Complementary pathways for refugee admission to third countries
Introduction/Overview
In the global context, Complementary Pathways for Refugee Admission to Third Countries refer to safe and legal alternatives that provide refugees with opportunities to access protection, education, employment, and family reunification beyond traditional asylum and resettlement programs.
These pathways are designed to complement existing refugee protection mechanisms by offering additional, sustainable opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and security in third countries. By utilizing complementary pathways, refugees can access durable solutions such as family reunification, access to education, employment opportunities, private sponsorship, and humanitarian visa programs.
These pathways offer refugees the chance to move to third countries where they can benefit from long-term security and legal rights. Importantly, complementary pathways align with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), which emphasizes burden-sharing and the creation of more predictable, equitable systems for refugee admission. They also incorporate the Triple Nexus Approach—integrating humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding efforts—to ensure that refugees have the means to thrive in their new environments while contributing to their host communities.
Key International Frameworks and Instruments Supporting Complementary Pathways:
1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol: These instruments provide the foundational principles for the rights and protection of refugees. They establish the legal framework ensuring that refugees have the right to seek asylum and receive protection, laying the groundwork for the development of complementary pathways.
Global Compact on Refugees (2018): This compact promotes responsibility-sharing among countries and supports the development of complementary pathways for refugee protection. It calls for the creation of additional legal avenues for refugees to access protection, such as private sponsorship, education pathways, and labor mobility schemes. The compact aims to enhance global solidarity and cooperation in addressing refugee crises.
New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (2016): This declaration reinforced international commitments to refugee protection and emphasized the need for innovative solutions, including complementary pathways. It introduced the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), aiming to improve the global response to large-scale refugee movements through expanded resettlement opportunities and other legal pathways.
Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF): A key component of the New York Declaration, the CRRF seeks to provide a more predictable and systematic response to refugee crises. It encourages states to develop complementary pathways to protection, ensuring refugees can access safe and legal routes to resettlement and integration.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4: Quality Education): SDG 4 promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all, including refugees. It supports the creation of educational pathways as part of complementary protection mechanisms, ensuring refugees have access to learning opportunities that can help them rebuild their lives.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): SDG 8 promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all, including refugees. It supports labor mobility schemes and employment opportunities as essential components of complementary pathways, facilitating the economic integration of refugees.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): SDG 16 promotes inclusive societies and ensures access to justice for all, including refugees. It emphasizes the need for strong institutions and the rule of law to protect vulnerable populations and create legal pathways for refugees to access protection and resettlement.
UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection: These guidelines offer legal guidance for the protection of refugees and promote family reunification, education, and employment opportunities. They advocate for reducing legal and administrative obstacles to complementary pathways, ensuring refugees can access the necessary legal mechanisms to secure protection and resettlement in third countries.
A Vision for Refugee Protection Through Complementary Pathways
At Refugee Pathways & Integration Canada (RefPIC), we believe in creating safe, sustainable, and dignified avenues for refugees to rebuild their lives. Our vision is to expand complementary pathways for refugee admission to third countries by collaborating with international organizations, governments, and civil society to provide refugees with access to education, employment, family reunification, and humanitarian visas.
We strive to create a world where refugees can achieve long-term security, legal protection, and economic independence. By facilitating education and employment pathways and ensuring refugees have access to legal routes like private sponsorship and humanitarian visa programs, we aim to support refugees in achieving self-sufficiency and becoming active contributors to their new communities.
How We Deliver This Vision: Comprehensive Why Complementary Pathways Are Essential
Traditional asylum and resettlement programs are critical but often insufficient to meet the needs of millions of displaced people worldwide. Complementary pathways provide additional routes to safety and protection, allowing refugees to access education, employment, and family reunification opportunities in third countries.
For refugees, complementary pathways offer a lifeline, giving them access to legal protection, long-term security, and opportunities to build sustainable lives in host countries. For host countries, complementary pathways provide a means to meet labor market demands, enhance diversity, and promote social cohesion by integrating refugees into local economies and communities.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Complementary Pathways for Refugee Admission
As displacement numbers continue to rise globally, complementary pathways offer a vital solution to providing refugees with durable and sustainable protection. RefPIC is committed to expanding these pathways by advocating for more inclusive policies and working with international organizations and governments to develop programs that benefit both refugees and host communities.
Through our Triple Nexus Approach—which integrates humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding—we aim to create a holistic system where refugees are not only protected but are given opportunities to thrive, contribute to society, and rebuild their futures.
What We Aim to Achieve
Our primary objectives in promoting complementary pathways include:
Family Reunification: Advocate for policies that prioritize the reunification of refugee families, ensuring they can rebuild their lives together in safety.
