Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting applications to support refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and forcibly displaced populations in Bolivia. The call focuses on protection services, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions such as integration, livelihoods, and voluntary return, especially for Venezuelan nationals. It aims to address urgent needs along transit corridors while strengthening national systems, legal access, and community-based responses.
UNHCR Bolivia Multi-Country Context
The UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Argentina covers Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, with Bolivia functioning primarily as a transit country for mixed migration flows. The country is part of key Andean and Amazonian migration corridors where displaced populations move under vulnerable and often unstable conditions. These routes require continuous monitoring and rapid humanitarian response due to limited institutional presence in remote areas.
Purpose of the Call
The call aims to strengthen protection systems and deliver humanitarian assistance to displaced populations while supporting long-term durable solutions. It also focuses on improving coordination among government institutions, humanitarian actors, and civil society organisations. The intervention prioritises timely responses to protection risks and improved access to essential services for vulnerable groups.
Target Population
The programme supports:
- Refugees and asylum-seekers
- Forcibly displaced persons
- Stateless individuals
- Mixed migration flows passing through Bolivia
- Venezuelan nationals seeking voluntary return
Special attention is given to:
- Women and girls at risk
- Children and adolescents (especially unaccompanied or separated minors)
- LGBTQI+ individuals
- Individuals with specific protection needs
Key Protection Challenges in Bolivia
- Limited access to asylum procedures at border points
- Centralised processing in La Paz, restricting access for remote populations
- Weak migration pathways increasing exposure to irregular status risks
- Gender-based violence, exploitation, and revictimisation during transit
- Child protection gaps, especially for undocumented or separated minors
- Discrimination and limited social inclusion for displaced populations
- Institutional capacity constraints in protection service delivery
Thematic Areas of the Call
Protection
- Strengthening asylum systems and legal pathways for stay
- Monitoring mixed migration flows along transit routes
- Providing legal orientation and assistance
- Supporting individuals with specific protection needs
- Advocacy for improved protection frameworks
- Capacity-building for government and key stakeholders
Humanitarian Assistance
- Emergency accommodation support
- Food assistance programmes
- Provision of essential non-food items
- Cash-based or in-kind support for basic needs
- Rapid response services in transit and border areas
Durable Solutions
- Local integration support for displaced populations
- Socioeconomic inclusion and community participation
- Livelihood development and income-generation support
- Recognition of skills and qualifications
- Voluntary return support, especially for Venezuelan nationals
- Coordination of return and reintegration assistance
Operational Context and Needs
Bolivia acts as a key transit corridor where displaced populations move in multidirectional flows, often under precarious conditions. Many individuals face limited access to documentation, legal status, and essential services. Economic informality, weak institutional coverage, and restricted public services further increase vulnerability. These conditions require route-based humanitarian interventions and coordinated multi-actor responses.
Estimated Impact
Subject to funding availability, approximately 22,300 individuals are expected to receive assistance in Bolivia in 2027 under this framework.
How the Programme Works
- UNHCR issues call for proposals for implementing partners
- Organisations submit project proposals aligned with thematic areas
- Proposals are evaluated based on protection impact, feasibility, and alignment with UNHCR priorities
- Selected partners implement activities in coordination with UNHCR and government counterparts
- Monitoring and reporting ensure accountability and results tracking
- Interventions focus on both immediate assistance and long-term solutions
Key Implementation Priorities
- Route-based protection monitoring along migration corridors
- Strengthening access to legal identity and asylum procedures
- Expanding emergency humanitarian response capacity
- Improving coordination among institutions and humanitarian actors
- Supporting inclusive socioeconomic integration pathways
- Enhancing child protection and gender-based violence response systems
Common Implementation Challenges
- Limited access to remote border regions
- Under-resourced protection systems
- High mobility of target populations
- Documentation gaps among migrants and refugees
- Funding constraints affecting service continuity
- Barriers to formal employment and legal migration pathways
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the UNHCR Bolivia call for proposals?
- It is a funding initiative to support protection, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions for displaced populations in Bolivia.
- Who is the main target population?
- Refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and forcibly displaced individuals, especially Venezuelan nationals in transit or seeking return.
- What are the main thematic areas?
- Protection services, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions including integration and voluntary return.
- What types of activities are funded?
- Legal aid, shelter, food assistance, monitoring migration flows, livelihood support, and capacity-building programmes.
- Why is Bolivia a priority location?
- Because it serves as a key transit corridor for mixed migration flows with limited institutional capacity in remote areas.
- How many people are expected to benefit?
- Approximately 22,300 individuals in 2027, subject to available resources.
- What are durable solutions in this context?
- Long-term strategies such as local integration, livelihoods, and voluntary return to countries of origin.
Conclusion
The UNHCR Bolivia call for proposals is a comprehensive humanitarian initiative addressing urgent protection needs and long-term solutions for displaced populations. It strengthens legal access, humanitarian response systems, and socioeconomic inclusion while focusing on vulnerable groups moving through high-risk transit corridors. The programme combines immediate relief with sustainable integration and return pathways to improve outcomes for affected populations.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.