Overview
The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (hosted by Elrha) is seeking proposals for innovative approaches that address urgent and evolving needs in Syria.
Syria remains one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crisis settings, with 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and over 7.4 million internally displaced as of early 2025. The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 triggered significant new population movements. By May 2025, 1.87 million Syrians — both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees — had returned to their homes. Projections suggest that 2 million more IDPs and 1.5 million refugees may return by year’s end.
Ongoing conflict, insecurity, and infrastructure damage across Syria continue to generate humanitarian needs, including displacement, protection issues, and barriers to humanitarian access. Reconstruction efforts are hindered by unexploded ordnance, economic deterioration, and degraded essential services. Cuts to humanitarian funding have also created additional gaps in coordination, data collection, and information management. Children and women are particularly vulnerable, facing displacement, food insecurity, and disrupted access to healthcare and education.
In response, UKHIH invites proposals for innovative projects that empower affected populations, enhance response efficiency and effectiveness, and generate transferable learning for the wider sector.
What is the Responsive Fund – Syria?
This call for proposals marks the beginning of a new and specialised funding stream of our Responsive Fund.
Our Responsive Fund aims to swiftly address emerging crises through problem-led research initiatives identified by networked humanitarian actors. Projects supported by the Responsive Fund meaningfully contribute to addressing context-specific problems in emerging crises.
Based on the insights generated in our April 2025 report, After Assad: Navigating Syria’s Humanitarian Crossroads, we have evolved the Responsive Fund to help generate learning and action on Syria as a specific context, aiming to help meet identified needs and priorities.
The design of this funding stream has also been informed by findings from interviews with humanitarian responders, civil society leaders, and policy actors.
Selection process
The deadline for submissions is Friday 20 June 2025, 17:00 (BST).
Applications will be subject to:
- Initial Screening: Completeness and eligibility
- Technical Review: Review by the UKHIH Advisory Committee
- Specialist Input: Additional input where necessary on complex topics
- Objective Evaluation: Assessment against criteria
For more information on the selection process, please see the application requirements and assessment criteria in the UKHIH Syria Responsive Fund Guidance document on our website – Call for Proposals now open: Responsive Fund – Syria – UKHIH.
How to Apply:
Proposals must be submitted to information@ukhih.org. Please ensure your email subject line is Application: Responsive Fund – Syria.
All submissions must include the application form, budget template, and due diligence information checklist and questionnaire. Please find these on our website – Call for Proposals now open: Responsive Fund – Syria – UKHIH – under supporting documents.
