UNHCR RFA: Kuala Lumpur City for All

UNHCR RFA: Kuala Lumpur City for All

Strengthening Refugee Resilience and Social Equity

Deadline: 18 September 2025
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Target group: Refugees & asylum-seekers (~40,510 individuals)

Project Overview

This UNHCR initiative seeks partners to implement a community-based project in Kuala Lumpur aimed at:

• Empowering refugee communities.

• Enhancing gender equality.

• Strengthening access to essential services.

• Promoting refugee self-reliance and inclusion.

Key Components

1. Social Worker Training Programme

• Train 30 refugee social workers.

• Areas of focus:

  • Maternal & child health.

  • Hygiene promotion.

  • Psychosocial care.

  • Case management.

  • Homelessness services.

  • Cultural orientation.

• Role: Frontline responders linking vulnerable individuals to essential services.

2. Transit Shelter Programme

• Connect at least 50 homeless refugees to temporary accommodation.

• Options: Government-linked shelters & NGO/community-managed safe spaces.

• Goal: Immediate relief + long-term stability & reintegration.

3. Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Platform

• Members: UNHCR, city councils, government agencies, NGOs, refugee-led groups, private sector.

• Functions:

  • Policy discussions.

  • Service referrals.

  • Information exchange & collaborative planning.

• At least 4 coordination meetings annually.

Beneficiaries

• Pregnant women, mothers, children, homeless refugees.

• Broader reach: ~40,510 refugees & asylum-seekers in Kuala Lumpur.

Implementation & Staffing

• At least:

  • 1 full-time coordinator.

  • 3 full-time caseworkers.

• Strong gender balance required in staffing.

• Applicants must show:

  • Solid human resources & financial management capacity.

  • Commitment to UNHCR protection & service delivery standards.

Data Protection

• Sensitive data collection includes:

  • Protection concerns.

  • Participation in programming.

  • Service feedback.

• Must comply with UNHCR data protection policies, including:

  • Informed consent.

  • Encrypted databases.

  • Restricted access.

  • Anonymization or pseudonymization for reporting.

Application Requirements

• Concept note including:

  • Objectives & approach.

  • Expected outputs.

  • Indicative budget.

  • Organization’s unique value-add.

  • PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse) measures.

• Evaluation criteria: Best value for money + alignment with UNHCR’s protection & community-based goals.

Opportunity

This RFA offers organizations a chance to:

• Strengthen refugee resilience in Malaysia.

• Advance gender equality.

• Provide life-saving shelter and services.