UNHCR transitions vehicle provision to UN FLEET, strengthening efficiency and sustainability

GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has completed the transition of its operational vehicle provision to UN FLEET, a joint initiative with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for vehicle leasing, further optimizing vehicle management and costs while continuing to reduce CO₂ emissions.

The move marks an important step in UNHCR’s efforts to strengthen efficiency, sustainability, and service delivery across its global operations.

Established in 2022 by UNHCR in partnership with WFP, UN FLEET was created as an independent service to provide cost-effective, safe and sustainable vehicle leasing services to UN entities worldwide. Building on the two agencies’ long-standing fleet procurement and leasing expertise, the service helps optimize vehicle selection, preparation and delivery for operations in a wide range of contexts.

UNHCR will still manage its vehicles but procurement and leasing will now be handled through UN FLEET, instead of by UNHCR’s leasing service. UNHCR is hence strengthening its fleet management across operations; the procurement and leasing of light vehicles will be centrally managed across over 30 UN entities, optimizing resources. Centralized leasing streamlines administrative processes, reducing costs and freeing funds for programmes.

Vehicle models across the UN will also be standardized, enabling additional synergies through shared maintenance, common spare parts supply chains and other innovations.

“This transition reflects UNHCR’s commitment to delivering humanitarian assistance in ways that are operationally efficient and environmentally responsible. By working through UN FLEET, we will reduce costs, make better use of resources and continue lowering CO₂ emissions across our operations,” said Dominic Grace, UNHCR's Head of Global Mobility and Infrastructure.

More broadly, UN FLEET reflects the UN’s drive to deliver support services more effectively through partnership and shared solutions. The initiative supports UN reform efforts to optimize back-office functions and improve service delivery across agencies.

Since its launch, UN FLEET has expanded its reach across the UN. It has signed agreements to serve 38 UN entities, including 17 global agreements in 104 countries. In total, UN FLEET currently covers over 1,000 vehicles, and by the end of 2026, this number is expected to reach almost 2,000 units on lease.

As UNHCR continues to adapt its operations to rising humanitarian needs and constrained resources, the transition to UN FLEET demonstrates how shared services can help deliver practical results for people and the planet. It also underscores UNHCR’s commitment to working across the UN system to build more agile, responsible, and future-ready operations.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

• For UNHCR, in Geneva: Eujin Byun, [email protected], +41 79 747 8719