As it deals with the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the United Nations refugee agency is preparing to ramp up its global fundraising and communications as it launches a tender for agencies to work with it across the world.

The UNHCR has launched its first global tender for two-year contracts for agencies to deliver on five key areas: strategy development for fundraising and communications; brand development; creative production; monitoring and evaluation; and global campaign delivery across engagement and fundraising. The agency hopes that this renewed effort on fundraising and communications will help it develop solid partnerships on a global scale.

The search for five new agencies is part of the UN agency recent focus on integrating fundraising and communications. Agencies will be expected to start by July this year, at the latest, and will have until 19 April to pitch for the contract.  

UNHCR head of private sector fundraising Amanda Seller said, “By teaming up with strong, creative partners, we are looking to build audience, influence change and raise vital funds that will ultimately save and change the lives of those fleeing persecution and conflicts. UNHCR is looking for the best of the best from the creative communications and fundraising sectors to join our roster.”

The majority of income to UNHCR presently comes from donor nations which, earlier this year, pledged $1.5bn to the agency’s work with the refugee crisis in Syria. According to the UNHCR website the amount raised from the ‘private sector’ is relatively small; according to the latest Global Report, some $111m was raised in 2011 from private sources – individuals, corporates and foudnations. The UNHCR fundraises in 20 different countries.

The website refers to the increasingly difficult climate for raising money in the traditional manner. “UNHCR must compete with other humanitarian agencies, including UN sister organizations, for a limited amount of humanitarian funding. The situation has become tougher with the onset of the global economic crisis, with prices rising and both government and corporate donors tightly controlling limited aid budgets.”

 

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