Core Contribution towards UNHCR Global Appeal 2017 Update

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has a global mandate to lead and coordinate international efforts to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard their rights and well-being as laid down in the 1951 Refugee Convention and in the 1967 Protocol, which describe the rights of refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons as well as the obligations of states. To date (October 2016), 148 States were Party to the 1951 Convention and/or to its 1967 Protocol.

A major role of UNHCR is to find durable solutions for refugees, either through repatriation or, where this is too dangerous, through resettlement in third countries.

It has also the mandate to assist stateless persons, and since 2005, it is part of the "Cluster Approach" to respond to internal displacement in conflict situations, with a lead role in Protection, Camp Coordination/Camp Management, and Emergency Shelter.

Following the implementation of the various policies and legal guidance issued since 2013, UNHCR has for the first time been able to report on the Global Child Protection Education & SGBV Strategy. UNHCR has also been able to comprehensively report on its Global Strategic Priorities (GSP) results in 2014. While significant progress to focus on the GSP have led to positive outcomes in the protection and assistance of persons of concern, it must be noted that due to varying funding levels as well as reprioritization of available funds to respond to new emergencies and life-saving needs, most operations could not achieve progress against all GSP.

UNHCR has finalized its "Operational Guidance for Cash-Based Intervention in Displacement Settings" and has initiated awareness-raising workshops for its HQ management staff and training for field staff.

UNHCR has made clear that the Office has the full responsibility for all refugee situations, even in mixed contexts such as South Sudan. To this end, an agreement between OCHA and UNHCR has been reached. It clarifies the leadership, responsibilities and role of both Offices in IDP situations and reaffirms the leadership of UNHCR for refugee protection and assistance.

During the period considered, large recruitments of protection staff were undertaken to respond to new emergencies/crises. In parallel, UNHCR international and national staff working in other fields (programme, technical fields, community support, livelihood, etc.) have taken on some protection activities within the scope of their specific work. The number of protection staff is currently very fluid, with many contracts being short-term arrangements. The organization is permanently adapting to the needs, and obviously, recruitment of new staff is also largely influenced by the level of funding and of earmarking.

Experts in protection (secondees) have been deployed to UNHCR operations in South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia, and child protection officers have been deployed in Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia (SGBV) and Uganda.

UNHCR has made significant contributions to the coordination mechanisms, while clearly reiterating its unquestionable leadership and responsibilities towards the General Assembly for all contexts concerning refugees.

The annual dialogue and bilateral meetings with UNHCR’s Direction of the Division of Programme Support and Management (DPSM) provided for a continued support to UNHCR’s strengthening of the technical integrity of its programme. A mix of financial contributions and secondments provided flexibility and responsiveness in the field of cash, shelter, water and environment.

Swiss expertise is recognized and UNHCR technical capacity increased in relation to basic services and preservation of natural resources. Switzerland will play a growing role in the field of protection through the secondment of several protection and child protection officers.

Switzerland’s contribution at governing body level requesting the improvement of "technical integrity" of all UNHCR programmes has been recognized as a key factor in the re-building of technical services of the Office.

Secondment support in the field of protection, shelter, environment, water and sanitation as well as cash transfer programming has been jointly built up with UNHCR.

UNHCR capacities and constraints in protection are clear and transparently discussed with Executive Committee members and/or through the newly established dialogue between donors and the Global Protection Cluster. Protection positions are possibly filled by SDC/HA-SHA seconded staff in line with SDC/HA’s strategic priorities. A dialogue on protection issues between UNHCR and Switzerland, represented by SDC (HA, RC, GPMD), HSD, SEM and the Geneva Mission to the UN, was held in November 2015. The dialogue is the first step of further exchanges on, among others, child protection, SGBV (Sexual and Gender-Based Violence), forced displacement (refugees and IDPs) and follow-up of the Nansen Initiative.

Cash and Voucher modalities are developed in specific crises to support access to shelter, energy and water; institutional acceptance and a Global Strategy is developed, disseminated and used.

The Shelter and WASH sectors are delivering adequate technical support to programmes improving the living conditions of persons of concern.

2016: 13           2013: 13           2010: 14

2015: 13           2012: 12           2009: 15

2014: 13           2011: 12           2008: 16

2016: 127 donor countries, organizations and private donors + 19 UN/Pooled funding mechanisms.

The top 3 donors (USA, UK, EU) have contributed up to 56.7% of the total contributions received by UNHCR in 2016, while the top 20 have contributed 88.7%.

Phase 22 01.01.2017 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)