Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking partners in Uruguay to implement programs that strengthen protection, humanitarian assistance, inclusion, and durable solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and other people in need of international protection. The initiative prioritizes asylum system strengthening, legal assistance, humanitarian support, local integration, labor and educational inclusion, and voluntary return mechanisms.
The call responds to growing displacement challenges in Uruguay, increasing asylum applications, and the need for stronger national capacities to ensure access to protection, rights, and sustainable integration opportunities.
What is the UNHCR Uruguay Call for Proposals?
The UNHCR Uruguay Call for Proposals is an initiative designed to strengthen protection systems and support refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and vulnerable migrants through partnerships with civil society organizations, government institutions, and other stakeholders.
The program aims to improve access to legal protection, humanitarian assistance, social inclusion, economic participation, and long-term solutions for displaced populations living in Uruguay.
Program Objectives
The initiative seeks to:
- Strengthen refugee and asylum protection systems
- Improve access to legal assistance and representation
- Enhance humanitarian assistance mechanisms
- Support local integration and social inclusion
- Expand educational and employment opportunities
- Promote financial and digital inclusion
- Strengthen asylum system capacities
- Support durable solutions and legal pathways
- Facilitate voluntary return processes where appropriate
- Improve coordination among government and civil society actors
Key Focus Areas
1. Protection and Legal Assistance
Projects may support:
- Refugee status determination procedures
- Legal orientation and counseling
- Legal representation
- Case management services
- Protection monitoring
- Monitoring mixed migration movements
- Advocacy initiatives
- Institutional capacity strengthening
- Documentation support
- Access to rights and services
2. Humanitarian Assistance
Priority interventions include:
- Emergency accommodation support
- Food assistance
- Basic household necessities
- Cash-based assistance
- Emergency response services
- Protection-focused humanitarian support
3. Durable Solutions
The program supports:
- Local integration initiatives
- Reintegration programs
- Resettlement pathways
- Complementary admission pathways
- Voluntary return assistance
- Legal stay arrangements
- Citizenship pathways
- Long-term self-reliance programs
4. Economic and Social Inclusion
Projects may focus on:
- Employment access
- Self-employment opportunities
- Vocational training
- Financial inclusion
- Digital inclusion
- Social participation
- Community integration
- Entrepreneurship support
5. Educational Inclusion
Supported activities include:
- School enrollment assistance
- Educational access programs
- Skills development initiatives
- Academic integration support
- Youth-focused inclusion programs
Background and Context
Refugee Protection in Uruguay
Uruguay has established a strong legal framework for refugee and statelessness protection.
Refugee Protection Framework
Law 18.076 established the Refugee Commission (CORE), responsible for:
- Refugee status determination
- Durable solutions
- Access to fundamental rights
- Protection coordination
Statelessness Protection Framework
Law 19.682 created procedures for:
- Recognition of stateless persons
- Protection guarantees
- Access to legal status
- Rights-based assistance
Growing Protection Needs
Uruguay continues to receive increasing numbers of asylum applications.
As of December 2025:
- UNHCR worked with 51,347 people in Uruguay
- New asylum applications increased by 78% compared to 2024
- More than 40% of applications were submitted by Venezuelan nationals
- Most displaced populations reside in Montevideo, with additional concentrations in Canelones and Maldonado
These trends have increased pressure on national protection systems and support services.
Priority Challenges Identified
The call highlights several urgent needs:
Legal and Protection Needs
- Access to asylum procedures
- Documentation support
- Legal counseling
- Protection monitoring
- Institutional capacity strengthening
Socioeconomic Needs
- Employment opportunities
- Income generation
- Financial inclusion
- Skills development
- Social integration
Basic Needs
System Strengthening Needs
- Digital registration systems
- Case management modernization
- Interoperability of government databases
- Institutional sustainability
- Asylum system efficiency
Who Can Benefit?
The initiative is intended to support:
- Refugees
- Asylum-seekers
- Stateless persons
- Venezuelan migrants requiring protection
- Individuals in need of international protection
- Vulnerable displaced populations
- Host communities supporting integration efforts
Why This Initiative Matters
The call supports a comprehensive approach to displacement that combines immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term integration and protection strategies.
Key expected outcomes include:
- Stronger asylum systems
- Faster access to protection services
- Increased self-reliance among displaced populations
- Improved labor market participation
- Greater social cohesion
- Enhanced legal protection
- Better access to housing and basic services
- Sustainable durable solutions
How the Program Works
Step 1: Partnership Development
Organizations develop project proposals aligned with UNHCR priorities.
Step 2: Program Design
Projects should clearly demonstrate:
- Protection impact
- Beneficiary reach
- Sustainability
- Coordination mechanisms
- Monitoring and evaluation approaches
Step 3: Implementation
Selected partners implement activities focused on:
- Protection services
- Humanitarian assistance
- Inclusion programs
- Durable solutions
Step 4: Monitoring and Reporting
Projects are expected to:
- Track outcomes
- Measure impact
- Coordinate with relevant stakeholders
- Support evidence-based decision-making
Tips for Applicants
Organizations should:
- Align proposals with UNHCR protection priorities
- Demonstrate experience working with displaced populations
- Include measurable outcomes
- Build partnerships with local institutions
- Incorporate inclusion and protection principles
- Address both immediate and long-term needs
- Consider digital and innovative approaches where relevant
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on short-term assistance without integration pathways
- Lack of clear beneficiary targeting
- Weak coordination strategies
- Insufficient protection safeguards
- Limited monitoring and evaluation frameworks
- Failure to address sustainability
- Overlooking legal assistance components
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main objective of this UNHCR call?
The call aims to strengthen protection, humanitarian assistance, inclusion, and durable solutions for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and others requiring international protection in Uruguay.
2. What are the priority intervention areas?
Priority areas include protection services, legal assistance, humanitarian support, local integration, labor inclusion, educational access, resettlement, and voluntary return.
3. Why is asylum system strengthening a priority?
The significant increase in asylum applications has created pressure on existing systems, requiring improved procedures, digitalization, and institutional capacity.
4. Which populations are targeted?
The initiative supports refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, Venezuelan nationals with protection needs, and other displaced populations living in Uruguay.
5. What humanitarian assistance can be supported?
Projects may provide accommodation assistance, food support, essential items, cash assistance, and other basic needs interventions.
6. What are durable solutions?
Durable solutions include local integration, resettlement, citizenship pathways, legal stay arrangements, reintegration support, and voluntary return mechanisms.
7. Why is local integration important?
Local integration helps displaced persons achieve long-term self-reliance through employment, education, legal inclusion, financial access, and participation in community life.
Conclusion
The UNHCR Uruguay Call for Proposals represents an important opportunity to strengthen protection systems and improve the lives of refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and other vulnerable displaced populations. By supporting legal protection, humanitarian assistance, socioeconomic inclusion, and durable solutions, the initiative seeks to create a more sustainable and rights-based response to growing displacement challenges in Uruguay while strengthening national capacities and community resilience.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.