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Kenya. Somali refugees depart Dadaab to be resettled.
© UNHCR/Sebastian Rich
The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) promotes responsibility-sharing with host countries by focusing on solutions, including by expanding third country solutions which include resettlement and complementary pathways. Here you will find information on how UNHCR and partners work together to turn this element of the Compact into action. Refugee situations continue to increase in scope, scale and complexity. The vast majority of refugees (85 per cent) are hosted in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the generosity of host countries and donors, there is an urgent need to share the responsibility for hosting and supporting the world’s growing number of refugees more equitably.
Three-Year Strategy (2019-2021) on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways
The GCR envisaged the development of a Three-Year Strategy (2019-2021) on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (hereinafter, the Strategy), as a key vehicle to increase the number of resettlement spaces, expand the number of resettlement countries and improve the availability and predictability of complementary pathways for refugees. This multi-stakeholder Strategy is the result of wide-ranging consultations with a large number of relevant stakeholders across different regions, including, States, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, private sector actors, academia, faith-based actors, refugees and other UN agencies. The Strategy is both a roadmap for expansion over the years 2019-2021, and an ambitious blueprint for the further development of third country solutions over the next 10 years (2019-2028) through a vision that will continue to be relevant to achieving the goals of the GCR in the longer term.
The Strategy's goals are to:
1. Grow Resettlement;
2. Advance Complementary Pathways;
3. Build the Foundation.
Goal 2: Advance Complementary Pathways
CRISP - Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative
The Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative (CRISP) is a multi-stakeholder and global mechanism which aims to support States and other stakeholders to grow resettlement programmes and advance complementary pathways. It provides targeted capacity building such as training, technical assistance, and deployments of experts. Strengthening the capabilities of communities and individuals, institutions and infrastructure is a critical element to achieve the goals of the Three-Year Strategy. The CRISP was developed jointly by UNHCR and IOM and was launched in 2020. This initiative is a direct outcome of recommendations made by resettlement States and key stakeholders during the Three-Year Strategy (2019-2021) on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways consultation process.
How to contribute?
© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell
In line with the multi-stakeholder and whole-of-society approach required to achieve the goals of the Strategy, the following are non-exhaustive illustrative examples of the types of contributions that different stakeholders can make to support the Strategy.
- Civil society at the international, regional, national and local levels (including NGOs, faith-based organisations, refugees in receiving countries, diaspora and citizens): Bring refugees and local communities together through sponsorship models, volunteerism, mentorship programs and inter-faith and intercultural events.
Good practice: Student sponsorship programme in Canada - Governments in receiving countries: Support mechanisms and approaches for meaningful refugee participation.
Good practice: Dutch professionals & former resettled refugees cooperate to help with pre-departure orientation training - Governments in receiving countries: Expand the size of resettlement programmes and/or establish new ones that are protection-centered, predictable, responsive and include multi-year commitments.
Good practice: Priority global quota for resettlement - Academic and research institutions: Generate, translate and disseminate evidence to inform policies and programmes and support practitioners.
Good practice: Protected entry – a safe alternative pathway - Individuals and their communities in receiving countries: sponsor a family through community sponsorship. Community sponsorship allows groups of individuals to directly support refugees and other persons in need of international protection admitted under resettlement or complementary pathways in their reception and integration. Several countries have developed community sponsorship programmes through which groups of individuals commit to providing practical, emotional and material support. Find out more about community sponsorship here.
