Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
The UNHCR Call for Expressions of Interest in Paraguay seeks partners to strengthen protection, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. The initiative focuses on legal assistance, asylum system strengthening, basic needs support, labour market inclusion, local integration, and voluntary return processes, particularly for vulnerable displaced populations and Venezuelan nationals.
UNHCR Paraguay Call for Proposals: Support Protection, Humanitarian Assistance and Durable Solutions for Refugees and Stateless Persons
Overview
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting applications from eligible organizations to support refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other people in need of international protection in Paraguay.
The initiative aims to strengthen protection systems, improve access to essential services, expand livelihood opportunities, and support durable solutions such as local integration and voluntary return. Through partnerships with civil society organizations, government institutions, and humanitarian actors, UNHCR seeks to enhance the protection environment and promote sustainable inclusion of displaced populations.
Program Objectives
The program supports activities that improve the protection and wellbeing of displaced and stateless populations while strengthening national systems and institutional capacities.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening refugee and statelessness protection systems
- Improving access to legal assistance and documentation
- Supporting humanitarian assistance and basic needs
- Enhancing labour market access and economic inclusion
- Promoting local integration and self-reliance
- Supporting safe, voluntary, and dignified return processes
- Strengthening coordination among protection stakeholders
- Improving access to social protection mechanisms
Focus Areas
1. Protection and Legal Assistance
The protection component aims to strengthen access to rights and legal protection through:
- Protection monitoring of mixed migration flows
- Legal orientation and counselling
- Legal assistance and representation
- Case management services
- Advocacy for refugee and stateless rights
- Capacity building for government institutions
- Strengthening asylum and protection procedures
- Institutional support for refugee status determination systems
2. Humanitarian Assistance
The humanitarian assistance component focuses on addressing urgent needs through:
- Temporary accommodation support
- Food assistance
- Basic household necessities
- Emergency relief services
- Cash-based assistance programs
- Protection-sensitive humanitarian interventions
3. Durable Solutions and Inclusion
The durable solutions component seeks to support long-term inclusion and self-reliance through:
- Local integration initiatives
- Labour market access programs
- Livelihood development activities
- Economic inclusion support
- Social inclusion measures
- Community integration efforts
- Voluntary return assistance
- Reintegration support mechanisms
Country Context in Paraguay
Paraguay has developed a legal and institutional framework that supports refugee and statelessness protection.
Key Legal Frameworks
Refugee Law No. 1938 (2002)
This law established the National Commission for Refugees (CONARE) as the authority responsible for:
- Refugee status determination
- Protection procedures
- Durable solutions for refugees
Law No. 6.149 (2018)
This legislation established procedures for:
- Statelessness determination
- Protection of stateless persons
- Recognition and documentation processes
Migration Law No. 6984 (2022)
The migration framework strengthens:
- Human rights protections
- Migrant protection principles
- Access to legal migration pathways
Institutional Partnerships
UNHCR works closely with several national institutions, including:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Interior
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security
- Ministry of Justice
- Public Defender’s Office
- CONARE
These partnerships help strengthen refugee protection, documentation processes, and access to services.
Key Challenges Facing Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Paraguay
Access to Employment
One of the most significant challenges is labour market inclusion.
Barriers include:
- Difficulty obtaining tax registration (RUC)
- Challenges accessing IPS registration
- Limited employer recognition of CONARE-issued documents
- High levels of informal employment
- Limited access to social protection systems
These challenges often prevent displaced persons from securing stable employment and achieving long-term self-reliance.
Access to Services
Refugees and asylum seekers may face obstacles in accessing:
- Public services
- Social assistance programs
- Formal employment opportunities
- Financial services
- Legal documentation systems
Voluntary Return Considerations
An increasing number of displaced persons, particularly Venezuelan nationals, are considering voluntary return.
