Global Refugee Forum 2023
Global Refugee Forum 2023
The Global Refugee Forum is envisaged to facilitate the announcement of concrete pledges and contributions, and consider opportunities, challenges, and ways in which burden- and responsibility-sharing in support of the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) can be enhanced.
The Forum in 2023 built on the progress made by States and stakeholders towards the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the related pledges and initiatives announced since the first Forum in 2019.
Co-convened by, Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan, and Uganda, and co-hosted by Switzerland together with UNHCR, the Forum took place in Geneva from 13 to 15 December 2023, with an advance day for side events on 12 December 2023.
GRF 2023 at a glance
- Over 4,000 participants attended the Forum with more than 10,000 watching online.
- More than 300 refugee delegates participated, four times more than at the first GRF in 2019.
- 168 governments and 427 organizations participated.
- Over 1,600 pledges were made.
- A goal was reaffirmed to resettle at least 1 million refugees by 2030 and provide complementary pathways to third countries for 3 million more.
- Also among the pledges were 1 million pro bono hours of legal support, 100,000 job opportunities, and 400,000 training opportunities.
- There was an estimated USD 2.2 billion in financial commitments, with $250 million in pledges coming from the private sector.
- Over USD 180 million in investment into refugee-owned, refugee-supporting ventures was announced.
- 6,000 scholarships were made available.
Read the GRF 2023 Outcome Document
Stakeholders attending the Forum included Member States; international organizations; 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.
More information on the event, including the outcome document, videos from the inspiring speakers' corner, the programme, recordings, statements, frequently asked questions, and the concept note, are available on UNHCR’s website.
Get involved
Stakeholders are encouraged to continue to contribute to the multi-stakeholder pledges which were announced at the Forum. To find out more about what constitutes a pledge, please consult the pledging guidance and pledging at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 infographic. Pledges may be submitted through the online forms available on the GCR digital platform, and the submissions process remains continuously open.
Stakeholders are also urged to continue submitting good practices. More than 550 have been shared since 2019.
