Full programme for Monday 15 December
Full programme for Monday 15 December
ℹ️ Please note that this schedule is preliminary and may be subject to changes.
10:00 - 13:00 | Plenary session
10:00 - 12:00: Opening session
Opening of the plenary session
- Mr. Filippo GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor of Switzerland
- Ms. Zakia Khudadadi, Paralympic medalist and UNHCR High Profile Supporter
Opening statement on behalf of the GRF 2023 co-hosts and co-conveners delivered by: Mr. Aggrey David Kibenge, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development of Uganda
Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres (recorded)
Interventions from multi-stakeholder leaders: "Guiding refugee responses in a changing world":
- Global refugee statement | Delivered by Ms. Nour Jarrouj, Member, Advisory Board to the UNHCR Task Team on Engagement and Partnership with Organizations led by Forcibly Displaced and Stateless Persons, and Senior Engagement Manager (Advocacy), Moving Minds Alliance
- Mr. Naoki Ando, Senior Vice President, Japanese International Cooperation Agency
- H.E. Mr. Saeed Al Eter, Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives
- Ms. Eléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
- H.E. Mr. Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
- Ms. Charlotte Slente, Secretary General, Danish Refugee Council
12:00 - 13:00: Commencement of plenary discussion
13:00 - 13:30 | Speakers' Corner
Short, impactful talks from people with lived experience of forced displacement or statelessness themselves that will cover best practices, innovative approaches, and strategies to tackle upcoming challenges.
Speakers of the day
Mr. Galal Yousif – Spotlighting the Sudan Regional Crisis Through Art
Mrs. Zainab Ali El Faki – Protecting Refugees and Migrants at Risk: Lessons from Libya
Ms. Dim Dim Lian – From Displacement to Innovation: A Personal Journey Through the Asia-Pacific Refugee Crisis and Community-driven Integration in Japan
13:30 - 15:00 | Side events
Panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.
Please note that some events may have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details.
Impact and benefits of resettlement: Perspectives from host and resettlement countries
Time: 13:30-15:00
Room: E+F
Interpretation: English, French
Moderators:
Mr. Daniel Gamboa, Refugee Advisory Group to the CRCP and CEO, New Zealand National Refugee Youth Council
Ms. Vivian Shaima, Refugee Advisory Group to the CRCP and Refugee Guidance Counselor, World University Service of Canada
Panelists:
- Mr. Victor Corso Semple, Director of Migration, Ministry of Justice, Government of Brazil
- Mr. Jean-Marc Gionet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Government of Canada
- Mr. David Herrero Gomez, Director of Resettlement, Ministry of Inclusion, Security and Migration, Government of Spain
- Ms. Bahati Kanyamanza, Global Partnerships Director at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
- Mr. Colm Purcell, Assistant Principal Officer, Irish Refugee Protection Programme, Ministry of Justice, Government of Ireland
At a time when resettlement faces significant political, financial, and operational pressure, this side event aims to have an evidence-based discussion on the benefits and overall impact of resettlement. In addition, the event aims to explore the available data on resettlement, as well as discuss ways to research and obtain any of the data that may not be (sufficiently) available. How do we build upon and capitalize on what exists to shape a positive, compelling narrative in support of resettlement?
From commitment to impact: Advancing gender equality and ending violence against refugee women and girls
Time: 13:30-15:00
Room: 6+7
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Moderator: Ms. Barbara Romero, Spokesperson and Co-Founder of Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders, Member of the Action Network on Forced Displacement
Keynote remarks:
- Ms. Nathalie Estival-Broadhurst, Director of the United Nations, International Organizations, Human Rights, and Francophonie, Government of France
- Ms. Khalida Popal, co-founder and former player with the Afghanistan women's national football team, Founder & CEO of the Girl Power Organization
- Ms. Emily Roper, Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Government of Australia
Panelists:
- Ms. Tonni Brodber, Head of Secretariat, Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund
- Mr. Tormod C. Endresen, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Government of Norway
- Ms. Claudia Fuentes Julio, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Government of Chile
- Ms. Cecile Pango, Founder and Director of Women for Action, Malawi (RWLO) and Chairperson of African Refugee Women-Led Organization Network (ARWNET)
- Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR
Closing remarks:
- Ms. Judith Herbertson, Head of the Girls' Education Department, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government of the United Kingdom
- Ms. Sofia Calltorp, Director Geneva Office and Chief of Humanitarian Action, UN Women
- Mr. Nikolaos Sitaropoulos, Head of Division, Division on Migration and Refugees, DGI, Council of Europe
This side event will highlight progress made under the Multi-Stakeholder Pledge on Gender Equality and Protection from Gender-Based Violence, and the Avec Elles Pledge, showcasing how coordinated action is driving impact despite a deepening funding crisis. Refugee women leaders, governments, and civil society will share how pledges have translated into tangible improvements for women and girls affected by displacement, while also confronting the compounding risks of gender inequality and GBV. The session will present forward-looking solutions to scale impact, strengthen support for refugee women-led organizations, and mobilize renewed commitments to ensure safety, dignity, and inclusion remain central to refugee responses.
