The World Council of Churches (WCC) is seeking closer collaboration with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as global displacement deepens and humanitarian funding faces sharp reductions.
WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay addressed the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 plenary session at the United Nations in Geneva on Dec. 17, according to a report by Ecumenical News.
He said faith communities have a responsibility to act collectively in response to growing refugee and statelessness crises.
“When faith communities unite, hope is transformed into action,” Pillay said, noting that the mission of the WCC is “to speak and act together on matters of faith and social justice.”
“We reaffirm our shared commitment to be agents of hope to protect those forced to flee, particularly those rendered invisible by the crises of our time,” he said.
Pillay drew attention to the situation of highly vulnerable displaced populations, including stateless people, children, and women with disabilities.
“What does it mean to bring hope to the most vulnerable: stateless persons, children, and women with disabilities caught in situations of conflict or disaster, stripped of identity, protection, and dignity?” he asked.
He said the WCC and UNHCR plan to establish a financial consortium, the Multi-Religious Fund for Protection and Ending Statelessness, to mobilize philanthropic and in-kind contributions through joint appeals grounded in solidarity and shared responsibility.
The initiative was announced amid strong criticism from UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi over steep reductions in humanitarian funding. In his final public address before his mandate ends on Dec. 31, Grandi described the cuts as “incredibly abrupt [and] very deep.”
“No one should tell us they have not caused loss of life. They have already caused loss of life,” Grandi said.
He said the first funding cut was made by the United States, followed by other donors. U.S. contributions to UNHCR in 2025 totaled $840 million, down from $2.1 billion in 2024.
Grandi noted that while contributions to UNHCR are voluntary, countries reducing support are “not doing anything against the law but doing it against common sense.”
In a separate speech delivered Dec. 15 at the UN in Geneva, Grandi said 2025 had become “A year when refugees were frequently vilified, scapegoated in so many places.”
“With their suffering cynically used by traffickers for profit, and their situation by politicians to gain votes for the next election,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of churches worldwide, Pillay said faith-based engagement in refugee protection was already underway.
“We are not starting from zero. We already have a powerful example of what is possible,” he said.
He cited a $100,000 contribution from the United Methodist Committee on Relief to support refugee participation in the 2027 Global Refugee Forum.
“This demonstrates what faith communities can achieve when they act together,” Pillay said.
“Today, we invite others to join us in this shared mission so that faith may continue to be a force not only of hope, but of tangible protection, justice, and lasting change.”
During a Special Ceremony of the Global Alliance, Pillay signed a Letter of Intent with UNHCR to deepen collaboration, particularly on issues affecting stateless people.
The agreement states that UNHCR and the WCC “share a deep commitment to upholding human dignity, promoting peace, and protecting the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
Both organizations acknowledged an urgent need to revitalize efforts for stateless people, noting that their rights and access to protection have deteriorated amid significant global funding constraints.
The Letter of Intent commits both parties to raising global awareness of statelessness and its human impact, strengthening advocacy for nationality rights, legal identity, and inclusive citizenship, mobilizing resources, and encouraging coordinated action.
“This collaboration will contribute to a wider joint process aimed at developing a multi-year fundraising and advocacy platform, as discussed by the leadership of both organisations,” the letter states.
“By connecting humanitarian action with the moral authority, global reach, and advocacy power of faith communities, both organisations commit to advancing a world where every person belongs and no one is left without a nationality.”
