The Government of Egypt, the United Nations, international partners, civil society representatives and other stakeholders have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint efforts for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and host communities across Egypt.
The commitment was renewed during the annual meeting of the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees, held in Cairo. The platform brings together Egyptian authorities, UN agencies, development partners, civil society and academic institutions to improve coordination and ensure that support is aligned with Egypt’s national priorities.
Joint platform focuses on better coordination
The meeting was convened under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, together with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt. Participants reviewed progress achieved so far, discussed new priorities and considered ways to make assistance more effective, sustainable and better connected to national systems.
Created in 2021, the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees has become an important coordination mechanism between the Government of Egypt and the United Nations. Its main purpose is to reduce fragmentation, improve cooperation between different actors and support practical solutions in areas such as education, healthcare, protection and access to essential services.
During the meeting, Egyptian officials emphasized that the current regional situation requires stronger international support, especially as Egypt continues to host large numbers of migrants and refugees. They also highlighted the importance of using available resources more efficiently and linking humanitarian assistance with longer-term development work.
UN representatives also underlined the need for continued cooperation at a time when regional crises are increasing pressure on national systems. The discussions focused on keeping Egypt’s institutions at the centre of the response, while ensuring that migrants, refugees and local communities can access basic services and protection.
EU-funded programme supports essential services
Participants also reviewed Egypt’s commitments under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees. The meeting highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, including findings from the Common Situational Analysis on the needs of migrants and refugees in Egypt, conducted by the American University in Cairo.
A key part of the discussion was the progress made through the European Union-funded Joint UN Programme, implemented by UNHCR, IOM, WHO, UNICEF and WFP. The programme supports national systems in education, health and protection, while also providing direct assistance to vulnerable people.
According to the partners, nearly half a million people have benefited from improved services and support under the programme. This includes 162,000 students who received education-related services, 4,800 life-saving and essential health services, and 85,200 people who accessed protection services, including child protection, mental health support and family reunification assistance.
The European Union emphasized that support for migrants, refugees and host communities should not depend on short-term or fragmented interventions. Instead, partners stressed the need for coordinated action that strengthens Egypt’s national systems and helps communities respond to growing needs.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to deepen cooperation, expand access to services and promote greater international responsibility-sharing. Partners also agreed on the importance of supporting children, women and other vulnerable groups, while helping migrants, refugees and host communities contribute to Egypt’s long-term development.
