World: High level consultative meeting between the UNHCR and Qatar Charity in Geneva
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Qatar Charity Held a high-level consultative meeting in Geneva, during which both sides agreed to explore the possibility of strengthening coordination and cooperation.
The meeting was attended by HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Nasser Al Thani,
Chairman of Qatar Charity, and HE Mr. Felipe Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The meeting also emphasized Qatar Charity’s commitment for strengthening the initiative to coordinate partnership and cooperation signed with the UNHCR. The High Commissioner was also briefed on joint visits planned with the UNHCR to Iraq, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Bangladesh with a view to identifying joint projects and ongoing field coordination with the UNHCR.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al-Thani, Chairman, thanked the High Commission for the constructive partnership that culminated in the opening of an office to the UNHCR at Qatar Charity headquarter office in Doha, and the appointment of a permanent staff on an international cadre in the first of its kind. He also invited the High Commissioner to visit the QC’s headquarters in Doha during any future visit, stressing that this initiative would enhance further QC’s presence in the field of cooperation with the UNHCR to serve humanitarian issues, and encouraging other institutions in the region for partnering with the UN agencies, especially with the increasing numbers of displaced people and refugees throughout the world.
During the meeting, the parties suggested that a joint meeting should be held at the end of each year in Geneva, and would focus on the accomplishments made during the year, and on how to expand this cooperation which would serve the displaced people and refugees throughout the world.
During its visit to the UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, Qatar Charity’s delegation has held several important meetings with some officials in the High Commissioner, including Mr. Raouf Mazou, Director Regional Bureau for Africa, Mr. Ewen Macaulid, Acting Director Division of Resilience, Ms. Perveen Ali, Senior Policy and Protection Advisor, Ms. Indrika Ratwatte, Director Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, as well as Ms. Rema Jamous Imseis, Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for the Middle East and North Africa, and Mr. Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The meetings aimed to discuss and consult on future initiatives for the benefit of refugees in these areas In the past year, Qatar Charity and UNHCR have launched an initiative to coordinate partnership and cooperation in order to achieve their common humanitarian goals, primarily the protection of displaced persons and refugees and the provision of a decent life for them in their countries or countries of asylum.
The initiative is the culmination of the five-years strategic cooperation agreement signed between both parties in October 2017 in Geneva. The agreement aims at the establishment of a specialized mechanism within Qatar Charity to institutionalize the partnership between QC and UNHCR, manage the files of mutual interest, and follow up details by the employment of both parties. It also aims at seeking support to provide about $30mn annually for the humanitarian projects of UNHCR through the various funding channels in the State of Qatar.
The initiative strives for bringing a leading model to support emergencies worldwide and carry out consultations and joint action in order to enhance humanitarian response and field cooperation between both parties, develop long-term joint campaigns and common activities for capacitybuilding of refugees and displaced persons, host an annual high-level fundraising event and highlight the plight of refugees and displaced persons.
Under the initiative, the charity will become an active partner of UNHCR in raising awareness on issues, faced by refugee across the world, in Qatar and involving millions of people in their support.
