| Japan Making a difference, together.

Japan is one of UNHCR’s largest donors and supporters.

For many years, consistent funding from the people of Japan has allowed UNHCR to pursue its mandate. 

Japan’s support for important global initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Human Security and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, unquestionably identifies it as a key supporter of refugees and displaced people.

Japan’s dedication to the refugee cause can also be seen in the commitment of Japan to the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) programme. Most recently, Japan has played a key role in the Global Compact on Refugees, paving the way for a future of strengthened cooperation and solidarity with refugees, displaced people, and affected host countries and communities. However, the partnership is steeped in history: former UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who led UNHCR from 1991 to 2000, was a visionary leader who steered UNHCR through one of the most momentous decades in its history.

Japan’s financial support to UNHCR has allowed for an effective and efficient response throughout the years to address acute humanitarian needs, both in emergencies and in protracted situations.

Japan has actively promoted the humanitarian-development-peace nexus as a solution for today’s complex humanitarian crises, providing funding support to both UNHCR’s humanitarian projects as well as development projects by among the Japanese development agency, JICA.

Japan is a major driving force of the whole-of-society approach and the enhanced roles of host countries and communities under the Global Compact on Refugees. 

Additionally, Japan was one of the first donors to support UNHCR in the COVID-19 response in 2020 and will remain a major partner in the continuation of the response in 2021.