(Jake Jones (right) speaking at the panel session in Riyadh)

Representatives from LIV Golf and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, convened in Riyadh this month for a dedicated panel session to reinforce their shared commitment to supporting displaced communities through the power of sport.

Entering the second year of a landmark three-year US$10 million commitment, the first-ever golf partnership in UNHCR's history, the session provided a comprehensive update on a mission to improve the quality of life for refugees globally.

First Year Impact: By the Numbers

The partnership has already begun delivering tangible results across four continents, focusing on restoring well-being and fostering a sense of belonging through golf-inspired activities.

• 8,300+ refugees and host community members participated directly in play-based activities.
• 370,000+ people were supported indirectly, including families, classmates, and wider community networks.
• 6 pilot countries successfully integrated these projects into schools, community centers, and refugee camps.

The initiative is rooted in UNHCR’s ‘Sport for Protection’ framework, a specialized methodology that utilizes play to foster social cohesion and mental well-being in displacement settings.

Strategic Vision for 2026

With the foundational phase complete, leaders from both organizations expressed optimism about the trajectory of the collaboration.

“Coming into 2026, we have deep foundations across our business that allow us to take several steps forward, quickly,” said Jake Jones, LIV Golf Senior VP of Impact & Sustainability. “Year one was about establishing the basics and understanding how golf could work in a refugee setting. We’ve now proven that golf makes a difference to their lives positively. In years two and three, we now get to increase the scale and the scope of our work.”

The panel featured a keynote address from Regional UNHCR Deputy Representative Dr. Nadjia Hafsa and an introduction by LIV Golf Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Burian. Taleb Salhab, UNHCR’s Chief of Private Sector Partnerships & Philanthropy in the MENA Region, emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance.

“This is a critically important one-of-a-kind global partnership in sport," Salhab noted. "Golf helps bring communities together and build valuable skills amongst refugees. We hope at the end of the three years, we will see the impact of this partnership and will have laid the foundation to scale this all over the world.”

Unlocking the Power of Golf

A central pillar of the partnership's lasting infrastructure is the development of the ‘Golf Protection Toolkit’. This replicable guide is designed to empower local leaders to implement trauma-informed sport programming independently—a resource deemed vital during the current global humanitarian funding crisis.

Stephen Reynard, UNHCR’s Global Head of Sport, highlighted the toolkit's role in providing a "healthy distraction" for those who have faced immense hardship.

“The support from LIV Golf is helping us provide life-saving services to the people we serve,” Reynard said. “We’re in the process of rolling out a golf toolkit with golf-inspired games to offer refugees a healthy distraction, some of whom have lived through traumatic experiences after being forced to flee from their homes. This partnership is really unlocking the power of golf for refugees around the world.”