Deadline: 05-Dec-2025

The World Food Programme (WFP) has opened a Call for Expressions of Interest for the PROTIERRA project, designed to strengthen social, human, and institutional capacities in conflict-affected territories facing food insecurity and pressure on natural resources. The initiative focuses on territorial governance, conflict resolution, community resilience, and inclusive leadership, with special attention to Garífuna communities in Gracias a Dios, Colón, and Atlántida. Selected partners will help advance sustainable, community-driven solutions that improve food security, social cohesion, and territorial stability.

Overview of the PROTIERRA Project

The PROTIERRA project aims to support communities historically affected by land conflicts, discrimination, and environmental pressure by building robust local systems for governance, social protection, conflict resolution, and climate resilience. WFP seeks implementing partners capable of strengthening local leadership, advancing intercultural dialogue, and improving territorial planning across the targeted regions.

Context: Why PROTIERRA Matters

Territories such as Gracias a Dios, Colón, and Atlántida continue to experience:

• Long-standing land disputes

• Pressure on natural resources

• Food insecurity and multidimensional poverty

• Social exclusion and discrimination, especially among Garífuna communities

• Violence tied to organized crime
  These conditions hinder social cohesion, weaken governance structures, and limit sustainable development. The PROTIERRA project addresses these challenges by investing in people, institutions, and territorial systems that foster peace, inclusion, and resilience.

Key Focus Areas

The call prioritizes activities related to:

• Conflict sensitivity and humanitarian access

• Agricultural inputs and food security

• Social protection and safety nets

• Community resilience and territorial governance

• Water and land information management

• Peaceful conflict resolution and negotiation

• Community planning and territorial development

• Inclusive leadership and youth participation

• Intercultural dialogue and coexistence

• Strengthening community and institutional capacities

• Multisectoral collaboration and long-term territorial impact

Project Goals

General Objective

To strengthen social, human, and institutional capacities in conflict-affected territories through processes that advance community governance, territorial planning, and climate management.

Specific Objectives

• Enhance community and institutional leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

• Consolidate and strengthen the Territorial Conflict Observatory through technical training and cooperation between local, academic, and community actors.

• Activate community planning spaces focused on food security, risk management, and climate governance.

• Establish a multisectoral collaboration network involving local governments, community leaders, civil society, and international partners.

Target Territories

The project focuses on three departments:

• Gracias a Dios

• Colón

• Atlántida
  These areas have deep-rooted structural gaps but have also shown progress in intercultural dialogue and community leadership—progress that PROTIERRA aims to consolidate and expand.

Expected Results

Implementing partners are expected to help achieve:

• Training of at least 60 leaders in leadership and conflict resolution.

• Strengthened technical and community capacities to support the Territorial Conflict Observatory.

• Activation of five community territorial planning spaces, each producing a community development plan.

• Meaningful participation of women, youth, and local leaders in planning and governance processes.

• Establishment of a multisectoral collaboration network that operates across the three departments to ensure coordination, sustainability, and territorial impact.

Who Should Apply?

Ideal applicants include organisations with experience in:

• Community governance and territorial planning

• Conflict resolution, mediation, and dialogue facilitation

• Food security and agricultural support

• Social protection systems

• Gender and youth inclusion

• Participatory planning and community leadership training

• Work with Indigenous or Afro-descendant communities, especially Garífuna groups

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Local presence or strong partnerships

• Ability to operate in conflict-affected and hard-to-access territories

• Cultural sensitivity and participatory methodologies

• Capacity to implement multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms

How to Apply

While WFP provides specific application instructions in the official EOI document, the general process includes:

1. Review the Call for EOI

Carefully examine:

• Eligibility criteria

• Required documentation

• Technical expectations

• Reporting and compliance standards

2. Prepare an Organisational Profile

Include:

• Legal registration

• Governance structure

• Track record in relevant fields

• Evidence of financial and operational capacity

3. Develop a Technical Proposal

Address:

• How your organisation will implement PROTIERRA objectives

• Methodologies for leadership training, conflict resolution, and community engagement

• Strategies for supporting the Territorial Conflict Observatory

• Plans for activating community planning spaces

• Inclusion of women, youth, and Indigenous groups

4. Submit Before the Deadline

Provide all required documents through the WFP submission channel indicated in the EOI.

5. Evaluation and Selection

WFP will assess applicants based on:

• Technical competence

• Local relevance

• Feasibility and scalability

• Cultural and conflict sensitivity

• Cost-effectiveness

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting proposals without strong community engagement strategies

• Failing to integrate gender and youth inclusion

• Overlooking the importance of conflict-sensitive approaches

• Proposing activities misaligned with territorial governance or food security

• Lacking evidence of previous work in conflict-affected regions

• Incomplete or unclear documentation

FAQ

1. What regions does PROTIERRA cover?
Gracias a Dios, Colón, and Atlántida.

2. Are organisations required to work with Garífuna communities?
It is strongly encouraged, as they are among the most affected by land conflicts and social exclusion.

3. Are infrastructure projects allowed?
Only light, community-driven infrastructure tied to governance, resilience, or planning may be acceptable; heavy construction is typically discouraged.

4. Is gender inclusion mandatory?
Yes. Women’s and youth participation is a core requirement.

5. What is the Territorial Conflict Observatory?
A local mechanism for monitoring, documenting, and informing decisions on territorial conflicts. The project seeks to strengthen it through training and coordination.

6. Can organisations apply jointly?
Partnerships may be allowed if aligned with WFP’s coordination requirements.

7. What type of experience is most valued?
Work in conflict resolution, community governance, food security, and intercultural dialogue.

Conclusion

The WFP PROTIERRA project offers a significant opportunity to support communities grappling with conflict, food insecurity, and natural resource pressures. By strengthening leadership, governance, and territorial capacities, the initiative aims to build long-term resilience and inclusive development across three historically affected regions. Organisations with strong community engagement experience and a commitment to inclusive, conflict-sensitive approaches are well positioned to contribute to sustainable territorial transformation.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.