Call for Applications: Annual Program Statement (Zimbabwe)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has opened AMI 007 in Gribingui, Central African Republic, seeking partner organisations to support the inclusion of forcibly displaced people, particularly refugees, in the national public health system. The programme focuses on strengthening health facilities, expanding access to essential healthcare, improving maternal and child health, supporting community health services, and strengthening sustainable, locally led health systems.

UNHCR AMI 007 Overview

The UNHCR AMI 007 Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) aims to identify qualified partner organisations that can deliver health services and strengthen the integration of forcibly displaced populations into the national healthcare system in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The initiative is focused on Gribingui and seeks to improve equitable access to essential healthcare for refugees and other vulnerable populations.

The programme combines direct healthcare delivery with health-system strengthening, community-based health activities, medical referrals, disease prevention, nutrition support, health coordination and integration into national services.

Key Details

• Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Opportunity: AMI 007 – Call for Expression of Interest
• Country: Central African Republic
• Location: Gribingui
• Primary focus: Health system inclusion and access to healthcare
• Target populations: Forcibly displaced persons, particularly refugees, and other vulnerable communities
• Application type: Expression of Interest
• International organisations: Required to collaborate with local organisations
• Consortium applications: Permitted, subject to specified requirements
• Localization: A major component of the assessment, carrying 30% of the evaluation weighting

What Does UNHCR AMI 007 Support?

The programme is designed to integrate forcibly displaced populations into the national public health system while improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

Key objectives include:

• Strengthening existing health facilities.
• Improving the quality of technical and healthcare services.
• Expanding access to essential primary and secondary healthcare.
• Reducing morbidity and mortality among vulnerable populations.
• Supporting refugees’ integration into national health services.
• Improving maternal, newborn and child healthcare.
• Strengthening community-based health services.
• Improving referral systems for medical and surgical emergencies.
• Supporting disease prevention, treatment and surveillance.
• Strengthening national and local health institutions.

Key Health Activities

Selected partner organisations may be expected to implement a broad range of health interventions.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare

Activities may include:

• Curative consultations.
• Preventive healthcare consultations.
• Patient observation and follow-up.
• Referrals to appropriate health facilities.
• Essential primary healthcare services.
• Selected secondary healthcare services.
• Identification and referral of medical emergencies.
• Identification and referral of surgical emergencies.

These activities are intended to ensure that vulnerable populations can access appropriate healthcare without unnecessary barriers.

Maternal and Newborn Health

The programme places significant emphasis on maternal and newborn healthcare.

Potential activities include:

• Antenatal care.
• Postnatal care.
• Safer maternity services.
• Training for midwives.
• Emergency obstetric care.
• Identification and referral of obstetric emergencies.
• Reproductive health services.

The programme also covers sexual and reproductive health, including services relevant to adolescents.

Child Health and Nutrition

Partner organisations will also contribute to improving health outcomes among children and vulnerable mothers.

Activities may include:

• Child healthcare.
• Prevention and treatment of malnutrition.
• Nutrition awareness.
• Treatment of malnutrition among children under five.
• Nutrition support for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Community education on nutrition.
• Immunization-related activities.

HIV/AIDS Services

The opportunity includes HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

This may involve:

• HIV prevention.
• HIV testing and referral.
• HIV treatment.
• Community awareness.
• Linkages with existing national health services.

Community Health

Community-based health activities are an important component of the programme.

Partner organisations may be responsible for:

• Training community health workers.
• Conducting community health activities.
• Providing health education.
• Raising awareness about nutrition and disease prevention.
• Connecting communities with health facilities.
• Supporting community participation in health programmes.

Health System Strengthening

The programme is not limited to delivering individual health services. It also aims to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of the existing healthcare system.

Potential support includes:

• Medical and logistical supplies.
• Health facility support.
• Technical supervision.
• Epidemiological surveillance.
• Participation in health coordination meetings.
• Improved referral systems.
• Strengthening healthcare personnel.
• Improved service delivery systems.
• Integration of refugees into national health structures.

This approach is intended to strengthen existing systems rather than create parallel services for displaced populations.

Support for Urban Refugees in Bangui

The programme also includes profiling and targeting urban refugees in Bangui for medical assistance and integration into the national health system.

This component is intended to help identify vulnerable refugee populations, assess their healthcare needs and connect them with appropriate national health services.

Who Is Eligible?

