The UNHCR Refugee-Led Innovation Fund is now open for applications, offering a life-changing chance to secure up to $45,000 in grant funding. This groundbreaking initiative by the UN Refugee Agency empowers forcibly displaced people by putting resources directly into their hands, supporting solutions designed and driven by the communities they serve.
This time-sensitive call is not just about funding—it’s about trust, leadership, and revolutionizing humanitarian support. By providing tailored support packages alongside financial backing, the UNHCR Innovation Service ensures selected organizations grow in capacity, visibility, and impact. Whether your group operates formally or informally, whether your project is tech-based or grassroots, this is your opportunity to transform your idea into action.
Backed by UNHCR’s Innovation Service and a network of global partners, the Refugee-Led Innovation Fund recognizes the untapped potential of displaced communities and offers a bold, inclusive model of humanitarian innovation. If your organization is led by people with lived experience of displacement or statelessness, this is the moment to act fast and apply. Selected organizations receive a comprehensive support package, including technical mentorship, peer learning, project management coaching, and organizational development resources—on top of the grant itself.
You don’t need a high-tech invention or massive infrastructure—just a powerful idea rooted in your community’s needs and realities. The Refugee-Led Innovation Fund redefines what innovation means by focusing on local adaptation, community-driven design, and contextual impact. Don’t wait—this exclusive opportunity closes soon.
Name of Organizer
UNHCR Innovation Service (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
1. Your organization must be led by individuals with lived experience of forced displacement (refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, or stateless individuals).
2. At least 50% of the leadership team must consist of displaced or stateless individuals.
3. Your organization may be formal (registered) or informal (recognized within the community but not legally registered).
4. Applicants must submit one project idea per application—multiple ideas require separate submissions.
5. The project must be rooted in community needs and designed by the organization itself.
6. Applications are welcome from all regions and countries; there are no geographic restrictions.
7. The project must demonstrate local ownership and the potential for sustainable impact.
8. Organizations must be available to participate in mentorship, training, and peer-to-peer learning sessions.
9. Previous applicants may reapply with improved or revised proposals.
10. Organizations must commit to reporting and documenting learning outcomes throughout the implementation period.
Successful applicants will receive up to USD 45,000 in grant funding. This includes full financial support to implement the project and access to a comprehensive support package, including technical guidance, organizational development assistance, monitoring and evaluation tools, and peer-learning opportunities.
The fund is not just monetary—it’s a transformational support model aimed at building capacity, fostering leadership, and enabling long-term resilience and sustainability within refugee-led organizations. This holistic backing ensures that even grassroots and under-resourced groups have a fair and powerful chance to succeed and scale their ideas.
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