CFAs: Strengthening the Protection Environment for Displaced Persons and Host Communities (Burkina Faso)

On Sep 2, 2026

Deadline: 27-Sep-2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is seeking qualified organizations to strengthen protection systems for forcibly displaced persons, people at risk of statelessness, and host communities in Burkina Faso. The partnership will support integrated protection monitoring, community-based protection, case identification and referrals, gender-based violence prevention and response, child protection, civil documentation, social cohesion, and emergency protection responses.

Eligible organizations should have strong technical expertise, local presence, project management capacity, accountability mechanisms, and the ability to operate effectively in complex security environments. Applications must use the provided concept note template and include evidence of relevant local agreements and administrative authorizations.

About the UNHCR Partnership Opportunity

The UNHCR partnership opportunity aims to improve the protection environment for people affected by forced displacement, statelessness risks, and humanitarian challenges in Burkina Faso.

The approach combines protection monitoring with prevention, identification, referral, and response mechanisms. It also emphasizes community participation and the use of local capacities to develop solutions that reflect the realities of affected communities.

UNHCR seeks to work closely with state authorities, local governments, humanitarian organizations, and community actors to improve coordination and avoid duplication of interventions.

Main Objectives of the Intervention

The partnership is designed to strengthen protection systems and ensure that vulnerable people can access appropriate assistance and services.

Key objectives include:

Improving protection data collection and analysis.
Strengthening integrated protection monitoring.
Improving community-based protection mechanisms.
Strengthening identification and referral systems.
Supporting minimum emergency protection responses when necessary.
Preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
Strengthening child protection.
Preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Supporting people with specific needs.
Promoting peaceful coexistence and social cohesion.
Improving access to civil documentation.
Supporting family reunification.
Strengthening national child protection systems.

Who Will Benefit?

The intervention is intended to strengthen protection for several groups affected by displacement, statelessness risks, and humanitarian vulnerabilities.

Target groups include:

Forcibly displaced persons
Refugees
Asylum seekers
Stateless individuals
People at risk of statelessness
Host communities
Children at risk
Women
Persons with disabilities
Older persons
Individuals with other specific protection needs

Special attention will be given to vulnerable groups to promote inclusive participation and equitable access to protection services.

Integrated Protection Monitoring

Protection monitoring is a central component of the proposed intervention.

Organizations will contribute to the systematic collection, analysis, and documentation of protection risks affecting displaced and host populations.

Regular monitoring can help identify emerging risks and support timely responses.

Expected improvements include:

More regular protection risk analysis.
Better documentation of protection incidents and trends.
Improved identification of vulnerable individuals.
Stronger referral pathways.
Better coordination among protection actors.
Faster identification of emerging community-level risks.

Community-Based Protection

The intervention places strong emphasis on community-based protection.

This approach recognizes affected communities as important partners in identifying protection risks and developing appropriate solutions.

Organizations are expected to strengthen community mechanisms that can contribute to:

Protection monitoring.
Early warning.
Risk identification.
Community-level response.
Referral of vulnerable individuals.
Peaceful coexistence.
Social cohesion.

Local capacities should be leveraged wherever possible so that protection mechanisms are appropriate to local realities and can remain sustainable over time.

Protection of Women and Children

Women and children facing protection risks will receive particular attention.

The intervention includes measures related to:

Prevention and response to gender-based violence.
Child protection.
Identification and referral of children at risk.
Strengthening national child protection systems.
Support for family reunification.
Access to appropriate protection services.

Organizations should ensure that protection mechanisms are accessible and responsive to the specific needs of women and children.

Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence prevention and response is one of the important areas covered by the intervention.

Partners are expected to contribute to mechanisms that help identify individuals facing GBV risks and connect them with appropriate support and referral services.

Protection activities should prioritize safety, confidentiality, accessibility, and respect for affected individuals.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

The project also emphasizes the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

Complaint and feedback mechanisms should be:

Safe
Accessible
Confidential
Responsive to affected communities

These mechanisms should operate in accordance with zero-tolerance principles for sexual exploitation and abuse.

Strong accountability systems are therefore an important part of the proposed intervention.

Support for Persons With Specific Needs

The intervention promotes inclusive protection services for people who may face additional barriers to accessing assistance.

