FCDO HELP-S Sudan Grant: A £30 Million Opportunity for Humanitarian and Resilience Programs
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced a significant funding opportunity through its Humanitarian Emergency and Longer-term Planning – Sudan (HELP-S) programme. This initiative offers £30 million to support humanitarian and resilience efforts in Sudan, focusing on conflict-affected areas. Running from 2026 to 2029, the program aims to strengthen locally led humanitarian action and improve community resilience. This funding is particularly relevant for humanitarian organizations, local Sudanese actors, NGOs, academic institutions, and international agencies working to assist vulnerable populations.
Understanding the HELP-S Programme
The HELP-S programme was created in response to the severe humanitarian crisis and displacement challenges currently facing Sudan. It acknowledges that local communities are often the first to respond during emergencies. Therefore, the program emphasizes building stronger partnerships between local and international organizations to create more effective and sustainable humanitarian responses.
The core focus areas of the HELP-S programme include:
- Supporting community resilience: Helping communities better withstand and recover from crises.
- Strengthening local humanitarian responders: Empowering Sudanese organizations and individuals to lead aid efforts.
- Improving humanitarian coordination: Ensuring a more organized and efficient delivery of aid.
- Enhancing locally led approaches: Prioritizing community needs and leadership in program design and execution.
- Filling critical response gaps: Addressing immediate needs in stable regions that are still experiencing high levels of humanitarian distress.
- Promoting adaptive and flexible programming: Enabling quick adjustments to changing conditions on the ground.
The FCDO intends for this program to serve as a model that combines immediate relief with long-term planning for resilience, preparing communities for future challenges.
Funding Details and Focus Areas
The HELP-S programme provides a total of £30 million for initiatives that will run for 2.5 years, from 2026 to 2029. The funding is intended for projects that address critical needs and build long-term capacity within Sudan.
Key sectors targeted for funding include:
- Girls and women: Programs that specifically address the needs and empowerment of women and girls.
- Health: Initiatives aimed at improving health services and outcomes.
- Humanitarian emergencies and disasters: Support for immediate response and recovery efforts.
- Livelihoods: Projects that help individuals and communities regain economic stability.
- Community resilience: Efforts to strengthen the capacity of communities to cope with shocks and stresses.
Organizations applying for this grant are encouraged to propose innovative and sustainable solutions that tackle immediate humanitarian needs while simultaneously building long-term resilience.
Programmatic Goals and Expected Outcomes
The FCDO expects the HELP-S initiative to significantly transform how humanitarian aid is delivered in Sudan by placing local actors at the forefront. The program emphasizes several key principles:
Locally Led Humanitarian Response
A central tenet of the HELP-S programme is the recognition that communities are the primary responders during crises. Consequently, the initiative prioritizes:
- Community-led action: Ensuring that programs are designed and driven by the needs and priorities of the affected communities.
- Local partnerships: Fostering strong collaborations between international organizations and Sudanese entities.
- Sudanese leadership: Empowering Sudanese individuals and organizations to take leading roles in humanitarian efforts.
- Demand-driven responses: Aligning aid delivery with the actual needs identified by the local population.
Strong Partnerships
Genuine collaboration is a cornerstone of this funding opportunity. The program encourages partnerships between:
- International humanitarian actors
- Sudanese civil society organizations
- Community groups
- Research institutions
- Relief agencies
These partnerships should be built on mutual respect, shared accountability, and the effective use of complementary expertise to achieve common goals.
Flexible and Adaptive Programming
Given the dynamic and often volatile situation in Sudan, organizations must demonstrate their ability to adapt. This includes:
- Quickly adjusting activities to meet evolving needs.
- Responding effectively to changing humanitarian conditions.
- Operating successfully in challenging and unstable environments.
- Maintaining program continuity despite conflict-related disruptions.
Innovation and Accountability
The FCDO also expects funded organizations to champion new approaches and maintain high standards of accountability. This involves:
- Promoting innovative methods for delivering humanitarian assistance.
- Strengthening accountability to the people receiving aid.
- Improving community acceptance and trust in humanitarian efforts.
- Upholding fundamental humanitarian principles in all operations.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
The HELP-S programme is open to a broad spectrum of humanitarian and nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants include:
- International Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Sudanese national NGOs
- Local civil society organizations
- United Nations agencies
- Humanitarian relief organizations
- Nonprofit academic institutions
- Research organizations
- Consortia partnerships
While for-profit organizations cannot apply directly, they may be involved as downstream partners within consortium arrangements.
Requirements for Applicants
To be considered for the HELP-S programme, organizations must demonstrate specific operational and institutional capabilities. These include:
Humanitarian Experience
Applicants need to show:
- Proven experience in delivering humanitarian assistance in difficult and challenging environments.
- Demonstrated experience operating effectively in conflict-affected regions.
Sudan Operational Capacity
Organizations must prove:
- Their ability to work in hard-to-reach areas within Sudan.
- A deep understanding of the local humanitarian dynamics and context.
- The existence of strong partnerships with local entities where feasible.
Safeguarding Systems
A critical requirement is the implementation of robust safeguarding measures. Applicants must have:
- Strong systems in place to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
- Effective accountability and protection mechanisms for beneficiaries and staff.
Commitment to Localisation
The FCDO places significant emphasis on empowering local actors. Applicants must demonstrate:
- A clear commitment to locally led humanitarian approaches.
- Genuine partnerships with Sudanese organizations, ensuring shared leadership and participation.
Financial and Compliance Capacity
Eligible organizations must possess:
- Strong financial management systems to ensure responsible use of funds.
- Compliance systems that align with FCDO requirements and standards.
- Transparent operational procedures that can be audited.
Application Process and Deadline
Interested organizations must submit specific documents to express their interest in the HELP-S programme.
Required Documents
- A 5-page Expression of Interest, which must use the official template provided by the FCDO.
- A high-level budget estimate, also using the designated budget template.
Submission Deadline
The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is May 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
For further details and to access the official templates, applicants should refer to the FCDO’s international development funding portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FCDO HELP-S Sudan Grant?
The FCDO HELP-S Sudan Grant is a £30 million funding opportunity to support humanitarian and resilience programs in Sudan, focusing on locally led action and community strength.
Who can apply for the HELP-S grant?
Eligible applicants include international and Sudanese NGOs, local civil society groups, UN agencies, academic institutions, and research organizations. For-profit companies can be partners but not lead applicants.
What are the main goals of the HELP-S program?
The program aims to strengthen community resilience, empower local Sudanese responders, improve aid coordination, and promote flexible, adaptive, and innovative humanitarian approaches.
What is the deadline to submit an Expression of Interest for the HELP-S grant?
The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is May 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT).
