If we were to choose one phrase to describe 2025, it would be a year of hard realities and steadfast resolve.

Across the globe, humanitarian needs – driven by protracted conflicts, climate-related disasters, displacement, and deepening economic fragility – continued to rise. Resources and political space did not keep pace. Commitments to localisation and equitable partnership remained strong in principle, but too often fell short in practice.

For many NGOs, this was a year marked by difficult decisions, operational strain, and deep concern for the communities they serve.

Yet, amid these pressures, we also witnessed extraordinary commitment. NGOs – local, national, refugee-led, and international – continued to deliver life-saving assistance, advocate for protection and rights, and adapt to increasingly complex environments.

In this context, ICVA focused on its core purpose: strengthening collective NGO impact.

Throughout 2025, ICVA worked to ensure that the voices and operational realities of NGOs informed policy and coordination discussions. Engagement with UN agencies, donors, and inter-agency platforms remained a priority, particularly on issues related to humanitarian financing, protection, forced displacement and the role of local and national actors.

Together with our members, ICVA continued to push for more direct, flexible, and predictable funding for local and national organisations, as well as simpler and more proportionate compliance requirements. While progress was uneven, sustained collective advocacy ensured these issues remained central to system-wide reset efforts.

For ICVA itself, 2025 required careful stewardship. Financial uncertainty across the sector affected the Secretariat as well as our members. We prioritised maintaining essential services to the network: policy analysis, coordination support, regional engagement, and representation in global fora. We are deeply grateful to our staff for their dedication and professionalism, and to our donors and members whose flexible support enables ICVA to remain responsive in challenging times.

What stands out most, however, is the strength of the ICVA network. Members across all regions continued to share information, shape collective positions, and support one another through working groups, consultations, and peer exchange. In a year when fragmentation would have been understandable, collaboration prevailed.

We do not underestimate the scale of the challenges facing the humanitarian system. Structural funding constraints, geopolitical tensions, and growing needs will continue to test our collective capacity. But 2025 has also reaffirmed the essential role of a connected, principled, and diverse NGO community. In essence, we have proven the importance of having a global network that can bring those voices together.

As we look ahead, ICVA remains committed to working with its members and partners for a humanitarian system that is more equitable, more locally led, and firmly grounded in the dignity and rights of people affected by crisis.

To our members, partners, donors, and colleagues: thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your solidarity throughout this demanding year.

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ICVA held its 20th General Assembly online on 18 March 2025, providing members with an opportunity to review ICVA’s work, exchange perspectives, and help shape the organisation’s future direction.

The General Assembly reaffirmed ICVA’s governance oversight, financial accountability, and strategic direction, ensuring continued member stewardship of the organisation during a period of significant humanitarian system change.

ICVA’s thought leadership across our three core focus areas drives systemic change. In 2025, we delivered concrete policy wins and system reforms through strategic engagement and member mobilisation.

2025 Publications

Policy

Introduction

ICVA’s 2025-2027 ambitions in forced displacement policy and advocacy are to:

1. Enable NGOs to collectively influence laws, policies, and practices at all levels;
2. Enhance the provision of assistance, protection, and durable solutions for displaced populations; and
3. Raise awareness on forced displacement contexts, conduct campaigns on shared concerns, and advocate for the steadfast adherence to international human rights law.

In 2025, ICVA strengthened the meaningful participation of NGOs including refugee-led organisations (RLOs) across key global platforms and processes on forced displacement. We also engaged policies and practice related to internal displacement, protracted displacement contexts, migration pathways, and asylum systems.

Strategic Priority 1: Enable NGOs to collectively influence laws, policies, and practices at all levels

In 2025, ICVA deepened and expanded collaboration with key stakeholders, including UNHCR, UN Member States, the World Bank Group, IOM, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs.

NGOs and Refugee-Led Organisations at the Heart of ICVA’s Engagement with UNHCR Governance Bodies

ICVA leveraged its standing collaboration with UNHCR to help secure NGOs, RLOs, and organisations led by stateless persons a more consistent seat and role at key decision-making tables.

