We spend contributions wisely. All of the funds we receive go directly to our Programme Budget, to assist and serve the Palestine refugees we are mandated to protect and serve. We are committed to transparency and accountability, with sensible investment in fundraising and communication and prudent expenditure on management support and administration.

Understanding UNRWA’s Funding Structure

UNRWA is currently mandated to serve an estimated 4.6 million refugees (compared to 750,000 in 1950) in its five fields of operation. UNRWA has more than 32,000 staff posts. The current budgeted cost of recurrent activities is US$1,093 million for the Biennium 2008-2009.
UNRWA’s Programme Budget (General Fund) approved by General Assembly for the 2008-2009 biennium comprises recurrent staff and non-staff costs. This funds the Agency’s ongoing Education, Health, Relief and Social Services and Camp Improvement and Infrastructure activities. The Programme Budget is further divided into cash and in-kind portions. The cash budget is funded through voluntary cash contributions recorded as income to the General Fund (GF). The in-kind budget represents the value of donations that the Agency expects to receive based on agreements with donors or past practice. Although UNRWA prepares its budget on a biennial basis, operations are financed on an annual basis. The approved Programme Budget for 2009 is US$545.6 million. The European Commission and governments are the biggest single source of funding.

Total income in cash in 2008 to the Programme Budget: US$519,976,480

Ninety-five percent of our income in 2008 came from voluntary contributions (whether in cash or in-kind): from governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, UN agencies and private donations. The other five percent came from the United Nations bodies through its assessed budget to cover staffing costs, including the funding of 119 international staff posts by the United Nations Secretariat.

* Support Services includes, inter alia, costs related to administration, finance, legal and audit services, fundraising and public information, as well as the Front Office.