Apply Now: Implementation of the Caring Environments Project (Colombia)

Deadline: 06-Jun-2026

UN Women is inviting a legally registered non-profit organization in Colombia to implement the “It’s Time to Care!” initiative in the department of Nariño. The project aims to strengthen care systems, expand women’s economic autonomy, and build lasting collaboration between women’s organizations, private companies, and other local actors.

The initiative is grounded in gender equality, intersectionality, and sustainable development. It also aligns with SDG 5 on gender equality and broader UN commitments to women’s rights and inclusive development.

Key facts

• Funder: UN Women.

• Location: Nariño, Colombia.

• Project duration: Up to 12 months.

• Total budget: Up to COP 342,000,000.

• Implementing role: Civil society organization or non-profit entity.

• Eligibility: Legally registered non-profit entity in Colombia with at least five years of legal existence.

• Experience requirement: Proven management of gender-focused projects above COP 200,000,000.

• Local presence: Must have territorial presence in Nariño and implementation capacity in Pasto and Cumbal.

What the initiative supports

The project focuses on five connected areas:

1. Care agenda and care systems

The initiative aims to recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work. It supports care policies, community care services, and local infrastructure that helps women participate more fully in economic life.

2. Private sector engagement

UN Women wants companies in Nariño to adopt internal care practices and contribute to community care services. This includes technical assistance for company care policies and the strengthening of care infrastructure.

3. Women’s economic autonomy

The project will support women-led businesses through business development, marketing support, trade participation, and commercial linkages with the private sector.

4. Advocacy and women’s rights

The initiative includes participatory spaces for civil society, businesses, and trade associations to define priorities for the women’s rights agenda in Nariño and produce advocacy outputs.

5. Strategic partnerships

The project seeks to strengthen collaboration between companies in Nariño and Swedish companies operating in Colombia, while also promoting the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

Expected results

The initiative includes measurable targets such as:

• At least five companies participating in care initiatives.

• At least one care service strengthened.

• At least one community infrastructure initiative improved.

• At least ten companies joining the WEPs initiative.

• At least ten women-owned businesses supported.

• Participation in two trade events.

• At least ten commercial agreements generated.

• At least one advocacy document produced.

These targets show that the project is practical and results-oriented, not only policy-based.

Who should apply?

This opportunity is intended for:

• Civil society organizations.

• Non-profit entities.

• Women’s rights organizations.

• Feminist organizations.

• Organizations with experience in gender-focused programming.

• Groups with strong local presence in Nariño.

The preferred partner should already have relationships with women’s and feminist organizations in the territory, female leadership within technical teams, and participatory methods that integrate gender, intersectionality, environmental sustainability, and non-violent approaches.

What strong proposals should include

A competitive proposal should demonstrate:

• Proven organizational registration and legal status in Colombia.

• At least five years of legal existence.

• Experience managing large gender-focused projects.

• Strong territorial presence in Nariño.

• Capacity to work in both Pasto and Cumbal.

• Existing alliances with relevant local organizations.

• A clear implementation plan for care, economic autonomy, advocacy, and private sector engagement.

• Participatory and intersectional methodologies.

How the initiative works

1. Select the implementing partner.

   • UN Women will identify a civil society or non-profit organization able to deliver the project.

2. Design the care agenda component.

   • Work with companies and communities to strengthen care policies and services.

3. Build private sector collaboration.

   • Engage local and Swedish-linked companies in care and women’s economic empowerment.

4. Support women-led businesses.

   • Identify market opportunities, build business skills, and support trade linkages.

5. Advance women’s rights advocacy.

   • Organize participatory spaces and produce advocacy outputs for policy engagement.

6. Track results.

   • Measure outcomes against the targets set for companies, businesses, trade events, and agreements.

Why it matters

Unpaid care work is a major barrier to women’s economic participation. By addressing care systems and linking them to the private sector, this initiative aims to remove one of the structural obstacles that keeps women from fully participating in the economy.

It also matters because it combines women’s rights, local economic development, and business engagement in a single territorial strategy. That makes the project relevant not only to gender equality, but also to sustainable development and inclusive growth in Nariño.

Common mistakes and tips

• Mistake: Focusing only on advocacy without a care systems strategy.

  • Tip: Include concrete actions on care services, company policies, and infrastructure.

• Mistake: Proposing general gender programming without territorial specificity.

  • Tip: Make the work clearly relevant to Nariño, Pasto, and Cumbal.

• Mistake: Ignoring private sector engagement.

  • Tip: Show a strong plan for company participation and WEPs adoption.

• Mistake: Weak commercial strategy for women-led businesses.

  • Tip: Include product selection, training, trade events, and market linkage.

• Mistake: Not showing prior experience with large projects.

  • Tip: Demonstrate management of gender-focused projects above the required budget threshold.

FAQ

What is the main goal of “It’s Time to Care!”?

• To promote the care agenda and strengthen women’s economic autonomy in Nariño, Colombia.

• It also aims to improve collaboration between civil society, companies, and women’s organizations.

Who can apply?

• Legally registered non-profit entities in Colombia.

• Applicants must have at least five years of legal existence and proven experience managing gender-focused projects above COP 200,000,000.

How much funding is available?

• The total project budget is up to COP 342,000,000.

How long is the project?

• The implementation period must not exceed 12 months.

What are the main project components?

• Care systems and private sector engagement.

• Partnerships with Swedish and local companies.

• Women-led business support.

• Women’s rights advocacy.

What are the expected targets?

• At least five companies engaged in care initiatives.

• At least ten companies joining WEPs.

• At least ten women-owned businesses supported.

• Two trade events.

• Ten commercial agreements.

• At least one advocacy document.

What local presence is required?

• The applicant must have territorial presence in Nariño and implementation capacity in Pasto and Cumbal.

Conclusion

UN Women’s “It’s Time to Care!” initiative is a focused opportunity for Colombian non-profit organisations with strong gender expertise and local roots in Nariño. The most competitive partner will combine care-system programming, private sector collaboration, women’s enterprise support, and rights-based advocacy into one practical implementation plan.

For more information, visit UN Women.