TEXAS AND THE UN
In 2024, Texas companies secured
Economic Impact
In 2024, Texas-based companies received $30.2 million in UN contracts, linking the state’s industries to international markets. From energy firms and logistics providers to tech innovators in Austin and Dallas, UN procurement fuels jobs and demonstrates the global competitiveness of Texas products and services.
Houston: A UN Gateway
Houston — one of America’s most diverse cities — is a critical hub for international cooperation. The city hosts over 90 consulates and UNA-USA’s Houston chapter, one of the largest in the country.
The Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex, partners with the World Health Organization (WHO) on cancer care, maternal health and pandemic preparedness.
Houston has also hosted UNHCR events and refugee conferences, reinforcing its leadership in humanitarian diplomacy. Refugee Resettlement and Global Communities Texas is one of the top U.S. states for refugee resettlement, welcoming more than 100,000 refugees since 2002 under the UNHCR/U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Houston have vibrant communities from Iraq, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma and Syria. Faith-based and secular nonprofits — including Refugee Services of Texas, Catholic Charities and YMCA International Services — provide housing, workforce integration and trauma recovery, aligning with UNHCR standards of protection and dignity.
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Supply Chains
Texas’s infrastructure makes it a linchpin for UN humanitarian logistics. DFW Airport, Port Houston and companies like Halliburton and Dell have supported relief operations during crises from the Haiti earthquake to the Syrian refugee emergency. Texas suppliers provide emergency shelters, water purification kits and IT platforms for UN field operations. Austin’s tech sector also contributes to UN OCHA and UNDP with data systems and predictive modeling for disaster response.
Education, Model UN and Global Engagement
Texas is home to dozens of Model UN programs, with nationally recognized teams at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Southern Methodist University and Rice University. Regional conferences introduce thousands of high school and college students to diplomacy and global policy each year. Beyond the classroom, Texas ranks among the top five states for Peace Corps volunteers and Fulbright scholars, underscoring its role in cultivating the next generation of global leaders.
Want to work with the UN?
Learn more through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) —
the official portal connecting companies with UN agencies worldwide.
The UN supports Americans. Ready to support the UN?
The UN makes a difference right here at home. Imagine the impact we can have when more Americans step up. Connect with our sister organization — the UN Association of the U.S.A. — to find a local chapter of UN champions and help strengthen the UN’s work in our communities and around the world.