Multistakeholder Pledge: Community Sponsorship

Overview

• Commitments under this multi-stakeholder pledge will help to increase the number, scale and diversity of community sponsorship programmes around the world in order to increase third country solutions for refugees, improve integration prospects for refugees and strengthen community narratives by enabling communities to welcome new neighbours.
• Leadership: Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative
• Link to GCR: Objective 3 – Expansion of Third Country Solutions

Key Statistics

• Ten State pledges committing to develop (Brazil), continue or expand existing programmes (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy UK and USA), joined by 33 entities (including 3 Private Sector, 5 faith-based organisations, 3 international organisations and 19 civil society organisations).
• Eight pledges in support of the Global Sponsorship Fund (Government of Italy and the USA, Robert Bosch Foundation, Pathways International, Jesuit Refugee Service, Open Community Ireland, and HIAS).
• Total financial contribution of EUR 1,000,000.
• Two pledges were received to support the establishment of national funds (Ireland and USA).
• One regional pledge from the EU towards expansion of community sponsorship (including through provision of necessary funding).
• In total: 22 core pledges supported by 35 entities.

Highlighted Pledges

• Brazil will pilot a new programme in 2024. Whilst no number of beneficiaries has been highlighted, this presents an opportunity to resume resettlement in country.
• Italy is the first State donor to contribute to the Global Sponsorship Fund.
• USA has pledged to receive 10,000 refugees through sponsorship in 2024. This is supported by 8 entities, including 2 FBOs, 1 Private sector and 4 CSOs.
• EUR 1 Million was pledged in support of the inaugural Global Sponsorship Fund

Matching

• Five of the countries with State pledges, also have pledges from civil society organisations. Coordination and cooperation of these in-country efforts will need to be explored, to match State commitments with supporting entities.
• The Government of Canada, Shapiro Foundation and Pathways International each renewed their shared commitment to the GRSI.
• There was one joint pledge from 15 CSOs representing three regions (Americas, Europe and Australia) committed to improving data and evidence through information sharing and capacity building on community sponsorship via the GRSI Global CSO Network.

Pledge Analysis

• Pledges cover work on all suggested thematic areas: law and policy frameworks, refugee inclusion, monitoring and evaluation components and funding.
• Pledges will begin to address funding gaps, which has been noted as a key challenge to scaling sponsorship.
• 80% of pledges support inclusion of refugees in programme design and evaluation.
• It is expected that there will be at least one new country with sponsorship programme (Brazil) and potentially three with consolidated permanent community sponsorship programmes (Australia, Belgium and USA).
• Considering new State pledges and the maintenance of current annual commitments, community sponsorship programmes will support at least 200,000 refugees to access third country solutions (timeline to be defined).

Next Steps And Follow-up Arrangements

• Ongoing coordination of the pledge and associated initiatives will be through established GRSI Structures, aligned with the GRSI workplan.
• Implementation of policy pledges towards the Global Sponsorship Fund will be supported by UNHCR, including through funding matching where applicable.
• Work is ongoing to identify pilots for the Global Sponsorship Fund based on pledges received.
• Announcements on projects receiving funds under the EU pledge are expected in Q4 2024.
• Linkages with other multistakeholder pledges (on Resettlement, Skills Based Pathways and Family Reunification) will be explored.