UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Engages with UNHCR Ethiopia Team on Operational Priorities and National Alignment

The newly appointed UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ozonnia Ojielo, engaged with UNHCR Ethiopia’s leadership and staff for a high‑level strategic exchange focused on operational priorities, national alignment, and the evolving displacement landscape in Ethiopia.

UNHCR’s senior leadership presented an overview of the Agency’s operational footprint, key priorities, and the challenges shaping humanitarian and protection work across the country. UNHCR currently operates in ten field locations across major refugee‑hosting regions—including Gambella, Somali Region, Benishangul‑Gumuz, and the northern border areas—supporting 30 refugee sites and camps as well as a significant urban refugee population in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia continues to host around 1.1 million refugees, primarily from South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea. The team highlighted the continued shift toward community‑based and refugee‑led approaches, strengthened partnerships with local organizations, and deeper alignment with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

UNHCR leadership also underscored the importance of Ethiopia’s evolving legal environment, which is expanding refugees’ access to services, documentation, and economic opportunities—an essential enabler of longer‑term inclusion.

Advancing Inclusion and Government‑Led Approaches

UNHCR emphasized the central role of the government‑led refugee inclusion agenda, the increasing importance of the humanitarian–development nexus, and the need to strengthen national systems and infrastructure in refugee‑hosting areas to achieve sustainable solutions.

The briefing highlighted the volatile regional context and climate‑related shocks that continue to drive diverse and large‑scale displacement into Ethiopia. Each operation area presents its own combination of access, security, and logistical constraints.

UNHCR also presented the severity of current funding challenges and stressed the need for diversified and less‑restricted financing, including enhanced engagement with private‑sector partners. Efforts to increase efficiency—such as inter‑agency collaboration through shared offices, joint procurement, and common services—were also outlined.

Strengthening Regional and Development Partnerships

UNHCR highlighted its growing partnerships with the African Union, UNECA, and other regional actors working on peace and security, migration governance, and socio‑economic inclusion. Joint efforts are underway to integrate refugees into national statistical and identity systems and to advance solutions to prevent statelessness.

The team emphasized the importance of elevating displacement issues on continental platforms and promoting the recognition of refugees as contributors to national development—not only as recipients of humanitarian assistance.

Toward System‑Wide Change

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator commended UNHCR’s extensive work and reaffirmed the central importance of its protection mandate. He emphasized the need for the UN system to adapt to a changing global financing landscape by strengthening government alignment, deepening collaboration with development partners, and moving toward integrated, scalable solutions instead of fragmented interventions.

While recognizing UNHCR’s leadership in several areas, Ozonnia noted that Ethiopia’s complex challenges require even more coherent, ambitious, and system‑wide collaboration. He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with UNHCR to strengthen coordination, financing, and strategic engagement.

UN Ethiopia Head engagement with staff 

Engaging directly with UNHCR staff, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator emphasized their essential role in driving results and delivering meaningful impact across the UN’s humanitarian and development efforts. He expressed his commitment to continued engagement to support their well‑being and to help foster a more enabling and conducive working environment.