UNHCR and Agility sign an agreement to support Refugee Higher Education
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Agility Global PLC (“Agility”) signed an agreement to support refugee students through UNHCR’s Refugee Scholarships Programme (DAFI).
Through its contribution, Agility will fund full higher education scholarships for eleven refugee students in Jordan and Egypt, covering tuition fees, study materials, transportation, and essential living expenses. This support alleviates the financial burden on young refugees that often prevents access to higher education, allowing them to develop skills and earn qualifications that will transform their lives and help them pursue careers and build a stable and self-reliant future.
Sahar, 18 (right), Nada, 19 (center), and Basma, 18, study together in the library of Zarqa University in Jordan. Refugees from Syria currently residing in Zaatari camp, Sahar, Nada and Basma recently received DAFI scholarships to study English Translation at Zarqa University. ; In December 2020, UNHCR launched Aiming Higher, a campaign to change the vast inequality in higher education through funding scholarships for talented refugees.
“The value of education is beyond question. UNHCR regards it as a fundamental right for refugees. Yet almost three quarters of them live in developing and least developed countries; access to quality education is often hindered by economic pressure, legal and documentation constraints, language barriers, and limited scholarship opportunities,” said Rami Shishan – Head of UNHCR’s Private Sector Partnerships Unit in Kuwait & UAE. “The private sector plays a vital role in expanding opportunities for refugee youth. Agility’s support is a powerful act of solidarity and a long-term investment that helps bridge gaps and equip young people with the skills they need to lead productive lives and contribute to their communities.”
Tarek Sultan, Chairman, Agility, said: “Access to higher education opens doors that are otherwise closed to refugee students. Our support for UNHCR’s DAFI programme addresses one of the most concrete barriers they face, helping them build the skills and stability needed for long-term self-reliance. Investing in human potential has always been central to how we think about Agility’s role in the communities where we operate. Since 2022, we’ve supported 7,000+ people through UNHCR’s education programs. This partnership is a continuation of that commitment.”
According to the latest UNHCR Education Report, only 9% of refugees are enrolled in tertiary education, underscoring the systematic barriers including financial constraints, legal status, and lack of recognition of prior learning.
The DAFI scholarship programme constitutes one of the five core pillars of the strategy to achieve 15 per cent enrolment of young refugee women and men in higher education by 2030 – the 15by30 Roadmap.
To learn more about DAFI scholarship programme, please visit: DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme
About Agility
Agility is a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses. Its portfolio of diversified international assets includes the world’s largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); a leading logistics parks developer and operator across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (Agility Logistics Parks); and other businesses in digital logistics, e-commerce logistics, remote-site services, and public-sector logistics. It holds minority stakes in DSV, the world’s largest freight forwarder; Reem Mall, a mega-mall in Abu Dhabi; commercial real estate and supply chain companies in the GCC, and emerging technology companies in e-commerce enablement, energy transition, digital supply chain, and more. Agility has a global footprint across six continents and 80+ countries, with a workforce of 70,000 employees. It is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
For more information about Agility, visit:
Website: www.agility.com
Twitter: x.com/agility
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility
Instagram: instagram.com/agility
Facebook: facebook.com/agility.corporate
YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp
About UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building better futures for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. Established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly, UNHCR works in over 130 countries to ensure that everyone forced to flee can access safety, shelter, assistance, and hope for the future.
UNHCR supports refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, returnees, and stateless individuals through emergency response, protection services, healthcare, education, livelihoods, and durable solutions that promote dignity and self-reliance. The organization works closely with governments, humanitarian partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector to respond to humanitarian crises and advocate for the rights and well-being of displaced populations worldwide.
For more information please contact:
Khaled Kabbara
Communications Officer- GCC Countries
+971 50 641 0868
kabbara@unhcr.org
Eiman AlEinawi
External Relations Officer
aleinawi@unhcr.org