Sweden as a Donor

Swedish unearmarked funds 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 Sweden and on our work with the Swedish government.

Contributions to UNHCR

Sweden is one of UNHCR’s most important strategic partners and donors. In 2017, Sweden was UNHCR’s third largest contributor per capita with a total contribution of SEK 1.02 billion (USD 112 million), of which SEK 700 million (USD 76.1 million) was unearmarked core support, making Sweden UNHCR´s largest donor of unearmarked contributions with 70 % of the funding being unrestricted. For 2018 Sweden has contributed with the highest ever unearmarked contribution of SEK 820 million (USD 98.2 million). Unrestricted support enables UNHCR to deliver aid quickly in several ongoing acute emergencies saving many lives and restoring hope to people and families who have been forcibly uprooted from their homes.

In 2017, Sweden donated to all refugee crises, including large support to the Syria crisis, the Iraq crisis, the Myanmar crisis, the Yemen crisis and all emergency operations in Africa. Sweden also allocated funds to the protracted displacement situations and the so called ‘forgotten’ crises which are not any longer attracting any mayor donor interest with focus on both refugees and internally displaced persons.

Sweden has a strategic gender focus and earmarks thematically to respond and prevent sexual and gender based violence (SGBV). Sweden is a strong supporter of the Global Compact on Refugees, providing additional development funding to ensure inclusion of refugees in national development plans. Sweden has made a commitment to support, finance and identify solutions to the Syria crisis through its Regional Strategy for the Syria Crisis (2016-2020).

Sweden’s thematic focus: Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV)

Read more on how Sweden empowers refugee women and girls

News

Sweden’s unearmarked core support to UNHCR saves refugees’ lives

Dec 19, 2016

Sweden is one of UNHCR’s most important donors and the largest donor of unearmarked funds which UNHCR can use where the needs are the greatest. Sweden donates its unearmarked support as a core contribution at the beginning of each year and in 2016 Sweden has increased its unearmarked support to a record high SEK 815 million which has saved lives and created durable solutions for many people forced to flee.

Sweden Boosts Funding for UNHCR Appeals

Jul 30, 2015

UNHCR received a significant donation of SEK 15.2 million from the Government of Sweden. Swedish support to UNHCR assists in improving conditions in major refugee and displacement crises.

Sweden Supports the Emergency Response in Iraq

Sep 7, 2014

Sweden has sent two military Hercules airplanes with emergency supplies to Erbil as part of UNHCR’s massive 10-day operation to help about 500,000 people caught in Iraq’s worsening humanitarian crisis.