Call for EOIs: Comprehensive Protection, Reception, Assistance and Orientation Services (Sudan)

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Sudan is inviting organizations to submit expressions of interest to deliver integrated protection, reception, assistance, referral, and orientation services for forcibly displaced people, stateless persons, returnees, and host communities across Sudan. The partnership opportunity prioritizes organizations with strong protection expertise, local presence, operational capacity, and the ability to provide flexible, community-based, and survivor-centred services in complex humanitarian conditions.

UNHCR Sudan Protection Partnership: Overview

Sudan continues to experience a severe humanitarian and displacement crisis driven by conflict, population movements, weakened public services, restricted humanitarian access, and economic pressures. The UNHCR partnership seeks organizations capable of delivering coordinated protection services that respond to changing needs and can be expanded or adapted as the operational environment evolves. The call for expressions of interest is intended to identify capable organizations that can work with UNHCR to provide integrated protection and assistance services to populations affected by displacement and conflict. Rather than delivering isolated services, UNHCR encourages partners to develop integrated models that connect different protection and support mechanisms. This can help affected people access information, identify protection risks, receive appropriate assistance, and obtain referrals to specialized services through a coordinated system. Who Will Benefit From the Programme? The programme is intended to support several affected population groups across Sudan, including: Forcibly displaced persons. Internally displaced persons (IDPs). Refugees. Asylum-seekers and other people requiring international protection. The programme recognizes the psychological and emotional consequences of conflict, displacement, and loss. Mental health and psychosocial support can include: Community-based psychosocial activities. Identification of individuals requiring additional support. Psychological first-line assistance where appropriate. Referral to specialized mental health services. Community support mechanisms. Integration of psychosocial considerations into broader protection services. Community-Based Protection Community participation is an important element of the proposed approach. Organizations should work with communities to: Identify protection concerns. Strengthen local protection mechanisms. Improve access to information. Develop safe referral pathways. Increase community participation. Support vulnerable people through locally appropriate solutions. Reception, Assistance and Orientation Services Partners may also be expected to provide services that help newly displaced, returning, or otherwise affected populations understand available assistance and services.

These may include:

Reception services. Orientation and information. Initial identification of protection needs. Assistance with referrals. Information about available services. Support in navigating humanitarian and public service systems. Identification of urgent assistance needs. The objective is to ensure people receive timely, accurate, accessible, and understandable information. Integrated Service Delivery UNHCR encourages organizations to develop integrated protection packages rather than fragmented interventions. For example, an organization could establish a coordinated mechanism where: A protection concern is identified through community outreach. The individual’s immediate needs are assessed. The person receives relevant information and orientation. The case is referred to an appropriate service provider. Follow-up is provided where required. Protection trends are monitored and reported through appropriate mechanisms. Such systems can strengthen continuity of care and reduce the risk that vulnerable individuals are left without appropriate assistance. Who Is Eligible? Organizations seeking partnership should demonstrate the capacity to operate effectively in complex humanitarian environments.

Applicants should have:

Relevant technical expertise in protection. Demonstrated experience delivering humanitarian or protection services. Capacity to operate under challenging security conditions. Ability to manage humanitarian access constraints. Capacity to coordinate with UNHCR and relevant stakeholders. Localization and Local Organizations Localization is a significant component of the partnership approach. UNHCR encourages participation and capacity strengthening involving: National organizations. Local NGOs. Community-based organizations. Women-led organizations. Organizations led by forcibly displaced people. Other local actors with relevant protection expertise. Organizations that can strengthen the capacity of local actors and create sustainable community-based protection mechanisms may be particularly well positioned. Operational Capacity Requirements Because Sudan’s operating environment can change rapidly, partners should demonstrate operational agility and flexibility.

Organizations should be capable of:

Adjusting activities when humanitarian needs change. Scaling services when displacement increases. Working across difficult access environments. Maintaining service continuity during disruptions. Coordinating with humanitarian and government stakeholders. Maintaining accountability to affected populations. How to Prepare an Expression of Interest Organizations should build their submission around their actual operational strengths and the protection needs they are best equipped to address.

Step 1: Assess Organizational Eligibility

Confirm that your organization has the required: Legal and organizational status. Protection expertise. Relevant project experience. Local presence. Financial and management systems. Safeguarding and accountability mechanisms. Operational capacity.

Step 2: Define Your Protection Pac