Special attention will be given to:

Persons with disabilities
Older persons
Children at risk
Women facing protection concerns
Other people with specific needs

Partners should consider accessibility and inclusion when designing monitoring, referral, complaint, and response mechanisms.

Civil Documentation and Family Reunification

The project will also support access to civil documentation.

Civil documentation can be important for people affected by displacement and statelessness risks because documentation may help individuals access services, establish legal identity, and exercise their rights.

The intervention will also support family reunification, particularly where displacement or other humanitarian circumstances have separated family members.

Strengthening National Child Protection Systems

Another area of intervention is the strengthening of national child protection systems.

The partnership will seek to improve the capacity of relevant state, community, and humanitarian actors to identify and respond to child protection risks.

This can contribute to more sustainable protection mechanisms that remain connected to national systems and local structures.

Social Cohesion and Peaceful Coexistence

The intervention promotes social cohesion between displaced populations and host communities.

Organizations will be expected to support approaches that encourage peaceful coexistence and reduce tensions between communities.

Community engagement, local participation, early warning mechanisms, and collaboration with authorities can contribute to stronger relationships and more sustainable protection outcomes.

Local Ownership and Innovation

UNHCR emphasizes solutions that are adapted to local realities.

Partners are expected to:

Build on existing local capacities.
Develop practical solutions suited to the operating environment.
Encourage innovative protection approaches.
Promote local ownership.
Coordinate closely with government institutions.
Work with local governments and humanitarian actors.
Avoid duplication of existing interventions.
Support sustainability beyond individual activities.

The emphasis on local ownership means organizations should demonstrate an understanding of the communities and areas where they intend to operate.

Collaboration With Government and Humanitarian Actors

Strong coordination is an important element of the partnership.

Organizations are expected to collaborate with:

State authorities
Local governments
Humanitarian organizations
Community structures
Other relevant protection actors

The objective is to ensure complementarity between interventions and strengthen the overall protection response.

Expected Results

The intervention is expected to produce improvements in the protection environment across targeted communities.

Key expected results include:

Improved regular protection risk analysis.
Better documentation of protection risks.
Stronger community protection mechanisms.
Improved early warning systems.
Better identification of people at risk.
Stronger referral mechanisms.
Increased capacity of state actors.
Increased capacity of community actors.
Increased capacity of humanitarian organizations.
Improved access to protection services.
Stronger accountability and complaint mechanisms.
Improved social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for organizations with demonstrated experience and operational capacity in protection and humanitarian programming.

Eligible organizations should be able to demonstrate expertise in areas such as:

Protection monitoring
Community-based protection
Case management
Gender-based violence
Peaceful coexistence
Child protection
Protection response
Community engagement

Technical expertise should be supported by strong organizational and operational capacity.

Organizational Capacity Requirements

In addition to technical expertise, organizations should demonstrate robust project management and implementation capacity.

Important organizational strengths include:

Strong project management systems.
Local presence in relevant operating areas.
Cost-effective implementation.
Contribution of resources where appropriate.
Accountability to affected communities.
Ability to coordinate with government and humanitarian actors.
Capacity to operate in complex security environments.
Appropriate administrative and operational systems.

Organizations should demonstrate not only what they intend to do but also their ability to implement activities safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Operating in Complex Security Environments

The ability to operate in complex security environments is particularly important.

Applicants should demonstrate that they understand the operational realities of their proposed areas and have appropriate systems for managing implementation challenges.

This may include demonstrating:

Relevant local presence.
Operational experience in difficult environments.
Appropriate project management capacity.
Coordination with local authorities.
Community acceptance and engagement.
Practical approaches to maintaining service delivery.

Accountability to Affected Communities

Accountability is a key component of effective protection programming.

Organizations should ensure that affected communities have appropriate ways to provide feedback, raise concerns, and submit complaints.

Complaint mechanisms should be designed around:

Safety
Accessibility
Confidentiality
Responsiveness
Protection from retaliation

This is especially important for complaints involving sexual exploitation and abuse.

How to Prepare an Application

Applicants should prepare their concept note according to the requirements provided by UNHCR.

