INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE LAW AND MIGRATION LAW

In-country Initiatives

Through its in-country initiatives, the Department delivers tailored and context specific support to strengthen national protection systems and operational responses. Working closely with UNHCR country offices and operations, the Department supports core protection functions and contributes to the effective application of international standards at the country level. At the same time, it works alongside national authorities and other relevant actors to support transitions towards state led asylum systems, strengthen institutional capacity, and foster constructive dialogue among diverse stakeholders. These initiatives combine technical expertise, capacity development, and neutral spaces for exchange, ensuring that legal and policy frameworks are adapted to local realities and implementation needs.

Answering to requests from governments and international organizations, in recent years the Department has expanded the implementation of in-country initiatives aimed at strengthening national and regional protection capacities. These initiatives include tailored workshops in Bulgaria, Egypt, Serbia, South Africa, North Macedonia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Jordan, and Lebanon. They have brought together government authorities, UNHCR staff, and civil society actors to address issues such as mixed movements, statelessness, protection advocacy, and refugee status determination. Designed to respond to concrete operational needs, these activities also fostered exchange and collaboration among the institutions engaged in protection work. Particular emphasis is placed on building sustainable capacity and supporting institutional processes. 

Some of our initiatives include:

  • Serbia: Design of training modules on internal displacement, statelessness, and mixed movements for the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, funded by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund through UNHCR.
  • Egypt: Design and implementation of a Joint Strategic Engagement exercise tailored to UNHCR teams aimed at strengthening protection analysis and advocacy planning in response to the Egyptian context. This was complemented by a tailored workshop on asylum management in Arabic to strengthen technical knowledge and coordination among key ministries involved in refugee protection.
  • Bulgaria: Design and delivery of advanced workshops on advocacy for protection for UNHCR staff and partners, focusing on the use practical tools for effective stakeholder engagement and strategic interventions.
  • South Africa: Based on a detailed needs assessment, design and delivery of an intensive two-week Refugee Status Determination initiative for national authorities, combining technical training for adjudicators and appeals bodies, with structured dialogue with senior policy makers to support the enhancement of national asylum procedures.
  • Senegal: Support to UNHCR, the IDP Protection Expert Group (IPEG), and the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons in the delivery of the Cross-Regional Forum on Implementing Laws and Policies on Internal Displacement, which brought together government officials from across Africa to exchange practical approaches for advancing the domestic application of the Kampala Convention.

These examples reflect only a selection of the Department’s broader in-country engagement, which continues to expand in response to emerging protection needs and operational priorities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you wish to learn more about our in-country work or upcoming initiatives, please contact us at refugee.department@iihl.org

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