APRRN’s New Steering Committee (November 2025- September 2027)

Following the nomination and election processes in September and October, we are delighted to present 18 of the 22 new members of the APRRN Steering Committee (SC). The SC will be appointing the remaining 4 members, in accordance with the APRRN Statutes, and the process is underway.

Please see below, and for more information about the new members, please visit this link: https://www.aprrn.org/people/ 

 

APRRN Chair:  Hayatullah Akbari, Australia, and APRRN Deputy Chair: Lynette Nam, Hong Kong

Geographical Working Groups

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific WG Chair: Graham Thom, Australia

East Asia WG Chair: Lai Yen Rong, Taiwan

East Asia WG Deputy Chair: Dim Dim Lian, Japan

South East Asia WG Deputy Chair: Husson Ahmad, Malaysia

South Asia WG Chair: Khair Ullah, Bangladesh

Thematic Working Groups

Immigration Detention WG Chair: Hannah Reshma Jambunathan, Malaysia

Immigration Detention WG Deputy Chair: Madiha Ali, New Zealand

Legal Aid and Advocacy WG Chair: Hamsa Vijayaraghavan, India

Legal Aid and Advocacy WG Deputy Chair: Kunanyaporn Jirasamatakij, Thailand

Age, Gender and Diversity WG Chair: Rana Ebrahimi, Australia

Age, Gender and Diversity WG Deputy Chair: Daniel Gamboa, New Zealand

Refugee Leadership and Participation WG Chair: Muzafar Ali, Australia

Refugee Leadership and Participation WG Deputy Chair: Muna Baroud, Indonesia

Women, Gender and Diversity Leadership WG Chair: Ryan Joseph Figueiredo, Thailand

Women, Gender and Diversity Leadership WG Deputy Chair: Nimo Ahmed, New Zealand

Creative Initiatives in Practice WG Chair: John Murray, Thailand

 

In early November, APRRN and OHCHR hosted the Annual In-Person Meeting of the Strategic Litigation Network for the Human Rights of People on the Move in Bangkok. Over two days, 60 participants from 15 countries across the Asia Pacific region, including lawyers, advocates, civil society representatives and UN staff, strengthened collaboration, shared knowledge and innovative legal arguments and procedural strategies. The program included keynote reflections, thematic panels and workshops covering human trafficking, non-refoulement jurisprudence, discussions on pro-bono resourcing, as well as a practitioner-led hackathon session to advance live cases addressing immigration detention, pathways to protection, anti-discrimination and the rights of migrant children strategies across multiple jurisdictions.  

 

13 November APRRN joined other networks, including Alliance for Empowering Partnership, The Feminist Humanitarian Network, NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response), the Somali NGO Consortium, the Center for Civil Society and Democracy CCSD and the Palestinian NGO Network, for the launch event of the Practitioners’ Knowledge Lab with The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN), kickstarting a 6 months process humanitarian knowledge creation. APRRN will soon reach out to members working on the frontlines to facilitate contributions via articles for the 87th Humanitarian Exchange Magazine on “local humanitarian leadership in a changing architecture”, identifying members to share information and input into a “Network Paper on local coordination committees”,  and identify resourcepersons within our membership for a series of “Podcasts on local humanitarian action and coloniality”.  

 

Connecting with the WHO in Geneva on Access to Health for Refugees in Asia

On 22 November, Co-Secretary General, Klaus Dik Nielsen, with APRRN members JRS Asia and Pacific (Thailand)  and Teen Health International (Malaysia), were invited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva to provide input, at an online meeting, on the current challenges and opportunities on inclusion of refugees in national health systems in our region. Co-Secretary General, Hafsar Tameesuddin, during their time at the upcoming GRF in Geneva in December, will have a separate meeting with the WHO to explore future potential collaboration.

 

You can now listen to the panel discussion: ‘Building bridges: Advancing refugee protection in a divided world’, as part of the 23 October 2025 Kaldor Centre Conference, in which APRRN Co-Secretary General, Hafsar Tameesuddin, participated.  Watch Here

 

Members Spotlight!

