UNHCR works with State authorities, Entity/Brčko District BiH and local levels, the Human Rights Ombudsman, and with international bodies including the Office of the High Representative, participating in its Board of Principals, the OSCE Mission, the Council of Europe, and with local international missions including the Delegation of the European Union.
UNHCR BiH closely cooperates with its partners to implement the following activities:
- The Ministry of Security – MoS (AC Delijaš, registration and RSD), the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees – MHRR (RRC Salakovac, local integration and individual support to refugees).
- UNHCR is increasing its support in 2021 to the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs (SFA) to enhance their first-line response capacity and supports authorities with trainings on asylum processing and reception centre management.
- UNHCR supports free legal aid, psycho-social support, community-based protection, and protection mainstreaming, inside and outside reception centres in partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative and Vaša Prava BiH. These partnerships ensure the provision of protection services during the asylum process, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- As of 2021, UNHCR established a new partnership with the INGO Catholic Relief Services to focus on the effective integration of refugees.
- UNHCR plays a leading role in the UN/inter-agency response to the mixed movement in BiH, with a focus on asylum. UNHCR supports the overall coordination, including protection (in support of referral pathways), as well as information management. UNHCR also collaborates with other UN agencies in the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- UNHCR maintains a strategic dialogue with key donors and actors, including the EU Delegation and the governments of the United States of America, Austria, Italy, and Denmark, to ensure a shared understanding of UNHCR’s vision for solutions in BiH in the context of the region. To this respect, UNHCR’s further engagement with regional projects such as the IPA Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management in the Western Balkans is an important tool.
