Five key challenges for new UN refugee chief

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

Read the full article on Irinnews


Related Articles

UN : Action Plan for Preventing Violent Extremism

02/12/2016. Adopting a procedural draft resolution, the 193-nation Assembly welcomed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s initiative but decided to “give further consideration” to the plan

Council of Despair? The Fragmentation of UN Diplomacy

04/30/2019. To overcome dysfunction and retain credibility, the council’s members should prioritise the few cases where international cooperation is still possible.

Official Visit of the German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, for the opening of diplomatic relations between Germany and the Order of Malta

11/15/2017. “I would like to express my deep gratitude for the great work of the Federal Republic of Germany in relieving human suffering”, the Grand Chancellor Albrecht Boeselager.