Call for EOIs: Partnership in support of the operational delivery for UNHCR Strategy in Croatia

Deadline: 09-Oct-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking NGO partners in Croatia to support the operational delivery of its 2027–2030 strategy, with a focus on protection, legal assistance, statelessness prevention, and inclusion of refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons. Croatia is both a transit and destination country for people seeking protection, with migration patterns influenced by the Western Balkans route and the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The country also hosts a significant population of refugees from Ukraine under temporary protection and stateless individuals facing challenges related to documentation and access to rights.

About the UNHCR Partnership Opportunity

UNHCR’s 2027–2030 strategy in Croatia seeks to strengthen protection-sensitive approaches and improve access to legal and procedural safeguards for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The strategy also focuses on socio-economic inclusion and strengthening national and local systems that support refugees and other people in need of international protection.

Key areas include:

- Protection monitoring. - Capacity development. - Advocacy. - Legal and policy development. - Procedural safeguards. - Socio-economic inclusion. - Statelessness prevention and reduction. - Data collection and analysis. - Engagement with national and local stakeholders. Refugee and Migration Context in Croatia Croatia’s role along the Western Balkans route has contributed to evolving migration dynamics. The country is also a destination for refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons. Croatia currently hosts a significant population of Ukrainian refugees under temporary protection. Stateless individuals may face specific challenges involving documentation and access to rights. At the same time, demographic decline and labour shortages can create opportunities for greater refugee participation in Croatian society. National and local initiatives are increasingly supporting refugee integration and participation. Protection and Legal Assistance The strategy places strong emphasis on ensuring that refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons can access information, legal counselling, procedural safeguards, and effective remedies. Partners are expected to help people understand their rights and available procedures while ensuring that those with specific needs can be appropriately identified and referred for assistance.

Priority activities include:

- Providing clear and accessible information to new arrivals. - Providing free and quality legal counselling. - Identifying people with specific needs. - Strengthening referral mechanisms. - Supporting procedural safeguards. - Promoting access to effective remedies. Statelessness Prevention and Reduction Statelessness prevention and reduction are important components of the UNHCR strategy. Partners will be expected to support activities that address challenges faced by stateless persons, particularly those involving documentation and access to rights.

Relevant activities may include:

- Statelessness prevention. - Statelessness reduction. - Data collection. - Legislative analysis. - Legal and policy advocacy. - Engagement with judicial stakeholders. Data Collection and Advocacy Partner organisations are expected to contribute to evidence-based advocacy and improvements to legal and policy frameworks. This includes experience and activities related to: - Data collection. - Policy analysis. - Legislative analysis. - Advocacy. - Engagement with national stakeholders. - Judicial engagement. The objective is to support improvements in legislation and policy in line with international standards. Integration Assistance for Refugees The strategy also promotes socio-economic inclusion and targeted integration assistance for refugees facing barriers to participation in Croatian society.

Partners may support refugees in accessing

- Employment. - Education. - Legal status. - Other relevant integration assistance. The approach recognises the role that refugee inclusion can play in responding to local demographic and labour-market challenges while supporting refugees’ participation in society. Who Can Apply? The partnership opportunity is intended for NGOs with the legal and operational capacity to work in Croatia.

Eligible organisations must:

- Have legal registration at their headquarters. - Have authority to operate in Croatia. - Be able to hold a bank account in Croatia. - Have relevant expertise and operational capacity to deliver the proposed activities. Applicants should also demonstrate experience relevant to UNHCR’s strategic priorities in Croatia. Required Expertise and Experience Applicants should demonstrate expertise in areas including: - Croatian asylum law and related legislation. - Policy analysis. - Advocacy. - Data collection. - Legal counselling. - Engagement with national stakeholders. - Work with local communities. - Engagement with local institutions. Experience working directly with refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, communities, and relevant institutions will be important for organisations seeking to support the strategy’s implementation. National and Local Stakeholder Engagement Effective implementation requires cooperation with Croatian national and local stakeholders.

Partner organisations should have experience engaging with

- National authorities. - Local institutions. - Local communities. - Judicial stakeholders. - Other relevant stakeholders. This engagement can support advocacy, legal and policy development, referral mechanisms, and integration activities. Application Process Applications must be submitted through the UN Partner Portal. Applicants are required to complete and submit all required documentation and self-assessments through the portal. Only concept notes submitted through the UN Partner Portal will be accepted. Applicants should ensure that their submissions are complete and meet all