UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, helps people across 137 countries and territories. It provides a wide range of services that help people displaced from their homes settle in a safe place, far from conflict or those trying to harm them, rapidly deliver life-saving supplies and mobilize expert staff to protect them. UNHCR helps ensure they have documentation, shelter, food, water, access to medical care, and help to find missing family members. Bain has a longstanding, ongoing partnership with UNHCR dating back to 2016, when Bain helped it with a range of strategic and tactical projects.

In 2022, the number of forcibly displaced people surpassed 100 million for the first time. Bain increased its support to help UNHCR in several areas, including efforts to improve its partnerships strategy and attract more donations to deliver on its mission.

The outbreak of war in Ukraine also added urgency to the work. Nearly one-third of Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes and by the end of 2022; an estimated 5.9 million people were internally displaced, while nearly 5.7 million refugees and asylum-seekers from Ukraine were recorded across Europe. The war also created additional humanitarian and macroeconomic crises such as food shortages, trade disputes, and fuel shortages which could, in turn, trigger additional refugees. In response, UNHCR significantly scaled up operations in Ukraine and refugee-hosting States and, together with partners, providing assistance to some 4.3 million people inside Ukraine, and 1.5 million refugees outside Ukraine. Support from the private sector injects new and vital energy into UNHCR’s work, in addition to much-needed financial resources. Some of the world’s leading companies, foundations and philanthropists are already helping UNHCR to maximize its impact and improve its capacity to make a difference.