Deadline: 21-Aug-2025
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking grant applications to strengthen refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and build sustainable community leadership in Armenia.
Through this Call for Expression of Interest, UNHCR aims to partner with an organization capable of conducting a comprehensive mapping of RLOs in Armenia. The partner will identify the capacity building needs of these organizations and develop and implement activities to support their organizational development, advocacy, fundraising, and leadership in community-led protection initiatives.
The partnership’s goal is to empower RLOs as key actors in community-based protection by enhancing their leadership, organizational capacities, and participation in humanitarian coordination, decision-making, and interventions. UNHCR seeks to strengthen refugee communities’ roles in shaping protection responses, fostering sustainable initiatives, and promoting inclusion and social cohesion.
The focus area of this project is protection, including general protection activities. The indicative budget for this initiative is approximately 30 million.
Expected results include a comprehensive mapping and analysis of existing and emerging RLOs to ensure inclusive representation across geographic areas and thematic priorities. The mapping will assess the linkages between RLOs and refugee communities to ensure legitimacy, responsiveness, and accountability.
The capacity building needs of RLOs will be identified, and a detailed plan will be developed. Capacity building activities will strengthen organizational, leadership, and resource mobilization capacities. RLOs are expected to improve internal governance, strategic planning, and operational procedures.
RLOs will develop and implement effective fundraising strategies, building diverse donor relationships and enhancing skills in grant proposal design, project management, advocacy, communication, and community mobilization.
The partnership will enhance RLO participation in coordination and decision-making platforms. RLO representatives will engage actively in local coordination and national dialogues with state and humanitarian actors, ensuring refugee voices are included in planning, implementation, and evaluation of protection activities.
An increased number of community-led protection initiatives will be implemented by RLOs, responding to identified needs and aligned with UNHCR strategic directions. Refugee communities will gain improved access to services and a greater sense of ownership in local solutions.
The inclusion of vulnerable and underrepresented refugee groups will be strengthened, increasing participation and leadership opportunities for women, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ, and other marginalized groups. RLOs will apply Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD)-sensitive approaches in their programming.
Stronger social cohesion and awareness of refugee rights in host communities will be fostered through joint activities between refugee and host populations, promoting mutual understanding and mitigating tensions.
Monitoring and feedback mechanisms will be established within RLO-led projects to collect and respond to community feedback, improving the quality, relevance, and accountability of interventions. Lessons learned and best practices will be documented and shared to inform ongoing and future programs.
Partners must adhere to UNHCR sector standards and partnership agreement terms to ensure adequate protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
The project will focus on various regions of Armenia, including Lorru Marz, Tavushi Marz, Shiraki Marz, Ararati Marz, Armaviri Marz, Aragatsotni Marz, Geghark’unik’i Marz, Kotayk’i Marz, Yerevan, Vayots’ Dzor, Syunik’i Marz, and again Lorru Marz.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
