| United States of America flag United States of America Making a difference, together.

A lady carrying her son
Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Masisi, UNHCR empowers women to become leaders in their communities. Being a member of a grassroots initiative that helps to empower women - SOFEM - Lumi Baeri, is able to be more independent financially.   © UNHCR/Sanne Biesmans

The United States is UNHCR’s top government donor and a key partner in protecting and assisting refugees, stateless persons, returnees, and those internally displaced around the world.


As a member of our Advisory Committee since 1951, and a founding member of the governing Executive Committee (ExCom) since 1959, U.S. support for UNHCR and forcibly displaced people remains steadfast and robust throughout the last seven decades.

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The vital contribution from the United States enables UNHCR to realize its mandate to protect, assist, and seek solutions for refugees and displaced persons through programs, such as child protection resettlement, safeguarding individuals, education, cash assistance, biometric registration and statelessness prevention.

In particular, U.S. investment in the Safe from the Start initiative underpins UNHCR’s ability to address the needs of women and girls at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) from the onset of a humanitarian emergency.

Both UNHCR and the United States share priorities in upholding accountability to affected populations, ensuring integrity and oversight of humanitarian responses, increasing efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and implementing the Grand Bargain and UN reforms.

In 2021, the United States contributed a total of $1.87 billion with $295 million in flexible funding. Flexible funding from the United States reaches nearly every corner of UNHCR’s work allowing us to respond quickly in emergencies, continue supporting silent crisis, and maintain protection-related activities in neglected conflicts.

Total contributions in 2023 to date