Non-governmental organizations
Non-governmental organizations
We place great importance on continuously improving collaborations with partners, particularly promoting national partners and refugee-led organizations (RLOs) as first responders in emergency operations.
UNHCR has been working with NGOs since we first began helping the forcibly displaced in the early 1950s. As our work and size grew to cope with emerging refugee crises in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, especially in Africa, Asia and Central America, so did our ties with a wide range of newly formed humanitarian and refugee-related NGOs.
In 2007, UNHCR adopted the Global Humanitarian Platform's Principles of Partnership that set out common standards of equality, transparency, complementarity and a results-oriented approach among all humanitarian groups. We integrated the Principles of Partnership in to our 'Framework for Implementing with Partners' as an institutional approach to collaborative partnerships.
The global and regional consultations include a range of national and international NGOs from around the world. They provide an important forum for NGOs and states to network, dialogue and exchange views with UNHCR as equal partners – an approach that NGOs welcome.
The UNHCR has had the most excellent relations with the voluntary agencies. Their work is in a true sense of the term indispensable and invaluable for refugees.
UNHCR collaborates with NGOs to implement a wide range of projects that are related to its mandate. Sectors include:
- aid distribution
- protection
- shelter
- health
- water
- sanitation
- nutrition
- education.
When putting the Global Compact on Refugees into action, civil society is at the front line and essential to its success. Civil society forms the largest group among all action takers based on the number of pledging entities. They are instrumental in ensuring meaningful participation of refugees and other marginalized groups. In many cases, civil society is quicker in implementing pledges compared to other stakeholders. If sufficiently empowered, supported and funded, civil society has the potential to deliver even more.
Further information and useful links
Every year representatives from around the world attend UNHCR's consultations with NGOs.
The UNPP provides your organization, as a prospective partner, with a digital space to:
- enhance your visibility
- find open opportunities
- access a dedicated learning platform
- submit concept notes for funding consideration with UN agencies.