Hybrid Roundtable:

From the Ground Up: Regional Perspectives from MENA & East Africa on Advancing the Global Compact on Refugees

Date: 20 November 2025, 09:00-10:30 a.m. (CET)

Format: Hybrid

Email to register: brian.choi@independentdiplomat.org

1. Background

The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), affirmed by the UN General Assembly in 2018, provides a framework for international cooperation and strengthened responsibility sharing on refugee issues. With the 2025 Global Refugee Forum Progress Review (GRF Progress Review) approaching, the Geneva roundtable offers an opportunity to review progress on GCR objectives and structural challenges to sustainable support for refugees.

This roundtable builds on two regional consultations co-organized by Independent Diplomat (ID), Oxfam, and Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) in MENA (Istanbul) and East Africa (Kampala). These consultations brought together diverse stakeholders—including RLOs, regional NGOs/CBOs, UN representatives and diplomats—to surface regional perspectives, policy challenges, and actionable recommendations on advancing the GCR. Both regions are at the epicenter of protracted displacement and shifting donor priorities, with local actors—particularly RLOs—playing an increasingly indispensable role in frontline service delivery, protection, and advocacy. One representative from each regional roundtable will present key findings and forward-looking recommendations, aimed at ensuring discussions before, during and after the GRF Progress Review meeting encompass regional priorities.

The Geneva roundtable will serve as a bridge between these regional consultations and the 2025 GRF Progress Review. It will provide a space to discuss the draft synthesis reports capturing regional trends, challenges, and policy priorities in MENA and East Africa, and participants in Geneva will be invited toprovide written feedback until 30 November. The final, consolidated report will be presented at the GRF Progress Review itself by the RLOs that have led the regional roundtables.

The roundtable will also provide an opportunity to advance the Meaningful Refugee Participation (MRP) multistakeholder pledge, the leadership of which is currently being taken on by three RLO co- leads APNOR, New Women Connector (NWC) and Youth Initiative 4 Development (Yi4D). By connecting policymakers with regionally grounded insights and practical models of refugee leadership, the event will help translate global commitments on participation, influence, and localization into tangible next steps. In the context of the UN80 agenda and mounting calls for a humanitarian reset, this event offers a timely platform to elevate refugee leadership, deepen stakeholder engagement, and shape a more inclusive, participatory and effective international refugee response.

2. Objectives

• Present the draft synthesis report from the MENA and East Africa regional roundtables.
• Collect input from UNHCR, diplomats, and other stakeholders including NGOs to support the finalisation of the synthesis report to be presented at the GRF Progress review.
• Strengthen collaboration and cross-fertilisation between RLOs, policymakers, and international organisations.
• Ensure regional voices, priorities, and goals are incorporated in global policy discussions.

3. Expected Outcomes

• A final synthesis report that will combine stakeholder feedback before the GRF Progress Review meeting.
• Enhanced relationships between RLOs, UNHCR, and diplomats.
• Improving the visibility and effectiveness of efforts to support MRP.
• Influencing the GRF Progress Review narrative with important regional insights.

4. Proposed Format and Timings

• Two RLO representatives (one each from MENA and East Africa) will present the synthesis reports compiled from the regional roundtables, highlighting outcomes and recommendations.
• Hosting an open discussion among stakeholders to freely table reflections and input at the presented outcomes and recommendations.
• Conducting open feedback sessions to refine recommendations and key messaging to feature in global advocacy at the GRF Progress Review, and support future synthesis report.

This event is co-sponsored by Independent Diplomat, ICVA, RefugePoint, PILnet and Oxfam.