Deadline: 05-Jun-2026
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting grant applications to strengthen social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between refugees, asylum-seekers, and host communities in selected regions of South Africa. The programme focuses on protection, community safety, stakeholder engagement, economic inclusion, and conflict prevention, with an indicative budget of 60,473 units (as specified in the call).
Overview of the UNHCR Grant Programme
The UNHCR grant aims to improve integration and peaceful coexistence between refugees, asylum-seekers, and host communities in South Africa. It focuses on building resilient communities, reducing tensions, and strengthening cooperation between local stakeholders.
The programme is designed for areas experiencing vulnerability, social tension, or challenges related to refugee-host community relations.
Core Objective
The main objective of the programme is to:
- Strengthen social cohesion and peaceful coexistence
- Improve integration of refugees and asylum-seekers
- Enhance community resilience in conflict-prone or vulnerable areas
- Reduce social tension between host and displaced populations
- Promote inclusive and safe community environments
Key Focus Areas
The initiative supports interventions in the following areas:
- Protection and community safety
- Social cohesion and peaceful coexistence
- Stakeholder engagement and coordination platforms
- Conflict prevention and early response mechanisms
- Communication and information-sharing systems
- Cultural tolerance and inclusion
- Awareness of refugee rights and responsibilities
- Economic opportunity building and livelihoods
- Skills development and vocational training
- Community capacity strengthening
Expected Results and Outcomes
The programme aims to achieve:
- Improved peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities
- Strengthened engagement between local stakeholders
- Increased safety in identified hotspot areas
- Enhanced mutual trust and cultural understanding
- Better coordination mechanisms for managing community tensions
- Improved access to security-related and community information
- Increased awareness of rights and responsibilities among refugees
- Expanded access to economic opportunities for affected populations
- Stronger collaboration between institutions and community actors
Eligible Activities
The grant supports a wide range of community-based and institutional activities, including:
Conflict Prevention and Analysis
- Security mapping and hotspot analysis
- Identification of community tension areas
- Risk and vulnerability assessments
Community Engagement
- Formation of community support groups
- Development of community peacebuilding plans
- Dialogue and mediation sessions between groups
Stakeholder Coordination
- Engagement with local authorities and institutions
- Collaboration with schools, health services, and law enforcement
- Civil society coordination mechanisms
Awareness and Capacity Building
- Cultural tolerance and awareness campaigns
- Rights education for refugees and asylum-seekers
- Community sensitization events
- Workshops on social cohesion and inclusion
Training and Tools Development
- Development of dialogue facilitation manuals
- Training programmes for community leaders
- Capacity-building tools for communication and mediation
- Economic empowerment and skills development initiatives
Indicative Budget
- Total indicative budget: 60,473.00000 (as stated in the call)
- Funding is allocated based on project relevance, feasibility, and impact potential
Key Implementation Approach
The programme emphasizes:
- Community-led participation and inclusion
- Multi-stakeholder coordination
- Data-driven conflict and needs analysis
- Preventive rather than reactive interventions
- Integration of protection and development approaches
- Local ownership of peacebuilding processes
Target Groups
The initiative focuses on:
- Refugees
- Asylum-seekers
- Host community members
- Local leaders and institutions
- Civil society organizations
- Service providers such as schools, health facilities, and law enforcement
Evaluation Considerations
Applications are assessed based on:
- Relevance to social cohesion and protection objectives
- Strength of community engagement approach
- Feasibility and clarity of implementation plan
- Expected impact on peace and coexistence
- Stakeholder coordination strategy
- Sustainability of outcomes
- Alignment with UNHCR priorities
Why This Programme Matters
This UNHCR initiative is important because it:
- Reduces social tensions between displaced and host communities
- Strengthens community resilience in vulnerable regions
- Promotes inclusion and human rights awareness
- Builds trust between communities and institutions
- Enhances safety and stability in hotspot areas
- Supports long-term peaceful integration processes
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the UNHCR grant in South Africa about?
- It supports projects that promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between refugees, asylum-seekers, and host communities.
- Who can benefit from this programme?
- Refugees, asylum-seekers, and host community members in selected regions of South Africa.
- What are the main focus areas?
- Protection, social cohesion, stakeholder engagement, conflict prevention, and economic empowerment.
- What types of activities are funded?
- Dialogue sessions, community peace plans, training workshops, awareness campaigns, and coordination platforms.
- What is the goal of the programme?
- To improve peaceful coexistence and strengthen community resilience in areas affected by tension.
- Does the programme include economic support?
- Yes, it includes skills development and economic opportunity-building initiatives.
- What is the expected outcome?
- Improved trust, reduced conflict, stronger community coordination, and better integration of refugees and host communities.
Conclusion
The UNHCR social cohesion grant in South Africa aims to build peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities by strengthening cooperation between refugees and host populations. Through dialogue, capacity building, and coordinated community action, the programme supports long-term stability, mutual understanding, and improved social integration in vulnerable regions.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.