The Sisterhood, a refugee women–led organisation in Indonesia,  ran a social media campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, reaching nearly 96,000 views in 30 days, reaching 29,000 unique accounts - creating visibility and sustained engagement on SGBV and refugee women’s rights. 

To mark 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, we are pleased to share a new set of short educational videos on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), developed by The Sisterhood. These animated videos were created by refugee women and for refugee women. All videos are available in English, Arabic, Dari, and Somali. While some information is specific to the Indonesian context, much of the content is relevant for women in other countries as well: 

• Video 1: What is SGBV (relevant for any location)
• Video 2: Laws on SGBV in Indonesia 
• Video 3: How to report your case (evidence and documentation)

All videos can be viewed on The Sisterhood's website or on our YouTube channel: @powerofsisterhood

If these videos may support your work or networks (awareness-raising, community sessions, training, and outreach), please do share/use them. You can also show support for ending violence against women by following this year's campaign on instagram or linkedin. 

 

The Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) launched Toward Durable Solutions: mapping and analysis of displacement data in Asia and the Pacific.  This publication examines how more robust national data systems can support durable, inclusive solutions to forced displacement across Asia and the Pacific. The publication offers recommendations for Multilateral Development Banks, such as the Asian Development Bank, to support States in collecting data on forced displacement relevant to solutions; to support the development and use of operational data for solutions to forced displacement; and to engage further with global and regional dialogues and forums.

 

Act for Peace, APNOR and the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law have launched: A model of refugee self-governance: the contributions and challenges of refugee-led initiatives in Thailand. This is the last in a series of publications which have also looked at Indonesia and Bangladesh.

 

News from the region

Afghanistan: 

Afghans living in the US expressed fears of a backlash and reprisals after Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was named as the man apprehended for shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC, on 26 November, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Lakanwal, who had reportedly worked for a CIA-run paramilitary unit in Afghanistan, was evacuated to the US in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program and later granted asylum in 2025 during the Trump administration. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Lakanwal and many others should never been allowed to come to the US.

 

ACAPS discussed the findings of Localisation and Power in Humanitarian Partnerships - how power dynamics shape partnerships in Afghanistan’s humanitarian sector and what steps can be taken to advance meaningful localisation. Read the report here: Afghanistan: localisation and power in humanitarian partnerships.

 

Following the shooting of the two National Guards, US President Donald Trump announced a ‘permanent pause’ on migration from ‘all Third World Countries’. Subsequently, the State Department announced an immediate halt to all asylum decisions, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US had stopped issuing visas for people on Afghan passports, citing public safety reasons. UN agencies appealed to the US to continue granting access to asylum and honour its commitments under the Refugee Convention.

 

Hope is the strongest weapon': Afghan women celebrate return to international football. After a four-year exile, refugee players from around the world returned to the pitch as part of the Afghan Women United football team, which made its first appearance in four years at last month's FIFA Unites Women's Series in Morocco.

 

Pakistan:

‘Pakistan, Australia agree to boost cooperation against illegal immigration, security in focus’, Associated Press Pakistan.

 

Indonesia:

Indonesia and Rohingya refugees: Where did the hate speech come from? Indonesia dan Pengungsi Rohingya: Dari Mana Ungkapan Kebencian Timbul?

 

Thailand: 

Human Rights Foundation expresses deep concern over Thailand’s arrest of approximately 70 Vietnamese indigenous Montagnard refugees, including some under UNHCR protection. HRF urges Thailand to immediately and unconditionally release them and to fully respect the principle of non-refoulement.

 

Four Rohingya refugees were found dead at sea in southern Thailand.

 

Tens of thousands of people were displaced, and at least 30 people were killed as torrential rainfall caused widespread flooding across Thailand and Malaysia, with more than 27,000 people evacuated to shelters in Malaysia, and more than 10,000 evacuated from their homes in Songkhla in southern Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul admitted his government was at fault after authorities failed to warn people to evacuate when floods engulfed Hat Yai, the major city of Songkhla province, last week.