In 2025, 13 collective NGO statements were delivered across three UNHCR Standing Committee meetings and the annual Executive Committee meeting. ICVA provided coordination and technical support to facilitate the development of almost all NGO statements, and ensured increased RLO engagement in the drafting process.

As part of UNHCR’s 76th Executive Committee session, ICVA organised a side event on Refugee Leadership: Redefining Localisation in Humanitarian Action, highlighting how refugee leaders are redefining localisation in practice, moving beyond participation toward transformative leadership.

The 2025 statements reflected NGO experience of record displacement, shrinking humanitarian space, strained asylum mechanisms, and unprecedented budget shortfalls undermining critical programmes. Positive experiences from refugee laws in countries such as Uganda or Kenya were also noted to highlight good practice where it is found. Throughout the year, ICVA and members called on UNHCR and UN Member States for: more funding directed to RLOs and organisations led by stateless persons; more decisive action on durable solutions, including resettlement and complementary pathways; deeper community-based protection; the promotion of sustainable and equitable partnerships with frontline organisations; and country- and region-specific approaches to protracted displacement.

ICVA also commissioned a report assessing the effectiveness of NGO collective statements in UNHCR governing bodies, showing that across a decade of meetings (2015-2024), NGO interventions have contributed to shaping the discourse on key thematic areas, an important outcome for influencing policy.

UNHCR Regional Consultations with NGOs

ICVA partners with UNHCR to convene and facilitate NGO partnership, interaction, and exchange with the agency. In 2025, consultations were held at regional level, supported by an ICVA-backed concept note on safeguarding asylum and strengthening protection as global issues affecting all regions where NGOs and UNHCR operate.

Despite significant challenges in 2025, consultations proceeded through a mix of targeted and open sessions, stretched throughout the year in some regions. In total, over 650 participants engaged across regional consultations in the Americas, MENA, East Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific (AP). ICVA co-convened consultations for Europe, MENA and AP, and was actively involved in East Africa.

Recommendations presented to UNHCR’s Executive Committee reflected regional priorities, including:

• In the Americas: strengthening refugee status determination procedures, improving access to information and asylum procedures, and strengthening coordination mechanisms.
• In Asia-Pacific: establishing and strengthening national asylum systems, and promoting access to territory screening and referrals for new arrivals.

Route-Based Approaches (RBA) were also discussed in Europe, AP, and East Africa, generating recommendations on strengthening cross-border coordination; harmonising procedures, referral systems and case management; recognising the role of civil society in asylum systems; addressing root causes of unsafe onward movements; and expanding third-country solutions to reduce reliance on dangerous routes.

Outcomes from the 2025 regional consultations will feed into the 2026 global consultations.

The Appointment of the Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees

ICVA continued its long-standing commitment to transparency and accountability in selecting the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. ICVA invited candidates to meet members to present their vision and discuss NGO priorities and perspectives on UNHCR’s work; five candidates accepted. We also met bilaterally with additional candidates and supported one candidate debate during an R-Space event.

ICVA further invited candidates to respond to five member-consulted questions. Eleven candidates shared views on: their vision for UNHCR; priorities in UNHCR’s restructuring process; strategies to rebalance power to enable meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless persons; approaches to uphold and reinvigorate the refugee protection regime; and ideas to strengthen UNHCR’s core mandate while working more effectively across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

Engagements with Other UNHCR Stakeholders

Beyond UNHCR governance settings, ICVA created opportunities for members to engage with UNHCR’s regional bureau for Europe, partnerships and RCM teams on the Reset, Global Refugee Forum pledges, and other technical discussions, advancing issues of concern through additional channels.

Engagements with UN Member States, the World Bank Group, IOM, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs

ICVA complemented UNHCR engagement with dialogues with UN Member States to pursue multiple avenues to influence forced displacement policies and practice at national, regional, and global levels. Member States’ requests for ICVA technical support on humanitarian strategies reflected confidence in ICVA’s approach and expertise.

