GENEVA (17 February) – Every year over 300 representatives from around the world attend UNHCR’s Annual Consultations with NGOs in Geneva. While the Consultations started out as a half‐day discussion where UNHCR talked with NGOs about the upcoming Executive Committee meeting (ExCom), it has now grown into a major international meeting point for NGOs and UNHCR. It provides a forum to network, gather and share information, hear about new policies and best practice, discuss protection gaps, and identify joint solutions. It has become the major international forum for NGOs working with refugees, IDPs, and other persons of concern.

 

This year, the Annual Consultations will take place from 1-3 July at the Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG). The theme will be ‘Solutions.’

 

Registration will be available online at www.unhcr.org/ngo-consultations/ beginning 23 February 2015 and the deadline to register is 22 May 2015. The site will be regularly updated with additional documentation related to the consultations, including the final agenda and the background papers prepared for each session. To be officially registered at  the event you must register on-line via the web link online.

To open the registration form, the following user name and password will be requested:

User name: ngos

Password: conference

Please note that the number of delegates should not exceed 5 participants per organization or 6-7 participants per umbrella NGO/Consortium.

·         Financial support:  UNHCR is not in a position to cover travel or related expenses for NGOs invited to attend the meeting.

·         Visas: A minimum of one month is necessary to process the visa application and it must be obtained prior to the departure. If you need a visa, please make sure to start the procedure immediately. Should you require assistance, please contact immediately the UNHCR Delegation in your country who may be able to assist you.

We look forward to seeing you in June and do not hesitate to contact the Partnership Section ([email protected]) if you need more information or clarification.

A comprehensive NGO guide to the annual consultations is available here: “A Guide for NGOs to Participating in UNHCR’s Annual Consultations with NGOs”