UNHCR Refugee-led Innovation Fund: Empowering Displaced Communities Through Innovation

The Refugee-led Innovation Fund is open for applications until 22 August 2025 at 23:59 Panama time. This unique opportunity supports organizations led by forcibly displaced or stateless people across all countries.

Vision and Purpose

The Refugee-led Innovation Fund promotes the creativity and leadership of displaced and stateless people by placing them at the forefront of humanitarian response. It seeks to transform how humanitarian programs are designed and delivered by giving displaced communities direct control over identifying needs and crafting innovative, community-driven solutions.

About the Fund

While displaced and stateless people lead impactful initiatives in their communities, they often lack access to flexible funding and critical support. The Refugee-led Innovation Fund addresses this gap by offering a community-centered model that provides direct financial and technical support to organizations led by those with lived experience of displacement or statelessness.

This approach ensures these communities are not merely participants but drivers of innovation.

Who Can Apply

The Fund is open to organizations led by people with lived experience of forced displacement or statelessness—including refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people, returnees, and stateless individuals.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Applications must be submitted by a team representing an existing organization with a collective structure.

• Both registered and unregistered organizations are eligible if they are well known in their communities for previous impactful work.

• Individual applicants are not eligible.

• Special attention will be given to applications from LGBTIQ+ persons, women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, stateless individuals, and other underrepresented groups.

What the Fund Offers

Organizations selected for support will receive:

• Funding of up to USD 45,000 (or local currency equivalent) for innovative, community-centered solutions. Proposals are not restricted to any specific technology or theme.

• Programme and project management support from UNHCR and expert advisors to strengthen project implementation.

• Technical assistance tailored to the needs of the project, including legal, tech, and innovation methodology guidance.

• Peer learning and networking opportunities with other refugee-led organizations.

• Learning and evaluation support to help measure impact, adjust strategies, and document lessons learned.

• Additional support such as training, business model development, organizational capacity building, and media outreach as needed.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the online platform. Proposals should detail the:

• Challenge being addressed

• Proposed solution

• Budget

• Expected outcomes in the community

Selection Process

1. Proposal Longlisting
   All submissions are reviewed, and promising proposals are longlisted.

2. Vetting and Due Diligence
   Longlisted applicants undergo eligibility checks, including verification that at least 50% of leadership have lived experience of displacement or statelessness.

3. Pitch Your Idea
   Eligible teams pitch their proposal to a committee of UNHCR Innovation Service staff and regional experts.

4. Final Selection
   The Steering Committee—composed of displaced and stateless individuals, UNHCR representatives, and donors—selects final recipients based on innovation potential and community impact.

Important Note

This fund supports innovative solutions, so projects must offer new or unique approaches to addressing challenges faced by displaced communities.

Applications are open until 22 August 2025.

For more information and answers to common questions, refer to the FAQ section on the official application platform.