Context
Over the last two decades, the number of forcibly displaced people has reached unprecedented levels, underscoring that traditional resettlement approaches are no longer adequate to address the scale of the global refugee situation. By 2025, the situation has grown even more complex, with mass displacement continuing to rise—driven by political and economic hardship, the climate crisis, protracted conflicts and human rights violations, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and other forms of targeted violence and persecution. These dynamics affect not only displaced populations but also the host countries that bear the brunt of these crises.
Beyond the immediate challenges of insecurity, a lack of affordable housing, and limited access to healthcare, education, and employment, a growing nationalistic, anti-migrant narrative is being fueled by political forces and spreading across borders. This rhetoric is gaining ground in our societies, making it even harder for displaced people to find acceptance and integrate successfully into their new environments.
The impact is already noticeable, and the consequences are being felt globally. The new political landscapes, marked by restrictive immigration policies and the dismantling of key agencies, are leading to significant reductions in resettlement quotas and the paralysis of responsible organizations, which is directly affecting refugees and communities worldwide. In this context, it is crucial to explore alternative funding sources and foster collaborative efforts to mobilize resources that can help offset these challenges.
At the same time, the needs of refugees have become more diverse and multifaceted. Forced migration flows are driven not only by violence and conflict but also by natural disasters, food insecurity, and the impacts of extreme climate events, all of which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities. Against this backdrop, many host countries, already facing their own challenges, view the arrival of refugees as an additional burden, hampering their ability to provide long-term and effective solutions.
This can lead to exclusion and marginalization, particularly for refugees who already face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and additional protection barriers such as unaccompanied children, women, LGBTIQ+ refugees and refugees with disabilities.
While local communities play a key role and often show a strong willingness to help, they frequently lack the resources and structures needed to provide effective support. A clear example of this is the significant growth of complementary pathways over the past ten years, which reflects the solidarity of non-traditional actors and communities seeking to expand options to meet the growing protection needs of refugee populations. However, these new mobility pathways face serious challenges in scaling up and require a more robust coordination ecosystem.
It is essential to move towards a new paradigm of response, where international cooperation is broader and more inclusive, involving a wider range of stakeholders.
The future of resettlement and complementary pathways depends on strengthening multi-stakeholder coordination and collective action, expanding humanitarian and protection-based pathways, and grounding our efforts in the principles of peace, responsibility-sharing, and mutual prosperity. We must remember that it is not only about identifying viable solutions, but about ensuring those solutions reflect our commitment to human rights—respecting diversity and inclusion, dignity, justice, and the right to belong. Furthermore, it is essential to reaffirm the value of refugee leadership and to amplify refugee voices in decision-making spaces.
This shift must be reflected in policies that center the rights, dignity, safety, and wellbeing of refugees, both within our borders and beyond them, prioritizing both the protection of refugees’ rights and their access to opportunities, and fostering their integration in a way that benefits both the displaced and the host communities. In 2025, meeting the needs of displaced people cannot be treated as a charitable gesture, it is a moral obligation and a chance to reaffirm our shared humanity by building stronger, more resilient, just, and inclusive societies.
With political will, we can maintain and expand protection-based pathways that respond to today’s challenges and remain adaptable to future needs. We know that some countries are already -or will- retreat from their responsibilities, and that is precisely why others must step forward.
Recommendations
In this regard, we would like to express the following recommendations:
1. Protecting Resettlement through increased commitment to responsibility sharing
As a community, we have to make sure that, even with some resettlement states pulling back, our global resettlement community moves forward. Despite the numerous challenges posed by political, logistical, and financial barriers, the NGO community underscores the urgent need to reinstate, maintain, and expand resettlement quotas in more equitable and inclusive ways. This is particularly critical in the face of ongoing conflicts that are systematically targeting, displacing, and killing civilian populations in need of urgent protection and assistance. The growing demands of displaced communities require a concerted effort to scale up resettlement programs and address the root causes of forced displacement. Only through strengthened cross-border collaboration and partnerships—bringing together resources, expertise, knowledge, and increased funding—can States, along with key actors such as community sponsors, civil society, the private sector, and academic institutions, develop effective and sustainable responses. This is especially vital at a time when some key actors are retreating from their commitments.
2. Expanding Complementary Pathways through enhanced collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement
While resettlement remains a critical tool, complementary pathways —including labour, education, humanitarian and family reunification pathways— also offer a vital avenue for refugees to find a durable solution. The growing protection needs of displaced populations call for innovative and flexible mobility pathways beyond traditional resettlement programs. Over the past decade, complementary pathways have gained significant traction as a demonstration of solidarity from non-traditional actors, including the private sector, civil society, and community sponsors. These pathways expand opportunities for refugees but are currently struggling to scale up. A well-coordinated and adequately resourced ecosystem is essential to unlock their full potential. Strengthening cooperation mechanisms among all actors—notably governments, international organizations, and community stakeholders—is critical to ensure strategic alignment and maximize impact.
