Global and regional consultations with NGOs
Global and regional consultations with NGOs
UNHCR's consultations with NGOs have become an appreciated networking event for the diverse organizations working on displacement and protection issues.
Delegates from around the world attend the consultations in Geneva and online, co-organized by the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) and UNHCR. Since 2019, online consultation formats have become more common.
Global consultations
Global NGO consultations are organized by UNHCR's NGO and Civil Society section of the Partnership and Coordination Service, in collaboration with ICVA. These consultations serve as a significant platform where UNHCR colleagues and NGOs come together to discuss common issues related to refugee, forced displacement, and statelessness themes, and to strategize on how to address them. High-level UNHCR officials, including the High Commissioner, typically open and close these events, with other senior management participating in discussions.
Regional consultations
A key difference between the global and regional consultations lies in their bottom-up approach.
Regional NGO consultations directly influence global meetings, including the annual Executive Committee meeting (ExCom). This structure ensures that regional and local perspectives, challenges, and recommendations – often focused on specific geographic areas – inform the broader global agenda, allowing for localized insights to shape global strategies.
2025 consultations
In 2025, the regional consultations with NGOs take place in person and online. Learn more about the 2025 consultations across the regions:
Previous consultations
- 2020 global consultations | 2020 consultations on the COVID-19 response
- 2019 global consultations
- 2018 global consultations
- 2017 annual consultations
- 2016 annual consultations
- 2015 annual consultations
- 2014 annual consultations
- 2013 annual consultations
- 2012 High Commissioner structured dialogue with IFRC and the NGOs