Deadline: 03-Jun-2026
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has launched the Humanitarian Emergency and Longer-term Planning – Sudan (HELP-S) programme, a £30 million initiative designed to strengthen resilience and locally-led humanitarian action in conflict-affected areas of Sudan. The programme focuses on supporting communities that continue to act as first responders during humanitarian crises.
The HELP-S programme aims to build sustainable humanitarian systems by strengthening Sudanese organisations, improving community resilience, and promoting flexible, locally-prioritised humanitarian responses between 2026 and 2029.
Programme Focus Areas
Locally-Led Humanitarian Action
The programme supports:
- Community-led humanitarian responses
- Strengthening local responders
- Sudanese leadership in crisis response
- Local decision-making and ownership
- Sustainable humanitarian systems
Resilience in Conflict-Affected Areas
Projects may focus on:
- Community resilience building
- Recovery support in stable conflict-affected regions
- Adaptive humanitarian programming
- Long-term humanitarian planning
- Crisis preparedness and response
Partnerships and Collaboration
The initiative encourages:
- Partnerships between local and international organisations
- Mutual accountability and cooperation
- Inclusive humanitarian coordination
- Multi-stakeholder engagement
Innovation and Flexible Humanitarian Delivery
Supported activities include:
- Innovative humanitarian approaches
- Flexible emergency response systems
- Adaptive programme management
- Community-prioritised interventions
- Accountability to affected populations
Funding Details
- Total programme value: £30 million
- Funding period: 2026–2029
- Programme duration: Two and a half years
- Individual funding opportunities exceed £1 million
The programme focuses on relatively stable but conflict-affected areas of Sudan where communities continue to face humanitarian pressures.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- International non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
- Sudanese national NGOs
- Local civil society organisations
- United Nations agencies
- Academic and research institutions
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Mixed consortia partnerships
For-Profit Participation
For-profit organisations:
- Cannot apply independently
- May participate only as downstream consortium partners
Priority Sectors
The programme supports organisations working in:
- Humanitarian emergencies and disaster response
- Health and medical support
- Girls’ and women’s protection and empowerment
- Livelihoods and resilience building
- Community recovery and support systems
Key Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Experience operating in conflict-affected environments
- Capacity to work in hard-to-reach areas of Sudan
- Strong safeguarding systems
- Prevention measures for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment
- Commitment to locally-led humanitarian action
- Strong partnerships with Sudanese organisations
- Robust financial and compliance systems
- Ability to adapt programming in volatile environments
Why This Programme Matters
Sudanese communities often serve as the first responders during humanitarian crises. The HELP-S programme recognizes the importance of empowering local actors and reducing dependence on externally-led emergency systems.
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen local humanitarian leadership
- Improve sustainable crisis response
- Build resilient communities
- Support inclusive humanitarian partnerships
- Improve accountability to affected populations
The programme also promotes humanitarian systems that are more adaptable, context-driven, and locally owned.
How to Apply
Interested organisations should:
- Prepare an expression of interest aligned with HELP-S objectives
- Demonstrate humanitarian experience in conflict settings
- Show evidence of local partnerships and community engagement
- Explain safeguarding and accountability systems
- Present adaptive implementation and risk management strategies
- Outline financial and operational management capacity
Strong applications should clearly demonstrate:
- Locally-led humanitarian approaches
- Experience in Sudan or similar conflict environments
- Strong consortium partnerships
- Flexible and sustainable programming models
- Community-centred implementation strategies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Weak local partnership structures
- Limited safeguarding systems
- Insufficient experience in conflict settings
- Poor financial management plans
- Lack of adaptive programming strategies
- Minimal accountability to affected populations
FAQ
What is the total value of the HELP-S programme?
The programme has a total value of £30 million.
How long will the programme run?
The programme will operate from 2026 to 2029 for approximately two and a half years.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include INGOs, Sudanese NGOs, UN agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organisations.
Can for-profit organisations apply?
For-profit organisations may only participate as downstream consortium partners.
What areas does the programme focus on?
The programme focuses on humanitarian resilience, locally-led response, community partnerships, and adaptive humanitarian delivery in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.
Are local Sudanese organisations encouraged to participate?
Yes, the programme strongly prioritises meaningful partnerships with Sudanese organisations and locally-led humanitarian action.
Conclusion
The FCDO HELP-S programme represents a major investment in sustainable and locally-led humanitarian response systems in Sudan. By strengthening community resilience, empowering Sudanese organisations, and supporting adaptive humanitarian approaches, the initiative aims to create more effective and accountable humanitarian solutions for conflict-affected communities.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.