Gathering researchers from academic networks and Refugee-Led Organizations, the event delved into academia’s role in guiding GCR implementation, identifying barriers for academics, and strategizing collaborative efforts to overcome these obstacles.

Opening remarks underscored academia’s pivotal position in GCR implementation, highlighting its recognition within the Compact and emphasizing academia’s multifaceted contributions, including generating knowledge, informing policy and practice, capacity building, and advocacy for evidence-based policies at national, regional, and global levels. Reflecting on academia’s central role, participants acknowledged the transformative potential of academic engagement in refugee protection, inclusion, and solutions.

The workshop emphasized academia’s responsibility to advocate for evidence-based policies aligned with the GCR and foster meaningful collaborations with stakeholders such as governments, international organizations, NGOs, and affected communities.

Additionally, the event highlighted a multistakeholder pledge led by various academic institutions, calling for a paradigm shift in refugee research to empower researchers from low and middle-income countries and amplify the voices of displaced persons. Notable supporters of the pledge include GAIN, LERRN, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and others, signaling a global commitment to enhancing academic contributions to refugee studies and advocacy.

Full Event Report:

Report prepared by Dr.聽 Kalyango Ronald Sebba

James Milner,听Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, 杏吧原创 University,听and Project Director, LERRN: The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network

Amanda Klassen,听PhD Candidate, Department of Political Science, 杏吧原创 University,听and Project Officer, LERRN: The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network

Executive Summary

Civil society actors have been central to the provision of protection, assistance and solutions to the displaced throughout human history. For thousands of years, religious organizations, guilds, and community networks have led responses to displacement, either through the direct provision of support or by advocating to higher authorities for the inclusion of displaced populations within political communities (Loescher 2021). The role of civil society accelerated in the 17th Century and the development of the Westphalian state system and as noted by Ferris (2003), civil society continued to play a critical role in refugee responses right through the 20th Century.

Given this long history, it may come as no surprise that civil society actors are a key feature of more recent efforts to enhance and innovate in ensuring more reliable and effective responses to instances of displacement. The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) notes in Paragraph 3 that it 鈥渋ntends to provide a basis for predictable and equitable burden- and responsibility-sharing among all United Nations Member States, together with other relevant stakeholders as appropriate, including but not limited to: international organizations within and outside the United Nations system, including those forming part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; other humanitarian and development actors; international and regional financial institutions; regional organizations; local authorities; civil society, including faith-based organizations; academics and other experts; the private sector; media; host community members and refugees themselves (hereinafter 鈥渞elevant stakeholders鈥�)鈥� (UNHCR 2018). In fact, the GCR includes civil society in the range of 鈥渞elevant stakeholders鈥� to be included in its two key mechanisms: the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) and in national arrangements including Support Platforms, such as those implemented through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).

Despite this long history and central role 鈥� from the 17th Century to the GCR 鈥� there is very limited research on the diverse forms of engagement of civil society in the functioning of the norms and institutions intended to ensure protection and solutions for refugees: the global refugee regime. There is also limited analysis of the wide diversity of actors within contemporary civil society, the means and mechanisms through which civil society actors are able to influence outcomes within the refugee regime, and the means by which the contribution of civil society can be enhanced. In response, this paper provides an overview and analysis of the role of civil society actors 鈥� including national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and academic actors 鈥� in the politics of the global refugee regime. Drawing on historical examples, the paper also provides an analysis of the mechanisms and means through which civil society demonstrates influence in the provision of protection, assistance, and solutions for refugees. Overall, the paper argues that the impact of civil society is best understood in the context of the politics of the global refugee regime. It concludes with recommendations on how the impact of civil society actors can be enhanced.

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DOI

Citation

Klassen, A., Milner, J. (2021). Civil Society and the Politics of the Global Refugee Regime. Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN).