UNHCR Brings Refugee Inclusion to the Forefront at the Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026

Jakarta, Indonesia – As global leaders gathered at the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026 in Jakarta to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, joined the conversation to highlight a pressing issue that is increasingly shaping economies, businesses and communities around the world: forced displacement.

Held from 22 to 25 June at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD, the GSDC brought together representatives from governments, the private sector, academia and civil society to exchange ideas and forge partnerships for sustainable development. Throughout the event, UNHCR engaged with companies and institutions to explore how strategic partnerships can help create lasting opportunities for refugees while supporting businesses in delivering meaningful Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) impact.

At the UNHCR exhibition booth, visitors connected with the UNHCR team to learn how businesses can contribute through their expertise, innovation and investment. Conversations focused on practical collaboration, demonstrating how the private sector can play a vital role in helping displaced communities rebuild their lives.

A highlight of UNHCR's participation was a featured session at the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Business Summit, where Ms. Karen Whiting, Head of Bureau Protection and Solutions Service for UNHCR's Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, addressed business leaders on the theme, Corporate responsibility in a volatile world: From commitment to credible impact.

Drawing on UNHCR's latest Global Trends report, Ms. Whiting underscored that nearly 118 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by the end of 2025. While displacement is often viewed through a humanitarian lens, she emphasized that its impacts extend far beyond emergency response, influencing labour markets, supply chains, local economies and the resilience of communities where businesses operate.

"Forced displacement and sustainable business are more closely connected than many people realise," said Ms. Whiting. "As companies seek to translate their ESG commitments into meaningful action, partnerships that promote inclusion, strengthen resilience and expand opportunities for displaced people can create lasting value. Not only for refugees and host communities, but also for businesses and the societies they serve."

Throughout the session, Ms. Whiting shared examples of partnerships across Asia that demonstrate how governments, humanitarian organisations and businesses can work together to deliver tangible impact. From enabling legal identity and access to employment, to expanding financial inclusion, investing in livelihoods and supporting clean energy solutions, each example illustrated how businesses can apply their core capabilities to address complex social challenges while advancing their ESG ambitions.

The message resonated throughout the GSDC: no single organisation can solve displacement alone. Governments create enabling policies, humanitarian organisations provide expertise and trusted community engagement, while businesses contribute innovation, technology and investment. Together, these partnerships can transform ESG commitments into measurable outcomes that benefit both displaced and host communities.

UNHCR's participation at the GSDC 2026 reaffirmed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing one of the defining global challenges of our time. As expectations for responsible business continue to evolve, partnerships that combine humanitarian expertise with private sector innovation will play an increasingly important role in building more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

UNHCR looks forward to strengthening new partnerships formed during the GSDC and continuing to work alongside governments, businesses and communities to ensure that refugees are not left behind and that together, we create opportunities for people forced to flee to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.