In Kakuma Refugee camp, Turkana, Kenya, Endo, stands in the middle of a warehouse among sacks of food ready to be distributed. A food distribution effort is held by World Vision and its partners.
Kakuma Refugee camp, Turkana, Kenya. A warehouse among sacks of food ready to be distributed. A food distribution effort is held by World Vision and its partners. Kakuma is the second biggest refugee camp in Kenya, which was built with the help of World Vision’s innovative Last Mile Mobile Solution (LMMS).

Monday's Dawn: Unraveling the Aftermath Once the Global Refugee Forum Echoes Fade

Refugees

 As someone who has worked tirelessly in the sector, I've witnessed numerous conferences pass through Geneva, but few as impactful for the Humanitarian sector as the Global Refugee Forum which occurs this month. This event isn't just a gathering; it's a powerful moment when the world unites to take collective responsibility for our shared mission.  

As the event kicks off on Wednesday, the critical question looms: What transpires on the following Monday and thereafter? Will the GRF 2023 be a defining commitment moment, propelling sustained actions for refugees and host communities, or will it be a fleeting performance? 

UNHCR GENEVA
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - UNHCR -  is the United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. 

 

Convening every four years, the Forum stands as the world's largest gathering of refugees, governments and agencies working with and for them. Its purpose is to actively facilitate the realisation of goals outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees:  Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.  

This three-day event is scheduled starting Wednesday 13 December.  But what will happen on the following Monday and afterwards? Will “Monday” make the GRF 2023 a defining commitment moment to upgrade actions with and for refugees and host communities, or will it look like a one-time performance? 

The GRF provides a space for new pledges and commitments to be made, but also to build on the progress made by states and all other stakeholders towards the implementation of the objectives of the Global Compact. With girls and boys constituting 42% of forcibly displaced people globally, and nearly 400,000 children are born as refugees each year1,  World Vision with other child agencies and 2 including Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (Co-led by UNICEF and World Vision) will use this occasion of this Forum to advocate for the centrality of children and their well-being.  

Residents of Shaydayee camp bring their malnourished children to World Vision mobile health team to receive health services.
Residents of Shaydayee camp Afghanistan bring their malnourished children to World Vision mobile health team to receive health services.

 

We are hopeful as this year at GRF is different for World Vision and for the families we serve. For the first time:    

  • There will be pledges on child protection under the multi-stakeholder pledge on child rights, including priority areas such as access to critical services (MHPSS, Social Protection, Health Case), empowerment and meaningful participation of refugee children, and protective and inclusive education. This pledge is informed by massive consultations that members of the Initiative have carried out.  

  • Refugee children are inputting in the pledge for their rights, and they will be face to face with decision-makers and allies for the fulfilment of their rights.  

  • GRF will speak to the protection of girls and boys in refugee contexts, based also on their calls.  

 

World Vision food distribution center in Shaafici Beneficiary receiving packets of special supplementary food to boost the nutrition for themselves and their children.
World Vision food distribution center in Shaafici Somalia.  Mothers receiving packets of special supplementary food to boost the nutrition for themselves and their children.

 

However, despite these steps forward, scepticism persists. While thousands of delegates descend on Geneva to deliver their pledges on behalf of their government and organisation, we see refugee programming being scaled back, rations cut, and critical child-focused programming in education and protection slashed.   

Governments and all other stakeholders must fulfil their promises. GRF should inform the civil society advocacy and policy strategies, as they collaborate, but also keep the duty bearers accountable. 

Importantly , refugee children and their families must be able to contribute to the formulation and realisation of the pledges, as well as stand up to any violations.   

If this doesn’t happen, the GRF pledges will fade away after the weekend.  

While a reporting mechanism exists, it might not necessary feature the accountability-related  dialogue, listening to the concerns of refugees and creating spaces for collaboration.  Without these mechanisms, the GRF risks being perceived as a grand with commitments but lacking accountability to the rights holders.   

World Vision is responding in 59 humanitarian contexts to contribute to the well-being and protection of children. The GRF serves as an opportunity to redefine commitment, transcending the event to spark actions for accountability, dialogue, and enduring efforts. Promises must be kept to improve the lives of refugee and displaced children and their families, as well as those from host communities. 

The GRF is undeniably crucial, capturing the world's attention, but also in terms of influencing massive commitment regarding the refugee population well-being and protection. However, the true measure of our commitment lies in what transpires the following week and beyond—a commitment to join forces with refugee children and their families to create lasting change. 

Brikena Zogaj is World Vision’s  Senior Advisor for External Engagement in Global Child Protection and Participation team.    

Note:  

The Global Refugee Forum 2023 will take place from 13 to 15 December at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, with linked events held in other locations from 11 December onwards. Held every four years, the Forum is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees. It is designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees: Ease pressures on host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, increase access to third-country solutions and improve conditions in countries of origin.  It provides the opportunity for States and stakeholders to announce concrete pledges and contributions, highlight progress made, share good practices and take stock of the challenges and opportunities ahead.T he 2023 Forum is co-convened by five States – Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda, and co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland and UNHCR. 


World Vision will have a delegation led by Lilian Dodzo, the Regional Leader for East Africa.World Vision is pledging on Faith-Based MHPSS, Economic Inclusion, Education, Child Protection, Livelihood, and Social Protection of refugee children. Pledges  from Uganda, Venezuela, Bangladesh,  and Ukraine, but also from the joint pledge of Alliance for CPHA and INEE, which restate their commitment to protective education and children from refugee contexts. WVI staff are either leading those endeavours or engaging intensively so that the centrality of children shifts from rhetoric into a reality in the GRF and beyond.  

Watch the Livestream and webcasts here. 

To learn more about the Global Refugee Forum

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