Apply Now: Youth Leadership & Peacebuilding Call (Timor-Leste)

Deadline: 20-Apr-2026

UN Women Timor-Leste invites civil society organizations to implement a youth-focused program strengthening leadership, gender equality, and inclusive peacebuilding. With a 10-month timeline and USD 25,000–27,000 budget, the initiative targets youth, including young women, rural youth, and youth with disabilities, to build capacities in civic engagement, digital storytelling, and peace advocacy.

Overview of the Initiative

UN Women Timor-Leste seeks to partner with a qualified civil society organization (CSO) to implement a youth-focused programme that enhances leadership, gender equality, and inclusive peacebuilding.

The initiative aligns with the second-generation National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2024–2028), emphasizing:

• Inclusive participation in peace and security efforts
• Protection, prevention, and recovery
• Strengthening youth leadership and civic engagement

The program focuses on empowering youth to contribute to peace, gender equality, and social cohesion across Timor-Leste.

Programme Objectives

The initiative has the following core objectives:

1. Youth Leadership and Participation
   • Strengthen youth involvement in Women, Peace and Security agendas
   • Support young women, rural youth, and youth with disabilities
2. Civic Education and Peacebuilding
   • Enhance civic knowledge for peace and community development
   • Promote inclusive dialogue between youth, civil society, and government
3. Gender Equality and Inclusion
   • Address technology-facilitated gender-based violence
   • Counter hate speech and misinformation online
   • Foster inclusive participation in peacebuilding
4. Capacity Building in Digital Storytelling and Civic Journalism
   • Equip youth with skills to advocate for gender equality
   • Enable creation of multimedia outputs: radio stories, videos, community theatre
5. Institutional Strengthening
   • Support the Ministry of Interior in finalizing and implementing civic education programs
   • Conduct training of trainers and outreach in at least two municipalities

Who is Eligible?

Eligible organizations must:

• Be registered in Timor-Leste
• Demonstrate experience in:
  • Gender equality
  • Women, Peace and Security initiatives
  • Youth engagement and capacity building
• Have sound governance and financial management systems

Programme Structure and Activities

The project runs for approximately 10 months (April 2026 – February 2027) and includes:

• Capacity-building workshops and forums
• Four-day intensive events combining training, co-creation, and policy dialogue
• Specialized training in civic journalism and digital storytelling
• Development of creative communication outputs to promote inclusive peace narratives
• Institutional support for civic education programs at municipal and national levels

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced youth leadership and engagement in peace and security
• Increased capacity for digital advocacy and civic journalism
• Broader community engagement, particularly among marginalized youth
• Strengthened partnerships between youth, CSOs, and government actors
• Improved institutional mechanisms for peace-focused civic education

Budget and Funding

• Estimated budget: USD 25,000 – 27,000
• Funding supports:
  • Workshops and training sessions
  • Development of multimedia advocacy outputs
  • Outreach and community engagement activities
  • Programmatic coordination and monitoring

How to Apply

1. Confirm Eligibility: Ensure your organization meets registration and experience requirements.
2. Develop Proposal: Include objectives, methodology, target youth groups, timelines, budget, and expected outcomes.
3. Submit Application: Follow UN Women Timor-Leste’s official application guidelines.
4. Implementation: Upon selection, execute workshops, training, digital storytelling, and civic education support.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Highlight prior experience in youth engagement and Women, Peace and Security
• Include detailed implementation plans and budgets
• Demonstrate capacity to engage marginalized youth
• Emphasize approaches to inclusive participation, gender equality, and digital advocacy
• Provide strategies for monitoring impact and sustainability

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting proposals from unregistered organizations
• Ignoring gender inclusion or accessibility for youth with disabilities
• Overlooking alignment with UNSCR 1325 objectives
• Providing vague or unrealistic budget and timeline plans
• Failing to detail youth participation and community engagement strategies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply?
Civil society organizations registered in Timor-Leste with relevant experience in gender equality, youth engagement, and peacebuilding.

2. What is the project duration?
Approximately 10 months, from April 2026 to February 2027.

3. What is the funding range?
USD 25,000 – 27,000 per project.

4. Which youth groups are prioritized?
Young women, rural youth, and youth with disabilities.

5. What skills will youth participants gain?
Leadership, civic engagement, digital storytelling, civic journalism, and peacebuilding.

6. How will the initiative support gender equality?
Through training, advocacy, countering technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and promoting inclusive peace narratives.

7. What institutional partnerships are involved?
Collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, civil society organizations, and local communities for civic education and outreach.

Conclusion

The UN Women Timor-Leste youth initiative provides civil society organizations the opportunity to empower youth, enhance gender equality, and strengthen inclusive peacebuilding. By combining leadership development, civic journalism, digital advocacy, and institutional support, the program fosters active, informed, and engaged youth capable of contributing meaningfully to Timor-Leste’s social cohesion and sustainable development.

For more information, visit UN Women.