Key challenges include:
- Limited access to reliable information
- Insufficient preparedness mechanisms
- Lack of coordinated return support systems
- Need for protection-sensitive return planning
Who Is Eligible?
Organizations working in refugee protection, humanitarian assistance, legal aid, inclusion, and durable solutions may be eligible to participate.
Potential applicants typically include:
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
- Civil society organizations
- Refugee-serving organizations
- Humanitarian agencies
- Community-based organizations
- Legal aid providers
- Organizations specializing in labour inclusion and livelihoods
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Relevant technical expertise
- Capacity to implement protection-focused programs
- Experience working with displaced populations
- Ability to coordinate with government institutions and humanitarian actors
Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Improve access to asylum procedures
- Strengthen legal protection services
- Enhance institutional capacities
- Address basic humanitarian needs
- Promote economic inclusion and livelihoods
- Support labour market participation
- Expand local integration opportunities
- Strengthen voluntary return mechanisms
- Foster coordination among protection actors
Why This Initiative Matters
Paraguay continues to strengthen its protection framework for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. However, socioeconomic barriers, documentation challenges, and labour market exclusion continue to affect many displaced populations.
This initiative helps address these gaps by:
- Expanding access to rights and services
- Strengthening protection institutions
- Supporting sustainable livelihoods
- Promoting social and economic inclusion
- Ensuring protection-centered voluntary return processes
- Building stronger national protection systems
How the Program Works
Step 1: Partnership Application
Eligible organizations submit proposals aligned with UNHCR priorities.
Step 2: Technical Assessment
Applications are reviewed based on:
- Organizational capacity
- Technical expertise
- Proposed activities
- Expected impact
- Alignment with UNHCR objectives
Step 3: Partner Selection
Selected organizations enter into partnership arrangements with UNHCR.
Step 4: Program Implementation
Partners implement activities across protection, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions.
Step 5: Monitoring and Reporting
Organizations monitor outcomes and report progress against agreed objectives and indicators.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Organizations should avoid:
- Submitting proposals without clear protection outcomes
- Failing to demonstrate experience with displaced populations
- Weak coordination strategies
- Limited sustainability planning
- Insufficient labour market inclusion approaches
- Lack of measurable indicators
- Inadequate consideration of voluntary return safeguards
Tips for Strong Applications
- Demonstrate expertise in refugee protection.
- Include measurable outcomes and indicators.
- Show experience coordinating with government agencies.
- Incorporate economic inclusion and livelihoods components.
- Address documentation and legal access challenges.
- Present sustainable and scalable solutions.
- Include protection safeguards in all activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main goal of this UNHCR initiative?
The initiative aims to strengthen protection, humanitarian assistance, inclusion, and durable solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons in Paraguay.
2. What activities can be supported?
Activities may include legal assistance, protection monitoring, humanitarian aid, labour market inclusion, local integration programs, and voluntary return support.
3. Who are the target beneficiaries?
Refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, and other individuals in need of international protection living in Paraguay.
4. Why is labour market access a priority?
Many displaced persons face documentation barriers that prevent access to formal employment, increasing dependence on informal work and limiting economic integration.
5. What is meant by durable solutions?
Durable solutions are long-term approaches that help displaced people achieve stability through local integration, voluntary return, reintegration, or other sustainable pathways.
6. Does the initiative support Venezuelan nationals?
Yes. Particular attention is given to Venezuelan nationals, including support for integration and voluntary return planning where appropriate.
7. How does UNHCR work with national institutions?
UNHCR collaborates with CONARE and various government ministries to strengthen asylum procedures, legal protection systems, and access to rights and services.
Conclusion
The UNHCR Paraguay initiative represents an important effort to strengthen refugee protection, humanitarian assistance, and durable solutions in the country. By supporting legal protection, basic needs assistance, labour market inclusion, and voluntary return mechanisms, the program aims to improve outcomes for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons while reinforcing Paraguay’s national protection framework and long-term inclusion efforts.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.