UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Strategic Approach to Strengthening National Asylum Systems, October 2025, https://www.refworld.org/policy/strategy/unhcr/2025/150734 [accessed 16 April 2026]
Strategic Approach to Strengthening National Asylum Systems
In this section
This strategic approach sets out UNHCR’s objectives and priority areas of engagement to support States and other stakeholders to strengthen the fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity of national asylum systems. It outlines UNHCR’s role and contribution - the actions the organization will take to achieve these goals - and the requests to others, in five strategic areas of engagement: supportive law and policy frameworks; performing institutions; effective implementation of differentiated asylum procedures; capacitated workforce and accessible information and legal assistance. The strategic approach emphasizes programming centred around State ownership and sustainability through implementation of enhanced approaches and methodologies for capacity development. Achieving these objectives will require leadership and active engagement from a range of stakeholders through strengthened collaboration and partnerships at national, regional and global levels.
This strategic approach focuses on five core areas: legal and policy frameworks; institutional performance; procedural efficiency; workforce capacity; and the meaningful participation of asylum seekers through access to information and legal support. It promotes policy innovation by ensuring that systems are sufficiently strong for States to explore creative and context-specific solutions that improve the effectiveness of the asylum process. Innovation is key to ensuring systems remain adaptable and resilient in the face of shifting dynamics and rising pressures.
The strategic approach positions reinforcing asylum systems as part of a broader, coherent and coordinated response to mixed and onward movements. This reflects UNHCR’s route-based approach to addressing mixed movements which calls for a set of key actions including the need to strengthen asylum systems in all countries, including countries of asylum, transit and destination.
The strategic approach further adopts a capacity development approach, enabling long-term, sustainable reform. It is grounded in a whole-of-society model that brings together governments, civil society, communities, and development actors.
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Strategic Approach to Strengthening National Asylum Systems
