The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and its partners have opened the 2025 Call for Proposals under the Skills, Training, and Education Programme (STEP), aimed at supporting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable host communities with education, skills, and green job opportunities.
STEP is a multi-partner initiative derived from the IsDB’s Fragility and Resilience Strategy. It brings together major humanitarian and development actors, including the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), Spark, Qatar Charity, Jusoor, ICCO, Al Awn Foundation for Development, and Shaikh Abdullah Al Nouri Charity Society.
Targeting countries that host over one million displaced persons, STEP focuses on long-term solutions to poverty and displacement. The current call will contribute toward the programme’s goal of supporting 650,000 children and youth by the end of 2027.
Eligible applicants include:
– NGOs, civil society organisations, and academic institutions, or a consortium of these.
– Organisations with a physical office and operational capacity in one or more of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Cameroon, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye, Uganda, Palestine, and Yemen.
– Applicants must have at least three years of experience (or one year with two references from STEP partners).
– Proven capacity in relevant project implementation, strong financial and governance practices, and a clear co-funding strategy.
Grants will be awarded based on proposal strength and impact, with evaluation focusing on:
– Innovation in addressing challenges facing displaced populations and host countries.
– Sustainable impact, including strategies for self-reliance and long-term benefits.
– Organisational capacity, with documented project experience and strong internal systems.
– Monitoring and evaluation frameworks for tracking progress and learning.
– Capacity to contribute financially or mobilise additional resources.
Deadline: June 12 2025, by 5:00 pm (Jeddah time)
– Submission Format: One PDF document using the official STEP template
– Submission Method: Email to STEP@isdb.org and m.alhadi@isdb.org
– Subject Line: STEP CfP1: [Your Proposal Title] – [Implementation Country]
– Proposal Language: English
– Question Deadline: May 5 2025 (submit via the same emails)
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Each organisation may submit only one proposal, valid for 90 days.
This call represents an opportunity to deliver transformative change for displaced communities through education, skill-building, and sustainable job creation. If your organisation operates in one of the target countries and meets the eligibility criteria, this is your chance to make a lasting impact.
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