5 ways UNHCR is transforming its transport and infrastructure services for a more sustainable future
By Laura Argibay, UNHCR Reporting Officer. On World Environment Day, the global community reflects on the urgent need to protect our planet. For UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, this responsibility is closely linked to how we deliver our mandate—supporting displaced...
Clean Energy for Resilient Humanitarian Action
By Laura Argibay, UNHCR Communications Officer. 11 January 2026, Kenya. UNHCR Barham Salih in Kakuma municipality for his inaugural visit as High Commissioner. ©UNHCR/Eric Bakuli. Delivering life-saving assistance in today’s humanitarian contexts means addressing two...Project Flow: Solarizing water systems for refugees and their hosts through innovative finance
Congolese refugees who fled the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Burundi, use a water point at a hosting site in Rugombo, Cibitoke Province, in March 2025. © UNHCR/Charity Nzomo With Project Flow, UNHCR is pioneering a smarter way to solarize...
Powering UNHCR’s work with solar energy in Mauritania and Nigeria
By Laura Argibay, UNHCR Associate Communications Officer and Anett Varga, UNHCR Associate Programme Officer. Aerial view of rooftop solar panels at UNHCR’s Office in Ogoja, Nigeria. © UNHCR/Owoche Igwue UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has about 550 offices...
UNHCR’s photo quality initiative: enhancing photo standards in refugee registration
Ukrainian refugees at a UNHCR Registration Center for financial assistance in Bucharest. Once registered they will receive a pin to their phone which allows them to withdraw the cash at a local store. ; Each individual receives 568 Romanian Leu ($123). The center so...
The future is data (and it’s here already)
At the end of September 2024, world leaders are coming together in New York City to convene a variety of high-level events. Between 22-23 September, the Summit of the Future will take place, which has been described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively tackle emerging threats as well as opportunities.
Collaboration gone right – UNHCR and WFP take data sharing to the next level in Tanzania refugee camps
It is common practice for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and WFP, World Food Programme, to collaborate in some of the world’s most difficult humanitarian responses. While UNHCR is mandated to protect those forced to flee, WFP is responsible for delivering food and life-saving assistance in emergencies and protracted refugee situations. The two organizations work together to serve the most vulnerable populations. As part of this collaboration, UNHCR and WFP may need to exchange some information on the forcibly displaced populations to ensure they receive targeted food assistance in a dignified manner.
Biometrics innovation: Transforming the way we collect fingerprints at UNHCR
In 2002, UNHCR introduced biometrics, and leveraged the technology to manage the identity of the people it serves effectively. By capturing up to 10 fingerprints, 2 irises and a face photo during the initial encounter, biometrics play a crucial role from confirming an individual’s physical presence to providing assistance. UNHCR’s Biometric Identity Management System (BIMS) serves a diverse user base including UNHCR staff, partners, governments, and soon refugees themselves through self-service applications, all in a user-friendly manner. While BIMS has undergone countless improvements throughout the years, the biometric scanner devices used have remained largely unchanged.
