Call for proposals (Global) - UNVTF
ABOUT THE FUNDING ORGANISATION
United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010 and is managed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Fund exists to provide direct, rights-based assistance to victims and survivors of trafficking in persons worldwide. Its core mandate is to ensure that victims receive protection, recovery support, and access to justice, regardless of their country of origin or legal status.
UNVTF funding typically supports:
- Safe shelter and accommodation
• Medical and psychological care
• Legal assistance and access to justice
• Social services and case management
• Education, vocational training, and livelihood support
• Reintegration and empowerment programmes
A strong emphasis is placed on survivor-centred, trauma-informed, and gender-responsive approaches. The Fund has increasingly prioritised survivor leadership and the meaningful participation of persons with lived experience in programme design and implementation.
ABOUT THIS GRANT CYCLE (GLOBAL CALL – CYCLE 10.2)
This call focuses specifically on short-term assistance projects that deliver direct services to victims of trafficking.
Key features:
Project duration: Up to 8 months
Grant size: Up to USD 20,000
Geographic scope: Global (including Namibia)
Who may apply: Civil society organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations, and survivor-led organisations
The Fund particularly encourages applications from survivor-led and survivor-informed organisations.
Projects should demonstrate:
- Clear identification of victim needs
• Direct service delivery (not only research or advocacy)
• Strong safeguarding and ethical standards
• Realistic budgets and workplans
• Local partnerships where relevant
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR NAMIBIAN CSOs
Namibia is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking in persons, including for sexual exploitation, forced labour, and domestic servitude. Grassroots and community organisations are often the first point of contact for victims, yet remain under-resourced.
This grant offers an opportunity for Namibian CSOs to strengthen:
- Emergency and transitional shelter services
• Psychosocial support for survivors
• Legal accompaniment and referrals
• Economic empowerment and skills development
• Community-based reintegration support
Small, focused projects with strong local grounding are well aligned with UNVTF’s funding model.
APPLICATION DETAILS
Deadline: 28 February 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Submission email: unodc-victimsfund@un.org
Subject line: Application for UNVTF Grants Programme 2026
Further clarification requests must be sent in writing to the same email address by
6 February 2026, 23:59 (CET).
Written answers will be published on the UNVTF website for transparency.
INFORMATION SESSIONS (MICROSOFT TEAMS)
10 February 2026 at 15:00 CET
12 February 2026 at 10:00 CET
Sessions will be primarily in English and allow applicants to ask questions about eligibility, priorities, and the application process.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS
- Start early and focus on one clearly defined service gap
• Demonstrate existing experience with vulnerable populations
• Keep activities realistic for an 8-month timeframe
• Highlight survivor involvement where applicable
• Ensure safeguarding policies are in place
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