Education Pathways: Expand access to higher education opportunities for refugees through partnerships with scholarship programs and educational institutions.
Employment Pathways: Create employment opportunities for refugees by collaborating with businesses and governments to match their skills with labor market needs.
Private Sponsorship Pathways: Increase public awareness of private sponsorship programs, allowing more refugees to resettle with the support of community members.
Humanitarian Visa Programs: Advocate for the creation and expansion of humanitarian visa programs that provide refugees with legal, safe entry to third countries.
How We Deliver Impact
Family Reunification: RefPIC works with governments to streamline family reunification processes and advocate for policies that prioritize keeping refugee families together.
Education Pathways: We partner with universities and scholarship providers to ensure refugees have access to higher education opportunities that empower them to achieve their potential.
Employment Pathways: RefPIC collaborates with businesses to create job opportunities for refugees, promoting economic independence and workforce integration.
Private Sponsorship: We engage with communities to expand private sponsorship programs that offer refugees direct support and assistance in rebuilding their lives.
Humanitarian Visas: RefPIC advocates for the creation and expansion of humanitarian visa programs, offering refugees legal protection and pathways to resettlement.
Who Benefits
Refugees and Displaced Persons: Refugees benefit from access to safe, legal pathways to third countries, where they can rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
Host Countries: Host countries benefit from the economic and social contributions refugees make as they integrate into the workforce and community life.
International Stakeholders: Governments, international organizations, and civil society benefit from a more equitable, predictable system for refugee admission, promoting global stability.
Governance, Oversight, and Accountability
At Refugee Pathways & Integration Canada (RefPIC), we uphold the highest standards of governance, oversight, and accountability across all our programs. As a registered nonprofit, we operate in full compliance with the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and adhere to guidelines set by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for charities. This ensures transparency, accountability, and alignment with national laws.
In addition to federal compliance, RefPIC adheres to provincial nonprofit regulations where we operate, both within Canada and internationally. Where necessary, we incorporate separately in different jurisdictions to ensure we meet local legal requirements. This enables us to operate effectively across regions while maintaining the highest levels of accountability and legal compliance.
National and Provincial Compliance: RefPIC strictly follows Canadian laws governing nonprofit organizations, ensuring transparency, financial accountability, and ethical standards. By complying with federal and provincial nonprofit regulations, we meet all legal requirements in the regions we serve.
International Standards and Frameworks: RefPIC's work is further guided by international laws and frameworks that protect refugee rights and promote sustainable development. We align our programs with global best practices to ensure our initiatives serve refugees and displaced persons effectively.
Strong Accountability Practices: We collaborate with local, national, and international stakeholders to ensure responsible resource management and effective service delivery. Through regular evaluations, transparent reporting, and continuous improvement, RefPIC ensures that our programs meet the immediate needs of refugees while contributing to long-term sustainable outcomes.
For more details, visit our Governance, Oversight, and Accountability page to learn more about our commitment to ethical practices, program evaluation, and compliance with legal frameworks.
Get Involved/Call to Action
Support Complementary Pathways: Advocate for the expansion of complementary pathways that provide refugees with education, employment, and family reunification opportunities.
Volunteer: Share your expertise in education, employment, or legal aid to support RefPIC’s complementary pathways initiatives.
Partner with Us: Collaborate with RefPIC to expand access to complementary pathways for refugees through partnerships with governments, educational institutions, and businesses.
Donate: Your financial contributions help fund RefPIC’s complementary pathways programs, ensuring that refugees have access to safe, legal avenues to third countries.
Useful Resources (External Links)
Family Reunification: UNHCR Family Reunification for Refugees Toolkit – This toolkit provides resources and strategies for facilitating family reunification for refugees, focusing on minimizing bureaucratic barriers and ensuring family unity in third-country resettlement programs. Access the toolkit
Education Pathways: UNHCR Guide to Education Pathways for Refugees – This guide outlines best practices for creating education pathways, including scholarships and partnerships with universities, to enable refugees to pursue higher education in third countries. Access the guide
Employment Pathways: UNHCR Employment Opportunities Toolkit for Refugees – This toolkit provides resources for creating employment pathways tailored to refugee skills and local labor market needs, promoting economic independence and integration. Access the toolkit
Private Sponsorship Pathways: Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI) Toolkit – This toolkit offers guidance for establishing private sponsorship programs, helping community groups and organizations support refugees’ resettlement in third countries. Access the toolkit
Humanitarian Visa Programs: UNHCR Handbook on Humanitarian Visa Programs – This handbook provides a framework for implementing humanitarian visa programs, offering refugees safe and legal entry to third countries for protection and resettlement. Access the handbook