Five key challenges for new UN refugee chief

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Filippo Grandi arrived in Geneva this week to begin his five-year term as head of the UN’s refugee agency.

Unlike many of his predecessors, he is not a former politician. Instead, he has had a long career with the UN, including a stint as head of UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees. His experience in the humanitarian and refugee sectors made him a popular insider’s choice for the role of High Commissioner, but he will also need considerable diplomatic skills to be effective as UNHCR’s chief fundraiser and refugee advocate at such a crucial time in the agency’s history.

Here are five of the greatest challenges likely to preoccupy him in the coming months:

Providing protection and support to more than 60 million forcibly displaced people
Dealing with protracted displacement
Doing more with less
Threats to refugee protection posed by growing security concerns
Addressing root causes of displacement

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