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UNHCR Regional Consultations with NGOs in East and Horn and Great Lakes of Africa

In collaboration with the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the UNHCR Regional Bureau for East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region is organizing the 2023 Regional Consultations with NGOs on 13-15 June 2023, online, in Eastern Africa Time (EAT).

Important documents

Download a Microsoft Teams background (.jpg, 1.14 MB) to use during the Consultations.

Themes

Solutions and inclusion (in national systems)

Day 1: Tuesday 13 June 2023
9 a.m.-12.30 p.m. EAT

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Livelihoods and resilience

Day 2: Wednesday 14 June 2023
9 a.m.-12.30 p.m. EAT

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UNHCR programme reforms and partnership

Day 3: Thursday 15 June 2023
9 a.m.-11.00 a.m. EAT

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Side events

  • Climate displacement
    Day 1: Tuesday 13 June 2023, 2-4 p.m. EAT
  • Gender equality
    Day 2: Wednesday 14 June 2023, 2-4 p.m. EAT
  • Localization: Meaningful participation of refugees
    Day 2: Wednesday 14 June 2023, 2-4 p.m. EAT

Contact us

For any queries, please contact:

  • UNHCR East and Horn and Great Lakes of Africa External Engagement team ([email protected])
  • Joanina Karugaba ([email protected]), Senior Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, UNHCR Regional Bureau for East and Horn and Great Lakes
  • Caroline Opile ([email protected]),  Assistant Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, UNHCR Regional Bureau for East and Horn and Great Lakes
  • Addis Tesfa ([email protected]), ICVA Regional Representative East and Southern Africa
  • Nkirote Laiboni ([email protected]), ICVA Deputy Regional Representative East and Southern Africa

Session recordings

Session 1: Solutions and inclusion + Welcoming remarks

Session 2: Climate displacement

Joshua, who fled gang violence in his country, now works as a forest ranger at a natural preserve in southeastern Guatemala. Through a partnership between UNHCR and FUNDAECO – the NGO that runs the preserve – refugees receive training and employment. Many discover a passion for the natural world and become conservation advocates. 

“I love nature, and I know that what I do is important not only for me personally, but that it’s actually benefiting everyone.”

Joshua

Meefah Ahsong was born stateless as a member of one of Thailand’s indigenous ethnic minorities living in northern mountainous areas near Chiang Mai. Now she works as a community volunteer helping others in her community to go through the process of acquiring Thai citizenship.  

A man sits behind a podium during a panel event

Hane Alrustm, director of programmes at Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative, speaks during a panel event at the Global Refugee Forum.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Millions of people around the world are denied a nationality because of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, language or gender, or because of gaps in nationality laws. Often they are not allowed to go to school, see a doctor, get a job, open a bank account, buy a house or even get married. Stateless people are leading the way in demanding change. 

“Higher education is a dream that most refugees hardly achieve because we find ourselves in places and situations that are beyond our control.” 

These are the powerful words of Bernice Kula-kula, a refugee student from the Democratic Republic of Congo currently studying master’s degree in computer engineering, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Cagliari in Italy.

“As a refugee, I felt like everything was taken away from me, I felt like my identity was taken away from me but through higher level education, I got a chance to find myself, to find my strength, to find my talent which has given me self-reliance.”

She was speaking at an event on the 15by30 goal, which aims to boost refugee enrollment in higher education to 15 per cent by 2030 from its current level of 7 per cent. The goal is the focus of a multi-stakeholder pledge at this year’s GRF and linked pledges by Türkiye, Germany, and language technology company Duolingo.  

“Universities in refugee-hosting countries are highly committed to enrolling and including more refugees. However, the support universities receive to increase enrollment of refugees in higher education, as well as to deliver research and outreach services on forced migration remains very limited. Universities, particularly those from the global south, are under extreme pressure and need greater investment,” said Professor Wondemagegn Tadesse, University of Addis Ababa. 

Italy. Bernice Kula-Kula studying in her room at the halls of residence

Bernice Kula-Kula studying in her room at the University of Cagliari in Italy where she is a master's student. 

Session 5: Partnerships

Recommendations and closing remarks

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SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals 

The 2030 Agenda emphasizes the interconnectedness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and the need for partnerships to achieve them. Inclusive partnerships are a cornerstone of achieving the SDGs.


UNHCR works with forcibly displaced people and refugees, including refugee-led organizations, to support innovative projects to improve the lives of displaced people and host communities. This includes the provision of financial support for refugee-led organizations to implement and develop innovative projects that demonstrate the power of solutions developed by and for displaced and stateless people. 

"I believe in the power of perseverance and the importance of working towards a better future, no matter the obstacles that may stand in our way."

Deline Ramiro Yihumutima, Operations and Partnerships Lead for the Solidarity Initiative for Refugees, a refugee-led organization in Kenya
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