Fund-Raising

Counting on Contributors

UNHCR is almost entirely funded by direct, voluntary contributions - the bulk of it from donor governments and the European Commission. There is also a small annual subsidy from the regular budget of the United Nations, which is used for administrative costs.

We also receive important contributions from the private sector. The Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic countries fundraises both from individuals, funds and foundations, and companies. An important fund-raising partner is the Swedish Postcode Lottery.

Donations are sought every year for UNHCR's Annual Programme Budget, which includes programmes that support regular operations. The needs are presented in the annual Global Appeal. But the agency also launches supplementary appeals throughout the year, seeking extra donations for new emergencies that cannot be forecast. Each year UNHCR publishes a Global Report on how the funds received have been spent around the world.

In recent years, UNHCR has undertaken a ‘Global Needs Assessment’ aimed at comprehensively determining the funding required to cover all basic needs.