STATELESSNESS & COVID-19 Responding to a Crisis Within a Crisis “ When other NGOs and organisations were postponing or withdrawing their activities due to COVID lockdowns, our project continued to provide support as the needs were critical at that moment. Our project was implemented in a crucial moment where the Rohingya people were looking for COVID-related information and protective measures and were keen to protect themselves and their families.” Rohingya Women’s Development Network, member of the CESF Consortium THE CESF TIMELINE THE CESF AT A GLANCE In March 2020, as the world was trying to make sense of and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, stateless communities were not part of the equation. They were not even part of the conversation to determine what should and should not be in the equation. As governments across the world faced deeply challenging decisions on protecting public health while averting starvation and warding off economic disaster, it was increasingly evident and predictable, that in times of crisis, states were embracing a “citizens first” approach. Denied nationality and deprived basic rights and welfare, the stateless were already marginalised before the crisis. They now faced even greater, life-threatening marginalisation, with potentially disastrous consequences. However, the global pandemic also presented a unique opportunity to raise visibility, address the structural causes of statelessness, and secure lasting change, through working directly with stateless people and being accountable to them. The COVID-19 Emergency Statelessness Fund (CESF) was set up to do exactly this. The Fund’s purpose was to support research-based action advocacy, by those civil society groups and activists that were already well positioned to have an impact, at the same time connecting these groups in a global Consortium. While the focus was on structural solutions, the Fund could also be used to provide stop-gap humanitarian relief to those in acute need. “ Central to ISI’s vision is involving and empowering stateless people to take the lead in advocating for the right to nationality, and to reverse the historical trend of using stateless people to play tokenistic roles… When the pandemic hit and ISI began to organize their COVID response, we felt it was critical to support. ISI’s fund combines addressing both emergency needs and structural problems. For humanitarian funders who might focus more narrowly on relief, it’s critical to also understand the structural issues that need to be addressed.” CESF Donor, Martin Dunn, Dunn Family Foundation MARCH 2020 • APRIL 2020 • MAY 2020 • • 18 groups (stateless led organisations, national NGOs, national and regional networks) received a total of EUR 356,000 to implement projects in 17 countries, engage in Consortium activities and join global advocacy efforts. The balance EUR 89,000 was spent by ISI to help partners design projects, provide bilateral support to partners, coordinate the Consortium and lead global advocacy efforts. In addition to this, ISI spent EUR 55,000 of its institutional funds to administer, fundraise for and manage the CESF, bringing the total expenditure to EUR 500,000. 7 • • • • JUNE 2020 • JULY 2020 • • • The Consortium was initiated by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) in June 2020, and it was brought to a close in December 2022. Through the CESF, EUR 445,000 was raised and disbursed as follows: • • SEPT 2020 • • WHO declares COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. Various partners send SOS messages to ISI about impact on stateless communities and grassroots organisations. ISI explores setting up an emergency response fund. As the World Washes its Hands op-ed published. Stateless in a Global Pandemic Briefing Note published. In Solidarity With the Stateless Joint Statement published. Stateless Last? Webinar held. Brought immigration raids and detentions in Malaysia to attention of Special Rapporteurs, resulting in intervention. Stateless in a Global Pandemic Impact Report published. COVID-19 Emergency Statelessness Fund (CESF) Launched. First Scoping Awards granted to partners in India, Kenya, Malaysia & Nepal and Exceptional Award to North Macedonia. Report submitted to Committee on World Food Security and UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. CESF Sub-Committee approves first Action Awards to partners in Central Asia, Dominican Republic and Kenya. First CESF Consortium meeting held for all partners.