 

The Sustainability Brief podcast on Thailand’s decision to allow refugees in border camps to work legally — and what this means for policymakers, employers, and supply chains. YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gBvmQ2yf     Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g4dAZcqp  Apple: https://lnkd.in/gbGh87NN   LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gfbvpdRx

 

Malaysia:

11 Found Dead After Rohingya Migrant Boat Sinks Near Thailand-Malaysia Border.

The boat was reported to have left Buthidong about 2 weeks ago on a big boat carrying 300 people. On 6^th November, they were moved to two smaller fishing boats, 70 people on one, 230 people on the other. 6 Rohingya women and one Rohingya girl are reported dead, and 9 Rohingya males, two Rohingya women and two Bangladeshi males are arrested. 

 

Migrant boat capsize: In incidents such as this, our duty is to save lives, says Saifuddin. Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has stressed that Malaysia will not compromise on any attempt to breach the country’s waters by illegal immigrants or human trafficking activities. However, he said priority will always be given to saving lives in incidents such as capsized boats in Malaysian waters.

 

Migrant boat tragedy highlights worsening plight of Rohingya.

 

India:

Hope to resume repatriation: UNHCR India Chief on Lankan refugees. “UNHCR is working closely with the Colombo Mission to resume the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees, Areti Sienni, UNHCR Chief of Mission in India, said in an exclusive interview with NDTV today after the arrest of four returnees on arrival in Sri Lanka. The repatriation process had earlier been suspended… 200 Sri Lankan refugees had returned to their homeland last year, and around 50 more have expressed interest this year… India currently hosts more than 80,000 Sri Lankan refugees, many of whom have lived in Tamil Nadu for decades. Since 2002, 18,643 refugees have returned to Sri Lanka under the voluntary repatriation programme.” 

 

10 children among 18 Rohingya detained.

 

UNHCR’s Global Mission and India’s Refugee Policy 2025 Explained.

 

Online speech and communal conflict: Evidence from India. finds that the frequency of hashtags with a Hindu-chauvinist connotation is associated with increased attacks on Muslims and Christians.

 

Australia:

Tax-paying asylum seekers plead for ‘fair go’. Advocates staged a peaceful two-day protest outside Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs assistant minister Julian Hill’s electorate office to highlight the ‘legacy caseload’ of Bridging Visa E (BVE) holders who are awaiting permanent protection in Australia.

 

Anthony Albanese says no apology over Border Force's secret boat returnee scheme. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended Operation Sovereign Borders after media reports that the Australian Border Force is buying and repurposing fishing boats to return people found fishing illegally or seeking asylum.

 

Life as a Home Affairs whistleblower: ‘I’m just falling over. Whistleblower Derek Elias spoke about his experiences since July 2021, when he left his Operation Sovereign Borders role following what he called ‘a significant probity breach’ involving lucrative Home Affairs contracts in Nauru.

 

Above all, I'm human': Afghan women's Aussie aid plea. Afghan women expressed frustration about the process of seeking protection in Australia, even as the country pledged to hold Afghanistan accountable in international court through a landmark action under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

 

From survival to sourdough: the refugee journey behind Australia’s first social enterprise bakery. In 12 years, the social enterprise Bread & Butter Project has trained 120 refugee bakers, opening doors to security, confidence and community.

 

‘Incorrect reporting of ABS data fuelling false claims Australia has a mass migration problem’, Australia National University (ANU).

 

‘Why refugees in Australia still face barriers to good jobs’, Phys.org. A study by UNSW researchers found that discrimination by employers is the major reason why refugees in Australia are significantly less likely to be employed than other migrants. The report found refugees were 88% less likely to be employed than non-humanitarian migrants on arrival, and 51% less likely to be employed after five years in Australia.

 

Nauru and Manus Island:

‘'Immediate pause' urged on 'secret' Nauru deal, after speech sparks safety concerns’, SBS News. Nauru’s President David Adeang said in an interview in February that non-citizens deported from Australia may be returned to their countries of origin over time, according to an independently verified translation of the interview obtained by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. The government has previously refused to release its own translation of the interview. Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Independent Senator David Pocock read the translation to the Senate and raised concerns about potential refoulement of refugees in the ‘NZYQ cohort’ of non-citizens, who may be deported to Nauru under a recent agreement with Australia. 

