The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the United Nations agency mandated to protect and assist refugees, internally displaced persons, and stateless individuals, while supporting durable solutions including voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. Through its global presence, UNHCR works in close coordination with governments, local authorities, non- governmental organisations, and international partners to deliver essential services such as shelter, healthcare, education, water, sanitation, and protection. At the same time, it plays a key role in shaping policies and responses that address the drivers of displacement and strengthen the resilience of affected populations.

In a world where forced displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with over 120 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the need for sustained, coordinated, and principled humanitarian action is increasingly urgent. Crises are often protracted, complex, and interconnected, placing continuous pressure on host countries, local systems, and humanitarian actors. In this context, the ability to respond rapidly while maintaining a longer-term perspective remains essential to uphold human dignity and promote stability.

Since 2009, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation (NaEPF) has partnered with UNHCR to support its response to some of the most pressing humanitarian crises worldwide. Over time, this collaboration has developed into a steady and trusted relationship, grounded in shared values of solidarity, protection, and respect for human dignity.

Across more than a decade, the NaEPF has contributed to UNHCR’s operations in a wide range of contexts, from large-scale emergencies that have drawn global attention to situations that have received more limited international attention. Interventions have supported displaced populations affected by conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq, as well as complex and evolving crises across Africa and along key migration routes. At the same time, the Foundation has remained attentive to contexts where humanitarian needs are acute but less visible, helping ensure that support reaches populations who might otherwise be overlooked.

This long-standing engagement has been characterised by continuity and flexibility. As crises have evolved, so too has the nature of the support provided, moving from targeted interventions to more integrated, multisectoral responses. Through its contributions, the NaEPF has helped strengthen UNHCR’s capacity to deliver life-saving assistance, including emergency shelter, protection services, healthcare, and essential relief items, while also supporting efforts to reinforce local systems and foster resilience among displaced communities.

Rather than focusing on individual projects alone, the partnership reflects a broader commitment to sustaining humanitarian action over time. By aligning its support with UNHCR’s global mandate and operational priorities, the NaEPF contributes to a coordinated response that goes beyond immediate relief and supports pathways towards greater stability and recovery.

As displacement continues to shape the global humanitarian landscape, the partnership between the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation and UNHCR remains grounded in the shared understanding that protecting people forced to flee their homes requires not only resources, but continuity, trust, and the willingness to act where needs are greatest, regardless of visibility.

The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation will continue to support UNHCR in its efforts to uphold the rights and resilience of forcibly displaced people worldwide.