Apply Now: Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion for Displaced and Host Communities (Sudan)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is inviting NGOs and international NGOs to submit expressions of interest for livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions supporting forcibly displaced populations (FDPs) and host communities in Sudan. The initiative focuses on sustainable income opportunities, climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and local economic development, with particular attention to North Kordofan amid the ongoing crisis.

What Is the UNHCR Sudan Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Initiative?

UNHCR’s call aims to reduce economic vulnerability and dependency among displaced people and host communities affected by the conflict in Sudan.

The initiative promotes economic inclusion by helping forcibly displaced populations participate more effectively in local markets and livelihoods while also strengthening opportunities for host communities.

The overall approach seeks to:

• Improve access to sustainable livelihoods.
• Promote self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• Strengthen local markets.
• Support climate-resilient economic activities.
• Improve access to financial services.
• Support small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Create opportunities for displaced people and host communities to generate income.
• Strengthen peaceful coexistence through shared economic opportunities.

Why It Matters

Sudan’s ongoing conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods, markets, employment, agricultural production, and access to financial services.

For refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities, limited access to economic opportunities can increase poverty and dependence on humanitarian assistance.

UNHCR’s approach links humanitarian support with longer-term economic inclusion.

The program is intended to help communities move toward:

• Greater economic self-reliance.
• Increased household income.
• Stronger local businesses.
• More resilient agricultural systems.
• Improved access to finance.
• Inclusive participation in local economies.
• Greater community stability and peaceful coexistence.

Who Are the Target Beneficiaries?

The initiative focuses on forcibly displaced populations and host communities in Sudan.

Potential beneficiary groups include:

• Refugees.
• Asylum-seekers.
• Internally displaced persons.
• Host-community members.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Forcibly displaced persons-led organizations (FDPLOs).
• Entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals.
• Small-scale farmers, livestock producers, and fishers.

The approach recognizes that economic inclusion can benefit both displaced populations and the communities hosting them.

Key Priority Areas

Self-Employment and Market-Based Entrepreneurship

Organizations may support displaced people and host communities in accessing self-employment and viable market opportunities.

Potential activities can include:

• Entrepreneurship development.
• Business skills training.
• Market-oriented livelihood support.
• Business development services.
• Support for microenterprises.
• Connections to buyers and markets.
• Assistance with business planning.

The emphasis should be on sustainable economic activity rather than short-term income generation alone.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Climate-smart livelihood pathways are another major priority.

Supported approaches may involve:

• Crop production.
• Livestock production.
• Fisheries.
• Climate-resilient agricultural practices.
• Improved production techniques.
• Market linkages.
• Diversification of agricultural livelihoods.

Climate-smart approaches are particularly relevant where communities depend heavily on natural resources and agriculture while facing climate and conflict-related shocks.

Financial Inclusion

The initiative also seeks to improve access to financial services.

Potential interventions may help eligible beneficiaries connect with:

• Financial institutions.
• Savings mechanisms.
• Appropriate financial products.
• Business finance.
• Market-based financial services.

Improving financial access can help entrepreneurs and households invest in productive activities and strengthen their economic resilience.

Support for SMEs and FDP-Led Organizations

UNHCR also highlights support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and forcibly displaced persons-led organizations (FDPLOs).

Micro start-up grants may be provided, including through cash-based interventions, to help stimulate local economic activity.

Such support can potentially help organizations and businesses:

• Start or expand economic activities.
• Purchase essential productive assets.
• Increase local market participation.
• Create income opportunities.
• Strengthen supply chains.
• Contribute to local economic recovery.

Creating an Enabling Economic Environment

The initiative is not limited to direct beneficiary support.

It also seeks to create an environment where livelihoods can become more sustainable through engagement with key institutions.

Relevant stakeholders may include:

• Government authorities.
• Financial institutions.
• Private-sector businesses.
• Market actors.
• Local organizations.
• Community structures.
• Other development and humanitarian partners.

This systems-level approach can help address barriers that prevent displaced people and host communities from participating fully in the economy.

Who Is Eligible?

The call is aimed at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) with the capacity to implement livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions in Sudan.

Eligible organizations should be able to demonstrate capacity to:

• Work with forcibly displaced populations.
• Engage host communities.
• Implement livelihoods programming.
• Support economic inclusion.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders.
• Mobilize resources.
• Operate effectively in the Sudanese context.
• Deliver interventions targeting vulnerable populations.

Organizations should also have relevant technical, operational, financial, and partnership capabilities appropriate to the proposed intervention.

Geographic Focus

The initiative focuses on Sudan, with particular attention to North Kordofan.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate a strong understanding of the local economic environment, displacement situation, market conditions, livelihood opportunities, and operational challenges in their proposed areas of intervention.

How the Program Works

The intervention is designed around several interconnected components:

1. Identify vulnerable populations: Reach refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, and host communities facing economic vulnerability.
2. Assess livelihood opportunities: Identify viable market-based opportunities appropriate to local conditions.
3. Support entrepreneurship: Facilitate self-employment and business development.
4. Strengthen climate resilience: Promote climate-smart agriculture and diversified livelihoods.
5. Improve financial access: Connect beneficiaries and businesses with appropriate financial services.
6. Provide targeted start-up support: Support SMEs and FDP-led organizations through mechanisms such as micro start-up grants and cash-based interventions.
7. Build partnerships: Work with government, financial institutions, private-sector actors, and other stakeholders.
8. Promote sustainable inclusion: Ensure interventions contribute to longer-term economic participation rather than temporary assistance alone.

