Organizations working to improve the lives of refugees and host communities in Uganda now have an important opportunity to secure significant funding through the Uganda Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) Project. The British High Commission in Kampala, through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has officially launched a call for proposals seeking experienced partners to help address humanitarian needs while building long-term resilience and self-reliance among refugee populations and host communities.
With a total funding envelope of up to £20 million over a period of two and a half years, this initiative represents one of the most significant refugee-focused development funding opportunities currently available in Uganda. The programme is designed to support vulnerable refugee populations, strengthen host communities, and contribute to Uganda’s globally recognized refugee policy framework.
Organizations interested in participating must submit their concept notes by 16 June 2026 at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT).
About the Uganda ReSET Programme
The Uganda Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) Programme is a bilateral partnership between the United Kingdom and the Government of Uganda. The initiative seeks to support Uganda’s transition from a predominantly humanitarian refugee response model toward a more sustainable approach centered on resilience, empowerment, and self-reliance.
Uganda is internationally recognized for its progressive refugee policies, which provide refugees with rights and opportunities that are often unavailable in many other refugee-hosting countries. However, increasing refugee numbers and growing resource constraints have created significant challenges that require innovative and sustainable solutions.
To address these challenges, the ReSET Programme focuses on helping refugees become more self-reliant while ensuring that urgent humanitarian needs continue to be met.
The programme’s business case was approved in March 2026, and activities funded through this call for proposals will run from August 2026 through March 2029.
Funding Overview
Key details of the funding opportunity include:
- Funding Organization: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the British High Commission Kampala
- Programme Name: Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET)
- Total Available Funding: Up to £20 million
- Implementation Period: August 2026 – March 2029
- Duration: Approximately 2.5 years
- Geographic Focus: Uganda
- Eligible Applicants: NGOs registered under the Uganda NGO Bureau
- Deadline: 16 June 2026 at 11:59 PM EAT
Objectives of the ReSET Programme
The ReSET Programme aims to create lasting positive change by supporting both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term development outcomes.
The initiative is built around two major pillars that organizations may choose to address individually or jointly.
Pillar 1: Meeting Core Humanitarian Needs
The first pillar focuses on ensuring that the most vulnerable refugees and affected host communities receive critical humanitarian support.
This includes:
Food Security Support
Organizations may propose interventions that:
- Improve access to food for vulnerable populations
- Reduce food insecurity among refugee households
- Support nutrition-sensitive programming
- Address emergency food needs among newly arrived refugees
Protection Services
Projects may focus on:
- Child protection
- Gender-based violence prevention and response
- Legal protection services
- Community-based protection mechanisms
- Protection of vulnerable groups
Multisectoral Humanitarian Assistance
Applicants are encouraged to design integrated responses that combine multiple services to effectively address urgent humanitarian needs.
Special attention should be given to:
- Newly arrived refugees
- Vulnerable women and girls
- Persons with disabilities
- Youth
- Host communities affected by humanitarian shocks
Pillar 2: Building Self-Reliance and Resilience
The second pillar focuses on helping refugees and host communities move beyond dependence on humanitarian assistance.
The objective is to enable economically vulnerable households to build sustainable livelihoods and increase resilience against future shocks.
Areas of intervention may include:
Economic Empowerment
Projects could support:
- Income generation
- Entrepreneurship
- Vocational training
- Financial inclusion
- Skills development
Livelihood Strengthening
Potential interventions include:
- Agricultural development
- Market access initiatives
- Value chain development
- Business incubation
- Employment creation
Resilience Building
Organizations may propose activities aimed at:
- Improving household resilience
- Strengthening community coping mechanisms
- Enhancing disaster preparedness
- Reducing vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks
Cross-Cutting Themes and Priorities
The British High Commission and FCDO emphasize that all projects should align with several important cross-cutting priorities.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Applicants should demonstrate how their interventions will:
- Promote gender equality
- Empower women and girls
- Increase opportunities for marginalized groups
- Ensure inclusive participation
Climate Resilience
Projects should integrate climate-smart approaches and support communities in adapting to environmental challenges.
Social Cohesion
Successful proposals should strengthen positive relationships between refugees and host communities.
Localization
Organizations are encouraged to incorporate local leadership and community-driven solutions into project design and implementation.
Alignment with Government Priorities
Proposals should demonstrate alignment with:
- Government of Uganda policies
- National refugee frameworks
- International Financial Institution (IFI) priorities
- Existing development strategies
Who Can Apply?
The ReSET call for proposals is open to organizations that meet the following requirements:
Eligible Organizations
- International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)
- National Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs)
Registration Requirement
All applicants must possess valid registration under the Uganda NGO Bureau.
Consortium Applications Encouraged
The British High Commission welcomes applications from:
- Individual organizations
- Partnerships
- Consortia
Consortium approaches may provide opportunities to combine expertise across multiple sectors and improve the overall impact of proposed interventions.
How to Apply
Organizations must submit an Expression of Interest through a concept note.
Concept Note Requirements
Applicants are required to submit:
- A concept note not exceeding seven pages
- A clear implementation strategy
- Expected outcomes and impacts
- Alignment with ReSET objectives
- Budget considerations
- Organizational capacity information
Applicants May Propose Activities Under:
- Pillar 1 only – Core Humanitarian Needs
- Pillar 2 only – Self-Reliance and Resilience
- Both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2
Organizations should clearly indicate which pillar(s) their proposal addresses.
Why This Funding Opportunity Matters
Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa and continues to demonstrate leadership through its inclusive refugee policies.
However, increasing humanitarian demands require innovative approaches that not only address immediate needs but also create sustainable pathways toward independence and resilience.
Through the ReSET Programme, the UK Government aims to:
- Improve humanitarian outcomes
- Strengthen economic opportunities
- Enhance social cohesion
- Promote gender equality
- Build climate resilience
- Support long-term development solutions
The programme represents a major investment in creating durable solutions for refugees and host communities while strengthening Uganda’s refugee response system.
Key Benefits of the ReSET Funding Opportunity
Organizations selected under this initiative may benefit from:
- Access to a funding pool worth up to £20 million
- Long-term implementation period of approximately 2.5 years
- Opportunity to influence refugee policy and development outcomes
- Support for both humanitarian and development programming
- Increased visibility through partnership with the UK Government
- Potential for large-scale impact among refugee and host populations
- Opportunities for collaboration through consortium approaches
Important Deadline
Organizations must submit their concept notes no later than:
16 June 2026 at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT)
Late submissions may not be considered.
Contact Information
For questions and clarifications regarding the ReSET call for proposals, applicants may contact:
bhckampala.submissions@fcdo.gov.uk
Interested organizations are encouraged to begin preparing their concept notes immediately to ensure sufficient time for proposal development and submission before the deadline.
Learn More
- For more information about this opportunity, Click here
- More global Grants opportunities for youth, visit the OFY website: Click here
