Open Call for Partnership for UNHCR Strategy in Serbia

Deadline: 09-Oct-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking NGO partners to support the implementation of its 2027–2030 strategy in Serbia, with a focus on refugee protection, legal assistance, refugee inclusion, and prevention of statelessness. The partnership opportunity is intended for organizations with the expertise and operational capacity to deliver protection and inclusion activities for refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless populations in Serbia.

About the UNHCR NGO Partnerships in Serbia

Serbia continues to serve as an important transit and host country for refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless people. Displaced and stateless populations continue to face challenges related to access to protection, legal documentation, asylum procedures, integration, and social inclusion. The operational environment is also influenced by changing arrival numbers, persistent vulnerabilities among displaced groups, and evolving legal and policy frameworks as Serbia progresses toward EU accession. While Serbia has a generally favorable legal environment, gaps remain in areas including asylum procedures, integration, and the prevention of statelessness, particularly for marginalized communities. What Is the 2027–2030 Strategy Focused On? UNHCR’s strategy in Serbia is structured around four main outcome areas.

These include:

- Ensuring access to territory and differentiated procedures for vulnerable individuals. - Supporting authorities to provide quality asylum decisions and legal assistance. - Aligning national legal and policy frameworks with international standards. - Promoting socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The strategy also emphasizes protection-sensitive border management, strengthening national institutional capacity, and working with civil society organizations to advance refugee inclusion and durable solutions. Areas of Work for NGO Partners Organizations may apply to support one or more areas of work under the UNHCR strategy.

Potential areas include:

- Information and counselling for people upon arrival. - Legal information and legal representation. - Data collection and advocacy for improved legislation. - Prevention and reduction of statelessness. - Targeted integration assistance for refugees. - Community outreach and engagement. - Protection monitoring. - Legal aid. - Support for birth registration and documentation. - Assistance with access to durable solutions. Support for Refugee Protection NGO partners may contribute to improving access to protection for refugees and other forcibly displaced populations. Activities may include providing information and counselling upon arrival, monitoring protection needs, conducting community outreach, and helping vulnerable individuals access appropriate procedures and services. Organizations can also support protection-sensitive approaches to border management and help identify individuals who require differentiated procedures. Legal Assistance and Documentation Legal assistance is an important component of the partnership opportunity.

Organizations may provide:

- Legal information. - Legal counselling. - Legal representation. - Assistance with documentation. - Support for birth registration. - Assistance related to asylum procedures. - Support for access to legal rights and services. These activities can help refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless individuals overcome barriers to protection and documentation. Prevention of Statelessness The strategy also places emphasis on preventing and reducing statelessness. NGO partners may support activities related to: - Identification of people at risk of statelessness. - Birth registration. - Access to identity and civil documentation. - Data collection. - Advocacy for improved legislation and policies. - Access to procedures that can help resolve statelessness. Organizations can contribute to strengthening systems that help marginalized populations obtain appropriate documentation and legal status. Refugee Inclusion and Self-Reliance UNHCR’s strategy aims to promote socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance among forcibly displaced and stateless people. NGO partners may provide targeted integration assistance and help refugees access services and opportunities that support longer-term inclusion. In exceptional cases, direct delivery of activities such as language classes, vocational training, or emergency support may be supported when gaps remain in national systems. Durable Solutions The partnership opportunity also supports activities that help forcibly displaced and stateless people access durable solutions.

These may include facilitating access to:

- Naturalization. - Permanent residency. - Legal documentation. - Other appropriate pathways toward durable solutions. Such activities are intended to help eligible individuals achieve more stable and sustainable outcomes. Community Engagement Community engagement is an important consideration in the selection of NGO partners. Organizations should demonstrate an understanding of the communities they intend to serve and show how their proposed activities respond to identified needs. Community outreach and participation can help ensure that protection and inclusion services remain accessible and responsive to vulnerable populations. Who Can Apply? The opportunity is intended for NGOs that have the legal status and authority required to operate in Serbia.

Eligible organizations must demonstrate:

- Legal status and authorization to operate in Serbia. - Relevant technical expertise. - Adequate operational capacity. - Ability to implement the proposed activities effectively. - Experience relevant to the areas of work being proposed. Organizations should ensure that their expertise and operational capacity correspond to the activities they propose to deliver. How Will Organizations Be Selected? UNHCR will ass