$250,000 UNHCR Innovation Accelerator

UNHCR's Innovation Service is running an open call for tested humanitarian innovations that are ready to scale, with catalytic funding that can reach USD 250,000 in exceptional cases. It is built for organisations and teams, not individual applicants, and the strongest proposals must be led or co-led by a UNHCR team or a refugee-led non-profit.

What you get: ➤ Catalytic funding to support scaling, with amounts depending on each initiative's needs and reaching up to USD 250,000 in exceptional cases ➤ Strategy, governance and partnership-brokering support from the Accelerator Secretariat ➤ Technical and operational guidance, plus learning and evidence support ➤ Resource-mobilisation help and connection into UNHCR's innovation ecosystem

What you'll do: ➤ Submit an Expression of Interest describing a tested innovation with proof of concept and a clear path to scale ➤ If shortlisted, join a thematic cluster and build a Full Proposal in collaboration with other applicants and partners ➤ Take the Full Proposal through technical review and a final selection by the Innovation Accelerator Steering Committee

Key dates: ➤ Applications opened 1 June 2026 at 10:00 CEST ➤ Expression of Interest deadline 12 July 2026 at 23:59 CEST (Geneva time)

More information: ➤ Supported by the Government of Luxembourg

• Organisations and initiatives with a proven concept supporting forcibly displaced or stateless people that is ready to scale
• Refugee-led organisations, NGOs, UN agencies, private sector innovators, universities, research institutions and development partners
• Concept-only ideas are not eligible and are directed to other UNHCR innovation funding streams
• Full proposals must be led or co-led by a UNHCR team or a refugee-led non-profit organisation