2024 Julia Taft Refugee Fund

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process. Applicants must first submit a concise (one-page) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate program idea and objectives. This is not a full proposal.

The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application. Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.

Program Objectives:

This initiative began in 2000, under the leadership of former Assistant Secretary Julia V. Taft

(named for her posthumously), with the intent of providing Ambassadors with the means to

respond to critical gaps that local agencies could address, and which larger multilateral

humanitarian programs have not addressed.

The program is intended to meet gaps in assistance through quick impact projects to meet critical needs not addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), or other international organizations (IOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The Taft Fund is intended for projects that include a target beneficiary base of at least 50 percent refugees or returned refugees. Please note that this program can not cover activities aimed at internally displaced or stateless persons in Nigeria. Additionally, the program may fund projects that support equal access to protection, assistance, and other solutions for LGBTQI+ refugees and stateless persons.

The proposed projects should be one-time interventions, not sustained programs.

Examples of past projects include improved access to education, development of livelihoods,

basic business training, health awareness programs, early childhood development activities,

mental health establishment of agricultural cooperatives, mental health services, protection from gender-based violence, legal assistance, community building activities, sports programs for refugee youth, security upgrades to camps and WASH programs.

Participants and Audiences:

Communities of at least 50 percent refugees or returned refugees. Please note that this program can not cover activities aimed at internally displaced or stateless persons in Nigeria.

Full text of the Notice of Funding Opportunity can be found on U.S. Mission Nigeria website.