ICVA also continued engagement with the World Bank Group through the UNHCR-World Bank Joint Data Centre on Forced Displacement, supporting NGO access to data and analysis. Members informally exchanged with the World Bank Group on two occasions to hear updates, discuss the Bank’s International Development Association and Global Concessional Financing Facility, and review NGO priorities.

ICVA members exchanged twice with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, as she contributes to addressing the complex problem of internal displacement.

ICVA continued informal dialogues with IOM in 2025, including: a briefing organised together with UNHCR on RBA developments and joint advocacy opportunities; and an IOM-NGO briefing, as in previous years.

Finally, the 2025 Humanitarian Network Partnership Weeks provided a platform for ICVA to emphasise the importance of RLOs through a session entitled “Passing the Baton – Refugee and Local Leadership in Refugee Responses”, attended by over 80 participants.

Strategic Priority 2: Enhance the provision of assistance, protection, and durable solutions for displaced populations

Global Refugee Forum Progress Review

2025 marked the GRF 2023 Progress Review.

Since 2023, ICVA has co-convened with UNHCR the Multistakeholder Pledge on Advancing Localisation in Displacement and Statelessness Responses. The pledge aims to address challenges related to local and national actors’ funding, participation in decision-making, capacity-sharing, and advancing localisation in policy and partnerships. It has 45 pledges submitted by national and international NGOs, UN Member States, international organisations, and the private sector; over USD 100 million committed; and targets over 900 CSOs globally, including 55% led by displaced and stateless persons.

In 2025, Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Center joined ICVA and UNHCR as Co-Lead. Together, we continued promoting the pledge, supporting mobilisation, and tracking implementation progress. We convened the pledge’s 19 Reference Group members and Signatories to take stock of progress and discuss the Progress Review meeting and related events.

ICVA is also a Signatory of the GRF Multistakeholder Pledge on Meaningful Refugee Participation. We regularly attended signatory meetings and contributed to developing an approach to mainstream meaningful refugee participation across multistakeholder pledges.

Ahead of the Progress Review meeting (December 2025), ICVA shared GRF information (including through a blog series), regularly exchanged with UNHCR and pledge partners, and participated in four preparatory meetings to clarify the focus, programme, and intended outcomes while assessing pledge implementation progress.

ICVA launched, together with R-SEAT and Bondeko Refugee Livelihoods Center, a global survey on RLO perspectives on leadership. Early findings pointed to improved inclusion of RLOs in decision-making, while major gaps remained in RLO access to funding. ICVA and partners also prepared four Progress Review-related events.

The GRF Progress Review meeting (15-17 December, Geneva) brought together nearly 1,500 participants from around 150 countries. ICVA’s collective NGO statement highlighted protection backslides and the collapse of resettlement and complementary pathways, and urged a surge in funding, including for locally-led and refugee-led responses.

ICVA’s linked and side events, attended by close to 300 participants, included:

• Catalysing Change Together: donor-local actor dialogue on advancing locally led action in displacement contexts.
• Upholding the Refugee Convention: multistakeholder discussion ahead of the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
• Shaping the Future – Making Localisation Work: signatory exchange on pledge implementation progress and challenges. ICVA also supported an R-Space event on Localisation in Action: Bridging National and Refugee-Led Leadership, attended by 45 participants.

Policy Engagements on Solutions to Internal Displacement

Following the end of the mandate of the Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement, 2025 saw the establishment of global institutional arrangements around UN support to nationally led internal displacement solutions. ICVA became a member of the Global Solutions Working Group (GSWG), made up of operational agencies engaged in solutions programming at country level. ICVA ensured that additional NGOs gained seats in the GSWG by helping to identify suitable organisations. The GSWG endorsed a roadmap, with initial country situations focused on Colombia, Mozambique, and Sudan.

Throughout 2025, ICVA also lobbied across fora and stakeholders to maintain focus on internal displacement solutions amid funding reductions, restructuring, and response reprioritisation.

