Donors and partners
Donors and partners
UNHCR coordinates the refugee response under the leadership of the Government of Jordan, in a collaborative effort amongst the donor community, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and other stakeholders.
Donors
UNHCR’s response needs in Jordan for 2026 are $280 million. UNHCR is grateful for the critical support provided by governmental and private sector donors who contribute to this operation, as well as those who have contributed to UNHCR programs with unearmarked and broadly earmarked funds.
Access more information on funding received in Jordan.
Government of Jordan
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UNHCR works closely with the Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate (SRAD), part of the Public Security Directorate (PSD), on security and regulatory matters affecting Syrian refugees in Jordan. SRAD is also responsible for the co-management and coordination of Zaatari and Azraq camps, and UNHCR partners with the Directorate to ensure assistance is delivered as effectively and efficiently as possible in accordance with international humanitarian standards and protection principles.
UNHCR also collaborates with several government entities to support the refugee response in Jordan, including the Ministries of Interior, Planning and International Cooperation, Foreign Affairs, Labour, Education, Higher Education, Health, Justice, and Social Development.
UN Agencies and NGOs
UNHCR works in close partnership with UN agencies, international and national NGOs, to ensure a coordinated and effective refugee response in Jordan. Under the Refugee Coordination Model, UNHCR established an inter-agency coordination structure that provides strategic direction and operational oversight for the refugee response in Jordan.
At the strategic level, UNHCR chairs the Jordan Strategic Humanitarian Committee (JoSH) that provides oversight, steers priorities, and aligns humanitarian, development, and government-led processes.
Operationally, the Inter-Sector Working Group (ISWG) is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the refugee response, across more than 50 partners, through six sector working groups and a Health Advisory Group. The coordination structure offers technical guidance and harmonizing approaches, while ensuring synergies between the humanitarian and development coordination mechanisms.
Inter-agency coordination structure:
Jordan Whole of Society Network for Displacement
The Jordan Whole of Society Network for Displacement is a collaboration platform established in 2016 alongside the emergence of similar civil society displacement networks at the regional (MENA) and global levels. The Network is composed of 23 members, including local NGOs, academic and faith-based organizations, think tanks, research centres, artists and cultural influencers, and private sector actors, all sharing a commitment to strengthening the protection, resilience, and development of displaced persons and host communities. Reflecting its commitment to national ownership, the Network is co-chaired by UNHCR and two national entities. In 2026, the Network is co-chaired by UNHCR, the Jordan River Foundation and Save the Children Jordan.
In line with the “whole of society” approach, UNHCR Jordan:
serves as a catalyst and convener for the platform.
supports various CSND projects.
facilitates the participation of network members in regional and global processes on refugee protection to provide opportunities for new voices to be heard.
Tertiary and Higher Education Actors
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To expand access to quality education opportunities for refugees, UNHCR works closely with universities, vocational training institutions, philanthropies, private sector actors and other partners. One of the key platforms for this collaboration is the Higher Education Alliance in Jordan, a network of 17 stakeholders established as an outcome of advocacy efforts to facilitate refugee access to tertiary and higher education. Philanthropists, higher education institutions, vocational training institutes, the Syrian International Business Association (SIBA), and UNHCR Jordan, signed an agreement in July 2024 that paved the way for the Alliance to support refugees in contributing their full potential to the economy.
The objective is to ensure that refugees and vulnerable Jordanians have access to higher education and technical and vocational development and training opportunities, recognizing their value for economic development, in line with the second growth driver of the economic growth priorities of the Jordan Economic Modernization Vision, UNHCR’s Global 15by30 Goal and UNHCR’s Each One Take One campaign. The Alliance also promotes innovation and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Each member of the Higher Education Alliance in Jordan pledges to:
Remove obstacles for refugees to access universities, technical or vocational training and/or
Lower tuition fees for refugees to put them at par with Jordanians (“parallel programme”) - which allows refugees of all nationalities to study all subjects at a lower cost than other international students. This programme is implemented in Yarmouk, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Bayt, and Tafila. Other private universities offered discounts that amounted to 60% in some specializations.
Development Partners
UNHCR partners with International Financial Institutions and development actors to best leverage large-scale financing for national development projects, so that Jordan’s role in hosting refugees is supported. As a result, refugees can also benefit alongside Jordanians from relevant development projects, and their dependency on unsustainable emergency humanitarian aid is reduced over time.
On a case-by-case basis, UNHCR secures specific funds earmarked for refugee support from development agencies to improve living conditions of refugees. UNHCR actively supports the design and implementation of multiple World Bank-financed projects mobilizing the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF) through data and context analysis, and outreach to refugees and private sector actors.
Since 2016, over USD 600 million in grants were provided by GCFF to the Government of Jordan, leveraging over USD 4 billion through 16 projects, enabling inclusion of refugees and host communities into key national development projects.
Enhancing self-reliance through private sector engagement in Jordan and beyond UNHCR regularly provides targeted information on the refugee situation in Jordan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure the refugee situation in Jordan is accurately included in the macroeconomic outlooks and program discussion for solutions.
