PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION – UNDP AND UNHCR COOPERATION ON FORCED DISPLACEMENT AND STATELESSNESS COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PROTECTION AND SOLUTIONS FRAMEWORK (MIRPS) FOR CENTRAL AMERICA Together with the Organisation of American States (OAS), UNHCR plays a prominent role in the MIRPS Technical Secretariat, including the management of a regional annual work plan and thematic consultations between States. UNHCR assumes the lead role in protection-oriented working groups on asylum and internal displacement, while UNDP co-leads two solutions-oriented working groups, focused on jobs, livelihoods and local governance. The local governance working group was established in the context of a ‘Cities of Solidarity’ initiative and provides a platform for local authorities to share experience, good practices and knowledge on the protection and inclusion of forcibly displaced people. With the support of the MIRPS Technical Secretariat, the working group convened consultations with nine municipal authorities in 2021 in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama. The consultations focused on legal frameworks and the identification of people with specific needs; coordination, partners, and service delivery; local development planning and multisectoral needs assessments; and community consultation and validation of municipal development plans. social cohesion. Subsequently, UNDP and UNHCR piloted support activities, based on resource availability, in nine municipalities spread across Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. UNDP and UNHCR’s collaboration within the MIRPS working group on local governance continues. At present the collaboration is primarily focused on policy support and development, through joint consultation and coordination, benefiting four of the seven Member States of the MIRPS. The collaboration has potential to be further developed and serves as a platform for resource mobilisation. References • • • • MIRPS, The Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS) MIRPS States, ‘MIRPS 2022: Annual Report of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework,’ December 2022 UNDP and UNHCR, ‘Facing the Challenges of Forced Displacement in Central America and Mexico,’ October 2021 MIRPS, ‘Concept note – MIRPS Working Group on Local Governance,’ September 2022 Following these consultations, UNDP and UNHCR launched a Regional Local Governance Framework, with an associated toolkit joint publication, to support municipal authorities in Central America and Mexico to advance protection and inclusion for forcibly displaced persons. The toolkit is divided into four pillars: incorporation of forced displacement in local development planning; protection and access to essential services; rule of law and e-governance; and socio-economic integration and U N H C R a n d U N D P | PA R T N E R S H I P I N A C T I O N – U N D P A N D U N H C R C O O P E R AT I O N O N F O R C E D D I S P L A C E M E N T A N D S TAT E L E S S N E S S © UNHCR/Markel Redondo 2024 Collaboration between UNDP and UNHCR in Central America and Mexico was developed under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework (MIRPS), which includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Panama. Established in 2017, the MIRPS aims to strengthen regional cooperation and responsibilitysharing in matters of prevention, protection, and solutions – which includes facilitating collaboration between refugee-hosting cities and municipalities. 19