Type of practice: Tools

Country: Global

Name of Stakeholder: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Type of Stakeholder Implementing the Practice: International Organizations

Type of crisis: Conflict, Natural Disaster

Crisis phase: Crisis Preparedness, Emergency Response

Description

UNHCR issued the 10-Point Plan of Action in June 2006. The Plan of Action offers a framework to assist States in ensuring that persons in need of international protection who are travelling within broader mixed migratory movements can be identified and provided with an appropriate response. The Plan sets out ten areas where the Office believes initiatives are called for and could make a positive impact. These areas are: 1) cooperation among key partners; 2) data collection and analysis; 3) protection-sensitive entry systems; 4) reception arrangements; 5) mechanisms for profiling and referral; 6) differentiated processes and procedures; 7) solutions for refugees; 8) addressing secondary movements; 9) return arrangements for non-refugees and alternative migration options; and 10) information strategy. The Plan is especially relevant to situations where refugees are at risk of refoulement or irregular onward movement.

Ten-Point Plan of Action for Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration for Countries Along the Eastern and South Eastern Borders of European Union States

Refugee Protection and Mixed Migration: A 10-Point Plan of Action

 

Guidelines/Thematic Areas

Capacity building

GUIDELINE 8: Build capacity and learn lessons for emergency response and post-crisis action

Limited resources, funding, and technical skills can all affect the robustness of emergency and post-crisis responses. Understanding and assessing these limitations is a critical first step towards overcoming them. Stakeholders’ investment in their own capacity to improve emergency response and post-crisis recovery for migrants is critical.

Capacity building may relate to such varied areas as consular services, training for responders, resource allocation, funding mechanisms, insurance schemes, relief goods and services, border and migration management, and relocation and evacuation. Many of these areas are relevant for both the emergency and post-crisis phases. Stakeholders should also consider addressing potential reintegration challenges for migrants, their families, and communities, facilitating re-employment, income generation, and safe remigration, and supporting migrants to access outstanding wages, assets, and property left in host States.

States, private sector actors, international organizations, and civil society should assist one another to build and improve their capacity to respond. Undertaking advocacy, monitoring and evaluations, raising awareness, conducting training, sharing information, building research and knowledge, and supporting and learning from each other all help to improve collective efforts to protect migrants.

Sample Practices

  • Training and capacity building of stakeholders, such as on effective ways to access migrants and identify vulnerability and needs.
  • Dedicated funding to protect migrants, including budget lines, loans, and funding platforms.
  • Referral mechanisms that map rosters of experts who can address diverse needs of different migrants.
  • Peer-to-peer exchanges for capacity building and learning on tackling challenges associated with protecting migrants.
  • Training for consular officials, such as on collecting information on citizens and crisis management, including evacuation.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of crisis responses that includes analysis of responses towards migrants.

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