The World Bank and UNHCR will now fund refugee programs that integrate with national systems

The World Bank and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) are changing how they fund refugee programs. They will now prioritize programs that help refugees integrate into the national systems of host countries, rather than separate humanitarian aid. This means funding will shift towards initiatives that promote self-reliance and inclusion within existing government services.

For decades, refugee aid often created parallel systems, keeping displaced people separate from the host country's economy and services. This new approach means that funding will now push for policies that make refugees part of the local economy and society. It aims to make aid more sustainable and less reliant on emergency humanitarian responses, potentially unlocking new economic opportunities for refugees and reducing the long-term burden on aid organizations.