Grants for Strengthening Women Entrepreneurship for Wild Nature Conservation (India)

Deadline: 17-Jun-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting proposals under an initiative focused on strengthening women entrepreneurship while supporting the restoration and conservation of wild natural ecosystems. The programme promotes sustainable livelihoods, community-based environmental conservation, and women-led economic participation linked to ecosystem restoration activities.

The initiative is implemented through a formal UNDP procurement process under its Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP). Eligible applicants must comply with procurement, conflict-of-interest, and legal eligibility requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP) documentation.

What is the UNDP Women Entrepreneurship and Conservation Initiative?

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a proposal opportunity aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship initiatives connected to environmental restoration and conservation of wild natural ecosystems.

The programme seeks to strengthen sustainable livelihoods while encouraging community-based environmental protection and restoration efforts. Through this initiative, UNDP aims to support women-led enterprises and local conservation solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience.

The initiative combines entrepreneurship development with ecological conservation and community empowerment.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen women entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Support restoration of natural ecosystems.
• Promote conservation of wild natural resources.
• Encourage sustainable livelihoods and local economic development.
• Strengthen community-based environmental conservation.
• Promote environmentally sustainable economic activities.
• Support inclusive and resilient local development.

Key Focus Areas

The initiative focuses on several interconnected development and environmental priorities.

Main focus areas include:

• Women entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
• Restoration of natural ecosystems.
• Conservation of wild natural resources.
• Sustainable livelihood development.
• Community-based environmental conservation.
• Local environmental stewardship.
• Nature-based economic opportunities.
• Sustainable resource management.

Projects should demonstrate both environmental and socio-economic impact.

Support for Women Entrepreneurship

The programme places strong emphasis on:

• Women-led entrepreneurship initiatives.

The initiative seeks to support women through:

• Sustainable income-generation activities.
• Environmentally responsible enterprises.
• Community-based economic opportunities.
• Participation in conservation and restoration activities.

The programme aims to strengthen women’s economic participation while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Environmental Restoration and Conservation Priorities

The initiative supports activities related to:

• Restoration of natural ecosystems.
• Conservation of wild natural resources.
• Community-based environmental protection.

Projects may focus on:

• Ecosystem restoration.
• Biodiversity conservation.
• Sustainable land and resource management.
• Community conservation activities.
• Nature-based livelihood systems.

The programme encourages practical and sustainable conservation approaches.

Sustainable Livelihoods and Community Development

The initiative promotes:

• Sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to environmental conservation.

Expected outcomes may include:

• Improved local economic resilience.
• Increased community participation in conservation.
• Women-led environmental enterprises.
• Sustainable community income generation.
• Strengthened environmental stewardship.

The programme aims to balance ecological sustainability with socio-economic development.

UNDP Procurement Process

The procurement process is conducted in accordance with:

• UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP).

Applicants must comply with:

• All requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP).
• Any written amendments issued by UNDP.

Submission of a proposal is considered:

• An official offer by the proposer.

However:

• Submission does not guarantee acceptance by UNDP.

UNDP reserves the right to:

• Modify or cancel the procurement process at any stage without liability.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all UNDP eligibility and compliance conditions.

Eligible applicants must:

• Possess legal capacity to enter into binding contracts with UNDP.
• Be capable of delivering services directly or through authorized representatives within the country.
• Meet any additional eligibility conditions specified in the RFP.

Applicants should carefully review the full procurement documentation before submission.

Sanctions and Debarment Requirements

Eligible vendors must not be:

• Suspended.
• Debarred.
• Declared ineligible by:
  • Any United Nations organization.
  • The World Bank Group.
  • Other international organizations.

Applicants must disclose:

• Any sanctions or temporary suspensions affecting eligibility.

Failure to disclose such information may result in:

• Contract termination.
• Disqualification or other UNDP actions.

Conflict of Interest Requirements

UNDP requires all prospective suppliers to:

• Avoid and prevent conflicts of interest.

Applicants must disclose any involvement in:

• Preparation of requirements or specifications.
• Project design or procurement documentation.
• Cost estimation activities related to the RFP.

