RFAs: Strengthening Protection for Displaced Persons and Host Communities in Burkina Faso

Deadline: 27-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking qualified organizations in Burkina Faso to strengthen protection for forcibly displaced people, individuals at risk of statelessness, and host communities. The initiative focuses on integrated protection monitoring, gender-based violence prevention and response, child protection, case management, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and community-based protection mechanisms. The program is designed for organizations with proven experience working in complex humanitarian environments, particularly those with expertise in protection monitoring, community-based protection, gender-based violence, and case management. Applicants should have a strong local presence, established relationships with authorities and communities, and the operational capacity to work in hard-to-reach areas. What Is the UNHCR Burkina Faso Call for Expression of Interest? The UNHCR call seeks partners capable of implementing integrated protection interventions for vulnerable populations affected by displacement and humanitarian crises in Burkina Faso. The initiative aims to improve the protection environment for: - Refugees - Asylum seekers - Internally displaced persons (IDPs) - Returnees - People at risk of statelessness - Vulnerable migrants - Host communities - People with specific protection needs The intervention combines monitoring, prevention, referrals, case management, community engagement, and access to essential services.

Background: Displacement and Protection Challenges in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has experienced a multidimensional crisis since 2015 involving insecurity, humanitarian challenges, and large-scale forced displacement.

The crisis has resulted in:

- More than two million internally displaced persons - Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers - Increased pressure on basic services - Greater vulnerability among displaced populations - Significant pressure on host communities sharing limited resources Many refugees and asylum seekers in the country originate primarily from Mali. The humanitarian situation has also been complicated by security restrictions, logistical challenges, and reduced humanitarian presence resulting from funding constraints. Focus on Liptako and Soum The regions of Liptako and Soum are particularly important areas for the intervention. These regions serve as reception and transit areas for different groups of people on the move, including: - Asylum seekers - Refugees - Returnees - Vulnerable migrants - Internally displaced populations Protection organizations operating in these areas may face difficult access conditions and significant security and logistical challenges. The call therefore seeks organizations with the capacity to operate effectively in complex and hard-to-reach environments.

Objectives of the Intervention

The overall objective is to reinforce protection mechanisms for displaced and vulnerable populations while strengthening the ability of communities and local actors to respond to protection risks.

Key objectives include:

- Strengthening protection monitoring. - Improving identification of protection risks. - Preventing and responding to gender-based violence. - Strengthening child protection. - Preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse. - Improving case management. - Supporting people with specific needs. - Strengthening community-based protection mechanisms. - Improving access to multisectoral services. - Promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. - Supporting gender equality and inclusive participation. Protection Monitoring Protection monitoring will be an important component of the program. Partners will be expected to contribute to better collection and analysis of information concerning protection risks affecting displaced populations and host communities. Improved monitoring can help humanitarian actors: - Identify emerging protection concerns. - Understand risks affecting different population groups. - Detect vulnerable individuals at an early stage. - Strengthen referrals. - Support evidence-based humanitarian responses. - Improve coordination with relevant authorities and service providers. Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response The program places significant emphasis on preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV). Activities are expected to strengthen access to appropriate services for survivors while supporting prevention measures within affected communities.

The intervention will seek to improve:

- Early identification of survivors and people at risk - Referral mechanisms - Case management - Access to multisectoral services - Community awareness - Prevention of violence - Gender equality A survivor-centered and protection-focused approach will be important when implementing GBV-related activities. Child Protection Child protection is another key component of the proposed intervention. Partners will contribute to identifying children exposed to protection risks and facilitating appropriate support and referrals. The approach is intended to strengthen mechanisms that protect vulnerable children within displaced and host communities. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse The initiative also includes prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). Organizations will need to support safe and accountable mechanisms that help prevent exploitation and abuse and enable affected people to access appropriate reporting and response systems. Case Management Effective case management will help identify vulnerable individuals and connect them with appropriate protection and other services.

This can include:

- Identifying people at heightened risk - Assessing individual protection needs - Referring cases to relevant services - Following up on vulnerable individuals - Coordinating support across service providers Strong referral systems will be particularly important in areas where a