Understanding the Inter-Agency PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund

Local and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in areas affected by humanitarian crises have a significant chance to get funding for projects focused on community protection and awareness. This opportunity comes from the Inter-Agency PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund for 2026. This program is a joint effort by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA). Its main goal is to support local groups in their work to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in communities that need help.

The fund is currently accepting proposals for projects that aim to create community-focused outreach campaigns, awareness materials, and communication plans. It also supports efforts to strengthen existing systems for protection. These projects are designed to fit the specific needs, languages, and cultures of the local communities they serve. This funding is especially important for smaller, local organizations and civil society groups that work directly with people affected by humanitarian crises, such as displaced populations and refugees.

About the PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund

The Inter-Agency PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund was created in 2020. It is a partnership between ICVA and UNHCR. Since it began, the fund has focused on giving local organizations the power to lead efforts in raising awareness and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in humanitarian situations.

The fund understands that local organizations are often the best equipped to grasp the realities of a community. They can communicate effectively in local languages and create programs that are culturally appropriate and truly connect with the people they are trying to help. The initiative aims to make sure that people receiving humanitarian aid know about their rights. It also ensures they understand that aid should never be exchanged for favors, that safe ways to report problems exist, and that support systems are available. Furthermore, it encourages community members to take part in protection efforts. By backing local leadership, the fund helps build a humanitarian response system that is more accountable, open, and driven by the community.

What the Fund Supports

The 2026 PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund provides support for many different kinds of projects. These projects are all locally driven and aim to improve awareness, communication, and protection systems related to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

Community-Led Protection Initiatives

The fund gives priority to projects that put communities at the heart of protection efforts. It encourages organizations to involve the people affected by crises directly in planning and carrying out outreach strategies. This can include things like community awareness campaigns, education programs where people teach each other, grassroots advocacy, communication methods that focus on survivors, and sessions for community discussions.

Locally Tailored Communication Materials

Projects that receive funding are expected to create outreach materials that are specifically designed for the local context. This means using local languages, considering different literacy levels, respecting cultural backgrounds, and targeting vulnerable groups. The materials should also use communication methods that are common in the community. Examples of materials include posters, radio programs, comics, community theater, videos, social media content, audio messages, and educational toolkits.

Strengthening Local Leadership in PSEA

A key goal of the fund is to build local ownership of PSEA initiatives. It aims to support grassroots organizations so they can become leaders in humanitarian protection systems. This effort supports major international goals, such as the Grand Bargain localization agenda, the Global Compact on Refugees, and commitments from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) regarding localization.

Open-Source PSEA Materials and Knowledge Sharing

All the outreach materials created through projects funded by this program will be added to a public database. This allows organizations around the world to use and adapt effective communication tools. It also helps reduce duplicated efforts and makes humanitarian messages more consistent.

Impact of the PSEA Outreach Fund

Since it was started, the fund has already shown clear results in many humanitarian situations worldwide.

Key Achievements

Over 65 PSEA outreach projects have been funded, supporting grassroots protection and awareness efforts led by local organizations. These projects have reached more than 2 million people with important messages about protection and awareness. Communication materials have been developed in over 60 different languages, making them more accessible and inclusive for diverse populations. In total, more than 450 outreach materials have been created and are available for others to use.

Independent Evaluation Findings

An independent review, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has confirmed that the fund is having a strong impact and is strategically important.

Major Findings Include:

The evaluation found an 84% increase in community awareness about preventing sexual exploitation and abuse in the areas where projects were active. About 85% of the organizations involved noticed a moderate to significant rise in the reporting of SEA-related incidents after their projects were put in place. A large majority, 78% of organizations, reported that working on a fund-supported project significantly improved their internal capacity to handle PSEA issues. Additionally, 68% of respondents indicated that communities were deeply involved in planning and carrying out projects, which helped build trust and made the projects more effective.

Why This Fund Matters in Humanitarian Settings

Sexual exploitation and abuse remain serious problems in humanitarian settings. Vulnerable people in these situations often face greater risks and power imbalances. The PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund helps address these issues by supporting protection strategies that are led by local communities. It also works to increase awareness among vulnerable groups, promote safe ways to report problems, strengthen accountability, and encourage approaches that focus on the needs of survivors. Importantly, the fund goes beyond simple awareness campaigns by supporting projects that look at the bigger issues and power dynamics that can lead to exploitation and abuse.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

The 2026 Call for Proposals is mainly for local and national NGOs that are working in humanitarian crises. Organizations applying should have experience working with communities, the ability to carry out outreach activities, and a good understanding of local situations and languages. They must also be committed to protection and safeguarding principles and be able to create communication materials that fit the local culture. Projects should focus on humanitarian settings and prioritize populations that are at risk.

Application Timeline

Applications opened on May 19, 2026. The deadline for submitting applications is June 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET. It is important for organizations to prepare their proposals early, as late applications may not be considered.

Available Resources for Applicants

Applicants can find guidance and application materials in several languages, including English, Arabic, and French. The fund also provides access to a database of PSEA materials, summaries of past projects, publications from ICVA on PSEA, and documents that offer guidance on how to apply.

Benefits of Participating in the Fund

Organizations that are chosen for funding can gain several advantages. These include financial support for their PSEA outreach projects, increased visibility for their organization, opportunities to build their capacity, access to global PSEA resources, and the chance to be part of international humanitarian protection networks. They can also contribute to safeguarding systems that are led by the community and develop opportunities for long-term partnerships.

How to Apply

Organizations that are interested should carefully read the official guidance documents and application materials before sending in their proposals. Applicants are advised to understand the community’s needs clearly, show their local engagement, and explain their plans for making the project sustainable. They should also highlight their use of culturally adapted approaches and include ways to measure the project’s results.

Frequently Asked Questions