Terms of reference for ICAI review on the UK’s support to countries hosting refugees

Background

At the end of 2025, there were 41.6 million refugees worldwide, of whom 65% remain in countries neighbouring their country of origin and 70% live in protracted situations, defined as remaining in exile in low- and middle-income countries for five years or more after initial displacement.1 68% of refugees in 2025 were hosted by low and middle-income countries, including Uganda, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Kenya and Jordan.2 26% of refugees were hosted by Least Developed Countries, which include Bangladesh, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen.3

In 2023, the UK made 15 pledges at the first Global Refugee Forum (GFR) aligned with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) key objectives. The GCP programme emphasises a development-led approach to displacement with GCR-related components focused on support to refugee children and systems strengthening. At the 2025 GRF Progress Review, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to these pledges without revision.4

Support to countries hosting refugees is also channelled via multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the UK is a significant contributor to the World Bank-hosted Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) and an International Development Association (IDA) Window for Host Communities and Refugees (WHR).

Purpose and scope

The purpose of this review is to assess the relevance, coherence and effectiveness of UK support to countries hosting refugees, in the context of reducing the burden on these countries and the UK government’s desire to strengthen partnerships with countries in the Global South.

The review’s scope covers the period since the UK’s adoption of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) in 2018 to the present, with emphasis on the period since 2023, when the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) commitments were made. It will consider the relevance and coherence of the UK’s approach within and, where applicable, across different parts of the UK government.

At the international level, the review will focus on multilateral cooperation related to the GCR and with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). At the level of specific countries hosting refugees, the review will consider the UK’s bilateral work in selected countries where relevant interventions and programmes are being implemented. In incorporating a country focus, the review aims to capture the differing challenges and needs across country contexts. Countries covered in depth will be Jordan, Ethiopia and Kenya.

The review is focused on UK support for sustainable approaches to hosting refugees, captured by the two GCR objectives of easing pressure on host countries and enhancing refugee self-reliance. UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) related to emergency assistance and humanitarian response is therefore out of scope, as is UK support targeted at internally displaced populations (IDPs) and irregular migration.

Review questions

  1. How relevant and coherent is the UK’s approach to supporting countries hosting refugees?
  2. How effectively has the UK contributed to global efforts to support countries hosting refugees?
  3. How effectively has the UK contributed to supporting countries hosting refugees at the bilateral level?

Governance and resourcing

Liz Ditchburn will be the Lead Commissioner for this review, providing guidance and strategic oversight, with additional input from Harold Freeman.

The review will be undertaken by ICAI’s Service Provider and will be supported by ICAI’s Secretariat who will provide advice and support throughout the process.

The methodology and the final report will be peer reviewed by Dr Naohiko Omata, Associate Professor at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford.

Timetable and output

The review will progress to the following timetable:

  • July – October 2026: Research and fieldwork
  • November 2026: Emerging findings (update to government)
  • November – January 2026: Report drafting and factual accuracy checks with government
  • February – March 2027: Publication of the review

References