Integrating humanitarian and development approaches in the context of forced displacement: 3RP’s role in enhancing national and local capacities in host countries

08.06.2023

3RP Joint Secretariat, Federal Foreign Office of Germany; Supported by: UNFPA

The Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), co-led by UNHCR and UNDP, coordinates humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees while addressing the resilience and development needs of impacted host and refugee communities and institutions in Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. With over 270 partners, the 3RP integrates humanitarian and development-based responses into one cohesive plan. Based on national plans and frameworks, the 3RP functions as a regional coordination mechanism to advocate and fundraise for the Syria crisis response and appeal to international donors and stakeholders.

Since 2015, the 3RP has channelled approximately USD 23 billion for the Syria crisis response. Due to the protracted nature of the displacement and new crises in the region, the number of displaced is increasing in parallel with deteriorating economic conditions. Despite this assistance, the crisis context in the 3RP countries has worsened, with a larger number of displaced people, including over 6.8 million Syrian refugees and 555,000 refugees and asylum-seekers of other nationalities, and 6.1 million affected host community members. In 2023, the 3RP faced the highest number of people in need. High inflation, increasing vulnerability for refugees and growing poverty in host communities is exacerbating rising unemployment among youth and women across the sub-region. The 3RP countries are also facing new emergencies e.g., the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and the more recent Sudan crisis impacting Egypt and other neighbouring countries. Consequently, municipalities and public institutions continue to be strained, hindering support for forcibly displaced people and affected host communities. Funding levels for the five refugee hosting countries overall and the resilience component, in particular, within the 3RP have declined, reaching only 39% and 33% of the 2022 annual appeals, respectively.

The Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus is at the heart of the 3RP and employs various successful approaches to address forced displacement and promote longer-term solutions, including social cohesion and stability. The 3RP represents a unique coordination mechanism integrating resilience-based development with a humanitarian response, providing inspiration for the Global Compact on Refugees. At this juncture, local actors, especially civil society organizations (CSOs) who are at the frontline of service delivery, are facing increasing obstacles in informing policy decision-making and delivering services to those in need.

Access to funding is a key obstacle, preventing effective engagement in policy, planning and coordination discussions. The 3RP continues to support partners by enabling collaborations and strategic partnerships. Twelve years into the Syria crisis, it has become even more crucial to prioritize a development-focused approach, enhancing national and local capacities to support both displaced people and their host communities. Such an approach is pivotal for managing the current multi-dimensional crises and promoting sustainable methods to better serve those in need. While the side-event focuses on Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye, it refers to the entirety of the 3RP including the five 3RP countries and its 270 partners.

Proposed Objectives and Discussion Points

  • Emphasize the crucial role of local actors, especially civil society, in addressing the increasing needs while supporting resilience and sustainable approaches in host countries
  • Share best practices and achievements linked to localisation and HDP Nexus under the 3RP, while shedding light on the operationalisation of and funding across the HDP Nexus
  • Discuss how to strengthen partnerships across the HDP Nexus especially in a changing funding landscape impacted by multiple global crises, and outline what is needed from different stakeholders
  • Highlight the 3RP’s role in enabling and furthering innovative approaches and facilitating partnerships across the HDP Nexus to respond to the protracted Syrian refugee crisis

Event Composition and Structure

The 1.5 hours event will be held online initiated by a 3RP introductory video. The event will be based on a panel discussion, followed by a Q&A session, on the topic of localisation in line with an HDP Nexus approach. By bringing together diverse experts from CSOs/networks, international organisations and donors, the panel discussions will highlight the crucial role civil society organizations as well as local and national actors play in fostering mid- to long-term solutions for displaced populations and their host in the 3RP countries.

Moderator: Ms. Rula Amin, UNHCR Senior Communications Advisor/ Spokesperson for Middle East and North Africa

Co-chairs: Ayman Gharaibeh, UNHCR Regional Bureau Director, Abdallah Al Dardari, UNDP Regional Director, and Susanne Fries-Gaier, Director for Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany

Panelists:

  • Meryem Aslan, Country Director at Oxfam Türkiye, and founding member of the Refugee Council of Türkiye (TMK)
  • Samar Muhareb, CEO of Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development, and General Coordinator of the Jordan National Forum
  • Eman Ismail abu Mohm’d, MENA Regional Representative, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
  • Alessandra Viezzer, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Lebanon
  • Elke Mayrhofer, Humanitarian Program Adviser from the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office

Event flyer :

 

02:00 pm - 03:30 pm
Online event