Centre, Kampala, Uganda
  • Mrs. Ana Lorena Valle Cornavaca, Asociación de Nicaragüenses en México

14:00 – 14:10

Refugee-Led Counseling for Complementary Pathways Project (Jordan)

Speaker: Ms. Vivian Shaima, WUSC

14:10 – 14:20

Pioneering the Whole of Society to Co-create "Refugee Inclusion Industry" through Corporate Engagement    

Speaker: Mr. Jintae Kim, Representative Director of Welcome Japan

14:20 – 14:30

Miles4Migrants: Making safety only a few miles away

Speaker: Mr. Nick Ruiz, Co-founder, Managing Director, Miles4Migrants   

14:30 – 14:40

Labor Market Access for Refugees: The Evidence on a Win-Win for Refugees and Hosts

Speaker: Dr. Thomas Ginn, Research Fellow

 14:40 – 14:50

He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata (It is the People, It is the People, It is the People)

Speaker: Mr. Aklilu Habteghiorghis, Community Engagement Lead, New Zealand Red Cross

14:50 – 15:00

Voice of Children

Speakers: Ms. Naya and Ms. Sedra, Child refugee experts

15:00 – 15:10

Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN)

Speaker: Ms. Saliha KARAKAŞ, Deputy FRIT Coordinator, Directorate General of Social Assistance, Ministry of Family and Social Services, Türkiye

15:10 – 15:20

What Ways Forward for Localisation and Meaningful Refugee Participation    

Speakers:

  • Mr. Ntobuah Julius Mvenyi, Board Chairman, Newcomers with Disabilities in Sweden
  • Mr. Victor Beaume, Caritas International Belgium

15:20 – 15:30

A sustainable sanctuary: Transforming Waste into Resources

Speaker: Mr. Ignazio Matteini, Principal coordinator - Climate Action SMS/DESS, UNHCR

15:30 – 15:40

Territorial solutions to refugees and migrants’ integration

Speaker: Mr. Roi Chiti, United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN Habitat)

15:40 – 15:50

Integrated Livelihood Programming in Displacement Settings

Speaker: Mr. Mohamed Hassan, Refugee-Led Research Hub    

15:00-18:00 | Plenary session, continued

  • Room: Details to be provided 
  • Languages available: Details to be provided

GCR in Action: Multi-stakeholder pledge announcements

Plenary interventions on burden- and responsibility-sharing

15:00-16:30 | Parallel high-level events

Concurrent in-depth panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.

Please note that some events have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details. 

Advancing Localization in Displacement and Statelessness Responses

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: W
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81725190836 

Speakers: 

  • Hon. Victoria Businge Rusoke, State Minister for Local Government, Ministry of Local Government, Government of Uganda
  • Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Isaac Fokuo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Amahoro Coalition
  • Dr. Nur Incetahtacı, Board Member, SENED
  • Mr. Alper Küçük, Director General for International Affairs and Migration Services, Turkish Red Crescent
  • Mr. KAM Morshed, Senior Director, Advocacy, Innovation and MEAL, BRAC Bangladesh
  • Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies
  • Ms. Fati N'Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director, Oxfam International
  • Ms. Nathalie Olijslager, Director, Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid, Government of the Netherlands (Kingdom of)
  • Ms. Cecile Pango, Founder and Director, Women for Action
  • Ms. Susana Raffalli, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, Caritas Venezuela
  • Ms. Taban Shorech, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Lotus Flower
Digital Protection: Hate Speech and Dis/Misinformation

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: X
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81621107126 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Abdullahi Mire, UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award’s 2023 Global Laureate

Speakers:

  • Mr. Santiago de la Moro, Managing Director, Google Global Partnerships, Google
  • Ms. Alice Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention
  • Mr. Ally Ntumba, Refugee Delegate to the Global Refugee Forum
  • Ms. Joelle Rizk, Senior Advisor on Digital Risks, ICRC Protection Department, International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner-Protection, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Mr. Kjetil Velvi, State Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, Government of Norway
  • Ms. Zahra Walet Mohamed, Refugee Delegate to the Global Refugee Forum
The GCR in Action in the Sudan Emergency – Early Development Responses to a Regional Refugee Crisis

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: V
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82844251221 

Moderator:

  • Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers: 

  • Ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan Hamid, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • H.E Minister Albino Akol Atak, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of South Sudan
  • Ambassador Dr. Jean Pierre Baptiste, Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Nations Office in Geneva
  • Dr. Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS), African Development Bank
  • Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director, Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace, European Union International Partnerships
  • Mr. Abdi Abdullahi, Manager – Resilience and Fragility Division, Islamic Development Bank
The Role of Islamic Philanthropy Institutions in the Humanitarian Response to Displacement Crises

Time: 15:00-16:30
Room: K
Interpretation: Arabic, English, French
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84222472411 

Moderators: 

  • Dr. Hana Omar, Acting Director of Partnerships and International relations, KS Relief ​ 

  • Ms. Şafak Pavey, Senior Adviser, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Speakers: 

  • Dr. Majed Al Azmi, Director General, Zakat House of Kuwait 
  • Mr. Jamal Al Nouri, Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society 
  • Dr. Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives 
  • Mr. Abdel Wahab Al Shehri, Assistant Secretary General, Muslim World League 

  • Mr. Badr Al Sumait, General Manager, The International Islamic Charity Organization

  • Dr. Saleh I. Babear, Assistant Secretary General, World Assembly of Muslim Youth

  • Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • Dr. Ayedh Dabsan Al Qahtani​, Chief Executive Officer, Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanity

  • Mr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and Regional Representative to the GCC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • Mr. Muhd Muhammad Faizal Othman, Chief Executive Officer, Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation

Official linked events

A range of linked events were also held throughout the day in locations across Geneva as part of the official Global Refugee Forum 2023 programme.

View linked events for Friday 15 December

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