UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund

The Refugee-led Innovation Fund champions the creativity of displaced and stateless people. It aims to reshape their participation in humanitarian work by ensuring they lead the identification of needs and the design of innovative solutions that affect their lives.

📝 About the UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund

The Fund provides holistic support—combining financial resources, mentoring, and other expertise—directly to organizations led by forcibly displaced and stateless people. This enables them to design and deliver new interventions that have a lasting positive impact on their communities.

Opportunity Details:

• Date Published: July 22, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 22, 2025
• Category: Entrepreneurs, Grants
• Sponsor Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

🎁 Benefits of the UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund

Selected organizations can expect the following:

• Financial Support:
  Organizations can apply for up to $45,000 USD (or equivalent in local currency) to test and implement ideas with strong community-based approaches.

• Programme and Project Management Support:
  Assistance from UNHCR and experts to build capacity for effective program design and implementation.

• Technical Support and Expertise:
  Needs-based specialist advice on topics such as technology, legal support, and innovation methodologies.

• Peer-to-Peer Networking:
  Opportunities to engage with other supported organizations, share experiences, and explore partnerships.

• Emphasis on Learning:
  Support to measure outcomes, assess progress, and gather information for growth. Organizations will be encouraged to document and share learnings, incorporating community feedback.

Additional support may include:

• Organizational support
• Project sustainability and scaling assistance
• Training on specific topics
• Business model advice
• Media and communications support

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The Fund supports innovation by organizations led by individuals with lived experiences of forced displacement or statelessness. Key requirements include:

1. Leadership by Displaced or Stateless Individuals:
   Organizations must be led by refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, or stateless individuals recognized for their contributions within their communities.

2. Team Applications Only:
   Applicants must apply as a team representing an existing organization with a collective structure. Individual applications are not eligible.

3. Registered or Unregistered Organizations:
   Both registered and unregistered organizations are eligible, provided they are well-known in their communities for past contributions.

4. Focus on Underrepresented Groups:
   Special attention will be given to organizations led by:

   • LGBTIQ+ persons
   • Women
   • People with disabilities
   • Internally displaced and stateless individuals
   • Indigenous populations

📅 Application Process

Each year, the Fund launches a call for applications. Organizations are invited to submit proposals outlining:

• The challenge they aim to address
• Their proposed solution
• A budget
• Expected community impact

2025 Application Deadline:

August 22, 2025

Selection Process:

The application process involves four phases:

1. Proposal Longlisting:
   The Innovation Service reviews submissions and identifies a longlist of promising applications.

2. Vetting and Due Diligence:
   Longlisted organizations undergo a thorough vetting process to confirm eligibility.

   • At least 50% of the leadership must consist of individuals with lived experiences of forced displacement or statelessness.
   • Supporting documentation is required.

3. Pitch Your Idea:
   Eligible organizations pitch their ideas to a selection committee, which includes members of the UNHCR Innovation Service and relevant UNHCR Country Operations and Regional Bureaus.

4. Final Selection:
   Shortlisted proposals are reviewed by the Fund's Steering Committee, which includes forcibly displaced and stateless individuals, UNHCR representatives, and donor representatives. The most promising ideas are endorsed.

📌 Key Dates

• Application Deadline: August 22, 2025

🌐 Application Portal

For more details and to apply, visit the official UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund page:
UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund

Apply directly here:
Apply Now

This opportunity is a significant step toward empowering displaced and stateless individuals to lead innovative solutions for their communities. Don't miss the chance to make a difference! 🌟

• Financial support: Organizations can apply for up to $45,000 USD (equivalent in local currency) in funding to test and implement ideas with strong community-based approaches that generate value for community members, not specifically linked to any thematic area or technology.
• Programme and project management support: Supported organizations will receive assistance from UNHCR and experts to help build their capacity to design and implement programmes effectively.
• Technical support and expertise: Needs-based specialist advice will be offered, on topics ranging from technology to legal support and innovation methodologies.
• Peer-to-peer networking: Supported organizations will be encouraged to engage with each other, share experiences, learn from each other, and explore partnerships.
• An emphasis on learning: Support will be provided to enable supported organizations to measure outcomes, assess their progress, and gather information to support growth. They will be encouraged to document, share, and make use of relevant learnings. Discussion and reflection with their communities will enable them to incorporate and respond to feedback.