 

Australia was alerted to millions in suspicious payments to Nauru politicians. Then it signed a $2.5b deal, Sydney Morning Herald. Greens Senator David Shoebridge claimed the Albanese government already knew the Nauruan president was suspected of corruption and money laundering before signing a A$2.5 billion agreement with Nauru to accept deported non-citizens. Shoebridge read into Hansard information from a previously unreleased 2022 report by financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC, detailing suspicious financial activity by Nauru’s President David Adeang and other senior Nauruan officials. The Senate approved Shoebridge’s motion for an inquiry into the government’s offshore processing and resettlement arrangements with Nauru since 2022, to be carried out by the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee.

 

‘Albanese defends $2.5bn Nauru deal as transparency advocates warn taxpayer dollars could fuel ‘kleptocracy’, The Guardian Australia. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told the Senate the allegations have been raised with the president of Nauru, and defended the arrangement to deport non-citizens to Nauru as a means to deter people-smuggling to Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement with Nauru was ‘entirely appropriate’.

 

‘Watchdogs spent millions with security firm linked to Finks bikie gang’. Australian security firm MA Services, which holds contracts with the federal government worth millions of dollars, is allegedly implicated in a contract linked to a motorcycle gang to provide security services for non-citizen deportees on Nauru, according to an investigation by The Age.

 

Sheridan Ward, ‘Nauru’s latest deportee deal with Australia repeats old mistakes’.

 

Other:

The Associated Press reported the Trump administration plans to retrospectively review all refugees admitted during the Biden administration, nearly 200,000 people in total, according to a memo from the director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) dated 21 November. The memo also suspended approval of green card applications by refugees who arrived during that period. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the Biden administration had prioritised numbers of admissions over rigorous vetting. Advocates condemned the move, saying the reinterview process and the threat of losing permanent residency status will retraumatize vulnerable refugees who are already the most intensively vetted immigrants in the country, and have already caused ‘widespread fear and uncertainty’ in refugee communities.

 

In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah caused heavy floods and mudslides, which killed at least 200 people, with hundreds still missing and nearly 78,000 displaced to temporary shelters, according to national disaster management authorities. Authorities continued to evacuate thousands of residents from low-lying areas in the country’s capital, Colombo, with flood waters still rising, and issued urgent evacuation orders for residents living downstream of the Mavil Aru reservoir. 

 

In the Philippines, nearly 700,000 people remained displaced in the wake of two typhoons, Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-wong), which struck the country earlier this month. Almost 500,000 of those still displaced remain in evacuation centres, with the remainder staying with relatives or friends.

 

In central Vietnam, at least 55 people were killed and some 62,000 people were evacuated from their homes as torrential rains brought severe flooding and landslides across the region, with further heavy rainfall expected. 

 

Reports & Publications

UNHCR released the 2025 Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) Indicator Report, analysing progress towards the four objectives of the Compact and challenges experienced.

 

Refugee-led initiatives (RLIs) in Thailand have delivered vital services for decades, quietly building systems of care, governance and resilience in the face of conflict, displacement and shrinking humanitarian support. As conditions in Myanmar worsen and political hostility towards refugees grows, the work of these RLIs has never been more essential. A new report by the Kaldor Centre, the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) and Act for Peace, authored by Brian Barbour, Mohammad Baqir Bayani, Najeeba Wazefadost, Patrick Wall and Tristan Harley, offers a powerful account of refugee leadership in action. It highlights the urgent need for donors, governments and civil society to sustain and expand support for RLIs across both camp and urban settings.

 

Irwin Loy, ‘What is a “route-based approach” for refugees and migrants?.

 

Ala Sirriyeh, ‘How new asylum policies will affect child refugees.

 

‘Rethinking Humanitarianism | Who wants to be the new UN refugee chief’ (Podcast), The New Humanitarian.

 

Ondine de Gaulle and Shahzaib Wahlah, ‘The endless exile of Afghan refugees in Pakistan’.

