Full programme for Wednesday 17 December
Full programme for Wednesday 17 December
ℹ️ Please note that this schedule is preliminary and may be subject to changes.
9:00 - 13:00 | Plenary session
9:00 - 11:00: Plenary discussion
11:00 - 11:15: Pledge announcements
11:15 - 13:00: Plenary discussion
9:30 - 11:00 | Side events
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.
From vulnerability to leadership: Reshaping the narrative of Syrian refugees, addressing root causes, and fostering durable solutions
Time: 9:30-11:00
Room: E+F
Interpretation: English, French, Arabic
Opening remarks:
- Mr. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Moderator:
- Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UNHCR
Keynote speaker
- Mr. Saad Baroud, Director of the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Government of Syria
Panelists:
- Mrs. Enas Alnajjar, Head of Refugee Portfolio, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic Government of Syria
- Mr. Nawaf Al Hammadi, Assistant CEO for Programmes and Communications, Qatar Charity
- Mr. Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council
- Mustafa Alio, Co-Managing Director, R-SEAT
Legal identity for all: Addressing statelessness to achieve SDGs
Time: 9:30-11:00
Room: 6+7
Interpretation: English, French, Arabic
Moderator:
Ms. Aleksandra Semeriak Gavrilenok, Vice-Chair, European Network on Statelessness
Panelists:
Ms. Thandeka Chauke, Southern African Nationality Network and Advocacy Lead, Global Movement Against Statelessness
Ms. Tasha Gill, Global Lead Migration and Displacement, UNICEF
Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner (Protection), UNHCR
Mr. Melvin Suarez, State Counsel, Department of Justice of the Philippines, Government of the Philippines
Mr. Jean Demascene Rusanganwa, Director for Citizen Services, Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Government of Rwanda
The event will focus on the linkages between legal identity, citizenship and statelessness within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, especially SDG 16.9 (provide legal identity for all, including birth registration), while emphasizing that without the recognition of nationality, SDG 16.9 cannot be achieved. The event will show how inclusive and statelessness-sensitive ID systems can help prevent and reduce statelessness to ensure that no one is left behind. Additionally, it will take stock of the progress made under the Statelessness MSP and during the first year of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness. The event aims to strengthen political momentum and advance commitments toward ending statelessness worldwide.
11:30 - 13:00 | Strategic dialogues
GCR mechanisms: Strengthening the pledge framework
Time: 11:30-13:00
Room: 4
Interpretation: English, French
Moderator:
Ms. Mary Namono Kibere, M.Counselor- Head Human Rights and Humanitarian Division, Government of Uganda
Opening remarks:
Mr. Nicolas Brass, GCR Section Chief
Panelists:
Ms. Bushra Ghazanfar, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Ms. Elvira Haxhiu, Refugee Gender Expert
Ms. Boriana Benev Ode, Consejera, Government of Chile
Eng. Jamal Abdul-Khaleq Abdullah Al Nouri, Chairman and Head of the Relief Committee of Kuwait Society for Relief, Sheikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society
Ms. Jasmine Simperingham, Program Director, Forced Displacement, PILnet
Mr. Toshifumi Ishida, Head of Humanitarian Affairs Section/First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Japan
Government of Ethiopia
Ms. Caroline Seargeant, Consultant, World Bank
This strategic dialogue will bring together engaged pledging entities made up of States, international organizations, development partners, civil society, refugee-led groups, and other stakeholders to review the evolution and future direction of the Global Refugee Forum pledging framework established under the Global Compact on Refugees. The open exchange will assess how the framework has supported progress on protection, inclusion, and solutions, drawing on insights from the nearly 3,500 pledges cumulatively submitted since 2019. The discussion will consider the quality and impact of pledges, the functioning of the matching process, and the ability of the multistakeholder pledge structure to generate transformational outcomes. The discussion will inform updated guidance for the 2027 Global Refugee Forum to ensure that pledges are practical, results-oriented, and aligned with core needs.
11:30 - 13:00 | 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.
Sudan regional crisis: scaling up development action and localization
Time: 11:30-13:00
Room: E+F
Interpretation: English, French, Arabic
Opening remarks:
Mr. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Moderator:
Mr. Yacoub El Hillo, Regional Director for Africa, UN Development Coordination Office
Panelists:
Ms. Mervat Hamadelneil Osman Bakheit, Executive Director, Sudanese Center on People Empowerment (SCOPE)
Mr. Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office, African Development Bank
H.E. Mr. Hassan Hamid Hassan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Sudan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
H.E. Ambassador Amr El-Sherbini, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates, Government of Egypt
Dr. Elke Löbel, Commissioner for Refugee Policy, Director for Displacement and migration; crisis prevention and management, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Government of Germany
Ms. Roaa Al Mershed, Economist Specialist, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
This event presents an opportunity to highlight scaled-up development action in response to the Sudan emergency. It will underscore the role of development partners and local actors in Sudan’s peace, recovery and reconstruction, with a focus on localization. The session will showcase new and strengthened mechanisms (the Development Partners Group for the Sudan Regional Crisis, the Development Action Platform, and the regional coordination platform for women-led organizations) and present “Solutions from the Start” results.
