UNFPA Türkiye Call for Proposals on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights

Deadline: 23-Feb-2026

The UNFPA Türkiye, with EU funding, invites civil society organizations to submit proposals under the program “Advancing Gender Equality with Civil Society: Ensuring Safety, Health, and Rights for Women and Young People in Türkiye.” The call supports projects in reproductive health, gender equality, youth empowerment, and organizational capacity building, with budgets ranging from USD 30,000 to USD 150,000 and project durations of up to two years, depending on the lot.

The UNFPA Türkiye program, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen civil society engagement in promoting gender equality, reproductive health, and youth empowerment. This initiative supports projects that improve access to services, generate evidence, and build organizational capacity to advance the rights, health, and safety of women and young people across Türkiye.

Program Objectives

• Advance reproductive health and rights across the life course, including safe motherhood and access to rights-based services

• Prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including digital violence, while promoting male engagement

• Empower youth through education, protection, life skills, and prevention of early and forced marriages

• Support gender-responsive family-friendly policies and initiatives in the care economy

• Strengthen civil society organizational capacity aligned with UNFPA priorities

Funding Lots

Lot 1: Service Provision and Outreach

• Supports direct services and outreach for vulnerable women and girls, including in humanitarian contexts

• May include systems-strengthening with public/private actors, municipalities, or other civil society organizations

• Project duration: Up to 2 years

• Maximum budget: USD 150,000

Lot 2: Research, Advocacy, and Knowledge Generation

• Supports research, knowledge products, policy recommendations, advocacy, and communication targeting policymakers and the public

• Project duration: Up to 2 years

• Maximum budget: USD 100,000

Lot 3: Organizational Capacity Strengthening

• Focuses on strengthening internal capacity aligned with UNFPA’s mandate and program priorities

• Project duration: Up to 1 year

• Maximum budget: USD 30,000

Who is Eligible?

• Legally registered non-profit organizations in Türkiye with an established office

• At least five years of operational experience

• Demonstrated experience managing similar projects

• Satisfactory financial and audit reports

• No negative performance record with UN agencies

• Organizations must not have been UNFPA grantees for more than two consecutive years or implementing partners during the 7th Country Programme period (Lot 3 eligibility)

Selection Criteria

Applications across all lots will be assessed based on:

• Relevance to UNFPA priorities and the call objectives

• Quality and feasibility of the proposed activities

• Innovation and creative approaches to solving identified challenges

• Cost-effectiveness of proposed budgets

• Compliance with organizational, financial, and operational requirements

How to Apply

1. Confirm your organization meets eligibility criteria

2. Identify the appropriate lot for your project (1, 2, or 3)

3. Develop a comprehensive project proposal including objectives, methodology, target groups, expected outcomes, and monitoring plan

4. Prepare a budget aligned with the lot’s funding ceiling

5. Submit all required documentation, including:

   • Legal registration and office proof

   • Operational and project experience documentation

   • Financial and audit reports

6. Submit the proposal through the UNFPA Türkiye application process before the deadline

Key Considerations

• Projects must demonstrate impact on women, youth, and vulnerable populations

• Lot 1 and Lot 2 projects can last up to two years, while Lot 3 projects are limited to one year

• Budgets must reflect realistic costs and demonstrate value for money

• Proposals should emphasize sustainability, capacity building, and system-level improvements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply?

Legally registered non-profit organizations in Türkiye with at least five years of operational experience and prior experience in similar projects.

2. What types of projects are funded?

• Lot 1: Service provision and outreach for women and girls

• Lot 2: Research, advocacy, and policy development

• Lot 3: Organizational capacity building aligned with UNFPA priorities

3. What is the maximum funding available?

• Lot 1: USD 150,000

• Lot 2: USD 100,000

• Lot 3: USD 30,000

4. How long can projects last?

• Lot 1 & 2: Up to 2 years

• Lot 3: Up to 1 year

5. Are there restrictions on previous UNFPA grantees?

Yes. Lot 3 excludes organizations that have been UNFPA grantees for more than two consecutive years or implementing partners during the 7th Country Programme period.

6. What are the main focus areas?

• Reproductive health and rights

• Gender-based violence prevention and response

• Youth empowerment and education

• Family-friendly policies and care economy initiatives

7. How are applications evaluated?

Applications are assessed for relevance, quality, innovation, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring alignment with UNFPA Türkiye’s objectives.

Conclusion

The UNFPA Türkiye and EU-funded call provides a strategic opportunity for civil society organizations to advance gender equality, empower women and youth, and strengthen organizational capacity. Successful projects will contribute to safer, healthier, and more inclusive environments, improving access to essential services and promoting sustainable social change across Türkiye.

For more information, visit UNFPA Türkiye.