Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative (CRISP)

The joint UNHCR-IOM initiative was a multi-stakeholder and global mechanism aimed to support States and stakeholders to grow resettlement programmes and advance complementary pathways.
Good Practices

Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative (CRISP)

The joint UNHCR-IOM initiative was a multi-stakeholder and global mechanism aimed to support States and stakeholders to grow resettlement programmes and advance complementary pathways.
A group of people on stairs smiling

The project in brief

This project is implemented jointly by UNHCR and IOM, mainly in the Americas but also Europe, Middle-East and North of Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia. It started on 1 January 2020 and ended on 31 December 2022. 

The CRISP, in partnership with relevant actors, provided targeted capacity and systems building to States with resettlement and complementary pathway programmes in varying forms of development – new, emerging and established - to achieve quality, scalable and sustainable programmes. The CRISP was a direct outcome of recommendations made during the Strategy consultation process in 2019 where the need for a multi stakeholder, global mechanism for capacity building was identified. The CRISP has been recognised as a critical tool to support the expansion of third-country solutions under the Strategy and under its next phase, the Third Country Solutions for Refugees Roadmap: 2030.

The CRISP has proven to be an effective joint project to support many of the overarching goals of the Global Compact on Refugees, while continuing to work towards the targets of the “Third Country Solutions for Refugees – Roadmap 2030”. The strong support of the CRISP donors from the United States and Portugal has made a significant global impact on growing resettlement and expanding complementary pathway programmes and laid the foundation for continuing to develop innovative solutions for refugees.

Main activities of the Good Practice

Partners involved

What challenges were encountered in delivering the project and how were they overcome?

Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the 3-year implementation of the CRISP. The consequences of global lock-down, social distance measures, restrictions of movement, loss of income, economic volatility, and reduced access to education resulted in increased social tension and economic insecurity, which continued to impact the countries supported by the CRISP. Additionally, the pandemic prevented activities and responses, and restrictions imposed by countries were difficult to resume after the end of the pandemic. In person events and learning activities were cancelled as a result.

The start of a big project required a great extent of coordination among governments, partners, refugees, and donors, rounds of consultations, harmonization of standards when drafting documents, policies, and guidance.

How they were overcome

Regular coordination meetings, constant liaison, communication, and dialogue with all partners involved; two-way communication between refugees and sponsors/donors.

People speaking on a pannel

Results of the Good Practice

The CRISP has proven to be an effective joint project to support many of the overarching goals of the Global Compact on Refugees, while continuing to work towards the targets of the “Third Country Solution for Refugees – Roadmap 2030”. The strong support of the CRISP donors from the United States and Portugal has made a significant global impact on growing resettlement and expanding complementary pathway programmes and laid the foundation for continuing to develop innovative solutions for refugees.

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries

The CRISP has aimed to support States and relevant stakeholders to grow resettlement programmes and advance complementary pathways hence easing the pressure on host countries.

Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

The CRISP, in partnership with relevant actors, has provided targeted capacity and systems building to States with resettlement and complementary pathway programmes in varying forms of development – new, emerging and established - to achieve quality, scalable and sustainable programmes including refugee self-reliance with support to integration, community welcome and community sponsorship.

Objective 3: Expand access to third-country solutions

The CRISP has aimed to support States and key stakeholders to grow resettlement programmes and advance complementary pathways through the provision of targeted capacity building in partnership with relevant actors, to achieve quality, scalable and sustainable programs.

This CRISP is a direct outcome of recommendations made by resettlement States and key stakeholders during the Three-Year Strategy (2019-2021) on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways and it has been recognised as a critical tool to support the expansion of third-country solutions both under the Strategy and under its next phase, the Third Country Solutions for Refugees Roadmap: 2030.

Next steps

The CRISP Initiative came to an end in December 2022. UNHCR, in collaboration with IOM, will continue to work with countries and operations on capacity building activities started under the CRISP to expand refugees’ access to third country opportunities, protection, and solutions, in full alignment with the Roadmap 2030.

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