UNHCR marks 10th ‘versary of partnership with KFAED
By Khaled Khalifa
As the global humanitarian landscape grows increasingly complex, marked by widening funding gaps, protracted crises and economic uncertainty, moments of sustained partnership offer not only reassurance, but direction. This year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, marks ten years of collaboration with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), in a partnership that embodies the promise of aligning emergency response with long-term development vision.
Since inking the Memorandum of Understanding back in May 2016, this collaboration has translated principles into practice across multiple regions. From the camps of northern Iraq to the overly crowded camps Bangladesh, and from Jordan and Yemen to the evolving responses in Sudan and Chad, over a million of forcibly displaced people have directly benefited from an approach that bridges immediate relief with sustainable solutions.
In northern Iraq, more than 300,000 Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons have seen tangible improvements in their daily lives through upgraded shelters, solar-powered water systems and lighting, improved infrastructure. Moreover, with Kuwait Fund’s support, UNHCR established an inclusive protection center to provide legal assistance and vital services to refugees, which is designed for long-term community use as it will eventually be turned into a school. In Jordan, the partnership has strengthened access to essential healthcare services for over 84,000 Syrian refugees, including during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating both responsiveness and resilience in times of global disruption.
In Yemen, over 200,000 displaced people benefited from shelter solutions and solar-powered infrastructure, supplemented by an innovative housing rehabilitation program to restore homes and hope for 70,000 more. In Bangladesh, sustainable energy solutions such as clean cooking fuel have improved daily life for over 140,000 Rohingya refugees, reducing environmental impact while enhancing safety and dignity. Today, this partnership continues to evolve in both scope and ambition.
In Sudan, nearly 300,000 internally displaced are gaining improved access to education, water, and healthcare, investing in the strength and resilience for generations to come. And in Chad, innovative infrastructure projects of solar lighting, water systems, and shelters are empowering 50,000 Sudanese refugees with safer, more sustainable living conditions, reinforcing the importance of forward-looking, climate-conscious approaches.
UNHCR is navigating this forward-thinking partnership amidst shocking levels of global displacement, with conflicts around the world forcing an increasing number of people to leave everything behind and embark on dangerous journeys looking for safety and refuge. According to UNHCR’s latest figures from the 2025 mid-year report, 117.3 million individuals were forcibly displaced by June 2025. The partnership we are celebrating today is proving its relevance more than ever, with the need for alignment of strategic visions and holistic coordination of partnerships.
The first Strategic Dialogue between UNHCR and Kuwait represented by a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kuwait Fund for Development, held in 2025, marked an important milestone in deepening this engagement, moving beyond traditional donor-recipient dynamics towards a model of genuine partnership that is rooted in complementarity, shared responsibility and a unified vision for the future.
As preparations advance for the second dialogue, to be convened in Kuwait this year, there is a renewed opportunity to further strengthen this model and amplify its global relevance. For decades, Kuwait has stood as a beacon of humanity and generosity, with these values deeply embedded in its foreign policy and diplomatic engagement. Its leadership in responding to the Syria crisis, including hosting key donor conferences between 2013 and 2015, has been instrumental, rightfully deserving its position as a global Humanitarian Center.
UNHCR’s partnership with Kuwait Fund builds on this vision of humanitarian leadership and sustained solidarity that drives lasting impact. Ten years on, this partnership stands as a testament to what can be achieved when vision is matched with commitment. It reminds us that humanitarian action, when anchored in sustainability and driven by collaboration, can move beyond response and become a catalyst for transformation.
Khaled Khalifa is Senior Adviser to the High Commissioner, UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries