CFAs: Provision of Protection and Social Assistance in South Africa

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting applications for a project focused on providing protection and social assistance to forcibly displaced persons, including refugees and asylum-seekers, in South Africa. The initiative will be implemented under the coordination of the South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO).

UNHCR’s mandate is to ensure international protection and long-term solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless individuals. This is done in partnership with governments, who hold primary responsibility, and supported through collaborations with implementing partners. The current call aims to select qualified partners to lead the implementation and management of the Social Assistance Project on behalf of UNHCR.

The project’s primary goal is to enhance the protection and support of refugees and asylum-seekers by delivering basic social services, livelihood opportunities, and sustainable solutions. The intervention will focus on enabling forcibly displaced populations (FDPs) to enjoy their right to international protection, access national protection services, and benefit from socio-economic empowerment.

Key sectors involved in the project include general health, child protection, gender-based violence response, and overall protection services. The initiative seeks to increase access to healthcare, safeguard children from abuse, support survivors of gender-based violence, and promote peaceful coexistence through social cohesion programs.

Outcomes are expected to include the integration of gender-based violence survivors into national support systems, protection of vulnerable children through comprehensive case management, and expanded access to basic services via cash-based interventions or national structures. Community engagement and refugee-led activities will also be supported to strengthen social unity and effective feedback systems.

The geographic focus of the project is within South Africa, including the Free State province. All selected partners must follow UNHCR’s sector-specific standards to ensure high-quality protection and assistance for forcibly displaced and stateless individuals.