Icelandic Government

Unearmarked funds from Iceland save refugees worldwide

UNHCR works to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home.

UNHCR is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions – the bulk of it from governments. The eight countries covered by the Regional Representation of Northern Europe are among the major UNHCR donors and partners.

Here you will find the latest updates on funding received from Iceland and on our work with the Icelandic government.

Contributions to UNHCR

Iceland is a reliable donor and partner to UNHCR and has increased its support considerably in recent years. Since 2015, Iceland has donated almost USD 5 million to UNHCR. In 2017, Iceland strengthened its partnership with UNHCR by signing a three-year agreement, including unearmarked funding to UNHCR of a minimum of ISK 50 million per year. This is an important milestone in the relationship between Iceland and UNHCR.

In 2018, Iceland was ranked as the 16^th largest donor to UNHCR per capita, and provided USD 752,000 in total to UNHCR, which was almost completely unearmarked. This unearmarked funding is crucial for UNHCR to be able to plan effectively and deliver immediate assistance where it is most needed, including acute emergencies and critically underfunded crises.

From the 2018 allocation, USD 274,000 was allocated flexibly to the Syria Situation, a much needed donation, since conditions for Syrian refugees across the region are increasingly desperate. Iceland is a committed donor to the Syria crisis and in 2016 Iceland donated generously USD 2.4 million to the Syria crisis, Iceland’s highest contribution ever to UNHCR.

In 2019, Iceland has supported the regional Venezuela situation.