Thousands of refugee children will soon have safer homes

March 24, 2015

Thanks to the IKEA Foundation, thousands of refugee families will soon receive a safer, more durable shelter. Launching today at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD), the flat pack Better Shelter will be unveiled and available for purchase for the first time.

For several years, the IKEA Foundation, UNHCR and a group of Swedish designers have worked together to develop a new kind of temporary shelter that will provide refugees with safety, dignity and a better place to call home.

Now the shelter is ready to be used in refugee camps, and UNHCR has made a frame agreement to buy 10,000 of them from the social enterprise BetterShelter.org, which is developing and manufacturing them.

Democratic design for humanitarian benefit

The Better Shelter is a temporary shelter with an expected lifespan of three years. Delivered in flat packs, it is designed with special attention to transport volume, weight, price, safety, health and comfort, and it can be assembled on site without additional tools and equipment. Keeping families’ needs at its core, it also has a solar panel and lamp to provide light during the dark hours.

In a groundbreaking example of democratic design (form, function, quality and sustainability at an affordable price), the prototype has been tested and improved by 40 refugee families in Iraq and Ethiopia whose experiences and needs have been at the heart of the development process.

Production of shelters is about to begin, and in the summer of 2015 UNHCR will start providing the shelter to thousands of vulnerable families in refugee camps, bringing dignity and safety to families fleeing violence, conflict, persecution and natural disasters.

Jonathan Spampinato, Head of Strategic Planning and Communications at the IKEA Foundation, said: “Putting refugee families and their needs at the heart of this project is a great example of how democratic design can be used for humanitarian value. We’re incredibly proud that the Better Shelter is now available, so refugee families and children can have a safer place to call home.”

Partner

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/
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Partner

Better Shelter
https://bettershelter.org/
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In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
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In a world full of noise and misinformation, credible voices matter more than ever. That’s why nearly 800 @IKEA co-workers applied to join the 2025 IKEA Foundation Ambassador Programme — a journey that connects them with the people and partners the foundation supports as they tackle real-world challenges every day. Ambassadors listen, ask questions, and learn from those closest to the issues — building understanding they bring back to their teams and communities, where awareness grows and perspectives begin to shift. In 2025, the programme: 🌎 reached five hubs across four continents 🇰🇪 launched the first-ever Super Hub in Nairobi 🌟 welcomed 169 new ambassadors 🌱 grew a global learning community of 550+ people in 30+ countries These numbers reflect a growing curiosity — a desire to understand how change really happens and to hear directly from those working closest to the world’s toughest challenges. None of this learning happens without the insight and generosity of our partners. Their leadership continues to inspire and inform us. With our strategy now in motion, we’re doubling down on #ClimateAwareness at a moment when it matters most — and supporting partners creating solutions for people and planet. For 2026, that energy is even stronger: nearly 1,000 IKEA co-workers applied, and we’re excited to welcome 161 new ambassadors, with 38 more joining our Alumni Hub. We’re proud of what last year set in motion, and looking forward to what comes next. #IKEAfoundation #IKEAFoundationAmbassador
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@ikea_foundation
@ikea_foundation
•
Follow
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Follow
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🌟 Celebrating the 2025 UNHCR (@refugees) #NansenAward Winner: Chief Martin Azia Sodea We are honoured to recognise Chief Martin Azia Sodea, whose leadership has helped guide the community of Gado-Badzéré in eastern Cameroon as it welcomes over 36,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the Central African Republic. Through his steady commitment to dialogue, collaboration and shared community life, he has helped create an environment where refugees and local communities can rebuild, work, and thrive together. The IKEA Foundation is proud to support the UNHCR Nansen Awards, celebrating everyday heroes like Chief Sodea, whose dedication strengthens refugee inclusion and inspires others to act. 💙 🔗 Read more, link in bio. #NansenAward #UNHCR
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