United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, mandated to lead international action for the protection of refugees, IDPs, stateless persons, and asylum-seekers. Founded 1950 and headquartered in Geneva, it operates in 122 countries with 10,356 personnel, protecting or assisting roughly 117-129 million people.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does
UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is the UN's refugee agency, mandated by the UN General Assembly to lead and coordinate international action for the protection of refugees, returnees, internally displaced people (IDPs), stateless people, and asylum-seekers. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, UNHCR operates in 122 countries with a workforce of 10,356 personnel and, per its most recent reporting, protects or assists roughly 129.4 million people, or 117.8 million as of December 2025 depending on the data cut. The organization is a two-time Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1954 and 1981) and serves as the formal guardian of the Global Compact on Refugees, which was affirmed in December 2018.
UNHCR's core product surface includes humanitarian protection and assistance programs, the Innovation Service, and several digital platforms. The Innovation Service deploys biometric registration and cloud-based registration systems that process approximately 100,000 displaced people daily. Public-facing assets include the UNHCR Data portal, the RefWorld legal database, and the HELP Site, as well as the MADE51 social enterprise marketplace, which connects refugee artisans to international consumers. The organization is governed by the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, with 149 states parties recognizing its supervisory role.
UNHCR does not operate as a commercial enterprise and does not generate revenue; it is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from governments, the private sector, and individual donors. The organization's go-to-market is institutional: it coordinates an ecosystem of more than 1,200 funded partners, channels 57% of its funding to local and national responders including refugee-led organizations, and convenes multi-stakeholder forums such as the Global Refugee Forum, which generated $250 million in pledges in 2023. Private sector income has grown by more than 70% since 2018 and represents 39% of unearmarked funding, signaling an increasingly diversified donor base.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Legal name
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Website
- https://unhcr.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, mandated to lead international action for the protection of refugees, IDPs, stateless persons, and asylum-seekers. Founded 1950 and headquartered in Geneva, it operates in 122 countries with 10,356 personnel, protecting or assisting roughly 117-129 million people.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Aid Services
- NAICS
- Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA), Refugee Camp Coordination & Management (CCCM) (BPADAHAC), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ)
Keywords
Where United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geneva
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Contributions: UNHCR receives voluntary contributions from UN Member States through the UN General Assembly approved budget
- Private Sector Partnerships: Corporate donations and partnerships from the private sector; since 2018, private sector income has increased by over 70% and now accounts for 39% of unearmarked funds
- Individual Donations: Public donations from individuals worldwide supporting UNHCR's humanitarian operations
- MADE51 Marketplace: Sale of refugee-crafted handmade products through the MADE51 platform, with proceeds supporting refugee artisans
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One-time | Donation for blankets, solar lamp, cooking utensils and jerry cans for two families |
| Other | One-time | Donation for gas cylinders for cooking |
| Other | One-time | Donation for blankets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency mandated to provide international protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, and stateless persons. It delivers life-saving emergency assistance including shelter, food, water, and medical care directly through field operations in 122 countries, and works with governments and partners toward durable solutions such as voluntary return, local integration, and resettlement.
Product overview
UNHCR operates as a global humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of digital services and publications focused on refugee protection and assistance. The core digital products include UNHCR Data (statistics and data portal), RefWorld (legal database), HELP Site (refugee assistance portal), and MADE51 (e-commerce for refugee artisans). Supporting publications include the Global Trends Report, Global Report, and Global Appeal. The Innovation Service develops new humanitarian solutions. UNHCR does not offer a unified software platform with modular components; rather, these are distinct services unified by the organization's protection mandate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MADE51: A social enterprise initiative that supports refugee artisans by creating market access for hand-crafted products, helping refugees earn income through traditional craftsmanship.
- HELP
Products and services
- UNHCR Data
Quantifiable outcome
- 129.4 million people currently protected or assisted globally
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 149 States Parties to 1951 Conventioncore149 States are parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol, committed to protecting refugees and upholding international refugee law under UNHCR's guidance as guardian of these instruments.
