Global Refugee Forum Q&A

What is the Global Refugee Forum?

The Global Compact on Refugees, which was affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018, aims at transforming the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and the communities that host them.

The Global Compact intends to provide a basis for more predictable and equitable responsibility sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation.

The Global Compact calls for a number of arrangements, both at the global and national level, to translate the principle of international solidarity into concrete action. Chief among them is the organization of a Global Refugee Forum.

Held every four years at ministerial level, the Global Refugee Forum will be an opportunity for UN Member States and other stakeholders to announce concrete contributions and pledges towards the objectives of the Global Compact, namely to: i) ease pressures on host countries, ii) enhance refugee self-reliance, iii) expand access to third country solutions, and iv) support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and dignity.

The Global Refugee Forum will also provide an opportunity to explore ways in which responsibility-sharing can be increased, take stock of progress, and showcase good practices that can inform the development of future pledges.

When and where is the Global Refugee Forum taking place?

The first Global Refugee Forum will take place at the CICG in Geneva, on 17 and 18 December 2019, at the ministerial level.

Subsequent forums will be convened every four years to ensure sustained momentum and political will. Unless decided otherwise, Global Refugee Forums will take place in Geneva to facilitate the participation of all Member States.

A series of preparatory meetings with States and other stakeholders will be convened in Geneva in the lead-up to the first Forum.

What will happen at the Global Refugee Forum?

• At the Global Refugee Forum, States and other stakeholders will announce concrete pledges and contributions in relation to the objectives of the Global Compact.
• Pledges and contributions may take the form of financial, material, and technical assistance; resettlement places and complementary pathways for admission to third countries; as well as other actions that States and other stakeholders have elected to take to achieve tangible benefits for refugees and host communities.  Pledges can be made either individually or jointly with other actors.
• The Global Refugee Forum will serve as a space to share good practices, experiences, and lessons learned around common priority themes that will be identified with respect to specific country or regional situations, as well as on a global level.
• The first Global Refugee Forum will be organized around six areas of focus: arrangements for burden and responsibility sharing, education, jobs and livelihoods, energy and infrastructure, solutions, and protection capacity. While all contributions and good practices related to the Global Compact on Refugees are welcome, a particular emphasis on these areas is encouraged.
• Guidance on the development of pledges and contributions and good practices.

Who will participate?

In full recognition of the key role that many different actors play in contributing to the refugee cause, the Global Refugee Forum will involve States, as well as the active participation of a wide range of multi-stakeholders, who will also be invited to make pledges and contributions, as well as support preparations for the Forum.

These actors include, but are not limited to, refugee and host community members, international organizations within and outside the United Nations system; other humanitarian and development actors; international and regional financial institutions; regional organizations; local authorities; civil society, including faith-based organizations; academics and other experts; the private sector, and media. 

The modalities for multi-stakeholder engagement as well as the program of the GRF are under development and will be finalized in the second quarter of 2019.

For more information

For more information, please visit the Global Refugee Forum webpage or contact the Global Refugee Forum Coordination Team at [email protected].