Deadline: 03-May-2026
UN Women Bangladesh, with funding from the European Union, is inviting civil society organisations to implement a national programme focused on preventing violence against women (VAW). The initiative strengthens coordination between government and civil society, builds capacity for prevention strategies, and supports localised interventions on sexual harassment in workplaces and public transport. It aims to improve policy implementation, community awareness, and evidence-based action to reduce VAW in Bangladesh.
Overview of the UN Women Bangladesh VAW Prevention Programme
The UN Women Bangladesh ESGBV initiative is a funded programme designed to reduce violence against women (VAW) through coordinated action between government bodies and civil society organisations.
It focuses on:
- Localising prevention strategies
- Strengthening institutional capacity
- Improving legal and policy enforcement
- Enhancing community-level awareness and safety systems
This programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented under UN Women’s gender equality mandate.
Key Objectives of the Programme
The initiative targets systemic and community-level change through the following objectives:
1. Strengthening Capacity for VAW Prevention
- Training government officials and civil society actors
- Building technical skills on prevention approaches
- Supporting evidence-based programming
2. Localising Prevention Initiatives
- Co-creation of local VAW prevention models
- Collaboration between government and civil society organisations
- Integration of local realities into programme design
3. Policy and Legislative Advocacy
- Advocacy for stronger laws on sexual harassment
- Improved enforcement of existing legal frameworks
- Workplace and transport safety reforms
4. Public Awareness and Behaviour Change
- Community awareness campaigns
- Challenging harmful social norms
- Promoting gender equality and safety in public spaces
Programme Context and Rationale
Violence against women remains a persistent challenge in Bangladesh, affecting:
- Access to education
- Workforce participation
- Mobility in public spaces
- Participation in civic life
Despite existing legal frameworks, challenges remain:
- Weak enforcement of laws
- Limited access to justice
- Deep-rooted harmful social norms
- Fragmented institutional coordination
This programme addresses these gaps through multi-level collaboration and systemic reform.
Funding Information
- Total Budget Range: BDT 34,500,000 – BDT 35,000,000
- Funding Source: European Union
- Lead Implementer: UN Women Bangladesh
- Focus: National-level implementation with local adaptation
Who Can Apply? (Eligibility Criteria)
Eligible applicants include:
- Registered civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bangladesh
- Women-led organisations (strongly encouraged)
- National organisations or consortia of CSOs
- Organisations with proven technical expertise in VAW prevention
- Groups working with government and community stakeholders
Required capabilities:
- Experience in gender equality programming
- Capacity building expertise
- Policy advocacy experience
- Ability to operate at national and local levels
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is important because it:
- Strengthens prevention instead of only response mechanisms
- Improves coordination between government and civil society
- Addresses workplace and transport-related harassment
- Supports systemic policy reform
- Enhances safety for women in public life
- Builds evidence for long-term gender justice reform
How the Programme Works
Step 1: Selection of Implementing Partner
UN Women selects a national CSO or consortium based on:
- Technical expertise
- Implementation capacity
- Alignment with programme goals
Step 2: Capacity Building and Tool Development
Selected partners will:
- Adapt global VAW tools to Bangladesh context
- Develop training modules
- Conduct participatory training sessions
Step 3: Local Implementation
Activities include:
- Community-based prevention initiatives
- Safety audits in public spaces
- Workplace and transport safety interventions
Step 4: Coordination and Advocacy
- Collaboration with government institutions
- Policy advocacy on sexual harassment laws
- Multi-stakeholder engagement
Step 5: Monitoring and Evidence Generation
- Data collection and analysis
- Programme evaluation
- Documentation of best practices
Key Activities Supported
The programme supports:
- Training for government and civil society stakeholders
- Development of localized prevention models
- Feminist leadership development programmes
- Safety audits in public transport and workplaces
- Awareness campaigns on gender-based violence
- Legal and policy advocacy initiatives
- Monitoring and evaluation systems
Common Mistakes or Gaps in Applications
Applicants should avoid:
- Weak alignment with VAW prevention goals
- Lack of government collaboration strategy
- Poorly defined implementation plans
- Missing evidence of organisational capacity
- Overly general or non-contextual proposals
- Lack of inclusion of youth or disability perspectives
Tips for Strong Applications
- Clearly show experience in gender-based violence prevention
- Demonstrate partnerships with government and CSOs
- Include measurable indicators of impact
- Highlight local adaptation strategies
- Show inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities
- Provide strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Who is funding this programme?
The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women Bangladesh.
2. What is the main goal of the initiative?
To prevent violence against women through systemic, policy, and community-based interventions.
3. Who can apply?
Registered civil society organisations, especially women-led organisations and consortia in Bangladesh.
4. What is the budget range?
Between BDT 34.5 million and BDT 35 million.
5. What areas does the programme focus on?
Workplaces, public transport, community safety, and policy reform on sexual harassment prevention.
6. Does the programme support government organisations directly?
No, but collaboration with government institutions is required.
7. What kind of activities are funded?
Training, advocacy, awareness campaigns, safety audits, and capacity-building initiatives.
Conclusion
The UN Women Bangladesh VAW prevention programme represents a structured, evidence-based effort to reduce violence against women through coordinated action between civil society and government institutions. By focusing on capacity building, policy reform, and localised prevention strategies, the initiative aims to create safer workplaces, public spaces, and communities across Bangladesh while strengthening long-term systemic change.
For more information, visit UN Women.