Call for applications and initiatives to support internally displaced persons and their supporters in Lebanon

Call for Proposals: Local Initiatives to Support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Returnees in Lebanon

Amid rising regional tensions and escalating conflicts in the region, Lebanon continues to face successive crises. Most notably, the devastating consequences of the recent Israeli assault have resulted in extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, significant human losses, and repeated waves of internal displacement. Thousands of families in the South, the Bekaa, and the outskirts of Beirut were forced to flee their homes in search of safer areas.

Since then, returnees to the towns and villages targeted by the attacks are confronted with numerous challenges, including destroyed homes, devastated infrastructure, limited access to essential services, the loss of loved ones, as well as psychological and social trauma caused by war and displacement, exacerbated by an already worsening economic situation.

In response to these serious humanitarian and social challenges, Berghof Foundation, with support from the European Union, is pleased to announce a call for proposals for local initiatives targeting the needs of internally displaced persons and returnees in Lebanon. This call is launched as part of Berghof's ongoing project aimed at supporting victims of such crises and improving response capacities in similar contexts, while also reinforcing preparedness efforts which should be a critical priority in such worrisome situation.

General Objectives

• To enhance the response to the ongoing needs of internally displaced persons and returnees by supporting initiatives that aim to alleviate the economic, social, and humanitarian challenges they continue to face.
• To strengthen the bonds formed between displaced families and host communities during times of displacement and
• to promote national reconciliation and social cohesion among Lebanese communities.

Eligible Applicants

• Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs)
• Academic, cultural, educational, or media institutions engaged in community- oriented work
• Religious institutions or labor union entities with an active role in community engagement
• Youth or community-led initiatives (registered or not) with prior field experience
• Volunteer-based organizations and grassroots associations
• Actors in the agriculture and development sectors
• Community-based actors such as local associations, neighborhood groups, and individual community activists

Eligibility Criteria

• The initiative must directly address specific needs of IDPs and/or returnees with clear justification for any geographic focus.
• The initiative is more concerned with sustainable meaningful services rather than direct financial or in-kind assistance (such as cash assistance or direct material distribution).
• Adherence to principles of non-discrimination and transparency is required.
• Alignment with the general objectives of the project, particularly its emphasis on facilitating national reconciliation.
• Previous experience in delivering community-level support

Implementation Requirements

• The implementation of the selected projects is expected to start in October 2025. The project duration may range from a minimum of one (1) month to a maximum of four (4) months.

Budget Guidelines

• Budgets should reflect the scale, relevance, and anticipated impact of the initiative, whether small, medium, or large in scope, and may fall within multiple funding ranges depending on the strength of the proposal.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit realistic budgets that match the nature of the proposed activities.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must submit the following:

1. A brief overview of the applying team or organization
2. A concept note outlining the initiative (including objectives, target group, geographical focus, and expected impact)
3. Implementation plan and approach
4. An initial budget estimate (a detailed budget will be requested from shortlisted applicants)
5. There is no specific template required for the concept note.