Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.517
- Agency
-
Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 1,668 $3,241,076,740 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 19-1143-0-1-151
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) funds humanitarian assistance activities for refugees and conflict victims across Africa through CFDA 19.517, with the most recent grant awards disbursed as of August 21, 2026.
PRM has awarded $3.24 billion in federal funding across 1,668 grants since 2006, maintaining steady annual award volume of 90–99 grants per year through 2024 before dropping sharply to 11 awards in 2026—a significant slowdown signaling possible programmatic changes or funding constraints. The program funds concrete life-sustaining services: food assistance, water and sanitation infrastructure, health care including disease response (recent large awards address Ebola in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan), shelter and settlements, child protection, education, psychosocial support, vocational training, livelihoods development, and gender-based violence prevention across Sub-Saharan and North Africa. Proposals must target at least 50 percent of participants as refugees, returnees, or persons of concern and align with SPHERE humanitarian standards. The portfolio is dominated by Cooperative Agreements (83 percent of awards) with a smaller share of Project Grants (17 percent). PRM accounts for 1,666 awards totaling $3.24 billion; the Department of State Bureau of African Affairs has contributed a marginal share of 2 awards worth $1.3 million.
Recent awards illustrate scope diversity: $750 million for UN-OCHA rapid response assistance (February 2026), $25 million for integrated Ebola response in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan (June 2026), $20 million for food assistance to Sudan (February 2026), and smaller awards ($25,000–$1.5 million) supporting refugee livelihoods, WASH, protection services, and education across individual countries. Award sizes range from under $25,000 for local interventions to multi-million-dollar cooperative agreements with international organizations.
Three recent opportunities remain open or recently posted: FY 2025 NGO Programs in Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal (due March 7, 2025, Cooperative Agreements); FY 2025 Full Proposals for Chad and Nigeria (due February 28, 2025, Cooperative Agreements focused on Education in Chad and Health in Nigeria); and FY 2025 Concept Notes for Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan (deadline January 17, 2025, Cooperative Agreements). Eligible applicants include U.S.-based and overseas-based nonprofits with proof of tax-exempt status and international organizations. Funding amounts vary by competition and are determined based on applications received. Awards are typically 12-month periods; renewals and extensions require additional approval. The program remains active, but the sharp decline in awards issued in 2025–2026 warrants attention before investing significant development resources.
Objective and description
- Objective
Assistance will contribute to the basic needs of refugees and conflict victims spread across the African continent (both Sub-Saharan and North Africa). NGOs are key partners of international organizations in Africa, often in specialized life-saving
- Description
Assistance will contribute to the basic needs of refugees and conflict victims spread across the African continent (both Sub-Saharan and North Africa). NGOs are key partners of international organizations in Africa, often in specialized life-saving areas such as health care, water, sanitation, and food distribution.
Eligibility
- Uses of assistance
The cooperative agreement, grant or contribution provides funds to meet the organization's objectives as approved by the Bureau. Funding documents authorize funds based on the organization's budget submission after Bureau approval.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Shorter time periods may also be authorized.
How to apply
- Criteria for selecting proposals
The Bureau's main objective is to help ensure that refugees and victims of conflict have access to basic life-sustaining resources in ways that meet internationally accepted standards of care in shelter, food supply, nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and public health. NGO proposals should clearly use SPHERE standards as the basis for design, implementation, and evaluation, including proposed objectives and indicators. Underlying PRM's support for humanitarian assistance is a commitment to advancing U.S. policy priorities and reducing redundancy, advancing U.S. security, and building local capacity to reduce dependency on foreign assistance. NGOs in search of Bureau funding would do well to address these specific areas in any proposals sent for funding.
- Award procedure
The Assistant Secretary of the Bureau makes funding decisions based on recommendations from Bureau offices. A warranted grants officer signs the agreement.
- Renewals
Renewals or extensions require additional approval.
Grant opportunities
Show 39 more
Latest 49 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,668 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Nations Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs | $1,525,000,000 | 47% |
| 2 | International Rescue Committee, Inc. | $270,855,053 | 8% |
| 3 | International Medical Corps | $156,259,819 | 5% |
| 4 | Save The Children Federation, Inc. | $120,198,886 | 4% |
| 5 | Alight | $79,018,756 | 2% |
| 6 | The Lutheran World Federation | $76,381,681 | 2% |
| 7 | Jesuit Refugee Service USA | $74,690,590 | 2% |
| 8 | Medical Teams International, Inc. | $66,462,673 | 2% |
| 9 | The Center For Victims Of Torture | $56,200,323 | 2% |
| 10 | World Vision Inc. | $47,324,866 | 1% |
10 of 202 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,614,616,861 |
| FY2025 | $20,299,810 |
| FY2024 | $112,973,091 |
| FY2023 | $129,582,725 |
| FY2022 | $137,474,880 |
| FY2021 | $132,368,413 |
| FY2020 | $122,383,182 |
| FY2019 | $107,377,647 |
| FY2018 | $100,618,949 |
| FY2017 | $98,480,801 |
| FY2016 | $93,884,300 |
| FY2015 | $71,198,803 |
| FY2014 | $65,753,490 |
| FY2013 | $60,739,119 |
| FY2012 | $76,034,648 |
| FY2011 | $61,943,636 |
| FY2010 | $68,357,192 |
| FY2009 | $58,219,708 |
| FY2008 | $61,440,817 |
| FY2007 | $50,694,733 |
Show all 20
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.517?
Assistance Listing 19.517 is Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (Department of State).
What is the CFDA number for Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa?
Its CFDA number is 19.517: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.517 awarded?
1,668 grant awards under 19.517 have obligated $3,241,076,740 in federal funds to 202 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.517?
The recipients obligated the most under Overseas Refugee Assistance Programs for Africa are United Nations Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs ($1,525,000,000), International Rescue Committee, Inc. ($270,855,053) and International Medical Corps ($156,259,819).
How much did 19.517 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.517 obligated $20,299,810 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.517?
None of the latest 49 opportunities under 19.517 is open now. The latest, FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity for NGO Programs Benefiting Refugees, Migrants, and Returnees in Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, was posted on January 21, 2025.
On GovTribe
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