- GovernmentscoreUNHCR partners with UN Member State governments who provide funding, host refugees, and collaborate on refugee protection policies. These partnerships are foundational to UNHCR's mandate and operations globally.
- Private SectorcoreUNHCR builds relationships with private sector companies for funding, innovation, and expertise. Since 2018, private sector income has increased by over 70% and accounts for 39% of unearmarked funds. At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, businesses pledged USD 250 million in essential funding.
- UN and International OrganizationscoreUNHCR collaborates with sister UN agencies and international organizations including IOM (International Organization for Migration), UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, WFP, and OCHA for coordinated humanitarian responses and sustainable development initiatives.
- Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)coreUNHCR works with hundreds of NGOs worldwide implementing humanitarian programs. Local and national responders including refugee-led organizations receive 57% of UNHCR funding.
- Refugee-led OrganizationscoreUNHCR places refugees at the centre of planning and decision-making, partnering with refugee-led organizations and ensuring those most affected are involved in humanitarian response design and implementation.
- Global Refugee Forum ParticipantscoreThe Global Refugee Forum, held every four years, brings together governments, international organizations, refugees, civil society, the private sector, and experts to advance the Global Compact on Refugees and make concrete pledges.
- Host CommunitiescoreUNHCR works with host communities that welcome refugees, providing support and ensuring host communities get the assistance they need under the Global Compact on Refugees framework.
- MADE51 (Refugee Artisan Network)minorMADE51 is UNHCR's global brand for refugee-made products, supporting refugee artisans with market access and income opportunities through the sale of handmade crafts.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Organization for Migration (IOM): UN-related organization working on migration and displacement with comparable scale and field operations; closely aligned with UNHCR on refugee and IDP issues and a frequent operational partner.
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Independent humanitarian organization providing protection and assistance in conflict zones; overlaps directly with UNHCR on conflict-driven displacement, international humanitarian law, and field operations.
- UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA): UN agency providing protection and assistance to a specific refugee population; directly comparable in mandate, UN system status, and service delivery model.
- World Food Programme (WFP): UN humanitarian agency addressing food insecurity among displaced populations; frequent UNHCR partner in joint operations and a comparable scale, funding, and field-operations model.
- UNICEF: UN agency delivering humanitarian assistance, including for refugee children (39% of whom are minors); overlapping beneficiary populations, donor base, and operational scale.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major international NGO providing humanitarian aid and refugee resettlement support; comparable beneficiary populations, donor-funded model, and field operations in crisis-affected countries.
- Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC): International NGO delivering protection, shelter, and assistance to displaced populations; comparable operational model and frequently co-implements UNHCR-funded programs through partner network.
- Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian organization working on displacement, livelihoods, and emergency response; similar donor-funded model and field operations in many of the same countries as UNHCR.
- UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs): UN body coordinating humanitarian response across agencies; closely coupled with UNHCR on inter-agency coordination, humanitarian financing, and crisis response architecture.
Emerging players
- Human Rights Watch: International advocacy organization focused on human rights; overlaps with UNHCR on refugee rights, asylum advocacy, and statelessness, though delivery is through research and advocacy rather than direct humanitarian services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees social profiles
Digital presenceUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
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Frequently asked questions about United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
What does United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees do?
UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency mandated to provide international protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, and stateless persons. It delivers life-saving emergency assistance including shelter, food, water, and medical care directly through field operations in 122 countries, and works with governments and partners toward durable solutions such as voluntary return, local integration, and resettlement.
Is United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees a public or private company?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees founded?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was founded in 1950. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees based?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Contributions are the primary driver. The others are private Sector Partnerships, individual Donations and MADE51 Marketplace.
Who are United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Mercy Corps and UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). Human Rights Watch is listed as an emerging player.
Does United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have an API?
No public API is recorded for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
What industry is United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees's product category is Humanitarian Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies, with a secondary code of BPADAHAA, Refugee Reception & Registration. Its NAICS code is 624230 and its SIC code is 8090.