Potential conflicts of interest related to:

• Current assignments.
• Personal interests.
• Future work opportunities.

may lead to:

• Disqualification from the procurement process.

Disclosure of Relationships

Applicants must disclose whether:

• Owners.
• Shareholders.
• Directors.
• Officers.
• Key personnel.

have family relationships with:

• UNDP staff involved in procurement functions.
• Government officials connected to the project.
• Implementing partners associated with the initiative.

Transparency and integrity are essential components of the procurement process.

Government-Owned Entity Participation

Government-owned or partially government-owned entities may participate.

However, UNDP will evaluate factors including:

• Operational independence.
• Ownership structure.
• Subsidies or special advantages.
• Access to procurement-related information.

Entities receiving unfair advantages may:

• Be rejected from the process.

The evaluation aims to ensure fair and competitive participation.

Why This Initiative Matters

The UNDP initiative supports the intersection of:

• Women’s economic empowerment.
• Environmental conservation.
• Sustainable community development.

Key benefits include:

• Expanding women-led sustainable enterprises.
• Supporting ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation.
• Strengthening local resilience and livelihoods.
• Promoting environmentally sustainable economic activities.
• Encouraging community participation in conservation.
• Supporting inclusive and sustainable development goals.

The programme contributes to both environmental sustainability and socio-economic inclusion.

Expected Outcomes

The initiative is expected to support:

• Women-led entrepreneurship development.
• Improved ecosystem restoration and conservation.
• Stronger sustainable livelihood systems.
• Increased community environmental participation.
• Greater local resilience and economic sustainability.
• Long-term environmental stewardship and protection.

Projects should demonstrate measurable environmental and social benefits.

How Proposals are Evaluated

Applications are likely to be assessed based on:

• Compliance with UNDP procurement requirements.
• Technical and operational capacity.
• Relevance to programme objectives.
• Environmental and social impact potential.
• Organizational experience and expertise.
• Financial and legal eligibility.
• Conflict-of-interest compliance.

Strong proposals should demonstrate both technical competence and sustainability impact.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal

Applicants can improve their submissions by focusing on the following areas:

• Clearly explain environmental and livelihood impacts.
• Demonstrate women-centered entrepreneurship approaches.
• Present realistic implementation and sustainability plans.
• Ensure full compliance with procurement requirements.
• Provide transparent organizational and ownership information.
• Highlight experience in conservation or community development projects.
• Demonstrate operational and financial capacity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following issues:

• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
• Incomplete eligibility or legal documentation.
• Weak implementation or sustainability plans.
• Poor alignment with programme objectives.
• Failure to disclose sanctions or debarment issues.
• Inadequate demonstration of technical capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the focus of the UNDP initiative?

The programme supports women entrepreneurship linked to restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods.

Who can apply?

Eligible organizations and vendors capable of meeting UNDP procurement and legal requirements may apply.

What types of projects are encouraged?

Projects involving women-led enterprises, ecosystem restoration, community-based conservation, and sustainable livelihood development are encouraged.

Are there conflict-of-interest requirements?

Yes. Applicants must disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to the procurement process.

Can government-owned entities participate?

Yes, but they are subject to additional evaluation regarding independence and fairness.

What happens if sanctions or suspensions are not disclosed?

Failure to disclose sanctions or temporary suspensions may result in disqualification or contract termination.

Does submitting a proposal guarantee selection?

No. Submission is considered an offer and does not guarantee acceptance by UNDP.

Conclusion

The UNDP initiative on strengthening women entrepreneurship and conservation of wild natural ecosystems provides important opportunities to support sustainable livelihoods, environmental restoration, and community-based conservation efforts. Through women-centered entrepreneurship and nature-based solutions, the programme promotes inclusive and environmentally sustainable development.

The initiative also emphasizes transparency, procurement integrity, and organizational accountability while encouraging practical and impactful conservation approaches. Eligible organizations are encouraged to develop strong and compliant proposals that align with the programme’s environmental and socio-economic objectives.

For more information, visit UNDP.