Mitra Naseh, Maryam Rafieifar, and Jean-Francois Trani, ‘As the US suspends visas, an in-depth look at the global Afghan refugee crisis’.

 

William Maley and Niamatullah Ibrahimi, ‘Australia’s “deep concern” at multilayered persecution of Afghanistan’s Hazaras’.
 

Daniel Ghezelbash, ‘The Refugee Convention is under threat, but it is not the problem.

 

UNHCR launched Programme Partner Hub as a dedicated platform that brings together key resources such as the Programme Handbook for partners, e-learning opportunities for UNHCR-funded partners, templates, guidance notes, and other practical tools. Please sign up for this mailing list for updates.

 

R-Space at UNGA 2025: Historic dialogue with UNHCR Candidates can be watched on YouTube: Day1 and Day2.

 

UNHCR's 2025 Mid-Year Trends analysis changes and trends in forced displacement during the first six months of 2025. The report provides key statistics on refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and stateless people, as well as their main host countries and countries of origin. It provides a summary of outstanding registered asylum cases per country, decisions and resettlement. The Annex has data for each country operation, see attached. Longer-term data is available here.

 

Non-Signatory States in International Refugee Law, find Information about the webinar series here.  The video recording of Webinar 1 is available here.

 

“Funding Access for Refugee-led Organizations (RLOs): Challenges and Guidance” — a new report designed to support RLOs in navigating the funding landscape, offers practical tools and strategies to assist in drafting applications and appeals for funding.

 

Missing in (Climate) Action? Displaced Communities and the Search for Durable Solutions: Bangladesh as a loss and damage case study voices of people living in three different communities of displacement in Bangladesh, this field research and advocacy report examines the nexus of climate change, loss and damage and displacement, highlights promising interventions by Bangladeshi civil society organisations that have helped internally displaced people (IDPs) living in protracted displacement move toward durable solutions. 

 

Harnessing Possibilities and Synergies to Refugee Complementary Migration Pathways in Australia: A Multiple Streams Analysis.

 

APRRN/Members’ Job Vacancies

Asia-Pacific Programme Assistant

Program Management - Remote

Status: Full-time (5 days per week)

Direct Reports: Consultant/Interns/volunteers, where relevant (at present, this role doesn’t have any direct reports)

Contract Duration: One year, with the possibility of extension depending on funding

Compensation: MYR 58,000–65,000 per annum for candidates based in Malaysia

THB 480,000–540,000 per annum for candidates based in Thailand

Dependent on experience.

Location: This post can be based in Malaysia or Thailand. You must have the right to work in the country for which you are applying. Unfortunately, IDC is unable to support work visa applications or relocation.

Application Process

To apply for this role, please upload your resume and a cover letter on the IDC Careers Webpage by 9th January 2026.

Please ensure that you clearly address all of the key selection criteria in your application.

If you have enquiries, please write to jobs@idcoalition.org. Please note that no application will be accepted if sent by email.

Interviews will be held virtually in January 2026.

The selected candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible.

 

Funding opportunities

 

Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region. Australian organisations can apply for funding (up to AUD $34,500 per Fellow) to host and support a range of professional development activities, including: work attachment; supervised research; a management or leadership course; a study tour; program meetings and visits, or a combination of these.

 

UN Women has launched the Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women's Empowerment to recognise and celebrate the outstanding efforts of individuals, civil society, public institutions, and private sector actors working toward gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Deadline 20 March 2026

 

The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) Rapid Response Window (RRW) is accepting concept notes from eligible applicants in countries with active peace processes (Burma(Myanmar), Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam), Deadline 31 December 2025

 

The UN Trust Fund has launched a new Call for Proposals to provide four-year grants, offering both core and flexible funds, to civil society organisations working to end violence against women and girls.

 

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation is now accepting applications for its HealthPro2 Grant Program covering Food Safety, Nutrition, Community Development, Health, Health & Hygiene, Health care, Malnutrition, Poverty Alleviation, Refugee & Asylum Seekers, Sustainable Development, Sanitation, and Water. Deadline 29 December 2025

 

UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has launched a Call for Proposals for not-for-profit organisations, including national and international NGOs in Pakistan, to collaborate on the project “Harmonising Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Urban Slums in Pakistan for Peaceful Coexistence and Social, Gender-Positive Inclusiveness.”

 

The International Court of Justice is accepting applications for its Judicial Fellowship Programme to improve participants’ understanding of public international law in practice and the Court’s procedures by directly involving them in the activities of the Court. Deadline: Feb 05, 2026

 

The call for nominations for the Front Line Defenders 2026 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk offers a powerful chance to recognize courageous individuals and groups around the world who defend the rights of others, often under severe threat. Deadline: Jan 23, 2026
 

Open Call: FIP Foundation Early Career Leadership Development Scholarships

Deadline: Jan 07, 2026

Donor: International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)

Grant Type: Scholarship

Grant Size: Not Available

Area: , Leadership, Youth & Adolescents

The FIP Foundation, in partnership with the ECPG and the Regional Forums, is offering six scholarships to support young pharmacists or pharmaceutical scientists in attending the FIP World Congress and participating in the Leadership Development Workshop.

For more information, visit https://www.fipfoundation.org/early-career-pharmacy-professionals/ 

 

CFPs: Local Projects on Health and Medicine/Education and Youth Development 2026

Deadline: Jan 13, 2026

Donor: Asian Community Trust

Grant Type: Grant

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines

Area: Education, Health, Youth & Adolescents

The Asian Community Trust (ACT) offers financial support to organizations working in the field of education and youth development, encouraging projects that create long-term impact and sustainability.

For more information, visit https://act-trust.org/en/fy2026_call-for-proposals_hm_eyd/ 

 

CFPs: Women's Scholarship for International Students 2026

Deadline: Aug 28, 2026

Donor: educations.com

Grant Type: Scholarship

Grant Size: $1000 to $10,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Students, Women and Girls, Women & Gender

Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the Women's Scholarship to award female students on all higher study level.

For more information, visit https://www.educations.com/scholarships/women-scholarship-for-international-students 

 

2026 GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security

Deadline: Mar 20, 2026

Donor: Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Grant Type: Grant

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Education, Climate Change, Human Rights, Cyber Security, Peace & Conflict Resolution, Technology

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is inviting applications for its GCSP Prize for Transformative Futures in Peace and Security, a global opportunity to reward visionary ideas that address peace and security challenges.

For more information, visit https://www.gcsp.ch/events/apply-2026-gcsp-prize-transformative-futures-peace-and-security 

 

Mongolia Direct Aid Program (DAP) 2025‑26, Australian Embassy Ulaanbaatar (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). 

The Australian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar has launched its 2025‑26 Direct Aid Program (DAP), a small grants initiative designed to empower community‑led development in Mongolia through practical, locally rooted projects. Priority areas include agriculture and rural livelihoods, climate change adaptation and resilience, education and youth empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion (GEDSI), health and hygiene, and human rights. DAP encourages initiatives that directly benefit local communities, foster inclusion, and enhance resilience in Mongolia’s diverse contexts.

• Geographies: Mongolia (national).
• Who can apply: Local and international NGOs, not‑for‑profits, educational institutions, and eligible government agencies (non‑profit projects).
• Funding amount: Up to AUD $30,000 per project.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Community Development; Focus areas: agriculture, climate adaptation, education, youth empowerment, GEDSI, human rights.
• Deadline: December 29, 2025 (23:59 Ulaanbaatar / Mongolia time).
• Learn more and apply here.

 

Partnering with UNFPA APRO to Support Implementation of the Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO). *New!*

UNFPA APRO is launching a regional call for expressions of interest to build a pre-qualified roster of Implementing Partners for its 2026–2029 Asia-Pacific strategy. This initiative aligns with UNFPA’s global strategic plan and focuses on accelerating progress toward its three transformative results: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. The regional program also prioritises cross-cutting commitments to disability inclusion, youth leadership, crisis response, and inclusive systems adaptation. Selected partners will support the implementation of multi-country and regional initiatives across areas like health systems strengthening, data and research, emergency preparedness, policy advocacy, and South-South collaboration. Applicants must demonstrate strong regional experience, prior UN familiarity, and technical excellence in one or more priority sectors.

