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

UNHCR: Sweden’s support helps refugees around the world from the threat of coronavirus

Apr 27, 2020

The Government of Sweden is one of UNHCR’s largest donors and a long-time strong supporter of the global refugee response.

Rwanda: The first large group of refugees evacuated from Libya resettled to Sweden

Mar 2, 2020

UNHCR sincerely expresses gratitude to Sweden and Canada for kick starting the first resettlement departures of ETM evacuees.

Sweden signs record high USD 400 million funding agreement with UNHCR

Jul 11, 2018

The Government of Sweden marked this year’s World Refugee Day the 26th of June with a historic and record high multi-year, core contribution agreement with UNHCR. The agreement, worth SEK 3.5 billion, or approximately USD 400 million, covers the four-year period from 2018 to 2021.

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Donor Government Counterparts

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sweden

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is UNHCR’s Government counterpart on matters related to strategic cooperation and funding.

To the website

Read about the High Commissioner’s 2016 visit to Sweden.

Joint Op-Ed with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Swedish Minister of Development (Svenska) (English)

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency – SIDA is a government agency implementing Sweden’s development policy.