Long-term support to UNRWA’s reform

Projet terminé

Through this contribution, Switzerland enables UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) to pursue the implementation of two key reform areas from its Medium-Term Strategy 2016-21, namely: the Resource Mobilization Strategy and the Protection Framework. These reforms will improve UNRWA’s ability to deliver its core services by stabilizing the Agency’s financial situation and by strengthening its capacities to deliver its protection mandate.

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Territoire palestinien occupé
Education
Santé
Enseignement primaire
Système de santé primaire
01.01.2018 - 30.06.2021
CHF  6’668’468
Contexte

Palestine refugees in the Near East face a complex human development and protection crisis. Poverty levels and protection threats are rising, exacerbated by the protracted crisis in the Gaza Strip and the conflict in Syria.

Despite this challenging operating environment, UNRWA has made significant progress in terms of quality and cost effectiveness of its services as a result of internal reforms. Recurrent deficits in its Programme Budget, which covers UNRWA’s core services, risk jeopardizing these achievements and represent serious risks for refugees, UNRWA and the region as a whole.

Stabilizing UNRWA’s financial situation and strengthening its protection interventions is essential to sustain the human development and protection needs of Palestine refugees.

Objectifs The overall goal is to support UNRWA’s long-term reform process, thus enabling the Agency to provide better quality and more efficient services to Palestine refugees.
Groupes cibles
  • Resource Mobilization: 5.3 Mio Palestine refugees registered in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza.
  • Protection: the most vulnerable Pal. refugees.
  • Both reforms: 30’000 UNRWA employees (91% Palestine refugees themselves) and the communities in which they live.
Effets à moyen terme
  • UNRWA’s ability to carry out its mandate is safeguarded by securing adequate and predictable financial resources; and
  • Refugees’ rights under international law are increasingly protected and promoted.
Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

  • Additional funds are attracted from donors, private sector/individual donors and International Financial Institutions; predictability is increased (e.g. multi-year agreements); and UNRWA is able to bridge the 2018-20 deficits.
  • Protection policies and guidelines are operationalized at field level.


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  • The Enterprise Resource Planning System strengthened UNRWA decision-making with a state-of-the-art platform that integrates finance, procurement and human resources (Phase 1).
  • The Resource Mobilization Strategy enabled UNRWA to bridge the 2014-16 Programme Budgets deficits by increasing contributions from traditional UNRWA donors (+USD 11 Mio from 2015 to 2016) and the private sector (+2); by confirming Arab countries’ commitments (+50 Mio); and by securing contributions from new donors (Russia and India).
  • Through e-health, electronic files replaced paper records generating improvements in quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness (Phase 2).
  • Protection was established as Strategic Outcome 1 in the Medium Term Strategy 2016-21 and key policy and guidelines were developed (Phase 3).


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Crédit Coopération au développement
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
Organisme des Nations Unies (ONU)
  • Office de secours et de travaux des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient


Autres partenaires
The 30 members of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission (donors and host governments); and UN Agencies involved in protection.
Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs The intervention complements Switzerland’s multi-year un-earmarked contribution to UNRWA’s Programme Budget (Humanitarian Aid credit line). Switzerland seeks coordination with like-minded donors and host countries on matters related to the reforms.
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    6’668’468 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    6’668’468
Phases du projet Phase 5 01.07.2021 - 30.06.2023   (Completed)

Phase 4 01.01.2018 - 30.06.2021   (Completed)

Phase 3 01.01.2016 - 31.12.2017   (Completed) Phase 2 01.01.2015 - 31.12.2015   (Completed) Phase 1 01.12.2013 - 31.12.2014   (Completed)