Route-Based Approach (RBA)

ICVA strengthened NGO capacity to engage in Route-Based Programming by creating structured opportunities for NGOs to engage directly with UNHCR and IOM and contribute to emerging coordination and protection approaches. This resulted in:

• The establishment of a dedicated Route-Based Approach Platform, providing NGOs with an ongoing space to coordinate engagement and share analysis
• NGO contributions to the Global Protection Service Mapping Tool, strengthening visibility and coordination of protection services for people on the move
• Clearer identification of NGO roles and responsibilities, implementation gaps, and operational recommendations for Route-Based Programming
• Strengthened NGO engagement in UNHCR regional consultations, helping ensure NGO perspectives informed UNHCR–IOM alignment under the UN80 Action Plan

Strategic Priority 3: Raise awareness on forced displacement contexts, conduct campaigns on shared concerns, and advocate for the steadfast adherence to international human rights law

The Gaza crisis was one of the Forced Displacement Working Group’s priority advocacy contexts in 2025. ICVA amplified member voices by elevating expertise and recommendations to strengthen Gaza-related advocacy, particularly through social media and ICVA, collective NGO, and NGO leaders’ statements.

Latin America and Caribbean: Cartagena+40 Process

On 12 December 2024, the Cartagena+40 Process adopted the Chile Declaration and Plan of Action 2024-2034. ICVA attended the commemoration event in Santiago, Chile. Since adoption, attention has focused on maintaining multi-stakeholder engagement, including through a follow-up mechanism integrating States, the Technical Secretariat, academia, NGOs, RLOs, and refugees. This creates an opportunity for ICVA to continue promoting local and national NGO leadership through NGO fora and to support reflection and collaboration to advance implementation.

Middle East and North Africa: Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan

The Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) remains the principal platform for humanitarian and development partners responding to the Syrian refugee crisis (for refugees and host communities). Co-led by UNHCR and UNDP, it operates in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, and brings together over 270 partners under unified humanitarian and development coordination structures.

ICVA is a member of the Regional Technical Committee and Regional Steering Committee, amplifying NGO voices and contributing to agenda-setting and planning. In 2025, ICVA contributed NGO inputs to Steering Committee work. The annual 3RP Regional Planning Workshop in September connected durable solutions, localisation, and funding reductions with developments in Syria to inform 2026 regional planning. The workshop also convened UNHCR partners as part of the MENA Regional Consultations with NGOs, including a dedicated localisation session supported by ICVA.

Introduction

ICVA’s 2025 to 2027 ambitions in humanitarian financing policy and advocacy are to improve levels and access to financing, strengthen funding quality, and manage risk.

The funding shocks of 2025 created an opportunity to influence structural reform in humanitarian financing. ICVA engaged the Reset, the Grand Bargain, donor repositioning and UN partnerships as entry points to support a shift towards more equitable and effective financing.

ICVA at the Forefront of New Humanitarian Funding Solutions

Pooled Funds

ICVA’s sustained engagement on pooled funds positioned the network as a recognised thought leader in 2025. Alongside formal engagement in the Reset and Grand Bargain, ICVA informally supported donors and humanitarian actors to reflect on pooled funding architecture and future directions.

In 2025, ICVA strengthened its pooled fund work through:

• The CBPF Resource Facility
• The Community of Practice of Pooled Fund Managers, co-chaired with the Start Network and bringing together 23 funds and donor representatives
• New analytical resources, including:
  • Mapping of NGO-led Pooled Funds
  • A briefing paper on the implications of a significant increase in global humanitarian funding through CBPFs
  • A report on risk-sharing in pooled funds
  • Pocket guides on the Humanitarian Financing Landscape and Humanitarian Pooled Funds
  • Research on Lessons from Humanitarian Pooled Funds to inform the Aid Fund for Syria’s strategic approach

Together, this work addressed knowledge gaps and contributed to practical solutions to diversify humanitarian financing.

Local and National NGO Financing

ICVA advanced access and quality of financing for local and national actors through pooled fund reform and broader engagement in global financing processes.

In 2025, ICVA:

• Co-organised with DanChurchAid a Grand Bargain Community of Practice on Financing Local and National NGOs, convened twice to align initiatives improving financing mechanisms and intermediary practices
• Participated in the Grand Bargain Caucus on Efficiency Measures between April and July, contributing to efforts to safeguard principled and needs-based assistance and protect core humanitarian functions
• Endorsed, with 19 other Signatories, a joint statement committing to leaner and more people-centred responses, increased funding to local partners, and improved intermediary practices

These efforts strengthened collective NGO positioning on funding quality, intermediary roles and equitable partnerships.

Innovative Financing Engagements

ICVA explored innovative financing arrangements, including debt swap instruments and social enterprise models, to diversify humanitarian funding sources.

In February, ICVA organised a webinar on Innovative Funding and Pooled Funds in East and Southern Africa. Fifteen members exchanged on emerging trends, challenges and opportunities, including experiences from Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan.

Preparatory work began for a dedicated Working Group to deepen engagement on innovative financing in 2026.

ICVA Advancing Quality Humanitarian Funding

The Grand Bargain

In 2025, ICVA assumed the NGO Representative role within the Grand Bargain Facilitation Group alongside the Alliance for Empowering Partnership.

ICVA co-convened seven NGO Constituency meetings to shape discussions on humanitarian system reform and the future of the Grand Bargain beyond 2026. It also co-hosted, with partners, a networking event during the Annual Meeting.

NGOs called for coherence across global reform processes, stronger country-level impact, clarity on intermediary roles, and closer connection between Grand Bargain commitments and operational realities.

ICVA initiated consultations with NGO Signatories to gather recommendations across 12 Grand Bargain workstreams, including quality funding, localisation, risk-sharing, participation and collective advocacy.

Within the Facilitation Group, ICVA will co-lead a consultative process to design an evolved Grand Bargain framework that strengthens accountability and accelerates reform.

ICVA also co-developed and convened a High Level Roundtable with the Grand Bargain Secretariat, IFRC and Qatar Charity on investing in the institutional development of local and national NGOs. The dialogue brought together philanthropy, development banks, government donors, UN actors and NGOs to explore scalable investment models and new financing vehicles.

ICVA contributed to the annual Grand Bargain self-reporting process, reporting on quality funding, localisation, participation and risk-sharing commitments.

Supporting CERF Under-Funded Emergencies Prioritisation

ICVA and its members contributed qualitative analysis and recommendations to two CERF prioritisation rounds, supporting informed allocation decisions for underfunded humanitarian emergencies.

Humanitarian Financing and Data Transparency

ICVA strengthened transparency and evidence-based reform by:

• Mapping NGO-led pooled funds
• Publishing Realising the Promise of Data in Humanitarian Work, analysing reporting challenges faced by frontline organisations and outlining practical solutions
• Reviewing the feasibility of broader reporting by local and national NGOs

This work supported improved data transparency while advocating for proportionate reporting requirements.

ICVA Promoting Quality Partnerships with NGOs

ICVA continued to create structured spaces for dialogue and guidance to strengthen partnership practices between international, local and national NGOs and UN agencies.

UNICEF

ICVA organised a follow-up workshop to advance advocacy collaboration between UNICEF and NGO partners, engaging 50 participants. It also hosted a webinar attended by over 100 partners to present UNICEF’s updated CSO-Facing Handbook, incorporating NGO inputs.

In April, ICVA facilitated an exchange between members and UNICEF leadership to discuss positioning in relation to the Reset.

WFP

ICVA continued long-standing engagement with WFP on Field-Level Agreements.

In 2025, ICVA:

• Co-organised a briefing with WFP and InterAction on revisions to the Field-Level Agreement and Data Protection Annex
• Facilitated member engagement on WFP’s localisation policy
• Supported development of a Partnership Pact adopted at the 2025 Annual Partnership Consultation

The Partnership Pact establishes shared principles and practical commitments to strengthen collaboration with NGO partners.

Bilateral Donors

Throughout the year, ICVA engaged bilaterally and multilaterally with donors, including through the Grand Bargain, to convey NGO perspectives on funding gaps, financing reform and future funding architecture.

Improving NGOs’ Management of Risks

As funding pressures intensified, ICVA strengthened support to members on risk management and protection of humanitarian space.

