Antigua and Barbuda is among the eligible locations for a new funding initiative by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is seeking organisational partners to support refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and other forcibly displaced people across the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. According to Antigua News Room, the deadline for expressions of interest is July 24, 2026.
The UNHCR Call for Expression of Interest invites organisations to deliver protection, assistance and durable solutions for displaced and stateless populations in the region. The programme is coordinated through UNHCR's Multi-Country Office in Panama, which oversees protection work across Central America and the Caribbean, including territories where UNHCR does not maintain a permanent in-country presence.
The initiative covers a broad range of focus areas, including protection systems, legal assistance, documentation, humanitarian assistance, livelihoods, education, socio-economic inclusion and long-term durable solutions. Its primary objective is to expand access to rights and services for displaced and vulnerable populations across eligible Eastern and Southern Caribbean countries and territories.
Selected partners may engage in activities such as strengthening national asylum and protection systems, providing legal assistance to refugees and stateless persons, supporting documentation processes, delivering humanitarian aid to individuals with urgent needs, and facilitating access to education and livelihood opportunities. The programme also supports advocacy for legal reform and capacity building for institutions involved in refugee protection and assistance.
The initiative places particular emphasis on cooperation. Eligible partners may include civil society organisations, community-based groups, legal aid providers, academic institutions and other entities with demonstrated capacity to operate in the covered locations. Applicants must show operational commitment and alignment with UNHCR's protection priorities.
Organisations are reminded that submission of an expression of interest does not guarantee a partnership agreement. Selection will depend on demonstrated capacity, relevance to identified protection needs, geographic reach and the quality of proposed activities.
UNHCR notes that in many Caribbean locations, effective protection responses depend on strong local and regional partnerships precisely because the agency does not have a permanent presence in every country or territory. The programme aims to address this gap by building sustainable protection systems that promote dignity, resilience and long-term inclusion for displaced populations.
Organisations interested in applying are advised to confirm their ability to operate in one or more eligible locations, clearly identify the target populations they plan to serve, and select intervention areas where they hold the strongest capacity. Proposals should be clear, realistic and evidence-based.
