Improving social health protection for refugees

UNHCR works closely with partners who implement health programs in line with the organization’s Public Health Strategy 2014-2018. While UNHCR often works with partner organizations to ensure health care for refugees, the agency advocates for the inclusion of refugees in national health systems and encourages governments to allow refugees to access available health services, on par with what nationals use. There may often initially be barriers to accessing public services though: cost, ineligibility to benefit from social protection services, or exclusion from services. The integration of refugees into national systems is generally regarded as a win-win, as it fosters peaceful coexistence, self-reliance and resilience. Through its Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), UNHCR strives to reach from the New York Declaration in 2016 to the Global Compact on Refugees, thereby bringing together State and non-state stakeholders to deliver an integrated response to refugees and host communities, driving forward the agenda of the SDGs in an equitable and predictable way. On 1 July 2016, UNHCR and the ILO signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at ILO headquarters, designed to engender a new and deeper phase of collaboration between the two organizations in eight common priority areas, including the extension of social protection. The agreement focuses on long-term solutions for refugees and others displaced by conflict and persecution. A Plan of Action in order to implement the MoU is currently under development.

Project symbol

GLO/19/11/HCR

Admin unit

SOCPRO

Start date

01/07/2019

End date

31/12/2019

Total allocation

50558

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

45764

Development Partners

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Country/Countries

Global

Outcomes

Outcome 8: Comprehensive and sustainable social protection for all