CFPs: UN Women Regional Arab States CSOs Dialogue

UN Women is inviting proposals from eligible Arab gender equality civil society organisations (CSOs) to support the development of the Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration for the 71st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71). The selected organisation will coordinate regional consultations, draft the declaration, facilitate virtual dialogue among CSOs, and produce a final regional document that reflects shared priorities and recommendations across the Arab States.

The call offers funding between USD 25,000 and USD 30,000 for organisations with experience in gender equality, CSW processes, regional policy analysis, and civil society engagement.

What Is the UN Women Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration Initiative?

The UN Women Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration Initiative supports the preparation of a regional declaration that represents the priorities, challenges, and recommendations of civil society organisations across the Arab States for CSW71 (Commission on the Status of Women – 71st Session).

The initiative seeks to ensure that women’s rights organisations and civil society contribute coordinated regional perspectives that can inform national, regional, and international policy discussions.

Why This Initiative Matters

Civil society organisations play an essential role in advancing gender equality and ensuring that women’s voices are reflected in public policy.

This initiative helps to:

Strengthen regional collaboration among CSOs
Consolidate national priorities into a unified regional position
Promote evidence-based policy recommendations
Support inclusive dialogue on gender equality
Inform decision-makers at national and regional levels
Amplify the voices of women and marginalised communities

The initiative aligns with UN Women’s commitment to inclusive policymaking and regional cooperation.

Objectives of the Call for Proposals

The initiative aims to:

Organise regional consultations related to the CSW71 priority theme
Identify shared regional challenges and opportunities
Collect recommendations from civil society organisations
Develop the Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration
Facilitate dialogue among regional and national CSOs
Support evidence-based policy advocacy
Promote regional cooperation on gender equality

Funding Available

UN Women will provide funding between:

Minimum grant: USD 25,000
Maximum grant: USD 30,000

Funding will support consultation activities, drafting of the declaration, regional dialogue, reporting, and related coordination tasks.

Scope of the Project

The selected organisation will coordinate the preparation of the regional declaration through consultations and collaborative discussions.

The declaration should:

Reflect national and regional CSO priorities
Highlight common challenges across Arab States
Present shared recommendations
Support policy dialogue at regional and national levels

Activities to Be Implemented

The selected organisation will carry out several key activities.

1. Prepare an Inception Note

The selected CSO will develop an inception note outlining:

Project approach
Work plan
Consultation methodology
Timeline
Expected outputs

2. Conduct an Analytical Synthesis

The organisation will:

Review regional consultation inputs
Analyse national priorities
Identify common issues
Produce an analytical synthesis to support declaration drafting

3. Draft the Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration

The selected organisation will prepare the regional declaration that:

Reflects civil society priorities
Consolidates regional recommendations
Represents diverse perspectives across Arab States

The draft declaration is expected to be completed by the end of August.

4. Facilitate the Regional CSOs Dialogue

The selected organisation will organise and facilitate the UN Women Arab States Virtual Regional CSOs Dialogue.

Responsibilities include:

Planning the virtual consultation
Managing the online platform
Preparing meeting materials
Coordinating interpretation services
Providing translation support
Facilitating discussions among participants

5. Prepare Final Meeting Report

Following the regional dialogue, the selected organisation will prepare:

A meeting report summarising discussions
The final version of the Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration

These outputs are expected by October.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The call is open to qualified civil society organisations working on gender equality in the Arab States region.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be:

Arab gender equality civil society organisations (CSOs)

The organisation should demonstrate experience in regional gender equality initiatives and policy engagement.

Required Experience

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in:

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) processes
Regional policy analysis
Gender equality advocacy
Civil society consultations
Regional stakeholder engagement

Knowledge Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of:

The “Leave No One Behind” principle
Gender equality priorities in the Arab States
Regional partnerships
Inclusive policy development

The proposal should show how these principles will be integrated throughout the project.

Language Requirements

Applicants must have:

Excellent knowledge of Arabic
Excellent knowledge of English

Knowledge of French is considered an advantage but is not mandatory.

Expected Deliverables

The selected organisation will produce:

Inception note
Analytical synthesis
Draft Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration
Regional virtual dialogue
Meeting materials
Interpretation and translation support
Meeting report
Final regional declaration

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure that your organisation:

Is an Arab gender equality CSO
Has experience with CSW processes
Has expertise in regional consultations
Meets language requirements

Step 2: Develop a Technical Proposal

Explain:

Your understanding of the assignment
Consultation methodology
Work plan
Team expertise
Expected approach to stakeholder engagement

Step 3: Prepare a Financial Proposal

Include a realistic budget within the available funding range of USD 25,000–30,000.

The budget should clearly explain planned expenditures for:

Personnel
Consultations
Virtual meetings
Translation
Interpretation
Reporting
Administrative costs

Step 4: Demonstrate Organisational Capacity

Applicants should provide evidence of:

Previous regional projects
Gender equality expertise
Policy analysis experience
Successful facilitation of consultations
Experience working with CSOs

Step 5: Submit the Proposal

Submit all required documents according to the UN Women application guidelines before the closing date.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

Demonstrating experience with CSW and UN processes
Presenting a clear consultation methodology
Showing regional coordination experience
Explaining how diverse voices will be included
Highlighting expertise in gender equality policy
Demonstrating multilingual communication capacity
Aligning activities with the “Leave No One Behind” principle

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting incomplete proposals
Providing unclear consultation methodologies
Ignoring regional diversity
Failing to demonstrate CSW experience
Presenting unrealistic budgets
Overlooking translation and interpretation requirements
Weak stakeholder engagement strategies

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of this UN Women call for proposals?

The initiative supports the development of the Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration for CSW71 through regional consultations, policy analysis, and civil society dialogue.

How much funding is available?

Applicants may request funding between USD 25,000 and USD 30,000.

Who can apply?

Arab gender equality civil society organisations with experience in CSW processes, policy analysis, and regional consultations are eligible.

What activities will the selected organisation implement?

The organisation will prepare an inception note, conduct consultations, draft the regional declaration, organise a virtual dialogue, and produce a final report and declaration.

What language skills are required?

Applicants must demonstrate excellent knowledge of Arabic and English. Knowledge of French is considered an asset.

What is the “Leave No One Behind” principle?

It is a development approach that promotes inclusion by ensuring that policies and programmes address the needs of all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable or marginalised.

When will the main deliverables be completed?

The draft regional declaration is expected by the end of August, while the final meeting report and declaration are expected by October.

Conclusion

The UN Women Arab States CSOs Regional Declaration Initiative offers an important opportunity for experienced civil society organisations to shape regional policy discussions on gender equality ahead of CSW71.

By supporting consultations, facilitating dialogue, and developing a shared regional declaration, the initiative strengthens collaboration among Arab civil society organisations and ensures that diverse voices contribute to policy recommendations that advance women’s rights and gender equality across the region.