Policy engagement, knowledge development and innovation for a strengthened humanitarian sector

Read the call for proposals (Grants Portal)

 

Norad invites applications for grants to strengthen the humanitarian sector through support to organizations working at the intersection of policy engagement, policy knowledge and innovation for the period 2026-2029.

The main objective of Norway’s humanitarian efforts is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and safeguard people’s dignity and rights in humanitarian crises. The Strategy for Norwegian Humanitarian Policy states that “humanitarian efforts must be further developed through knowledge, learning, innovation, and by maintaining broad engagement with various actors and affected groups.” Policy-, knowledge-, and innovation organizations bring insight, skills, capacities and diverse voices into debates on how to reform the humanitarian system, strengthen crisis response and hold governments and organizations accountable to the humanitarian principles.

This open call is directed at non-profit, non-governmental organizations. Non-profit, policy-, knowledge- and innovations organizations from the global south are encouraged to apply.

Purpose of the call

The purpose of this call is to strengthen the humanitarian sector and contribute to humanitarian system reform through support to organizations working at the intersection of policy engagement, knowledge development and innovation.

It aims to contribute to the goals of Norway’s humanitarian strategy, (especially points 6.1, 7.4., and 8.), which emphasizes systems-wide improvements that enable comprehensive humanitarian response, innovations that enhance accountability, protection, participation, and localization of humanitarian assistance, and humanitarian reform informed by the best available evidence from humanitarian research and knowledge communities. 

Core funding

Grants may be applied for core funding to the partner organization (also referred to as “Applicant” in this call) covering three years, during the period 1st of January 2026 to 31^st of January 2029.

We aim to enter into 5-7 grant agreements based on this call for proposals. The estimated amount of funding available under this call for proposals is approximately up to NOK 22 million. Preference will be given to proposals exceeding NOK 2 million and below NOK 5 million.

All proposals must comply with the OECD/DAC criteria for official development assistance (ODA).

This call for proposals is competitive. Proposals will undergo a comparative assessment. The assessment will also take into account the overall portfolio composition of Norway’s humanitarian support. Please note that the assessment of proposals is discretionary, meaning no applicant is guaranteed a grant, even if all the formal and material conditions outlined in this call are met.

All applications must be submitted in English through the Grants Portal. Please read the full call text carefully.

Questions regarding this call for proposals may be sent to policycall@norad.no, and will be answered continuously under Frequently Asked Questions.