States must take the lead in expanding complementary pathways, working in close coordination with key stakeholders to establish robust, sustainable programs. The participation of sectors such as businesses and academic institutions can provide essential resources, expertise, and funding to scale these efforts.
Addressing complementary pathways in parallel with resettlement is key to crafting more comprehensive, diverse, and sustainable solutions for displaced populations. Furthermore, ensuring family unity and rapid access to employment authorization are crucial elements. Investment in these solutions is key to overcoming present challenges and improving long-term prospects for both refugees and host communities.
3. Accelerating commitment and action to deliver on Global Refugee Forum Pledges
Fulfilling existing commitments is just as critical as expanding efforts. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, 252 pledges were made related to resettlement and complementary pathways. As we approach the next GRF, there is an urgent need for renewed political will, accountability, and concrete action to ensure these pledges translate into life-changing opportunities for refugees.
States, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders must intensify collaboration to accelerate the implementation of these commitments. This includes increasing transparency, tracking progress more effectively, and mobilizing the necessary resources. Delivering on the pledges is essential not only to uphold trust among the refugee protection community but also to pave the way for more robust, inclusive, and sustainable pathways for displaced populations globally.
4. Addressing integration through a holistic approach
The NGO community strongly advocates for a holistic and sustainable approach to resettlement and complementary pathways. These initiatives should prioritise critical areas such as access to health, housing, psychosocial support, education, employment opportunities, social inclusion, and cultural integration. Addressing these needs through a comprehensive and coordinated strategy is essential to ensure that refugees are not only admitted through resettlement or complementary pathways, but are also able to thrive and fully integrate into their new communities. By investing in these dimensions, states and stakeholders can promote long-term stability, foster social cohesion, and provide a solid foundation for refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
5. Elevating refugee voices in decision-making
We call for the meaningful and sustained inclusion of refugees—particularly those from under-represented groups— in shaping the policies and programs that impact their lives. Refugees bring valuable lived experience and insight into the barriers they face and the solutions they need. Their voices must be reflected not only in consultations, but in actual decision-making spaces. Refugee-led organizations, especially youth-led initiatives, should be actively supported with the necessary resources and platforms to contribute effectively. Elevating these voices will lead to more relevant, responsive, and sustainable solutions, while recognizing refugees as capable actors and leaders within their communities.
6. Combating anti-migrant narratives and misinformation
Amid the growing spread of misinformation and anti-migrant rhetoric, we urge decisive action and shared responsibility to counter harmful narratives that fuel fear, polarization, exclusion and discrimination. These discourses distort public understanding of forced displacement, undermine refugee protection, and contribute to shrinking political and social support for resettlement and complementary pathways. It is essential to communicate facts —highlighting the realities, resilience, and contributions of refugees.
7. Reducing administrative hurdles and promoting innovative solutions
We highlight the urgent need to reduce administrative barriers that hinder the effectiveness of resettlement and complementary pathways, including family reunification. Lengthy processing times, unclear or inaccessible information, burdensome financial or documentation requirements, and overly complex procedures delay access to protection and limit opportunities for refugees. These bureaucratic obstacles are particularly damaging in the context of family reunification, which is vital for refugees' long-term stability, wellbeing, and integration.
To overcome these challenges, we call for streamlined administrative procedures, simplified documentation requirements, and improved clarity and accessibility of information. At the same time, we urge continued efforts to identify and implement innovative and inclusive solutions that respond to the diverse needs of displaced populations—regardless of country of origin, gender identity, age, or disability. This includes exploring new visa options, swiftly creating additional quotas, expanding community sponsorship programs, ensuring freedom of movement, and enabling refugees to make meaningful choices about their place of settlement. Together, these actions are essential to build fairer, more accessible, and more responsive mobility pathways for refugees.
We hope that this 30th anniversary of the CRCP will serve not only as a moment to reflect on our collective achievements, but also as an opportunity to reaffirm the enduring relevance and impact of resettlement systems and complementary pathways. Faced with the crisis of a dramatic loss of resettlement places, we need to turn this crisis into an opportunity. This is the occasion to renew our collective commitment to practical, inclusive, and forward-looking strategies that ensure no refugee is left behind. The evidence is on our side for we know that, when given the opportunity, over time resettled refugees are great contributors to those countries that welcome them.
