The London Conference as a New Architecture for Tackling Mega-Crises: Syria and Beyond

by Ambassador Joachim Rücker and Amin Awad

Six months ago, a broad spectrum of humanitarian, development, financial, and political actors convened in London for the Supporting Syria and the Region conference, co-hosted by the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Kuwait, and the United Nations.

The objective of this groundbreaking event was to pursue a new way of responding to the protracted Syrian crisis, a devastating conflict which has had severe ramifications for the Syrian people, neighbouring states, and host communities. Since 2011, 4.8 million Syrians have fled the country, and 6.6 million are internally displaced, with dramatic implications for the economy, security, and political stability of the region and the world at large.

The event was a landmark achievement in many ways — foresighted, ambitious, and collaborative — and forged a new mechanism of response which may be replicated globally. What set the London Conference apart from similar events was that it aimed to tackle not only critical fundraising needs, but also important policy objectives.

What made the London Conference so unique?

First, the international community had never before pledged such a large amount of money in one single day, for one single crisis. Building upon the progress made during the 2014 Berlin Conference and the Kuwait Pledging Conferences, London generated pledges exceeding US$12 billion — $6 billion for 2016, and $6.1 billion for 2017–2020. This is an unprecedented amount of support, and a powerful example of the impact that can be achieved when stakeholders with diverse interests come together with a single objective.

Second, this new mechanism was notable due to the compelling State Compacts presented by refugee-hosting states, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The London Conference did not seek to impose a vision framed from an “outsider” perspective, but rather aimed for genuine partnership with the states most affected by the crisis. The State Compacts delineate key challenges and priorities as identified by the refugee-hosting countries, and also affirm the hosting states’ specific commitments towards refugees. By providing a platform for the direct engagement between states and with refugee hosting countries, the event galvanized real solidarity though the dynamic engagement of all partners. The emphasis on burden-sharing is also fully in line with the objectives of the Global Compact on Responsibility Sharing for Refugees, as set out by the UN Secretary-General.

Third, the new model presented in London was commendable due to its foresight and vision: planning not only for the immediate short-term needs, but also taking into account the longer-term needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, with a renewed emphasis on education, economic opportunities, infrastructure support, and loans for refugee-hosting states. Through home visits and ongoing dialogue with refugees and the communities that host them, UNHCR has identified the top reasons why Syrian refugees are leaving the region and moving towards Europe. These include loss of hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis; growing impoverishment; limited employment opportunities; aid shortfalls; hurdles to renew legal residency; and limited education opportunities. These critical findings helped to inform the objectives of the London conference. The co-hosts recognized that such a dramatic situation requires a radical paradigm shift, one in which refugees are enabled to pursue education in exile, and where they can use their skills to pursue meaningful economic opportunities, and be increasingly self-reliant.

Finally, the conference was significant in accentuating the human consequences of the conflict, by making a renewed commitment towards protection of civilians inside Syria. For more than five years, the Syrian crisis has seen shocking violations of international law, with appalling levels of violence committed against civilians and civilian targets, including hospitals and schools. Inside Syria, there has been a near complete disregard for basic human rights norms and protection standards. In London, the international community reaffirmed the importance of upholding human rights principles, and recognizing the primacy of international law. Without this core foundation, the world can never be a safe place, and crisis and displacement will only proliferate.

For the above four reasons, the architecture and outcomes of the London conference were truly ground-breaking as a method of responding to a crisis of increasingly global proportions. The new vision presented was a tribute to the far-sightedness and leadership of the co-hosts, the refugee-hosting states, and also the donors that stepped forward with new commitments.

Half a year later, we urge all participants to maintain this momentum.

The promises made were not legally binding; and are fully reliant on the underlying commitment and goodwill of Member States to turn the undertakings into reality, in the face of mounting crisis. So far, of the $6 billion pledged and $4.2 billion allocated for the most relevant UN appeals in 2016, only $2.7 billion has been received. This amount will provide support to essential programmes and is a positive start, yet much more rapid disbursement is needed for the remainder of the year to ensure that there is no break in services to the most needy.

Finally, what is needed most of all is a robust mechanism for peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy, with full support from the UN Security Council and regional powers. The multiplicity of flash points, radicalization of non-state actors, and protracted conflicts have contributed to growing global instability, making our planet an unruly place. With more than 65 million displaced globally, and growing by nearly 34,000 every day, this sends the world a very clear signal.