Call for EOIs: Integrated Community-Based Protection, Child Protection, and Gender-Based Violence Prevention (Burkina Faso)

On Sep 2, 2026

Deadline: 27-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking qualified organizations in Burkina Faso to implement an integrated protection program supporting refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, and host communities.

The partnership will focus on community-based protection, child protection, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, health, education, protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, social cohesion, and support for people with specific needs. It will also strengthen protection data systems, identification and referral mechanisms, emergency response capacities, and the technical and institutional capacity of local organizations.

Eligible organizations should have relevant sector expertise, strong local presence, experience working with affected communities, robust project and financial management systems, and the capacity to operate in complex security environments. Applications are to be submitted through the UN Partner Portal using the provided concept note template by the stated deadline.

What Is the UNHCR Burkina Faso Partnership Opportunity?

This UNHCR opportunity seeks implementation partners to strengthen protection and resilience among displaced and vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso.

The program uses an integrated, community-based approach rather than addressing protection concerns separately. It brings together protection, health, education, GBV prevention and response, child protection, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The overall approach is designed to improve access to services while strengthening the capacity of communities, institutions, local organizations, and humanitarian actors to respond to protection risks.

Who Will Benefit?

The intervention is intended to support:

Refugees
Asylum seekers
Stateless persons
Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
Refugee children, adolescents, and youth
Women and girls at risk of GBV
Persons with disabilities
People with specific protection needs
Host communities
Displaced- or stateless-person-led organizations

The program also emphasizes meaningful participation of affected populations in decisions and activities that concern them.

Main Objectives of the Partnership

The partnership aims to:

Strengthen community-based protection mechanisms.
Improve protection data collection and analysis.
Strengthen identification and referral systems for people at risk.
Improve emergency protection response capacities.
Prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
Strengthen child protection systems.
Improve access to health and education services.
Prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Promote social cohesion and inclusion.
Strengthen community leadership and empowerment.
Build institutional and technical capacity among local organizations.
Support resilience and contribute to durable solutions.

Community-Based Protection

Community-based protection is a central component of the intervention.

The program seeks to empower affected communities to participate actively in identifying protection risks and developing appropriate responses.

Partners will contribute to strengthening:

Community protection structures
Local leadership
Community participation
Identification of vulnerable people
Referral mechanisms
Emergency response
Community resilience
Social cohesion

The approach recognizes affected communities as active participants in protection rather than only recipients of assistance.

Strengthening Protection Data

Improved protection data will support better understanding of the risks faced by displaced and vulnerable populations.

The partnership will strengthen systems for:

Collecting protection information
Identifying emerging risks
Analyzing protection trends
Identifying people requiring assistance
Referring individuals to appropriate services
Supporting evidence-based decisions

Better data can help humanitarian and local actors respond more effectively to changing protection needs.

Identification and Referral Systems

Early identification of people at risk is another important priority.

Community-based mechanisms will help identify vulnerable individuals and connect them with relevant services.

Effective referral systems can improve access to:

Health services
Protection assistance
GBV services
Child protection
Legal identity and documentation support
Education
Other specialized services

Health Component

The health component focuses on improving equitable access to primary healthcare for refugees.

The project will work to strengthen both community-level and health-facility capacity.

Key areas include:

Community identification of people requiring healthcare
Referral mechanisms
Strengthening health facilities
Improving access to primary healthcare
Integration of refugees into the national health system

The goal is to reduce barriers that prevent refugees from accessing essential healthcare services.

Education Support for Refugee Children and Youth

Education is another major component of the intervention.

The project will support refugee children, adolescents, and youth to access and remain in education while improving their chances of academic success.

Activities will focus on:

Access to education
Retention
Academic success
Sustainable inclusion in the national education system
Higher education opportunities
Vocational training

Particular attention will be given to girls and persons with disabilities to help ensure that education opportunities are inclusive.

Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

The partnership will strengthen the capacity of authorities, communities, and humanitarian partners to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV).

