Annual grant cycle

The UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture awards annual grants every year for a one-year period. If conditions are met, grants can be renewed for up to ten years, although organizations must apply every year.

All requests for funding should be submitted following the Guidelines of the Fund.

Applying for an annual grant

15 January – 1 March (call for annual applications)

A call for annual proposals (direct assistance and capacity building grants) is issued every year. Applications for annual grants must be submitted during this time, in English, French or Spanish, via the online portal, GMS.

March – April (screening for admissibility)

Upon receipt of annual project applications, the Secretariat of the Fund screens all applications from organizations seeking funding for the first time or following a funding gap, for admissibility. Basic eligibility requirements are verified and, if required, clarifications or supporting documents sought from the applicant.    

May – September (evaluation) 

The Secretariat of the Fund conducts a thorough evaluation of all admissible annual grant applications. This includes analysis of the submitted application and, for on-going grantees, the financial and narrative reports on the use of the previous year’s grant. On-site visits are conducted to all first-time and returning applicants, and periodically to on-going grantees.

October (Board session and grant recommendations) 

The Secretariat submits all annual grant evaluations to the Board of Trustees of the Fund, for their review during the annual session in October. Board members consider applications through a competitive review process and, in light of available income, determine which grant applications to recommend for funding. The Board’s recommendations endorsed by the Secretary-General, through the High Commissioner.

November - December (notification) 

All applicants are informed of the outcome of their grant application for the following year through a Letter of Notification. Successful applicants are required to submit a revised budget for the amount awarded.

Implementing and reporting on an annual grant

Awarded annual grants have an implementation period of one calendar year (1 January – 31 December). 

January - March (disbursement)

As a general rule, awarded annual grants are disbursed during the first trimester of project implementation. 

15 July (progress report for first-time grantees)

Only grantees receiving an annual grant for the first time must submit a narrative report by 15 July, reporting on the progress of grant implementation. 

1 March of the following year (final financial and narrative report)

All grantees must submit the final financial and narrative report of the annual grant by 1 March of the year following grant implementation.