13:30 - 15:00 | Strategic dialogues
Rethinking refugee finance: Innovation in an era of mounting pressures
Time: 13:30-15:00
Room: 4
Interpretation: English, French
Master of Ceremonies and closing remarks:
Ms. Stellah Nikuze, Co-Founder, Hodari Foundation
Moderator:
Ms. Dominique Hyde, Director of External Relations, UNHCR
Opening remarks:
Ms. Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UNHCR
Speakers:
Mr. Aristarque Ngoga, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Government of Rwanda
Ms. Bilan Osman Jama, Deputy Director, Humanitarian Assistance, Sida Sweden
Mr. Gideon Kazumbe Babadi, Programme Director, Transformation Innovation Hub
Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance, and Peace, DG INTPA, European Union
Mr. Thomas Husson, Head of Investing in Frontier Markets, Proparco
Ms. Hayley Kornblum, Programme Manager, Refugee Livelihood Portfolio, IKEA Foundation
Ms. Ana Kreacic, Chief Knowledge Officer, Oliver Wyman
Mr. Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director, Grundfos Foundation
This event will demonstrate the impact of innovative finance instruments on refugee inclusion and self-reliance and highlight new partnerships between governments, development actors, private sector, and refugee-led organizations. It aims to identify future directions and enabling conditions for scaling innovative finance in displacement contexts.
15:00 - 18:00 | Plenary session, continued
15:00 - 16:15: Plenary spotlight session
Scaling refugee employment: policy, partnerships and labour mobility.
Interpretation: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Opening remarks: Mr. Peter Schuurman, Special Envoy for Migration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands
Moderator: Ms. Jumoke Jogun, Dokunmu, Chief Investment Officer & Head of Fragility, Africa at IFC
Panelists:
Mr. Francesco Baroni, President, Assolavoro
Ms. Bahati E. Maganjo, Member of the Refugee Advisory Committee to the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility
Mr. David Crawford, Senior Partner, Fragomen
Mr. Aggrey Kibenge, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Government of Uganda
Mr. Andrew Kiley, First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division Immigration Group, Department of Home Affairs, Government of Australia
Ms. Manuela Tomei, Assistant Director General, International Labour Organization
Featured statements of support
Closing remarks: Ms. Zahra Kassam, Head of Private Sector Partnerships, Amahoro Coalition
This spotlight session will highlight scalable practices and strategic partnerships that are advancing refugee employment both in host countries and through labour mobility pathways. It will showcase how governments, private-sector actors, investors, development partners, civil society organizations, and refugee-led initiatives are working together to remove structural barriers, reform policies, and implement evidence-based strategies that expand access to employment, while promoting decent work and inclusive economic growth. The discussion will underscore employment and labour mobility as critical enablers of refugee self-reliance, resilience, and durable solutions, and highlight the social and economic contributions refugees make to host and third countries.
16:15 - 16:30: Plenary pledge announcements
High Commissioner calls on the following pledgers:
H.E. Ms. Caroline Ziadeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lebanon
Mr. Yousef bin Ahmed AL-KUWARI, CEO of Qatar Charity
Mr. Jake Jones, Senior Vice President of Impact and Sustainability, LIV Golf
Mr. Jamal Al-NOURI, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity
Mr. Saeed BAROUD, Director, Department of International Organizations and Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the Syrian Arab Republic
Building Better Futures pledge announcement, co-delivered by Ms. Jessica DE ROTHSCHILD, Co-Chair of USA for UNHCR’s Women’s Committee at USA for UNHCR; Rachael Jarosh, USA for UNHCR's Chair of the Board of Directors; and Krista Rivas, DAFI Scholar
16:30 - 18:00: Plenary discussion
Special remarks: Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
16:30-18:00 | Side events
Panel discussion sessions on the key themes of the Global Compact on Refugees.