UNHCR is seeking organisations with the technical, operational and institutional capacity to implement health interventions in the Central African Republic.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Relevant health-sector expertise and experience.
• Qualified technical and healthcare personnel.
• Adequate human and material resources.
• Knowledge of the Central African Republic health context.
• Understanding of protection principles.
• Application of the Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach.
• Meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless people throughout the programme cycle.
• Strong project management capacity.
• Sound financial management systems.
• Appropriate procurement and asset controls.
• Clear separation of duties.
• Effective risk-management systems.
• Local operational presence.
• Regular access to targeted locations.
• Community engagement capacity.
• Community feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Transparent communication practices.
• Capacity to operate safely in the project area.

Requirements for International Organisations

International organisations are required to collaborate with local organisations.

This reflects UNHCR’s emphasis on localisation and strengthening national capacity.

International applicants should therefore demonstrate how their partnership with national organisations will contribute to:

• Capacity development.
• Knowledge transfer.
• Sustainable service delivery.
• Strengthening national health systems.
• Progressive transfer of responsibilities.
• Reduced dependence on international assistance.

Consortium Requirements

Organisations applying as a consortium must clearly describe how the partnership will operate.

The concept note should specify:

• The lead organisation.
• Consortium members.
• Responsibilities of each organisation.
• Coordination arrangements.
• Supervision responsibilities.
• Specific interventions assigned to each member.
• Capacity-strengthening activities.
• Arrangements for transferring activities to national organisations.

The consortium must also provide a two- to three-year capacity-strengthening and activity-transfer plan.

UNHCR recommends mentoring or twinning arrangements where these can strengthen national organisations.

Protection and Inclusion Requirements

Protection is integrated into the programme rather than treated as a separate activity.

Applicants should demonstrate how they will apply:

• Protection principles.
• Age, Gender and Diversity principles.
• Non-discrimination.
• Meaningful participation of forcibly displaced and stateless people.
• Community accountability.
• Safe communication.
• Confidentiality where required.
• Accessible feedback and complaints mechanisms.

Health interventions should be designed around the needs and circumstances of affected communities.

Local Presence and Operational Capacity

Applicants are expected to demonstrate proximity to affected populations and an understanding of the local context.

Strong applications should explain:

• Where the organisation operates.
• How it accesses targeted communities.
• Existing relationships with health authorities.
• Knowledge of local health and social systems.
• Understanding of cultural conditions.
• Knowledge of security conditions.
• Availability of qualified personnel.
• Ability to mobilise quickly.
• Supply and logistics capacity.
• Existing community relationships.

Local acceptance and the ability to operate safely are particularly important.

Financial and Risk Management

Applicants must demonstrate strong organisational controls.

Relevant areas include:

• Financial management.
• Procurement procedures.
• Asset management.
• Separation of duties.
• Internal controls.
• Risk management.
• Audit and financial accountability.
• Appropriate use of programme resources.
• Transparent reporting.

UNHCR may also consider an applicant’s previous performance and audit findings where applicable.

How Applications Will Be Assessed

Applications will be evaluated using weighted selection criteria.

Selection Criteria

• Sector expertise and experience – 20%
• Project management – 10%
• Local experience and presence – 10%
• Cost effectiveness – 10%
• Accountability to communities and community relations – 10%
• Access and security considerations – 10%
• Other criteria, including localisation and sustainable strengthening of national organisations – 30%

The 30% localisation component makes the ability to strengthen national organisations and progressively transfer responsibilities particularly important.

What Should a Strong Concept Note Demonstrate?

A competitive concept note should clearly connect the proposed activities with the programme’s health and protection objectives.

Applicants should explain:

1. The health needs: What are the main healthcare gaps affecting refugees and other vulnerable populations?
2. The proposed solution: How will the organisation improve access and service quality?
3. Implementation capacity: What personnel, facilities, supplies and systems are available?
4. Local presence: How will affected communities be reached?
5. Protection: How will services remain inclusive, safe and non-discriminatory?
6. Community participation: How will communities participate in programme design and monitoring?
7. Coordination: How will the organisation work with government health authorities and other partners?
8. Sustainability: How will national capacity be strengthened?
9. Localisation: How will responsibilities progressively transfer to national organisations?
10. Risk management: How will financial, operational, security and programme risks be controlled?

How to Prepare the Application

Applicants should prepare their submission around UNHCR’s requirements and demonstrate both technical quality and operational feasibility.

Step 1: Confirm Organisational Eligibility

Review the eligibility requirements and ensure the organisation has:

• Relevant healthcare experience.
• Qualified personnel.
• Adequate operational resources.
• Local presence or reliable access.
• Appropriate financial systems.
• Security and risk-management procedures.

