UN Refugee Agency

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. UNHCR leads international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

UNHCR’s vision is a world where every person forced to flee can build a better future.

Formally known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1950 in the aftermath of the Second World War to help the millions of people who had lost their homes. Today, UNHCR works in 136 countries. UNHCR provides life-saving assistance, including shelter, food, water and medical care for people forced to flee conflict and persecution, many of whom have nobody left to turn to. UNHCR defends their right to reach safety and help them find a place to call home so they can rebuild their lives. Long term, UNHCR works with countries to improve and monitor refugee and asylum laws and policies, ensuring human rights are upheld. In everything it does, UNHCR considers refugees and those forced to flee as partners, putting those most affected at the centre of planning and decision-making.

• For 74 years UNHCR has been safeguarding the rights of refugees.
• UNHCR is the world’s leading organization protecting people forced to flee, operating in 136 countries.
• UNHCR protects or assists 129.9 million forcibly displaced and stateless people.

In the Skills Alliance for Ukraine, UNHCR is represented through two projects:

The Refugee Employment Platform initiative (REP) is a transformative undertaking led by UNHCR that connects refugees across Europe with meaningful employment opportunities, while helping businesses tap into a diverse and underutilized talent pool. Through a single virtual hub, the REP integrates 9 national job-matching platforms, a regional information center with 34 country-specific hiring guides, and a growing alliance of refugee-welcoming employers—creating a powerful ecosystem for inclusive labor market integration. Backed by decades of global expertise and multi-stakeholder collaboration, REP empowers refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and supports host countries in fostering economic growth and social cohesion. Link: https://www.unhcr.org/europe/about-unhcr/unhcr-europe/refugee-employment-platforms

The Ukraine is Home platform, supported by UNHCR, provides a digital safe haven for those seeking information and guidance. From legal documents to accommodation and medical care, this platform has become an indispensable resource for Ukrainian refugees. There is a dedicated page on Employment, business and investment opportunities which is widely accessible to beneficiaries, which is linked to the Refugee Employment Platform initiative. Link: https://ukraineishome.org/