The intervention seeks to ensure that GBV services are:

Accessible
Inclusive
High quality
Responsive to individual needs
Available to women, girls, and other at-risk groups

Partners will strengthen early identification and ensure that survivors and people at risk receive appropriate and tailored support.

Support for Women and Girls

Women and girls can face heightened protection risks in displacement and humanitarian contexts.

The project therefore places particular emphasis on ensuring that women and girls can access appropriate GBV prevention and response services.

This includes improving identification, referral, and tailored support mechanisms.

Child Protection

Child protection activities will focus on creating safer environments for children affected by displacement.

The program will seek to:

Identify children at risk.
Provide appropriate support.
Strengthen referral mechanisms.
Improve access to legal identity.
Connect children with national protection services.
Strengthen protective community environments.

The approach recognizes that displacement can increase children’s exposure to protection risks and barriers to essential services.

Legal Identity and National Protection Services

Improving children’s access to legal identity is included within the child protection component.

Legal identity can be important for accessing national services and exercising rights.

Partners will contribute to mechanisms that help at-risk children obtain appropriate documentation and connect with national protection systems.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

The project will strengthen community mechanisms for preventing, reporting, and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

Communities, partners, and local actors will be supported to develop the capacity to:

Prevent exploitation and abuse.
Identify concerns.
Report complaints safely.
Manage complaints confidentially.
Protect affected individuals.
Provide appropriate victim support.

Confidentiality and appropriate survivor support are important elements of the proposed response mechanisms.

Support for Persons With Specific Needs

The intervention promotes inclusion of people with specific protection needs.

This includes particular attention to groups such as:

Persons with disabilities
Women and girls at risk
Vulnerable children
Displaced populations
Stateless persons
Other individuals facing heightened protection risks

Services and referral mechanisms should be designed to be accessible and inclusive.

Meaningful Participation of Affected Communities

The program emphasizes the meaningful participation of affected populations.

Refugees, displaced people, stateless persons, and host communities should have opportunities to contribute to decisions and activities affecting their lives.

The initiative aims to strengthen:

Community leadership
Empowerment
Participation
Local ownership
Community resilience

Supporting Local Organizations

A significant objective is to reinforce the institutional and technical capacity of local organizations.

This includes organizations that are led by displaced or stateless persons.

Capacity strengthening can help local organizations improve their ability to manage protection activities, engage communities, coordinate services, and contribute to longer-term resilience.

Social Cohesion and Resilience

The partnership also promotes social cohesion between affected populations and host communities.

By improving access to services, strengthening community leadership, and encouraging inclusive participation, the intervention aims to contribute to peaceful coexistence and stronger community resilience.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for organizations with demonstrated capacity to implement protection and community-based programs in Burkina Faso.

Applicants should demonstrate:

Relevant sector expertise
Experience in protection programming
Community engagement experience
Gender-based violence expertise
Knowledge of the local context
Strong local presence
Experience working with vulnerable and displaced populations
Effective project-management systems
Robust financial-management systems
Ability to operate in complex security environments

Organizational Capacity Requirements

Strong applicants should be able to demonstrate their ability to manage both programmatic and operational responsibilities.

This includes:

Effective project planning
Financial management
Monitoring and reporting
Human-resource management
Risk management
Community accountability
Cost-effective implementation
Appropriate safeguarding and protection systems

Experience in Complex Security Environments

The ability to operate in difficult security environments is an important requirement.

Applicants should demonstrate appropriate capacity to manage security risks while maintaining program continuity and protecting staff, partners, and affected populations.

Local knowledge and established community relationships can be particularly valuable in complex operating environments.

Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Contribution

Applicants should demonstrate that their proposed approach represents effective use of available resources.

Organizations should clearly explain how resources will contribute to achieving the intended protection outcomes.

Where organizations contribute resources of their own, these contributions should be appropriately documented.

Contributions may include:

Financial resources
Human resources
Equipment
Other relevant operational support

Accountability to Affected Communities

Accountability is an important component of the partnership.

Organizations should demonstrate mechanisms that allow affected communities to:

Access information
Provide feedback
Raise concerns
Submit complaints
Participate meaningfully in program decisions

These systems should be accessible and appropriate for vulnerable populations.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the UN Partner Portal.

