The 50 by 35 vision

Prolonged displacement is not only a policy challenge – it is a human one. When refugees remain trapped in long-term displacement, dependent on humanitarian assistance and without realistic prospects for self-reliance or solutions, this undermines a fundamental human right: the right to dignity.

Humanitarian assistance remains essential and life-saving. But it is not the end point. Too many refugees remain in exile for years, with limited opportunities to regain agency and build a future.

This is not sustainable, and it cannot continue.

Refugees deserve the chance to regain agency and build a future, while lasting peace and the conditions for a safe return home are pursued.

The commitment

UNHCR is setting a target to support more than half of the world’s aid‑reliant refugees in long-term displacement in low- and middle-income countries – nearly 8 million people – to move beyond aid through greater self-reliance and pathways to solutions by 2035.

This is not about replacing humanitarian aid, which continues to save lives. It is about moving beyond it as quickly as possible: supporting people through emergencies while enabling them to unlock their potential and build their own futures.

This effort is grounded in UNHCR’s international protection mandate and guided by core protection principles, including access to asylum. Advancing self-reliance and solutions must always reinforce - not replace – protection.

This work will build on the commitments outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees and the progress made at successive Global Refugee Forums.

It reflects a shared global effort, grounded in responsibility-sharing, to strengthen refugee self-reliance, ease pressures on host countries, expand solutions, and support conditions for safe and dignified return.

A shift from merely managing displacement to resolving it. Because being a refugee should be a chapter, not the whole story of an individual’s life.

The success stories

The evidence shows that the best solution to protracted displacement is lasting peace and stability. Yet even in regions where peacebuilding efforts are ongoing, governments, the private sector and other partners are making progress – both in enabling durable solutions and in strengthening refugees’ ability to support themselves. Solutions take different forms.

Syria: Since the fall of the Assad government and the end of fighting across much of country, more than 1.5 million Syrians have returned home. Development funding is now needed to rebuild, sustain returns and support reintegration.

Brazil: The Companies with Refugee Forum brings together more than 150 companies and business organizations, which collectively employ over 14,000 refugees and provide vocational training to thousands more. By expanding access to jobs and skills, the initiative strengthens refugees’ ability to support themselves and contribute to Brazil’s economy.

Colombia: From the outset, Colombia extended legal and administrative inclusion to Venezuelan refugees and migrants, opening access to documentation, services and economic opportunities. This has helped reduce aid dependency and improve living standards, while supporting economic contributions that benefit both refugees and host communities.

Ethiopia: The Makatet Roadmap offers a clear roadmap for refugee inclusion, expanding access to documentation, education, health care, jobs and local services. Built on partnership with development actors, it reflects a “solutions from the start” approach that helps refugees move from dependency to self-reliance while benefiting host communities.

Malaysia: UNHCR and IOM are working on a train-to-hire initiative that connects refugees with skills training and employment opportunities abroad. This approach strengthens refugees’ capacity to become self-reliant while opening pathways to longer-term solutions.

Kenya: The Shirika Plan, led by the Government of Kenya, reflects a bold framework to move from humanitarian assistance towards refugee self-reliance and peaceful coexistence with host communities. By expanding access to legal identity, work permits, financial services, education and health care, it supports refugees as economic actors within local communities and helps reduce aid dependency.

Uganda: Uganda continues to demonstrate the value of progressive refugee policies. Together with development partners, support for self-reliance is being scaled up through agriculture, markets and jobs.