UNRWA’s temporary mandate from the General Assembly is to respond to the needs of Palestine refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, until a durable and just solution is found.

Palestinina Refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory. 

The outcomes are for the period 2016-18 and will be pursued through Switzerland’s AdCom/SubCom role (facilitation and steering) and providing policy and financial support to specific initiatives.

• Strengthen the protection approach and the field interventions and increase stakeholders’ understanding of the approach.
• Enhance Palestine refugees’ livelihood opportunities by increasing the financial services available to them and improve
• Support efficient and effective management by ensuring that upcoming reforms (i.e. resource mobilization, new budget process, internal communication) are adequately funded and supported by stakeholders

Expected results:  

• Switzerland exerted strong leadership in its AdCom/Sub role and provided policy support, platforms for stakeholders’ dialogue and facilitation work - which were instrumental in supporting the reform process and the finalization of the MTS.
• Switzerland financial support has contributed to catalyst initiatives enabling various programme (health and education) and management (resource mobilization, ERP) reforms - which have led to unmistakable improvements.

Results from previous phases:  

• Medical services provided to 3.6 Mio refugees per year. The health reform improved quality of care, efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• 500,000 students attended 700 schools. The education reform generated positive classroom changes.
• 300’000 refugees supported by a social safety-net (food aid and cash). In addition, emergency assistance was quickly expanded in response to the conflicts, reaching 1.4 Mio persons.
• Planning and decision-making greatly improved with the finalization of the Medium-Term-Strategy 2016-21 (MTS) and the launch of the Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP).
• Resource mobilization has been particularly successful in the fundraising with Arab countries (their 2015 contribution to the General Fund increased to 7.5%) and the private sector (each dollar invested generated a return of 17 dollars).

Switzerland seeks and facilitates coordination, particularly with like-minded donors like US and UK and host countries.

Other donors: altogether 28 donors (Members and Observers of the Advisory Commission). The top five donors are EC, USA, UK, Sweden, and Norway.

UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refurees in the Near East 

Phase 45 01.01.2016 - 31.01.2017   (Completed)