EVALUATION OF UNHCR-LED INITIATIVES TO END STATELESSNESS – FINAL REPORT – VOLUME I develop better statistical models for estimating stateless populations around the world. 78 The JDC has awarded over USD 500,000 to UNHCR to work on these two initiatives. 122. Some UNHCR key informants at headquarters and in Regional Bureaux cautioned that directly collecting data on stateless populations invokes high costs, as opposed to more sustainable and less costly efforts to advocate for including statelessness questions in national censuses or surveys. There is reportedly some pushback in different levels of management regarding allocating funding for direct data collection. Other UNHCR country staff raised concerns about the belief that quantitative statistics are always needed for advocacy, as opposed to human interest type qualitative data that helps tell the story of the consequences of statelessness and value of citizenship among formerly stateless people. Some staff support focusing instead on setting legal precedents through litigation and expanding on that basis. 123. Overall, key informants noted that the ultimate decision on whether and how UNHCR invests in statelessness data collection efforts should depend on whether it is opportune to invest based on the prospect that such investments are likely to support positive changes based on government interest and willingness to act once presented with data. Analysis of contextual factors and bottlenecks to preventing and resolving statelessness in each country should determine the best combination of UNHCR tactics. Partnerships and cooperation Finding 11: UNHCR has established a wide range of partnerships at various levels, which have been critical to the progress achieved, but overarching coalition building and UN system-wide cooperation have not been fully maximized. 124. Country-level partnerships - Overall, Protection Officers surveyed reported moderate engagement of partners in working with national governments on statelessness issues. Survey responses showed engagement of partners is strongest in Europe (60 percent saying UNHCR was engaged with partners essential to their work), followed by Africa (50 percent) and Asia and the Pacific (37 percent). Protection Officers were also asked if they felt there are partner organizations in their country with the capacity to work on statelessness. Overall 59 percent reported yes, 9 percent no, and 32 percent were unsure. 125. UNHCR staff consulted for case studies in Africa, Asia and the "UNHCR has done well in terms of Pacific, and Europe felt that the organization was working with selecting the right partners but not a good range of partners, both in terms of variety and quantity, necessarily sustaining their own on statelessness issues. In some individual country operations interest and engagement in UNHCR has established good partnerships with civil society statelessness.” organizations, the media, and UN agencies, while in other contexts a lack of UNHCR focus on, and funding for, “UNHCR increasingly develops its statelessness was noted as limiting efforts to identify and work priorities and we’re informed. It’s not a with potential partners. Stateless and formerly stateless people collaborative approach and it’s too and communities have been important partners for UNHCR in short-term.” – Key informant interviews supporting their own efforts to resolve statelessness and advocating for prioritization of efforts to resolve situations of statelessness with governments and within UNHCR itself. For example, in Kenya stateless communities, supported by UNHCR, have acted and advocated for themselves vis-a-vis the government and through public protests such as the four-day march from Mombasa to Nairobi to draw attention to their statelessness. In West Africa, the RB reported including stateless persons in their trainings for staff and partners to communicate the consequences of being stateless. Numerous civil society organizations and UNHCR implementing partners working on statelessness also include stateless and formerly stateless persons among their staff and leadership. Key informants highlighted a number of critical roles being played by civil society organizations, NGOs, networks and related campaigns in their countries. Some operate as UNHCR implementing partners and others work in loose coordination with UNHCR. These organizations have contributed substantially to raising awareness, public and policy advocacy, and direct support to individual statelessness cases. The value of local civil society organizations as implementing and cooperating partners was stressed by many key informants as they both have greater access to stateless and at-risk populations (especially in remote areas where distance and security concerns limit direct UNHCR engagement) and they are often known and trusted by persons of concern since they are embedded in communities. 78 38 Ibid. UNHCR / May, 2021