UNICEF & UNHCR Regional Meeting on the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) and application of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) in Eastern and Southern Africa: what we have learned and what we can do better

On 16-17 April 2019, UNICEF East and Southern Africa Office (ESARO), UNHCR Regional Coordination Offices (RRCs) for the South Sudan and Burundi situations and UNHCR Regional Support Centre (RSC), organised a workshop with senior representatives from UNHCR and UNICEF from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia country offices, and Headquarters with the following objectives:

1. To share good practices and identify joint priorities to operationalise the GCR and reinforce the application of the CRRF in the East and Southern Africa Region
2. To identify ways to enhance collaboration between UNICEF and UNHCR in the context of implementing the GCR
3. To explore opportunities to work together in advocating with governments, and in mobilising resources for comprehensive responses and refugee inclusion The report provides a summary of the main issues discussed and recommendations.

The application of CRRF has already yielded tangible results for refugee and host children. This has been possible, among others, by the fact that all governments CRRF pledges and related road maps have prioritised sectors concerning children, including health and nutrition, education, child protection and WASH.