Reporting fraud, corruption and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse

Please beware of individuals claiming false affiliation to UNHCR and/or its partners including outside the UNHCR Office or on various social media platforms. Do not trust anyone who claims to provide services on behalf of UNHCR including resettlement in exchange for money or favors. Remember, all UNHCR services are free of charge. Please immediately report fraud concerns to [email protected].
Your report will be treated with strict confidentiality.

UNHCR has zero tolerance for fraud, corruption and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse.

All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge!

What is fraud?

Any act including misrepresentation and/or concealment of material facts that knowingly or intentionally misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a benefit, whether directly or indirectly, whether for oneself or for a third party.

Examples of fraudulent acts include:

    • Providing false information about one’s personal circumstances to benefit from assistance or service
    • Use of fraudulent documentation or genuine documents in a false manner
    • Soliciting money for personal gain or paying money to benefit from assistance or service (e.g. registration, resettlement)
    • Falsely claiming to represent UNHCR, other entities or partner agencies

What is corruption?

Offering, giving, receiving or soliciting (directly or indirectly) anything of value to influence improperly the actions of another party.

How to report suspected fraud and corruption by refugees, asylum seekers or other individuals?

Please report any concerns or suspicions of fraud and corruption to [email protected]. All reports are treated with strict confidentiality.

What is misconduct?

Misconduct is considered any failure by a UNHCR staff member, partner and/or service provider to abide by established staff rules and regulations and the UNHCR Code of Conduct. Examples of possible misconduct include any form of fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

What is sexual exploitation and abuse?

Sexual exploitation is any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes.

Sexual abuse is actual or threatened sexual activity carried out by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse. It is considered serious misconduct and all UNHCR staff are strictly prohibited from engaging in such behavior.

How do I complain about misconduct involving UNHCR staff, interpreters, security guards and/or partners?

Complaint procedures are in place to allow refugees and asylum-seekers to report serious misconduct by UNHCR staff, interpreters, security guards or partners including sexual exploitation and abuse. Reports on procedural unfairness (including the quality/availability of interpreters, access to UNHCR premises or staff, procedures for registration, RSD and other protection services) in UNHCR’s protection and assistance provision may also be submitted.

Anyone with concerns of possible misconduct by UNHCR staff, interpreters, security guards or partners, regardless of the person’s position, should report through one of the following confidential channels:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • In-person: Place letter or complaint form in physical complaints box located at the UNHCR Office.
  • Mail: UNHCR, 17 Mekka El Mokarrama St. 7th District, 3rd Division, 6th October City.

Reports may also be submitted directly to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at UNHCR Headquarters through one of the following confidential channels:

Please mark all correspondence as CONFIDENTIAL.

For more information on UNHCR’s work and its services, please visit UNHCR Egypt Website .

Or Refugees Egypt  for English, Somali, Oromo, Amharic & Tigrinya

Or Refugees Egypt AR  for Arabic