General Information

Established in 1999, the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) finances activities carried out by the UN system to deliver comprehensive, cross-sectoral and preventive responses to complex and multidimensional challenges. By combining a set of fundamental principles that characterize the human security approach (protection and empowerment, people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented), the Fund promotes [...]

In line with the ongoing reform of the Secretary-General, the UNTFHS is a vital mechanism to significantly reinforce the UN system’s support to Member States for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the transition from humanitarian response to sustainable development, and the prevention of crises wherever possible. As a catalytic Fund, UNTFHS programmes [...]

The UNTFHS supports two distinct types of programmes: 1) those that mainstream and advance the operational impact of the human security approach (Window I) and 2) those that extend the global awareness of the human security approach and its usage (Window II). For the 2023 Call for Proposals, the UNTFHS will only accept proposals for [...]

Window I focuses on operational programmes that provide tangible benefits to people in their survival, livelihood and dignity. These integrated programmes are all multi-year, multi-partner and multi-sectoral, with budgets typically between $4-6 million over 2-3 years (with $2 million in seed funding from the UNTFHS). The majority of UNTFHS programmes since 1999 have been Window [...]

UN organizations who are bound by UN Financial Regulations and Rules are eligible to apply for funding from the UNTFHS. Please see section II of the UNTFHS Guidelines for more information. Applications submitted by individuals and non-UN organizations will not be accepted. However, the UNTFHS promotes programmes that engage a broad range of relevant partners, [...]

Programmes must meet all criteria as outlined in the UNTFHS Guidelines. Submissions are reviewed for their salience in applying the human security approach to address multidimensional and interconnected challenges with a range of relevant stakeholders in an integrated and preventive manner, and to deliver concrete and sustainable benefits to people and communities threatened in their [...]

The UNTFHS issues an annual Call for Proposals. The deadline for the 2023 Call for Proposals is 15 December 2023 (11:59PM New York time). Submissions outside of the Call for Proposals will not be accepted. All submissions must be emailed to humansecurity@un.org. In the development of the programme, applying organizations should refer closely to the UNTFHS [...]