Step 2: Assess the Local Health Context

Identify the healthcare needs of forcibly displaced populations and explain the barriers affecting access to services.

The assessment should consider:

• Health facility availability.
• Maternal and child health needs.
• Nutrition.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Reproductive health.
• Community health.
• Referral systems.
• Medical supply requirements.
• Access and security constraints.

Step 3: Develop the Technical Approach

Describe how activities will improve both healthcare access and health-system integration.

The proposal should link activities to measurable outcomes.

Step 4: Explain Partnerships

Clearly describe coordination with:

• Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities.
• Health facilities.
• Community health workers.
• Local organisations.
• Refugee and affected-community representatives.
• Other humanitarian and development partners.

Step 5: Address Localisation

For international organisations and consortiums, provide a practical plan for:

• Training national partners.
• Mentoring.
• Technical assistance.
• Knowledge transfer.
• Strengthening organisational systems.
• Gradual transfer of responsibilities over two to three years.

Step 6: Strengthen Accountability and Protection

Explain how beneficiaries will be able to:

• Provide feedback.
• Submit complaints.
• Access information.
• Participate in programme decisions.
• Report concerns safely.

Step 7: Demonstrate Financial and Operational Controls

Include clear procedures for:

• Procurement.
• Financial management.
• Asset management.
• Staff responsibilities.
• Risk management.
• Monitoring.
• Reporting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that are technically strong but weak on localisation, community accountability or operational feasibility.

Common weaknesses include:

• Failing to demonstrate relevant health-sector experience.
• Providing generic activities without linking them to local needs.
• Underestimating access and security constraints.
• Failing to explain community participation.
• Providing weak feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Ignoring the Age, Gender and Diversity approach.
• Creating parallel systems instead of supporting national health structures.
• Providing insufficient details on financial controls.
• Failing to explain procurement and asset management.
• Not clearly defining consortium responsibilities.
• Omitting the two- to three-year capacity-strengthening and activity-transfer plan.
• Treating localisation as an administrative requirement rather than a core programme objective.

Why This Programme Matters

The UNHCR AMI 007 initiative addresses the healthcare challenges faced by forcibly displaced populations while supporting longer-term integration into the Central African Republic’s public health system.

Its approach is significant because it combines:

• Emergency and essential healthcare.
• Maternal and newborn health.
• Child health and nutrition.
• HIV/AIDS services.
• Community health.
• Health-system strengthening.
• Medical referrals.
• Health surveillance.
• Refugee integration.
• Protection and inclusion.
• Localisation and national capacity development.

The programme therefore seeks to improve immediate access to healthcare while strengthening systems that can continue supporting vulnerable populations over the longer term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the UNHCR AMI 007 opportunity for?

It is intended for eligible partner organisations capable of implementing healthcare and health-system strengthening activities for forcibly displaced and vulnerable populations in Gribingui, Central African Republic.

What is the main objective of AMI 007?

The main objective is to support the inclusion and integration of forcibly displaced people, particularly refugees, into the national public health system and improve equitable access to essential healthcare.

What health services are covered?

The programme covers primary and secondary healthcare, maternal and newborn health, child health, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, immunization, nutrition, emergency referrals, community health and health-system strengthening.

Are international organisations eligible?

International organisations can participate, but they are required to collaborate with local organisations. Consortium applications must also clearly define organisational responsibilities and include capacity-strengthening and activity-transfer arrangements.

What is the localisation requirement?

Localisation is a major assessment area and accounts for 30% of the selection weighting. Applicants should demonstrate how they will strengthen national organisations and progressively transfer responsibilities.

What are the main selection criteria?

Applications are assessed based on sector expertise and experience, project management, local experience and presence, cost effectiveness, accountability to communities, access and security, and other criteria including localisation.

What should consortium applicants include?

Consortium applicants should identify the lead organisation and members, define coordination and supervision responsibilities, describe each member’s interventions, and provide a two- to three-year capacity-strengthening and activity-transfer plan.

Conclusion

UNHCR AMI 007 provides an opportunity for qualified organisations to strengthen healthcare access and support the integration of forcibly displaced populations into the national public health system in the Central African Republic. Strong applicants should combine proven health-sector expertise with local presence, protection-centred programming, community accountability, sound financial management, security capacity and a clear localisation strategy.

The strongest proposals will demonstrate not only the ability to deliver healthcare services, but also how those services can strengthen national systems, improve equitable access and create sustainable benefits for refugees, displaced people and host communities.