Applicants should:

Review the complete partnership requirements.
Confirm that their organization meets the eligibility and capacity requirements.
Assess their technical expertise across the relevant sectors.
Develop the proposed intervention around identified protection needs.
Complete the provided concept note template.
Include relevant information about organizational capacity and local presence.
Demonstrate project and financial-management capacity.
Explain security-risk management arrangements.
Document relevant resource contributions where applicable.
Submit the completed application through the UN Partner Portal by the stated deadline.

Applicants should carefully follow the instructions in the official call and use the required concept note template.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

A competitive application should demonstrate a clear understanding of the protection environment and explain how the organization can deliver an integrated response.

Applicants should highlight:

Relevant protection experience
GBV and child protection expertise
Community-based approaches
Local presence and knowledge
Existing relationships with communities and authorities
Experience supporting refugees and displaced populations
Referral and case-management capacity
Health and education partnerships, where relevant
Security-management capacity
Financial and project-management systems
Accountability mechanisms
Cost-effectiveness
Contributions of resources

The proposal should clearly connect planned activities with measurable protection and resilience outcomes.

Key Facts at a Glance

Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Country: Burkina Faso
Opportunity type: Partnership / Call for Expression of Interest
Primary focus: Integrated community-based protection
Target groups: Refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, IDPs, and host communities
Key sectors: Protection, health, education, GBV, child protection, SEA prevention and response
Community approach: Community-based protection and meaningful participation
Additional priorities: Social cohesion, inclusion, resilience, and support for persons with specific needs
Health focus: Equitable primary healthcare access for refugees
Education focus: Access, retention, academic success, higher education, and vocational training
Priority groups in education: Girls and persons with disabilities
Application platform: UN Partner Portal
Application document: Provided concept note template
Key organizational requirements: Sector expertise, local presence, project and financial management, accountability, cost-effectiveness, and security capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UNHCR Burkina Faso partnership opportunity?

It is a partnership opportunity for organizations to implement integrated protection, community-based protection, child protection, GBV prevention and response, and related activities for displaced and vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso.

Who are the target beneficiaries?

The program targets refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, host communities, and other people with specific protection needs.

What are the main sectors covered?

The intervention covers community-based protection, child protection, GBV, health, education, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, social cohesion, and support for vulnerable groups.

Does the project support refugees’ access to healthcare?

Yes. The health component aims to improve equitable access to primary healthcare for refugees through community identification and referral, stronger health facilities, and integration into the national health system.

Does the program support refugee education?

Yes. It aims to improve access, retention, and academic success for refugee children, adolescents, and youth while supporting their sustainable inclusion in the national education system.

Are higher education and vocational training included?

Yes. The education component seeks to expand opportunities for refugee youth in higher education and vocational training.

Is there a focus on girls and persons with disabilities?

Yes. Particular attention is given to girls and persons with disabilities within the education component.

What does the GBV component involve?

The program aims to strengthen the capacity of authorities, communities, and humanitarian partners to provide accessible, inclusive, and quality GBV prevention and response services, including early identification and tailored support.

Does the program address sexual exploitation and abuse?

Yes. It will strengthen community mechanisms for preventing, reporting, and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse, including confidential complaint management and victim support.

What experience should applicants have?

Organizations should have relevant expertise in protection, community engagement, GBV, and related sectors, along with experience operating in complex humanitarian and security environments.

How should organizations apply?

Applications should be submitted through the UN Partner Portal using the provided concept note template and following the instructions and deadline specified in the official call.

Conclusion

The UNHCR Burkina Faso Partnership Opportunity seeks capable organizations to deliver an integrated protection response for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, internally displaced people, and host communities.

By combining community-based protection with health, education, GBV prevention and response, child protection, SEA prevention, social cohesion, and inclusion, the initiative aims to strengthen both immediate protection and longer-term resilience.

Organizations with strong local knowledge, technical expertise, community relationships, effective management systems, and the ability to operate in complex security environments can play an important role in improving access to protection and essential services for vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.

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