A strong application should clearly explain:

Protection needs: Identify the major protection concerns affecting the target population.
Proposed approach: Explain how integrated monitoring and response activities will address these needs.
Community involvement: Describe how affected communities will participate in protection mechanisms.
Technical expertise: Demonstrate previous experience in relevant protection sectors.
Local presence: Explain the organization’s operational presence and knowledge of local conditions.
Coordination: Describe collaboration with authorities and humanitarian actors.
Accountability: Explain how communities will safely provide feedback and complaints.
Security capacity: Demonstrate the ability to operate in complex security environments.
Sustainability: Explain how local capacities and systems will be strengthened.
Complementarity: Show how the proposed activities complement existing interventions.

Required Application Documentation

Applications should be submitted using the provided concept note template.

Applicants must also include documentation demonstrating relevant local arrangements.

This includes:

Required concept note documentation.
Evidence of local agreements.
Relevant administrative authorizations.

Applicants should ensure that all required documentation is complete before submission.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Organizations should avoid submitting proposals that are too general or disconnected from the protection context.

Common weaknesses include:

Failing to demonstrate previous protection experience.
Providing limited evidence of local presence.
Not explaining community-based protection mechanisms.
Ignoring the needs of women, children, older persons, or persons with disabilities.
Failing to explain referral pathways.
Weak accountability and complaint mechanisms.
Insufficient attention to sexual exploitation and abuse prevention.
Poor coordination with government and humanitarian actors.
Not demonstrating capacity to work in complex security environments.
Omitting required local agreements or administrative authorizations.
Failing to use the provided concept note template.

Application Preparation Checklist

Before submitting an application, organizations should confirm that they can demonstrate:

Experience in protection monitoring.
Experience in community-based protection.
Case management expertise.
Gender-based violence programming experience.
Child protection capacity.
Experience promoting peaceful coexistence.
Strong project management systems.
Local operational presence.
Cost-effective implementation.
Accountability to affected communities.
Ability to operate in complex security environments.
Relevant local agreements.
Required administrative authorizations.
A complete concept note using the provided template.

Key Facts About the UNHCR Burkina Faso Partnership

Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Country: Burkina Faso
Focus: Integrated protection monitoring and response
Primary beneficiaries: Forcibly displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless people, people at risk of statelessness, and host communities
Key protection areas: Protection monitoring, GBV, child protection, SEA prevention and response, case management, civil documentation, family reunification, and social cohesion
Priority groups: Women, children at risk, persons with disabilities, and older persons
Implementation approach: Community-based, locally adapted, coordinated, and sustainable
Application format: Provided concept note template
Additional documentation: Local agreements and administrative authorizations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UNHCR partnership opportunity in Burkina Faso?

It is a partnership opportunity seeking organizations to strengthen protection monitoring and response for forcibly displaced people, people at risk of statelessness, and host communities in Burkina Faso.

Who are the main beneficiaries?

The intervention targets forcibly displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless individuals, people at risk of statelessness, and host communities. Particular attention will be given to women, children at risk, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

What activities will the partnership support?

Activities include integrated protection monitoring, community-based protection, risk analysis, early warning, case identification and referrals, gender-based violence prevention and response, child protection, SEA prevention and response, civil documentation, family reunification, and social cohesion.

What type of organizations are eligible?

Organizations should demonstrate relevant expertise in protection monitoring, community-based protection, case management, gender-based violence, and peaceful coexistence, together with strong project management, local presence, accountability, and operational capacity.

Is local presence important for applicants?

Yes. Applicants are expected to demonstrate local presence and the ability to develop solutions that reflect local realities. Local ownership and collaboration with authorities and humanitarian actors are important elements of the intervention.

What documentation must applicants provide?

Applications should use the provided concept note template and include documentation of relevant local agreements and administrative authorizations.

Why are complaint mechanisms important in this project?

Safe, accessible, and confidential complaint mechanisms help communities report concerns and access accountability systems. They are particularly important for preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse in line with zero-tolerance principles.

Conclusion

The UNHCR partnership opportunity in Burkina Faso seeks to strengthen protection systems for forcibly displaced populations, people affected by statelessness risks, and host communities through integrated monitoring, community-based protection, referrals, prevention, and response.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to organizations with strong protection expertise, local presence, community accountability systems, and experience working in complex environments. By combining local capacities, government coordination, humanitarian collaboration, and inclusive protection mechanisms, the intervention aims to create stronger, more sustainable protection environments for vulnerable communities.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.

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