Deadline: 03-Aug-2025
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting expressions of interest from organizations interested in partnering on legal assistance for refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals at risk of statelessness in Egypt. The aim is to collaborate with partners who share UNHCR’s mission to achieve common protection outcomes.
The primary objective is to provide legal support to refugees and asylum seekers throughout Egypt, including in border areas. This support covers critical rights such as birth registration, marriage and family documentation, physical safety, and access to justice. It also includes legal responses to detention incidents and assistance for those detained.
The project focuses on several protection areas, including civil registration and legal aid. Key expected outcomes include increased access to legal services, improved civil documentation, reduced detention and refoulement risks, and enhanced legal awareness among refugee communities.
Activities under the project include legal counseling on rights and obligations, assistance with birth and death registration, support with marriage and divorce certificates, and legal representation in family or personal status disputes. The partner will also represent individuals in cases of administrative or criminal detention and help access police stations for legal proceedings.
Legal advice and analysis concerning Egyptian law and its implications for refugees will be part of the services provided. Emergency legal support, mobile counseling for vulnerable individuals like elders and persons with disabilities, and visits to detention facilities will be key components of the initiative. The partner must also assist in facilitating UNHCR staff access to detention centers.
Other responsibilities include data analysis on legal support areas, advocating for access to rights, strategic litigation to influence law or policy reform, and efficient case management with clear referral pathways. The partner will coordinate closely with UNHCR and engage in national coordination mechanisms such as the Refugee Coordination Model and Protection Working Group.
The project promotes a community-based protection approach, emphasizing accountability to affected persons, education access for children, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse. Active communication with refugee communities is essential, particularly in the context of Egypt’s planned transition to a national asylum system.
Additional tasks include awareness sessions for refugees on legal issues and participation in reception-related activities. The geographic focus is Egypt, with specific attention to areas such as New Valley.
Selection will be based on the organization’s expertise in the protection sector, experience in project management, local presence, cost effectiveness, history of working with UN agencies, and ability to navigate access and security issues.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
