Geneva — A top UNHCR official opened annual consultations with non-governmental organizations (NGO) on Tuesday by seeking their assistance in developing innovative ways to help refugees and in empowering more of the displaced through self-sufficiency.
Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees T. Alexander Aleinikoff, addressing more than 430 participants from 86 countries at the start of the three-day meeting in Geneva, said UNHCR was looking at how the agency and its partners could "become 21st Century organizations" and benefit from best practices around the world.
"Many of us work in ways we have worked for many years, where things that have worked in the past continue to work in the present. But, meanwhile, the world has moved on," he said, adding that UNHCR was looking at how it could benefit from improvements in areas such as mobile phone technology, solar power and lighting, fuel-efficient stoves, shelter, livelihoods and micro-credit.
"All of these are areas in which innovative practices would be welcome and where we can learn from organizations and changes going on around the world," Aleinikoff said, before revealing that the agency would soon launch an "innovation initiative" that would "attempt to pull these examples together" and feature innovative ideas developed in the field.
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Source: allAfrica
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