Governance and Oversight

Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon ( left ) with Filippo Grandi ( right ) United Nations, High Commissioner for Refugees speak at a press event after the opening of the High-Level Meeting on global responsibility sharing through pathways for admission of Syrian refugees.

UNHCR is governed by the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The UNHCR Executive Committee approves the agency's biennial programmes and the corresponding budget. These are presented by the High Commissioner, who is appointed by the UN General Assembly.

Our mandate is defined by the 1950 UNHCR Statute. In 2003, the General Assembly extended the organization's mandate "until the refugee problem is solved." The High Commissioner reports annually to ECOSOC and the General Assembly on the work of UNHCR.

The High Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of UNHCR. He or she directs our work with the assistance of a Deputy High Commissioner and Assistant High Commissioners for Protection and Operations.

The Inspector General’s Office provides the High Commissioner with independent assurance and oversight of UNHCR's activities and operations. It protects the integrity and improves the efficiency of our programmes and operations. It also deters fraud and abuse through internal audits, investigations and other oversight advisory services.

We have 10,900 national and international staff working in 130 countries, with most operations based in the field. The worldwide operation has become highly complex, ranging from recruitment of new staff and ensuring their security in dangerous situations to the procurement of everything from medical supplies to aircraft charters. Specific departments, mostly based in the Geneva headquarters, oversee key areas, such as operations, protection, external relations, human resources and finances. A number of regional bureaux liaise between overseas offices and headquarters.