Shaping the future: making localization work
Time: 11:30-13:00
Room: 6+7
Interpretation: English, French, Spanish
Moderators:
- Mr. Ishimwe Jean Marie, East Africa Regional Lead, R-SEAT
- Ms. Dominique Hyde, Director, Division of External Relations, UNHCR
Keynote speakers:
- Ms. Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UNHCR
- Ms. Helen Bugaari, Director, Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) Secretariat, Uganda
Panelists
- Mr. Edras Levi Suazo, Communications Coordinator, Jóvenes contra la Violencia (Honduras), and member of REJUMOVI
- Mr. Chocho Isaac Fashingabo, Executive Director, Youth Voices Community (Kenya)
- Mr. Paul Kitima, CEO, Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Center
- Ms. Judith Maas, Head of Division, Development Approaches to Forced Displacement Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
- Mr. Lukendo Mbokani Mparha, Executive Director, RELON Uganda
- Ms. Ana Polanco Porras, Expert in Migration, Displacement & Development, Belgian Development Agency, Enabel
- Ms. Barri Shorey, Sr. Program Officer, Refugees Initiative and Disaster Program, Conrad Hilton Foundation
- Ms. Sarah Nduku Nzau, Chief of Staff and Head of Governance and Humanitarian Diplomacy, Kenya Red Cross Society
- Dr. Ndaga Yvonne Endam, Founder and CEO, Endam Home of Hope
The side event will focus on the progress made over the past two years, and challenges faced under the Multistakeholder Pledge on Advancing Localization in Displacement and Statelessness Responses. Important progress on localization is at risk due to the global funding crisis, which threatens past gains and ongoing efforts to promote, support and implement principled locally led action. Sustained commitment to local and national actors remains essential, including those led by forcibly displaced and stateless people, as they are key frontline responders in forcibly displaced and stateless responses. This session will offer the opportunity for collective reflection on promising solutions and co-creating tangible opportunities to scale locally led action moving forward.
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:
Ms. Souzan Husseini – Skill-based Pathways for Refugee Youth: Lessons from Japan and Beyond
Ms. Gaudence Mutabazi Uwizeye – Promotion of gender equality and protection of GBV among refugee women communities
Mr. Muombamungu James – Advancing Inclusive Humanitarian Response for Refugees with Disabilities
13:30 - 14:45 | Spotlight session
Strong and sustainable asylum systems: addressing challenges, enabling protection and solutions
Interpretation: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Moderator: Mr. David Manne, CEO & Principal Solicitor, Refugee Legal (Australia)
Panelists:
H.E. Ambassador Amr El-Sherbini, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates, Government of Egypt
Ms. Nina Gregori, Executive Director, European Union Agency for Asylum
Ms. Lizbeth Guerrero, Founder, MERLOS
Mr. Christian Guillermet Fernández, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations
Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner (Protection), UNHCR
Government of Chad
Featured statements of support
The event will provide a moment to reflect on achievements, assess ongoing challenges and chart a practical path forward to fully realize the Asylum Capacity – Asylum Capacity Support Group (ACSG) Multistakeholder Pledge ahead of the GRF 2027. The event aims to mobilize further political commitments to strengthen national asylum systems as outlined in the recently launched Strategic Approach and position these efforts as part of a broader, coherent and coordinated response to mixed movements of refugees and migrants.
15:00 - 16:00 | 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.
Driving change: national leadership for advancing sustainable responses
Time: 15:00-16:00
Room: 6/7
Interpretation: English, French
Opening remarks:
Mr. Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, UNHCR
Moderator:
Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, UNHCR
Panelists:
Ms. Louange Akossiwa Koffi, Founder and Director, Ange Aid Foundation
Dr. Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office, African Development Bank
Mr. Cheikna Beddad, Director General of Development Strategies and Policies
H.E Ms. Usana Bernanda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Government of Thailand
Mr. Xavier DeVictor, Advisor and Head of UNHCR/World Bank Joint Team on Sustainable Responses
Ms. Karine Sujayan, Head of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Mr. Marcelo Viegas, Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Brazil
Supporting remarks:
Mr. Ngoga Aristarque, Permanent Secretary, Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Government of Rwanda
Dr. Elke Löbel, Commissioner for Refugee Policy, Director for Displacement and migration; crisis prevention and management, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Government of Germany
Ms. Heloise Raudel, Senior Technical Specialist on Crisis Migration at International Labour Organization, International Labour Organization
Ms. Thomas Thomsen, Chief Advisor on Nexus and Displacement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Denmark
Dr. Sintiki Uge, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS
15:00 - 18:00 | Plenary session, continued
15:00 - 16:30: Plenary discussion
Mr. Filippo GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Discussions with refugee leaders
Moderator:
Ms. Monicah Malith, Advocacy Lead, Tertiary Refugee Student Network
Panelists:
Mr. Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner for Refugees
Ms. Cecile Pango Losamandjo, Founder, Women for Action
Ms. Krista Belén Rivas Gutierrez, Member, Grupo Articulador de Organizaciones Lideradas por Personas Refugiadas y Desplazadas a la Fuerza para Latinoamérica y el Caribe
Mr. Majdi Laktinah, Refugee Advisor, Germany
Whole-of-society speakers
Mr. Thomas Bach, Chair, Olympic Refuge Foundation
Prof. Jaya Krishnakumar, Board Member, Dharma Alliance
Mr. Felipe Muñoz, Chair, Multilateral Development Bank Coordination Platform on Economic Migration and Forced Displacement and Chief, Migration Unit, Inter-American Development Bank (tbc)
Mr. Sanya Wilson, Mayor of Koboko Municipality, Uganda
Ms. Rose Nyomo Daniel, Vice President, Network of Women with Disabilities (NWD) Nigeria (tbc)
Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director and CEO, International Council of Voluntary Agencies
16:30 - 18:00: Closing session
Closing statement on behalf of the GRF 2023 Co-Hosts and Co-Conveners
H.E. Ambassador OIKE Atsuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva
Closing remarks by the Co-Host
Mr. Vincenzo Mascioli, State Secretary for Migration of Switzerland
Closing remarks
- Mr. Filippo GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees