{"id":4085,"date":"2023-02-24T11:47:37","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T11:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/complementary-pathways-guidance\/?page_id=4085"},"modified":"2025-08-13T15:34:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:34:01","slug":"4-unhcrs-engagement-in-complementary-pathways","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/complementary-pathways-guidance\/4-unhcrs-engagement-in-complementary-pathways\/","title":{"rendered":"4. UNHCR\u2019s engagement in complementary pathways"},"content":{"rendered":"

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4. UNHCR\u2019s engagement in complementary pathways<\/h1>\n

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\u00a9 UNHCR\/Nisrine Benyahia<\/span><\/p>\n

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UNHCR\u2019s long-term vision is a world in refugees can make informed choices about their migration options, enjoy freedom of movement and navigate migration frameworks that are cognizant of refugee-specific limitations (with relevant support services available, if needed). These longer-term goals are focused on amending migration systems and frameworks to include refugees through linking development, training, certification, entry rules and systems, support frameworks and integration structures together.<\/p>\n

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Overview of UNHCR’s engagement in complementary pathways<\/h2>\n

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UNHCR\u2019s role in the space of complementary pathways lies in ensuring that refugees are included in national and international systems, their international protection and other needs are taken into account and the institutions that serve them both understand those needs and are equipped to address them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

As an advocate for refugee inclusion, UNHCR plays a pivotal role in providing policy and legal analysis of refugees\u2019 access to opportunities, facilitating the collection of socio-economic data to enrich demographic profiles and utilizing evidence-based information to advocate for inclusive solutions. In contexts where livelihood and economic inclusion interventions are already under way, facilitation and advocacy role, avoiding the creation of parallel systems may be most suitable for UNHCR.<\/p>\n

In some operational contexts, local service providers, including but not limited to civil society organizations, NGOs, refugee-led organizations, do not have the resources (e.g. skills, knowledge, training, funding, staffing) to work on complementary pathways. UNHCR may step in to fill the gaps and, consequently, play a temporary capacity-building role, support with fundraising efforts, strategy building and link local initiatives with existing development and migration initiatives and with international partners involved in sourcing refugees for specific pathways opportunities.<\/p>\n

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Four pillars of engagement in complementary pathways<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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UNHCR\u2019s engagement in complementary pathways organizes around the following four pillars:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Understanding populations and collecting data<\/p>\n

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Building partnerships and coalitions<\/p>\n

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Advocating for law and policy changes<\/p>\n

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Developing policy and building capacity<\/p>\n

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Resources<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Guidance Note on Regular Pathways for Admission and Stay for Migrants in Situations of Vulnerability” url=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/complementary-pathways-guidance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/159\/2023\/08\/guidance_note-_regular_pathways_for_admission_and_stay_for_migrants_in_situations_of_vulnerabilty_final.pdf” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#0072BC” image_icon_width=”60px” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”UNHCR general division of responsibilities in complementary pathways” url=”https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/complementary-pathways-guidance\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/159\/2024\/12\/Annex-7_-General-Division-of-Responsibilities.pdf” url_new_window=”on” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#0072BC” image_icon_width=”60px” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_top=”4px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Previous<\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjQwOTciLCJlbmFibGVfaHRtbCI6Im9mZiJ9fQ==@” button_text=”3. Protection considerations, key principles and eligibility” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_icon=”4||divi||400″ button_icon_placement=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Next<\/strong><\/p>\n

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4. UNHCR\u2019s engagement in complementary pathways\u00a9 UNHCR\/Nisrine BenyahiaUNHCR\u2019s long-term vision is a world in refugees can make informed choices about their migration options, enjoy freedom of movement and navigate migration frameworks that are cognizant of refugee-specific limitations (with relevant support services available, if needed). These longer-term goals are focused on amending migration systems and frameworks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":5639,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

View Page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNHCR\u2019s 1951 Refugee Convention<\/a> supervisory role gives it the responsibility to work with others to ensure that protection considerations are fully respected as frameworks around pathways evolve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Third Country Solutions for Refugees: Roadmap 2030<\/a><\/em>, UNHCR's visions are harnessed under a target of at least 2.1 million refugees successfully accessing complementary pathways in the coming years. This follows from the Global Compact on Refugees<\/a>, which emphasizes the need to make pathways available to refugees on a more systematic basis. UNHCR\u2019s 2022-2026 Strategic Directions <\/a>also affirm the need to expand, pursue and adapt complementary pathways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complementary pathways and family reunification form a vital part of UNHCR\u2019s protection work and overall strategy.  <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Of the many roles and responsibilities needed to grow pathways, most of these do not require UNHCR\u2019s case processing support \u2013 nor is UNHCR an organisation best placed to undertake them. Partners undertake roles in program design, candidate identification, selection, transfer, entry, and post-arrival support- including State authorities, the corporate sector, universities\/academic institutions, faith-based organisations, legal groups, non-governmental organisations and civil societies, local communities, other UN agencies, refugee and diaspora groups, public sector services, donor organisations, philanthropists, and private entities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While UNHCR may play a more significant role during the initial stages of systems building, the long-term vision of equal access to migration pathways for refugees relies on independent partners - with UNHCR maintaining a monitoring and coordinating role, streamlined under the existent resource framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, UNHCR - <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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