Please note that some events may have adjusted timings. For the exact timing of each event, kindly refer to the event details.
Delivering better: How the GCR contributes to UN80 and the humanitarian reset through efficiency and collective impact for refugee inclusion – The UN Common Pledge 2.0
Time: 16:30-18:00
Room: E+F
Interpretation: English, French
Moderator: Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UNHCR
Panelists:
Ms. Jin Dawood, CEO, Peace Therapist
Ms. Fatimetou Mint Abdallahi Dicko, Représentante des Femmes et des Filles, Comité des Femmes Ressources
Mr. Yacoub El Hillo, Regional Director for Africa, United Nations Development Coordination Office
Ms. Valerie Guarnieri, Assistant Executive Director, Programme Operations, United Nations World Food Programme
Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Head and Representative of OCHA in Geneva, Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Mr. Marcelo Viegas Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Brazil
This event will demonstrate how the GCR enables stronger partnerships and efficiencies across the United Nations system that advance the goals of UN80 and the Humanitarian Reset initiatives. It will present the key achievements of the UN Common Pledge 2.0, highlight examples of multi-stakeholder collaboration and the sustainable responses approach in action, and discuss challenges and opportunities to address in the lead up to the GRF 2027.
Accelerating HDP nexus approaches in forced displacement settings
Time: 16:30-18:00
Room: 6+7
Interpretation: English, French
Moderator: Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner (Operations), UNHCR
Opening remarks:
Ms. Toshimi Nishizaki, Ambassador for Humanitarian Assistance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Mr. Ole Thonke, Undersecretary on Development Policy, Government of Denmark
Panelists:
Mr. Naoki Ando, Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Ms. Erica Gerretsen, Director of Human Development, Migration, Governance & Peace, European Union
Ms. Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, Chief Investment Officer & Head of Fragility for Africa, IFC
Ms. Foni Joyce, Programme Coordinator, Global Refugee Youth Network
Ms. Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary General and Crisis Bureau Director, UNDP
Mr. Lev Plaves, Investment Director, KIVA
Mr. Yusuke Taishi, Head of Adaptation Programming, UNDP
Government of Ethiopia
Closing remarks:
Ms. Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General and Crisis Bureau Director, UN Development Programme (UNDP)
As displacement grows in scale and complexity, this event will showcase progress and achievements in implementing the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus approaches, in line with the multistakeholder pledge launched at the 2023 GRF. It will also feature a panel discussion on how humanitarian, development, and peace actors are accelerating the HDP Nexus to move from commitments to tangible, durable solutions for displaced and host communities.
16:30 - 18:00 | Strategic dialogues
Sustaining momentum: leveraging insights from the Global Compact on Refugees Indicator Report and the role of data and statistical systems
Time: 16:30-18:00
Room: 4
Interpretation: English, French
Moderator:
Ms. Noor Azizah, Co-Director, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
Panelists:
Mr. Cyprien Fabre, Head of the Conflict, Crisis, and Fragility Unit, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Mr. Charles Ogolla, Head of Statistics, Planning, Coordination and Partnerships Division Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Ms. Christina Hartler, Deputy Head of Department, Department for Results, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
H.E. Mrs. Aicha Vall Verges, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
This strategic dialogue will spotlight the latest GCR Indicator Report 2025 and the role of data and statistical systems in shaping collective action for refugees and host communities. This year’s report underscores the importance of sustaining and building on existing achievements, even as global challenges intensify, and calls for transforming current pressures into renewed momentum for collective action and durable solutions. As the international community prepares for the Global Refugee Forum 2027, this session will bring together GCR stakeholders to discuss sustaining progress, addressing persistent challenges, and policy recommendations while emphasizing the importance of robust national data and statistical systems for evidence-based decision-making. Participants will explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation and help identify priorities to enhance the next GCR Indicator Report in 2027, ensuring that data collection and analysis continue to drive impactful solutions and sustain momentum for the years ahead.