Strengthening Collaboration to End Statelessness: NFA at the Global Alliance Inter-Regional Network Lab

🗓️ Date: 20 May 2025
🌐 Format: Online

Nationality for All (NFA) participated in the Inter-Regional Network Lab for Regional Intergovernmental Organizations, held online as part of the Global Alliance to End Statelessness initiative. The Lab brought together representatives from regional intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), civil society, and stateless-led groups to strengthen collaboration, exchange strategies, and align collective efforts toward ending statelessness worldwide.

NFA’s Executive Director, Subin Mulmi, joined Session 3: “Strengthening the Global Alliance and Expanding the Solution Seekers Programme,” alongside Mitra Jalali, Senior Legal Adviser from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (OSCE HCNM). The session, moderated by Thandeka Chauke, Head of the Statelessness Unit at SANN, explored how regional and global actors can work together to accelerate solutions to statelessness through the Global Alliance framework.

NFA’s Reflections on Inclusion and Collaboration

Drawing on NFA’s experience as a member of the Global Alliance External Taskforce, Subin reflected on the need for inclusive and coordinated global action to move from commitments to tangible change. He emphasized that while the past decade saw major advocacy milestones through initiatives such as the #IBelong campaign, challenges persist without sustained collaboration between governments, intergovernmental bodies, civil society, and communities affected by statelessness.

He highlighted that the Global Alliance to End Statelessness represents an important next chapter in this movement, one that is not only multi-stakeholder but also impacted-persons–led. By placing individuals with lived experience of statelessness at the center of its governance and programming, the Alliance ensures that solutions are people-driven, equitable, and lasting.

Key Takeaways from the Session

• Building Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Participants underscored that ending statelessness requires coordinated regional and global approaches involving IGOs, governments, and community-led organizations.
• Centering Impacted Leadership: The meaningful participation of stateless and formerly stateless persons is essential to the legitimacy and sustainability of any solution.
• Regional Collaboration: Subin shared lessons from Asia Pacific, including NFA’s role in facilitating regional cooperation through the Statelessness and Dignified Citizenship Coalition – Asia Pacific (SDCC-AP), and its engagement with regional human rights mechanisms and CRVS systems.
• Expanding the Global Alliance: The session explored practical ways to strengthen the Solution Seekers Programme and expand member engagement across regions.

Looking Ahead

The Network Lab reaffirmed the importance of cross-regional learning and solidarity-based approaches to end statelessness. For NFA, it was an opportunity to highlight the growing leadership of stateless communities in Asia Pacific and to advocate for continued investment in inclusive, rights-based solutions.

NFA remains committed to working with the Global Alliance and partners across regions to ensure that every person’s right to nationality is recognized, protected, and realized.