Deadline: 31-Aug-2026
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting eligible organizations to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to implement protection activities in Rwanda during 2027. The partnership focuses on improving access to asylum, legal assistance, community-based protection, and comprehensive support for persons with specific needs while strengthening refugee protection systems.
UNHCR Expression of Interest for Protection Activities in Rwanda
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking qualified partner organizations to implement protection programmes that improve access to asylum procedures, legal assistance, community-based protection, and specialized services for persons with specific needs in Rwanda. The partnership aims to strengthen refugee protection systems while enhancing access to essential legal, social, health, and protection services.
Programme Objectives and Priority Areas
The partnership seeks to strengthen protection services through activities that improve access to asylum procedures and legal support while promoting inclusive community-based protection approaches.
Key priority areas include:
- Access to asylum procedures.
- Legal information and counselling.
- Legal assistance and legal representation.
- Civil registration and legal documentation.
- Community-based protection.
- Community outreach and protection structures.
- Protection awareness and legal awareness campaigns.
- Community-led protection initiatives.
- Feedback and response mechanisms.
- Case management and referral services.
- Protection assistance for persons with specific needs.
- Health, psychosocial, rehabilitation, legal, and social protection services.
- Meaningful participation of women, youth, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
- Monitoring and improving UNHCR protection and access indicators.
Expected Activities
Selected partners will be expected to implement a wide range of protection interventions designed to improve the safety, inclusion, and well-being of refugees and other persons of concern.
Activities may include providing legal information and counselling, facilitating access to legal representation, supporting civil registration and legal documentation, conducting legal and protection awareness sessions, strengthening community outreach systems, establishing community feedback mechanisms, supporting community-led initiatives, delivering case management and referral services, and ensuring access to health, psychosocial, rehabilitation, legal, and social protection services for individuals with specific needs.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants should be organizations capable of delivering protection programming in Rwanda and demonstrate strong experience in refugee protection and humanitarian programming.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate:
- Expertise in asylum access, legal assistance, community-based protection, and services for persons with specific needs.
- Strong technical and operational capacity.
- Qualified human resources and appropriate material resources.
- Knowledge of humanitarian principles and protection standards.
- Experience implementing the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach.
- Effective project management and financial accountability systems.
- Established operational presence in Rwanda.
- Strong engagement with refugees and host communities.
- Functional community feedback and accountability mechanisms.
- Cost-effective programme implementation.
- Previous experience working with UNHCR and/or other United Nations agencies.
Partnership Duration
The partnership is expected to run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.
An estimated budget for the first 12 months of the Partnership Framework Agreement has been referenced; however, the funding amount has not been specified in the opportunity announcement.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated using weighted assessment criteria that examine both technical and organizational capacity.
Evaluation areas include:
- Sector expertise and relevant protection experience.
- Technical capacity to deliver proposed activities.
- Project management systems.
- Local operational presence and implementation experience.
- Cost-effectiveness of the proposed approach.
- Partner contributions in cash or in kind.
- Previous collaboration with UNHCR and/or other United Nations agencies.
Sector expertise carries the highest weighting during the evaluation process.
How to Apply
Organizations interested in participating should:
- Review the Expression of Interest requirements carefully.
- Prepare all required organizational and technical documentation.
- Complete the required templates available through the UN Partner Portal.
- Demonstrate organizational capacity, technical expertise, and relevant implementation experience.
- Submit the complete application through the UN Partner Portal before the specified deadline.
Application Tips
- Clearly demonstrate experience delivering refugee protection programmes.
- Highlight previous work related to asylum access, legal assistance, and community-based protection.
- Explain how the organization applies the Age, Gender and Diversity approach.
- Provide evidence of strong financial management and accountability systems.
- Showcase partnerships with refugees, host communities, and United Nations agencies.
- Ensure all required templates and supporting documents are completed accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for this opportunity?
Organizations with demonstrated expertise in refugee protection, legal assistance, community-based protection, and services for persons with specific needs in Rwanda are eligible to apply.
What activities are supported?
The partnership supports legal assistance, asylum access, civil registration, community-based protection, awareness campaigns, case management, referrals, community engagement, and specialized protection services.
How long will the partnership last?
The implementation period is expected to run from 1 January 2027 through 31 December 2027.
Is the funding amount specified?
No. While an estimated budget for the first year is referenced, the funding amount has not been disclosed in the announcement.
Where should applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted using the required documents and templates available through the UN Partner Portal.
What factors will be considered during evaluation?
Applications will be assessed based on technical expertise, project management capacity, local operational presence, cost-effectiveness, organizational contributions, and previous experience with UNHCR or other United Nations agencies.
Conclusion
The UNHCR Expression of Interest presents an opportunity for experienced organizations to strengthen refugee protection systems in Rwanda through legal assistance, community-based protection, and comprehensive support services. Organizations with strong technical expertise, local implementation capacity, and experience working in humanitarian protection are encouraged to prepare competitive applications through the UN Partner Portal.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.