Expanding refugee access to higher education and emergency support with UNHCR

Since 2021, Hikma has partnered with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to expand access to higher education and provide critical humanitarian support for refugee communities across the MENA region. This multi-year collaboration focuses on two priorities: enabling refugee youth to pursue university education and supporting vulnerable families facing urgent needs.

Through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative scholarship programme, we are helping to increase the ability of refugees to attain a higher education. In 2024, the partnership supported 80 refugee students in Jordan, Algeria, and Egypt. The scholarships covered tuition fees, learning materials, and living expenses, alleviating significant financial barriers for the students.

In 2025, we extended our commitment to continue supporting the scholarship programme, expanding its scope to include mentoring, leadership development and career development programmes.  

We also extended support for the UNHCR’s Lebanon Emergency Appeal to respond to escalating humanitarian needs in the country. This contribution helped provide shelter assistance, access to essential healthcare services – including primary care and chronic disease management – and education support for refugee children. The initiative included support for school enrolment, the distribution of learning materials providing mental health support for children. 

Learn more: Social Responsibility