Goal 5: Adequate and Sustainable Funding Mechanisms Established

The empowerment of refugee communities, within an ecosystem of support from Malaysian civil society will require both financial and human resources. Goals 1 – 3 of the Strategy, in particular, require adequate, sustained, and predictable funding.

In Malaysia, traditional sources of funding, including from UNHCR and donor States, are likely to diminish in the coming years. This follows a trend of critical shortfalls in funding for humanitarian and refugee programmes globally.

At the same time, there are emerging opportunities to mobilise donor support from non-traditional partners both within and outside Malaysia. These include businesses with corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, philanthropic and faith-based organisations, and community-sourced funding opportunities.

In 2016, UNHCR analysed a range of options for alternative funding and delivery mechanisms. It also established a private sector fundraising (PSFR) mechanism that will raise funds for its own programmes that was launched in early 2017. This will use a face-to-face (F2F) fundraising programme, the main channel used by established private sector fundraising organisations within Malaysia and globally.

To accomplish this goal, we will:

Map potential sources of fundraising and analyse fundraising models that best suit the Malaysian refugee context;
Map and engage with representatives from donors, including the diplomatic community, corporate interests, and other sources. This will include briefings on refugee protection and services, the needs of the refugee population, and sustaining their interest in funding activities in the Strategy;
Create a private sector partnership (PSP) and fundraising mechanism, including face-to-face (F2F) programmes, and corporate and multi-stakeholder engagement to raise funds for UNHCR programmes;
Create and support an independent fundraising and delivery mechanism, such as a Foundation/s, that will generate and disburse funds to refugee communities, NGOs, and civil society stakeholders. The mechanism could also provide capacity-building training and other support to strengthen the refugee sector.