Refugee scholarship programme marks milestone towards gender equity amid declining resources

GENEVA – The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) higher education scholarship programme for refugees reported the highest proportion of women enrolled in a single year in over 30 years, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today.

Since it was established in 1992, DAFI has supported more than 27,200 refugee students across 59 refugee-hosting countries thanks to the long-standing commitment of the Government of Germany, as well as funding from the Government of Denmark and numerous private partners and foundations. In 2024, women accounted for 45 per cent of all DAFI scholars, up from 42 per cent in 2023. Notably, 60 per cent of newly awarded scholarships went to women, a sharp increase from 40 per cent the previous year. This progress is the result of targeted outreach and support initiatives, particularly in countries with historical gender disparities in education.

In Ethiopia, for example, female enrolment rose by 14 per cent, with women comprising over 75 per cent of new scholars. This was made possible through enhanced academic tutoring, tailored outreach and financial aid programmes for girls in secondary school. In Pakistan, a bridging programme helps girls complete secondary education and transition to university. Similar efforts in other countries are equipping young women with the skills and support needed to pursue higher education and sustainable livelihoods.

Simultaneously, the DAFI programme reported a notable decline in the total number of scholars. This drop is the result of shifting international humanitarian and development priorities that have significantly impaired capacity and resources to tackle global forced displacement crises. In 2024, a total of 7,890 refugee students were enrolled under the programme (representing 54 countries of origin and studying in 58 host countries), down from 9,312 in 2023. This marks only the second decline since DAFI’s inception, the first being in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, only 879 new scholarships were confirmed in 2024, meaning fewer than 20% of applicants were accepted, and demand remains high.

UNHCR promotes inclusive higher education, with the DAFI programme as the cornerstone of efforts to strengthen pathways from learning to earning. In 2024, the DAFI programme intensified efforts to expand and improve access to technical and vocational education and training, work-based learning and job readiness. Preparing more refugee youth with essential qualifications and skills for employment and entrepreneurship is central to supporting self-reliance and realizing sustainable solutions to displacement. UNHCR is committed to closing the critical knowledge gap in understanding the impact of investing in higher education for refugees through enhanced long-term monitoring of the DAFI programme, student surveys, and strengthening research partnerships.

“Access to higher education and training for refugees is not just about earning a qualification,” writes Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in the report’s foreword. “It is a pathway for transformation, allowing refugee youth to build their own better futures, express themselves and their ideas, shape their vision beyond day-to-day struggles, and prepare to contribute to local and global development goals.”

For more information please contact:

• William Spindler, [email protected], +41 79 549 5998