The U.S. State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) is hereby soliciting proposals for humanitarian projects benefiting Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and other countries with a sizable Iraqi refugee population.
PRM will consider proposals from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with proven track records in implementing refugee assistance programs. Higher consideration will be given to organizations that have well-established operations in the country (or countries) of program activity.
PRM’s FY 2009 priority sectors for NGO programs assisting Iraqi refugees are:
- Health care
- Psychosocial programs and/or mental health programs providing therapy for depression and anxiety
- Humanitarian assistance and protection
- Education
- Vocational training or livelihoods programs linked to current and/or future job opportunities inside Iraq
- Skills building or maintenance programs
- Family and community focused programs to combat and respond to gender-based violence and exploitation, and labor exploitation
- Case management programs aimed at addressing the interrelated assistance and protection needs of vulnerable beneficiaries through providing services and referral networks.
This report stems from a study initiated by the United Nations Children’s Fund’s East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (UNICEF-EAPRO). The objective of the study was threefold: to improve the knowledge base on children affected by armed conflict, to devise protection strategies for children in situations of low-intensity conflict, and to involve participation of children and young people. Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Thai-Myanmar border were selected as the areas for study.
PRM is interested in innovative NGO proposals addressing the long-term needs of Afghan refugees as well as their host communities in Pakistan. As in past years, PRM generally supports activities in the areas of:
- vocational training and preparation for sustainable livelihoods
- basic and maternal/child healthcare
- primary education, teacher training, and provision of materials and equipment
- prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV)
- water and sanitation systems rehabilitation and repair; and
- supplemental feeding and nutritional programs.
The following activities are priority areas for PRM in FY09:
- Provide or improve access to basic and maternal/child healthcare.
- Provide access to primary education for boys and girls. Educational programs may include teacher training and rehabilitation of existing school facilities.
- Conduct vocational training in marketable skills and, as necessary, provide the required tool set for the profession.
Programs should seek to identify skills that would be marketable in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