• Geographies: Asia-Pacific (East, South, Southeast Asia; Pacific).
• Who can apply: NGOs, CSOs, universities, and institutions with regional experience in health, gender, youth, or protection.
• Funding amount: N/A.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Gender Equality; Focus areas: family planning, maternal health, disability inclusion, youth, GBV
• Deadline: January 30, 2026.
• Learn more and apply here.

 

Small Grants Program, Mérieux Foundation. *New!*

The Mérieux Foundation’s Small Grants Program supports local, community-rooted initiatives combatting infectious diseases in vulnerable populations, especially mothers and children. Grants fund implementation-ready projects that are aligned with local priorities, integrated with existing health efforts, and led by organisations embedded in the target communities. Applicants must demonstrate a long-term commitment to public health and adhere to the ethical principles outlined in the Foundation’s charter.

• Geographies: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, 
• Who can apply: Local nonprofit organisations registered for ≥3 years; student groups and international NGOs are not eligible.
• Funding amount: Up to EUR €5,000 per project; overall project budget may not exceed €50,000.
• Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: maternal & child health, community-based infectious disease response, gender equity.
• Deadline: Two rounds yearly, March 1, 2026, and August 1, 2026.
• Learn more and apply here.

 

Call for Nominations: Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment

Deadline: Mar 27, 2026

Donor: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Gender Equality, Women & Gender

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Government of Iceland, has opened nominations for the 2026 Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment.

For more information, visit https://pace.coe.int/en/pages/vigdisprize 

 

CPFs: Financial Support to Third Parties component of the CARPET Project

Deadline: Jan 05, 2026

Donor: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Grant Type: Grant

Grant Size: $100,000 to $500,000

Countries/Regions: Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa

Area: Businesses, Companies and Enterprises, Civil Society Development, Human Rights

The Corporate Accountability, Resilience, and Participation for an Equitable Transition Project Call presents an exciting funding opportunity for grassroots and local civil society organisations (CSOs) in Indonesia, Kenya, the Philippines, and South Africa.

For more information, visit https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/call-for-proposals-csos-in-kenya-south-africa-indonesia-and-the-philippines-advancing-a-just-rights-based-transition-to-green-economies/ 

 

UNDP Insurance Innovation Challenge for Inclusive Solutions in Pakistan

Deadline: Dec 27, 2025

Donor: United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)

Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: Pakistan

Area: Financial Management, Business & Industry, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environment, Health, Disaster Preparedness, Innovation, Marketing, Technology, Sustainable Development, Gender Equality

The Insurance Innovation Challenge by UNDP Pakistan invites applications to support scalable and impactful inclusive insurance models through innovation, collaboration and sustainability for vulnerable and underserved communities.

For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_negotiation.cfm?nego_id=41218 

 

Call for Applications: Un Decade Youth Task Force Microgrant Program

Deadline: Dec 31, 2025

Donor: UN Decade Youth Task Force

Grant Type: Grant

Grant Size: Less than $1000

Area: Community Engagement, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environment, Rehabilitation, Leadership, Sustainable Development, Water, Youth & Adolescents

The UN Decade Youth Task Force is pleased to announce the 2026 Call for Micro-Grant applications towards ecosystem restoration efforts.

For more information, visit https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/events/un-decade-youth-task-force-microgrant-call-applications 

 

Nominations open for Grawemeyer Award Program

Deadline: Jan 30, 2026

Donor: Grawemeyer Awards

Grant Type: Awards, Prizes and Challenges

Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

Countries/Regions: All Countries

Area: Environment, Individuals, Peace & Conflict Resolution

The Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order offers a remarkable opportunity for scholars, authors or thinkers worldwide to gain recognition — and substantial support — for powerful ideas aimed at making the world more just, peaceful and cooperative. 

For more information, visit http://grawemeyer.org/world-order/