Call for Proposals: Sergio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair (SVMAC) – Grant Program (Moldova)

Application Deadline: July 31, 2025

Submit to: law-center@cda.md and cc: mdachrcf@unhcr.org

Info session: June 13^th, 2025  (11:30 -12:30) – Join here.

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About the Program

The Sergio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair (SVMAC) Grant Program supports students, researchers and academic staff from partner universities in Moldova to design and implement innovative projects that promote refugee protection and inclusion. This initiative is a collaboration between UNHCR Moldova, the Law Centre of Advocates (CDA), and local universities part of the SVMAC network.

If you are unsure whether your university is a member of the SVMAC network, please contact us at mdachrcf@unhcr.org for clarification.

What We Fund

We are looking for creative and impactful projects that contribute to at least one of the following four goals:

1. Support & Services for Refugees and Stateless Persons
   
   (e.g., language classes, legal clinics, legal aid, mental health and psychosocial support, vocational training)
2. Social Inclusion & Cohesion
   
   (e.g., intercultural events, youth activities, intercultural dialogue spaces)
3. Academic Research & Knowledge Production
4. Public Awareness & Advocacy
   
   (e.g., podcasts, exhibitions, community journalism)

Projects must be implemented in Moldova and show direct relevance to forced displacement and/ or statelessness.

Grant Categories and Amounts

You can submit one application per category.

Who Can Apply

Interested applicants must:

• Be officially affiliated with a university joining SVMAC network as a student (undergraduate/postgraduate), academic staff, or student group.
• Propose a project aligned with at least one SVMAC objective and implementable within Moldova.
• Promote the involvement of refugees, stateless people, and university communities, where applicable.
• Not be staff or family members of CDA, UNHCR, or members of the Selection Committee.

Projects involving children or Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) must adhere to relevant safeguarding protocols, including staff qualifications and mandatory training.

How to Apply

Submit the following documents (in PDF format) by July 31, 2025:

1. Project Proposal Form (Appendix A)
2. Detailed Budget (Appendix B – in MDL)
3. CV of project lead
4. Proof of Affiliation (e.g., student/staff ID or letter)
5. Optional: Letters of support (from professor, university, etc.)
6. Declaration of accuracy of information and compliance with grant program requirements

Email subject: “SVM Grant Application: [Project Title] – [Applicant Name/Group Name]”

How Your Proposal Will Be Evaluated

Proposals will be evaluated by a multi-stakeholder Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to SVMAC goals (30%)
• Impact potential for refugees, communities, academia (25%)
• Feasibility & methodology (20%)
• Budget clarity & efficiency (15%)
• Inclusivity & innovation (10%)

Timeline

What Happens if You’re Selected

• You’ll sign a grant agreement with CDA
• Receive 70% upfront, and 30% after the mid-term report
• You must submit 2 short reports (mid-term & final)

Safeguards & Accountability

All grant recipients are expected to:

• Implement their projects using a human rights-based approach, applying an age, gender and diversity approach throughout all activities. UNHCR will provide recipients with capacity-strengthening support, including training on these principles.
• Ensure that all project participants are engaged on a voluntary basis and fully understand the purpose and nature of the activities.
• Safeguard the confidentiality of personal information and follow data protection standards in line with national legislation and UNHCR guidance.

UNHCR and CDA reserve the right to carry out reviews, request additional information, or suspend/terminate funding in cases of non-compliance.