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UNHCR’s Enabling Safe Access to Digital Spaces Programme

Louisiana Foundation seeking Applications for Special Project Grants Program (US)

Deadline: 12-Jul-21

How can digital risks be minimized where forcibly displaced persons are accessing connectivity services or engaging in online activities? If you have a solution, participate in this ‘Enabling safe access to digital spaces’ challenge launched by UNHCR.

UNHCR’s Digital Inclusion Programme recognizes the right that refugees and other forcibly displaced populations have to actively participate in the current digital revolution. Humanitarian contexts further deteriorated by the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the critical importance of a connected refugee community that can efficiently access vital information and life-saving protection services remotely.

Digital literacy is vital to ensuring that individuals can safely, effectively and efficiently use technology. Lack of relevant digital skills and knowledge remains among the main barriers to accessing connectivity services worldwide. In an age where societies as a whole are digitizing rapidly and humanitarian assistance is increasingly being provided through remote digital channels, the importance of addressing this skills gap is vital in ensuring communities are able to navigate often new and unfamiliar digital engagements.

Furthermore, data literacy is specifically important as community members not only understand the systems and platforms they’re using, but what happens to the data they’re generating or providing, how this is processed and by whom. Critically, there are also different ways of addressing such challenges ranging from more top-down ‘campaigns’ to bottom-up communitydriven approaches to enhancing understanding.

Scope and objectives

The main objective of this challenge is to build on previous efforts by humanitarian and partner organizations in this space and to ensure sustainable access to connectivity for refugees and their hosting communities to address real and perceived digital risks and guarantee a safe, inclusive and responsible engagement online – considering specific risks and barriers faced by different groups based on age, gender or demographic.

Funding Information

Risks do not end with a digitally and data literate population. Other possible risks span across a variety of areas such as:

Eligibility Criteria

Only UNHCR country operations are able to apply to the challenge and one submission is accepted per operation. This Expression of Interest should command the support of senior management within the operation.

Evaluation Criteria

For the Call for Proposals, awarding of funds will be based on the following criteria equally weighted:

For more information, visit https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/digital-inclusion-call/

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