33. While recognizing the primary responsibility and sovereignty of States, a multistakeholder and partnership approach will be pursued, in line with relevant legal frameworks and in close coordination with national institutions. In addition to the exercise of its mandate responsibilities, UNHCR will play a supportive and catalytic role.
34. Responses are most effective when they actively and meaningfully engage those they are intended to protect and assist. Relevant actors will, wherever possible, continue to develop and support consultative processes that enable refugees and host community members to assist in designing appropriate, accessible and inclusive responses. States and relevant stakeholders will explore how best to include refugees and members of host communities, particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities, in key forums and processes, as well as diaspora, where relevant. Mechanisms to receive complaints, and investigate and prevent fraud, abuse and corruption help to ensure accountability.
35. Without prejudice to activities which humanitarian organizations carry out in line with their respective mandates, humanitarian and development actors will work together from the outset of a refugee situation and in protracted situations. They will develop means to ensure the effective complementarity of their interventions to support host countries and, where appropriate, countries of origin, including in those countries that lack the institutional capacities to address the needs of refugees. Support by bilateral and multilateral development and financial actors for the direct benefit of host communities and refugees will be additional and undertaken in partnership, respecting the primacy of national ownership and leadership, and in a manner that does not negatively impact or reduce support for broader development objectives in the concerned country.
36. The United Nations system will be fully leveraged. This will include the contributions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group and the United Nations Country Team, as well as all relevant agencies to ensure operational cooperation on the ground, in line with the United Nations Secretary-General’s reform agenda, notably in the areas of peace, security and development. Guided by the Resident Coordinator, and in furtherance of national development imperatives, United Nations development action in support of host communities and refugees will, where appropriate, be considered in United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks, to be prepared and finalized in full consultation and agreement with national governments.15 Technical advice and support will also be made available through the United Nations regional offices.
37. Local authorities and other local actors in both urban and rural settings, including local community leaders and traditional community governance institutions, are often first responders to large-scale refugee situations, and among the actors that experience the most significant impact over the medium term. In consultation with national authorities and in respect of relevant legal frameworks, support by the international community as a whole may be provided to strengthen institutional capacities, infrastructure and accommodation at local level, including through funding and capacity development where appropriate. Recruitment of local personnel by humanitarian and development agencies is encouraged in line with relevant laws and policies, while bearing in mind the need for continued capacity of local actors, organizations and structures.
38. Networks of cities and municipalities hosting refugees are invited to share good practices and innovative approaches to responses in urban settings, including through twinning arrangements, with the support of UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders.
39. Likewise, engagement by parliaments as appropriate under relevant national arrangements is encouraged, with a view to supporting the global compact.16
40. In recognition of their important work for refugees, as well as host States and communities, and in a spirit of partnership, civil society organizations, including those that are led by refugees, women, youth or persons with disabilities, and those operating at the local and national levels, will contribute to assessing community strengths and needs, inclusive and accessible planning and programme implementation, and capacity development, as applicable.
41. Faith-based actors could support the planning and delivery of arrangements to assist refugees and host communities, including in the areas of conflict prevention, reconciliation, and peacebuilding, as well as other relevant areas.
42. Public-private partnerships will be explored,17 in full respect of the humanitarian principles, including: possible new institutional arrangements and methodologies for the creation of commercial business venture conditions and financial/business instruments; to support refugee and host community employment and labour mobility; and to enable greater opportunities for private sector investment. The private sector is encouraged to advance standards for ethical conduct in refugee situations, share tools to identify business opportunities in host countries, and develop country-level private sector facilitation platforms where this would add value.
43. A global academic network on refugee, other forced displacement, and statelessness issues will be established, involving universities, academic alliances, and research institutions, together with UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders, to facilitate research, training and scholarship opportunities which result in specific deliverables in support of the objectives of the global compact. Efforts will be made to ensure regional diversity and expertise from a broad range of relevant subject areas.
44. Recognizing the important role that sports and cultural activities can play in social development, inclusion, cohesion, and well-being, particularly for refugee children (both boys and girls), adolescents and youth, as well as older persons and persons with disabilities, partnerships will be pursued to increase access to sporting and cultural facilities and activities in refugee-hosting areas.18
