Before and after DAFI: ex-child soldier from Southern Sudan graduating in Agriculture from Baraton University in Kenya. © UNHCR
DAFI Scholarship Programme

UNHCR offers higher education scholarships for refugees on a limited basis. Since 1992, the Government of Germany has sponsored the annual Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI). The programme grants deserving young refugees scholarships at universities, colleges and polytechnics in their host countries.

The main aim of the DAFI programme is to contribute to human resources development as part of a broader UNHCR strategy of promoting self-reliance and durable solutions for refugees. Refugees with higher education qualifications are more likely to attain self-reliance:

DAFI objectives:

develop qualified human resources to contribute to the reconstruction of the country of origin upon repatriation;
achieve self-reliance of the beneficiary student and his/her family through gainful employment;
serve as a model for other refugees to further their education, particularly female students;
contribute to the refugee community – as teachers or through other work – pending a durable solution or repatriation.

UNHCR considers repatriation as the preferred solution for refugees. A DAFI graduate who returns home not only finds a durable solution for themselves and their family, but is also likely to find employment and contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation process for the whole community.

Ex-DAFI students are sometimes the only doctors or teachers in their area of return. While the numbers of DAFI students are small, their impact is huge because of their areas of expertise. Some work in business and government, others are employed by UNHCR and other United Nations agencies.

Some key facts and figures for 2005

Number of students: 1,052

Male/Female ratio: 57% male, 43% female
Countries of study: DAFI students enrolled in courses in 39 countries.
Countries of origin: Refugees on DAFI courses came from 37 countries.
Length of studies: Between three and four years
Main study subjects: Education and teacher training; commerce/business; medicine and health; social studies; mathematics and computer sciences; engineering; agriculture, forestry and fisheries

In 2007, the following countries are participating in DAFI programme:

In Africa: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In Asia: India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.
In Central and South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay.
In Eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Georgia and the Russian Federation.

For general inquiries: E-mail Education



Fifteen years of DAFI – an impact and evaluation study
Former DAFI students are invited to send us their news by completing and returning this questionnaire.
  • Please click here to download the study (pdf, 3.9Mb).
  • Please click here to fill out the questionnaire for former DAFI students (pdf, 25Kb).


DAFI scholarship programme: 2006 annual report
UNHCR, with earmarked funding from the German Government, provides annually over 1,000 university scholarships to refugees in developing countries. This not only enables refugees to become self-reliant and a role model within the refugee community, but also contributes to the development of their home country upon return or facilitates integration into the host country. Many of them also work in refugee camps. (pdf, 857Kb)

How to apply for a scholarship
Information on the UNHCR scholarship programme for refugees through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI).
(updated October 2006)