ICVA participated in the IASC Community of Practice on Preserving Humanitarian Space, contributing member inputs on sanctions and restrictive measures in Syria and supporting engagement on reporting linked to UN Security Council Resolution 2664.

ICVA also:

• Convened a members’ discussion on bureaucratic impediments in Afghanistan
• Organised a Humanitarian Network Partnership Weeks session on due diligence reform
• Co-organised a European Humanitarian Forum event on due diligence passporting and equitable partnerships

These efforts supported more coherent risk-sharing approaches and reduced compliance burdens for frontline organisations.

In 2025 ICVA undertook a strategic restructuring in response to sector-wide funding reductions. This process was driven not by retreat but by a determination to preserve impact and protect delivery to our members while ensuring long-term sustainability.

We streamlined our staff structure to reduce costs without compromising the quality or scope of our work. Each ICVA focus area has been safeguarded, with teams now composed of 1 Head and 1 Officer. While this adjustment has increased individual workloads, it has not diminished our collective capacity to deliver results for members or to uphold ICVA’s strategic priorities.

The Senior Management Team, previously comprising the Executive Director and three Directors, now operates with two Directors. This has led to an internal reconfiguration of reporting lines, ensuring agility and clearer accountability with no disruption to member engagement or external delivery.

Regional presence remains central to ICVA’s leadership and identity. To reinforce this, we have secured a sustainable model for ICVA’s presence in key regions by embedding our Regional Coordinators within member organisations. Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), ICVA now employs and seconds coordinators based in Nairobi, Yaoundé, Amman, Bangkok, and Bogotá.

This model strengthens both security of employment for staff and connectivity within the ICVA network, ensuring our regional work is firmly grounded in member realities. It also represents a significant cost saving and a tangible step towards more collaborative, resilient operations.

Mid-2025, we conducted a regional engagement survey to better understand how members and partners perceive our value, where regional engagement can be strengthened, and how collaboration can be deepened. 36 organisations participated in the survey. They highlighted ICVA’s added value as a trusted source of information, convener, connector and advocate for NGOs. They pointed to areas of improvement with regards to structured and predictable interaction and updates, strengthened collaboration with regional and national NGO networks, and the promotion of members as ICVA ambassadors. Finally, they underscored the need to communicate advocacy results more visibly and systematically.

We have developed a membership strategy 2025-2027, which we hope will lead to innovative and quality member engagement.

The Board is accountable to the General Assembly for delivering the ICVA 2030 strategy and three-year strategic priorities, while the Secretariat is accountable to the Board for the development and implementation of the three-year and annual workplans. ICVA is committed to be fully transparent and accountable to all those supporting and funding its work.

ICVA maintains regular exchanges with donors and invests in a partnership approach that extends beyond financial support. This collaboration is strengthened by the regular sharing of information and insights, ensuring donors are engaged as true partners in ICVA’s mission. As part of this partnership, ICVA commits to providing timely information updates, hosting annual meetings to discuss shared priorities, and delivering narrative and financial reports. ICVA will also acknowledge donors’ contributions in publications such as its Annual Report and other relevant resources.

In 2025, we launched our Policy, Advocacy, and Communications Strategy 2025-2027, aiming to create a more vocal, visible, and vibrant network promoting principled and effective humanitarian action.

Our regular mass email campaigns obtained an open rate of 31% on average. For more insights, see our 2025 infographic.

We are also currently investing in an online platform that will allow us to centralise our CoPs, facilitate more seamless information-sharing, increase connections between members, and develop more targeted engagement strategies.

ICVA is committed to tracking its progress against strategic priorities. To strengthen this commitment, ICVA has appointed a full time Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer to support its M&E and learning agenda. In addition, ICVA commissions external impact studies at least every three years. These studies assess key impact and achievements, identify challenges, and provide valuable insights to inform the next three-year strategic phase. ICVA reports to the PSEA misconduct scheme, the 2050 Today climate initiative, the Grand Bargain, individual donors, and other self-reporting initiatives. ICVA publishes its annual reports and financial statements online.