Annual Grant Cycle

Grants are awarded on a yearly basis for a one-year period. If conditions are met, grants can be renewed for up to five years, although organizations must apply every year.

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Applying for a grant

15 January – 1 March (call for applications)

A call for proposals is issued every year. Applications for grants must be submitted during this time, in English, French or Spanish, via the online portal (access GMS here). 

March – April (screening for admissibility)

Upon receipt of 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 – October (evaluation) 

The Secretariat of the Fund conducts a thorough evaluation of all admissible 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 area conducted to all first-time and returning applicants and periodically to on-going grantees. 

November (Board session and grant recommendations) 

The Secretariat submits all grant evaluations to the Board of Trustees of the Fund, for their review during the annual session in November. 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.

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 a grant

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

January - March (disbursement)

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

15 July (progress report for first-time grantees)

Only grantees receiving a 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 by 1 March of the year following grant implementation.