HOW IS UNRWA FUNDED?

UNRWA operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from governments and the European Union, which account for 94 per cent of all income. Most contributions are received in cash, although 1.5 per cent of income is received in kind, mainly as donations for food commodities for distribution to needy Palestine refugees. Five per cent of income is from United Nations bodies to cover staffing costs, including the funding of 119 international staff posts by the United Nations Secretariat. Unlike the United Nations as a whole, UNRWA has no system of assessed contributions.

The Agency’s largest donors in 2007 were the United States, the European Commission, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom. As of 31 May 2008, the Agency's largest contributors for 2008 are the United States, the European Commission, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands.

UNRWA’S BUDGET

UNRWA’s General Assembly-approved cash budget for 2008 is US$ 541.8 million. This funds the Agency’s ongoing Education, Health and Relief and Social Services activities. As of 31 May 2008, contributions pledged to this cash budget by UN and donors total US$ 444.4 million in addition to US$ 32.3 million which is expected to be pledged during the year. An additional US$ 56.8 million has been budgeted for projects and US$2.8 million for in-kind donations.

In keeping with previous years, UNRWA will likely have to initiate measures to reduce implementation of some planned activities to bring its regular budget closer to its likely income from donors. In 2007, UNRWA’s regular cash budget was approved at a level of US$487.1 million. However, actual net expenditure was US$ 404.4 million while income was US$ 438.5 million.

Since October 2000, UNRWA has launched Emergency Appeals to the donor community to fund the Agency's Emergency Programmes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. From October 2000 until December 2007, the Agency received a total of US$826.6 million in pledges, which is less than two-thirds of the amount requested. In December 2007, UNRWA launched an appeal for US$ 237.7 million to cover the cost of its emergency activities in 2008. In May 2008 the requirement was revised and increased to US$ 263.4 million. Against 2008 Appeal UNRWA received US$ 128.3 million in pledges as of 31 May 2008. Please find additional information on the Emergency Appeals below.

The most up to date information about UNRWA’s financial situation can be found underneath our donors section.