Call for EOIs: AMI 02 – Formation Professionnelle Qualifiante Travail in Central African Republic

Deadline: 27-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting eligible partner organisations to support vocational training, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for young people and women affected by displacement, return and refugee situations in the Central African Republic (CAR). The programme will promote market-oriented skills, self-reliance, employment and peaceful coexistence among displaced people, returnees, refugees and host communities.

About the UNHCR Vocational Training and Employment Programme

The opportunity aims to strengthen the economic inclusion and self-reliance of vulnerable populations by connecting vocational education and training with actual labour-market opportunities. The programme will support young people and women affected by displacement, return and refugee situations, as well as members of host communities. Activities should help participants acquire practical skills, obtain relevant certifications and move towards employment or sustainable self-employment.

The programme will be implemented in:

- Bamingui-Bangoran - Ouaka - Nana-Mambéré The approach is expected to respond to local labour-market needs while incorporating protection, gender, inclusion, community participation and environmental sustainability. Key Focus Areas Applicants should develop activities around relevant livelihood and employment priorities, including: - Livelihood development and self-reliance - Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) - Market-oriented vocational training - Locally relevant professional certification - Entrepreneurship development - Employment and self-employment - Start-up support and business development - Refresher training - Pre-employment placements - Business implementation and follow-up - Economic inclusion of displaced populations - Coexistence with host communities - Youth and women’s economic empowerment - Protection and inclusion - Community participation and accountability What Activities Will Be Supported? Market-Oriented Vocational Training Training should be selected according to the labour-market requirements of the target areas. Rather than providing generic skills training, partners are expected to identify fields that can create realistic employment or income-generating opportunities. Training may lead to certification in locally relevant occupations and should provide participants with practical skills that can be applied in employment or business activities. Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Support

Participants who are suited to self-employment may receive entrepreneurship support

This can include:

- Business development training - Entrepreneurship skills - Start-up kits - Support during business implementation - Follow-up and mentoring - Refresher training - Assistance in transitioning from training to income-generating activities Employment and Pre-Employment Opportunities The programme also seeks to strengthen pathways from vocational training to employment.

Partners may facilitate

- Pre-employment placements - Employment opportunities - Practical workplace experience - Links with local employers - Skills matching with labour-market demand - Follow-up after participants enter employment or self-employment Who Is Eligible? The opportunity is intended for eligible organisations that can demonstrate the technical, operational and financial capacity required to implement vocational training and livelihood activities in the Central African Republic.

Applicants should demonstrate:

- Relevant sector expertise and experience in vocational training, livelihoods, employment or self-reliance. - Experience working with young people, women, displaced populations, refugees, returnees or host communities. - Strong project management systems. - Sound financial management and accountability systems. - Local experience and presence in the proposed implementation areas. - Knowledge of protection principles. - Understanding of the Age, Gender and Diversity approach. - Meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless people. - Community engagement and accountability mechanisms. - Appropriate risk-management systems. - Ability to operate safely in the proposed locations. - Commitment to environmental sustainability. - Appropriate data protection and information-security measures where required. International organisations are encouraged to collaborate with local organisations. Consortium and Localisation Requirements Consortium applications must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each participating organisation. Where a consortium is proposed, the application should explain: - Which organisation will lead the partnership. - Responsibilities assigned to each member. - Complementary technical expertise. - Local implementation responsibilities. - Capacity-strengthening arrangements. - How responsibilities will progressively be transferred to national and local organisations. - A two- to three-year capacity-strengthening and activity-transfer plan. Localisation is particularly important because it carries the highest individual weighting among the stated selection criteria. Selection Criteria UNHCR will assess applications against several criteria. - Sector expertise and experience – 20% - Project management – 10% - Local experience and presence – 10% - Cost effectiveness – 10% - Accountability to communities and community relations – 10% - Access and security considerations – 10% - Localisation – 30% Applicants should therefore demonstrate more than technical expertise. Strong applications should show how the organisation can operate effectively in the target locations, engage communities, manage resources responsibly and strengthen local organisational capacity. Protection, Inclusion and Community Participation Protection considerations should be integrated throughout implementation. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of: - Protection principles - Age, Gender and Diversity consi