UNHCR could not accomplish its protection work without the support of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). NGO partners work with and multiply the efforts of the refugee agency in advocacy, promoting refugee rights and state responsibility in refugee protection as well as in providing legal assistance. 

There are two types of partnerships between UNHCR and NGOs: implementing and operational. 

Implementing partnerships are those in which UNHCR provides financial support to an NGO to perform specific services. This arrangement is regulated in a formal project agreement subject to UNHCR financial rules and regulations. Some of the implementing NGOs have been partners of UNHCR for years.

The other type of partnership is operational. This involves the voluntary close coordination between UNHCR and NGOs, but not including financial support by UNHCR. These operational partners support UNHCR’s work first of all in emergency, relief and resettlement.

UNHCR in Central Europe partners with NGOs in a broad spectrum of activities. NGOs carry out border monitoring and provide legal counselling in the Border Management programme. NGO staff take part in the annual participatory assessments of the Age, Gender and Diversity strategy as members of the Multi-Functional Teams that visit detention and accommodation facilities across the region in order to map and attend to the particular concerns and needs of the displaced people. NGO partners also provide specialized assistance to vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors and separated children and victims of torture and sexual and gender-based violence. 

Throughout the year, NGOs run important awareness raising and information activities like celebrations of the World Refugee Day (June 20), speaking out and advocating for refugees in ways that complement the channels UNHCR can use.