Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for South Asia
Active
- Assistance listing
- 19.523
- Agency
-
Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration
Department of State
- Grant awards
- 45 $79,989,270 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- 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 (CFDA 19.523) funds humanitarian assistance activities for refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees across South Asia, with the most recent grant award issued on December 9, 2025. The program supports protection, reception, health care, education, livelihood services, and emergency response for Afghan refugees and IDPs in Pakistan; Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh; Tibetan refugees throughout the region; and vulnerable populations affected by conflict and displacement in Afghanistan. Awards are predominantly structured as Cooperative Agreements (87 percent of 45 recent awards) with a smaller share of Project Grants (13 percent), typically authorized for 12-month periods though shorter durations are available.
The Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration is the sole funding agency under this program, having obligated $80 million in combined federal and total dollars across 45 awards between July 2018 and December 2025. Recent award activity shows variability: the program distributed 12 awards in 2022, 9 in 2024, and 5 in both 2021 and 2025, with only 1 award in 2023. Recent Project Grant awards have ranged from $250 thousand to $2 million for emergency response activities—including $2 million for cyclone relief in December 2025, and three consecutive awards in September 2025 totaling $2.25 million for flood-affected populations in Pakistan. Representative Cooperative Agreement awards include $4.5 million to the International Rescue Committee for health, safety, and well-being services in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh (extended through July 2026), and $3.6 million for protection and dignity enhancement in the same location. Several awards issued in 2024 were subsequently terminated in alignment with executive orders.
A concept-note solicitation posted November 21, 2024 (DFOP0017032) seeks NGO proposals for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with concept-note deadline December 23, 2024. For Afghanistan, priority areas include support for internally displaced persons and returnees with emphasis on primary and secondary health care, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence prevention; applicants must demonstrate experience negotiating with Taliban contacts. For Pakistan, the focus is Afghan refugees, stateless persons, and other vulnerable populations, prioritizing education, mental health integration, sustainable livelihoods, and protection. Organizations may apply as consortia (defined as three or more entities forming a joint agreement). Renewals or extensions require additional program approval; applicants should consult www.grants.gov for individual announcement requirements and align proposals with SPHERE standards for humanitarian assistance design and evaluation.
Objective and description
- Objective
Support for the return and reintegration programs for refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Protection and assistance activities for refugees who remain in Pakistan. Reception, health care, education, and livelihood services for Tibetan
- Description
The Bureau supports the return and reintegration programs for Afghan refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and facilitate the protection and integration of other vulnerable populations, including refugees and displaced persons, to include the Rohingya.
Eligibility
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Generally, funds are awarded for a 12-month period. Shorter time periods may also be authorized. See www.grants.gov for individual announcement.
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 the Bureau offices and a warranted grants officer signs the agreement.
- Renewals
Renewals or extensions require additional approval. See www.grants.gov for individual announcement.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 45 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | International Rescue Committee, Inc. | $18,706,496 | 23% |
| 2 | The Tibet Fund | $17,000,000 | 21% |
| 3 | Handicap International Inc A / K / A Handicap International | $8,130,122 | 10% |
| 4 | Catholic Relief Services - United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops | $6,830,763 | 9% |
| 5 | Terre DES Hommes - Aide À L'enfance Dans LE Monde - Fondation | $5,697,143 | 7% |
| 6 | Relief International, Inc. | $2,750,000 | 3% |
| 7 | Norwegian Refugee Council (Nrc) - Stiftelsen Flyktninghjelpen | $2,500,000 | 3% |
| 8 | Mercy Corps | $2,450,000 | 3% |
| 9 | International Medical Corps | $2,316,001 | 3% |
| 10 | World Vision Inc. | $2,000,000 | 3% |
10 of 25 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,815,841 |
| FY2025 | $962,488 |
| FY2024 | $16,102,216 |
| FY2023 | $1,624,974 |
| FY2022 | $13,150,518 |
| FY2021 | $19,944,732 |
| FY2020 | $12,807,328 |
| FY2019 | $3,700,000 |
| FY2018 | $9,881,173 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 19.523?
Assistance Listing 19.523 is Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for South Asia, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration (Department of State).
What is the CFDA number for Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for South Asia?
Its CFDA number is 19.523: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 19.523 awarded?
45 grant awards under 19.523 have obligated $79,989,270 in federal funds to 25 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 19.523?
The recipients obligated the most under Overseas Refugee Assistance Program for South Asia are International Rescue Committee, Inc. ($18,706,496), The Tibet Fund ($17,000,000) and Handicap International Inc A / K / A Handicap International ($8,130,122).
How much did 19.523 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 19.523 obligated $962,488 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 19.523?
No opportunity listed under 19.523 is open now. The latest, PRM FY 2025 Request for Concept Notes for NGO Programs Benefiting Afghan Returnees and IDPS in Afghanistan and Afghan Refugees and Stateless Persons in Pakistan, was posted on November 21, 2024.
On GovTribe
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