How to Prepare an Expression of Interest

Organizations interested in responding should develop an expression of interest that clearly demonstrates their capacity and proposed approach.

1. Confirm Organizational Eligibility

Verify that the organization:

• Is an eligible NGO or INGO.
• Has relevant operational capacity in Sudan.
• Can work with displaced and host populations.
• Has experience implementing livelihoods or economic inclusion programs.
• Can coordinate with government and other stakeholders.

2. Define the Economic Problem

Explain the specific barriers facing target communities.

These could include:

• Lack of employment.
• Limited access to markets.
• Insufficient access to finance.
• Loss of productive assets.
• Agricultural disruption.
• Climate-related livelihood risks.
• Barriers faced by displaced entrepreneurs.

3. Present a Market-Based Solution

The proposed intervention should be connected to actual economic opportunities.

Applicants should explain:

• Which sectors will be supported.
• Who the target beneficiaries are.
• What market opportunities exist.
• How beneficiaries will generate sustainable income.
• How the intervention will avoid creating dependency.

4. Explain the Partnership Strategy

Describe how the organization will work with:

• Government authorities.
• Financial institutions.
• Private companies.
• Market actors.
• Community organizations.
• Displaced-led organizations.

5. Demonstrate Operational Capacity

Show evidence of the organization’s:

• Technical expertise.
• Local presence.
• Staffing capacity.
• Financial management systems.
• Monitoring and evaluation capabilities.
• Coordination experience.
• Safeguarding and accountability systems.

6. Explain Sustainability

A strong proposal should demonstrate how beneficiaries can continue generating income after direct project support ends.

Sustainability could involve:

• Market linkages.
• Business development.
• Access to finance.
• Agricultural value chains.
• Private-sector partnerships.
• Skills development.
• Local institutional capacity.

Tips for a Strong Expression of Interest

Applicants should:

• Use a market-based approach rather than relying exclusively on grants.
• Demonstrate knowledge of local markets and livelihood systems.
• Clearly distinguish the needs of displaced populations and host communities.
• Integrate climate resilience into agricultural interventions.
• Explain how women, youth, and vulnerable groups can participate where relevant.
• Build partnerships with financial and private-sector actors.
• Demonstrate strong local coordination.
• Include measurable livelihood and economic inclusion outcomes.
• Explain how cash or grant support will contribute to productive economic activity.
• Prioritize conflict-sensitive and do-no-harm approaches.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing generic livelihood training without a market pathway.
• Failing to demonstrate local operational capacity.
• Treating displaced people and host communities as completely separate economic systems.
• Ignoring access to finance and market linkages.
• Providing agricultural activities without considering climate risks.
• Relying entirely on start-up grants without a sustainability strategy.
• Failing to explain coordination with government and private-sector stakeholders.
• Underestimating the operational challenges created by the conflict.
• Providing insufficient evidence of previous livelihoods or economic inclusion experience.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Organization: UNHCR
• Country: Sudan
• Priority location: North Kordofan
• Opportunity type: Expression of Interest
• Applicant type: NGOs and INGOs
• Primary focus: Livelihoods and economic inclusion
• Target groups: Refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, and host communities
• Key sectors: Entrepreneurship, self-employment, climate-smart agriculture, finance, SMEs, and FDP-led organizations
• Potential support: Micro start-up grants and cash-based interventions
• Key partners: Government, financial institutions, private sector, and community organizations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UNHCR Sudan livelihoods and economic inclusion call?

It is an expression of interest seeking NGOs and INGOs capable of implementing livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions for forcibly displaced populations and host communities in Sudan.

Who are the main beneficiaries?

The program targets refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and host communities, with support potentially extending to SMEs and forcibly displaced persons-led organizations.

What activities are prioritized?

Priority areas include self-employment, market-based entrepreneurship, climate-smart agriculture, financial inclusion, SME development, and support for FDP-led organizations.

Can agricultural projects be proposed?

Yes. Climate-smart agriculture is specifically identified as a priority, including crop, livestock, and fisheries-related livelihood pathways.

Will businesses receive grants?

The initiative may support SMEs and FDP-led organizations through micro start-up grants, including cash-based interventions, where appropriate to the program design.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are NGOs and INGOs with the technical, operational, coordination, and resource-mobilization capacity to implement livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions in Sudan.

What should applicants emphasize?

Applicants should demonstrate local knowledge, market-based approaches, economic sustainability, climate resilience, financial inclusion, stakeholder partnerships, operational capacity, and measurable benefits for displaced populations and host communities.

Conclusion

The UNHCR Sudan Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion initiative aims to help forcibly displaced populations and host communities move toward greater economic self-reliance during Sudan’s ongoing crisis. The opportunity places particular emphasis on entrepreneurship, climate-smart agriculture, financial inclusion, SMEs, FDP-led organizations, and partnerships with government and private-sector actors.

For NGOs and INGOs, a strong expression of interest should demonstrate a clear understanding of local economic conditions and propose practical, market-oriented, climate-resilient, and sustainable livelihood solutions that benefit both displaced people and host communities.