Our commitment to impact and efficiency
Our commitment to impact and efficiency
At a time of record displacement, with over 123 million people forced from their homes, our work has never been more vital. But we also know that meeting our commitments requires honest reflection and ongoing improvement.
That’s why we ask ourselves every day: How well are we doing? How can we become more effective? Where can we improve?
It is an integral part of our work to challenge ourselves – to push us to do better, to adapt, innovate and remain accountable to the people we serve.
How impactful is UNHCR's work?
How efficient is UNHCR?
We are committed to improving our work every day, no matter where we are in the world. By integrating efficiency, innovation and technology into everything we do, we're not just reacting to crises; we're proactively shaping the future of humanitarian aid.
In 2024 alone, UNHCR was able to generate almost $60 million in efficiency gains through a range of streamlining and innovative projects around the world.
View a selection of projects on the world map:
International boundary
Armistice or international administrative line
Other line of separation
What are the successes of UNHCR?
Life-saving, efficient and secure: humanitarian aid that gives refugees choices
Providing financial support directly to people forced to flee allows them to meet their most essential and urgent needs in the most cost-effective way.
Survival funding from UNHCR is highly targeted, secure, trackable and measurable. It helps refugees pay for a roof over their head, put food on the table, get access to health care - and gives them back a sense of dignity and control.
Find out how we do it
In photos: The refugee women breaking barriers
We work to ensure that displaced women's voices are heard in decision-making processes which affect their lives. Given the chance, their knowledge and lived experiences can help to bring solutions to their communities.
To do this, we are partnering with refugee-led organizations, particularly those led by women and helping refugee women to access higher education and employment.
How UNHCR is greening its supply chain
From redesigning the relief items we distribute to minimizing the waste they generate, UNHCR is working to reduce the environmental impacts of its humanitarian assistance.
How reliable is UNHCR?
Our work would not be possible without the vital collaboration of our partners and supporters.
UNHCR is a trusted global partner to governments, UN sister agencies and multilateral development institutions, working to deliver sustainable responses and solutions in situations of forced displacement.
We also collaborate with more than 1,200 funded partners around the world, with local and national responders including refugee-led organizations receiving 57 per cent of our funding. This places local actors at the core of our efforts to deliver humanitarian responses around the world.
We deeply value the trust our partners place in us; it shapes the way we operate. That trust is reflected in our commitment to transparency, reliability and lasting professional relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
What are the problems facing UNHCR?
Like any large humanitarian organization, we face challenges.
One issue is the growing gap between needs and resources. Despite increasing private sector income, needs continue to outpace funding. More flexible and sustained financial support is urgently needed.
Another challenge is ensuring deep, meaningful local engagement. While 85% of UNHCR's partners are now local or national organizations, the shift to true localization is ongoing and requires consistent investment and trust-building.
Text and media 21
Our commitment
We are evolving – deliberately and transparently – to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. We continuously strive to combine grassroots responsiveness, innovative thinking and commitment to sustainability to remain an effective, efficient and forward-looking humanitarian agency.
Yet our continued success hinges on one thing: support. From governments, private donors, communities and individuals alike.
Because protecting people forced to flee is not just UNHCR’s guiding principle – it’s a global responsibility.