UNHCR Strategic Directions

Reports

UNHCR Strategic Directions
2022 - 2026

January 2022

Three girls smile for the camera, in Kutupalong Refugee Camp.

UNHCR's Strategic Directions outline how the organization plans to protect and support forcibly displaced and stateless people over the coming years. Covering the period 2022-2026, they build on the previous five-year framework and reflect the growing complexity of displacement around the world.

They are not merely a high-level declaration of intent. They serve as the DNA that runs through our global, regional and country strategies and drives our practical efforts on the ground.

First introduced by the High Commissioner in 2017, the Strategic Directions were designed to chart a five-year path forward for UNHCR. Since then, the operational context has become harder to navigate and more people are at risk of displacement. Inequalities have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, new and intractable conflicts, and the climate crisis.

UNHCR’s mandate has never been more vital, and our Strategic Directions apply no less than they did five years ago. The 2022-2026 strategy renews the Strategic Directions for a further five years to guide UNHCR’s priorities and actions.

UNHCR's Strategic Directions remain:

PROTECT

Protect, secure, and defend the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless people.

RESPOND

Respond rapidly and effectively in emergencies and beyond.

INCLUDE

Promote inclusion and self-reliance.

EMPOWER

Empower the people we serve to determine and build their futures.

SOLVE

Pursue solutions to address the consequences of displacement and problems of statelessness.

View and download UNHCR's Strategic Directions 2022-2026

UNHCR Strategic Directions

Strategic focus areas

Within the Strategic Directions 2022-2026, UNHCR identified eight key focus areas where gains on results for forcibly displaced and stateless people have been uneven or slow. These areas would benefit from focused attention over the coming five-year period. UNHCR will tackle them with discipline and unwavering commitment to improve the lives of forcibly displaced and stateless people.

Safeguard international protection, including in the context of mixed movements.

Mainstream development engagement in our responses from the outset, especially by building coalitions with development partners.

Strengthen accountability to the people we serve, especially women and children.

Grow our engagement on responses and solutions for internally displaced people.

Reinforce efforts to strengthen gender-based violence prevention, risk mitigation and response.

Redouble efforts on statelessness so that the objectives of the #IBelong campaign are best pursued.

Expand on, pursue and adapt options for resettlement and complementary pathways.

Proactively act to mitigate the effects of the climate change crisis on displacement and in line with our protection mandate.

Focus area strategic plans

UNHCR has developed targeted plans for several of these focus areas, outlining specific actions and priorities the organization will take to achieve concrete results.

A girl dressed in red looks away from the camera while leaning on a small pile of books

Redoubling our efforts on ending statelessness

The focus area strategic plan on redoubling our efforts to end stateless ness sets global objectives by building on the momentum of the #IBelong campaign.

Read the ending statelessness strategy

A man holds a young boy in his arms, standing in front of a wall damaged by conflict.

Protection and solutions for internally displaced people (IDPs)

The focus area strategic plan for protection and solutions for internally displaced people details our planned role and contribution in contexts of internal displacement.

Read the IDP strategy