Deadline: 13-Feb-2026
UN Women Türkiye has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting civil society organizations to lead advocacy initiatives addressing priority gender equality challenges in Türkiye. The initiative supports rights-based, policy-focused advocacy with an indicative grant range of USD 90,000–100,000 for shortlisted proposals.
UN Women Türkiye has announced an Expression of Interest (EOI) for eligible civil society organizations (CSOs) to design and implement advocacy initiatives addressing critical gender equality and women’s empowerment challenges in Türkiye.
This opportunity aims to strengthen civil society’s role in shaping inclusive, rights-based policies and advancing systemic change for women and girls at national and local levels.
Program Overview
The EOI seeks to identify experienced CSOs capable of leading impactful advocacy that tackles structural, systemic, and intersectional inequalities affecting women and girls.
Selected organizations will contribute to collective action, community engagement, and policy influence aligned with UN Women’s gender equality priorities in Türkiye.
Core Objectives of the EOI
The initiative aims to:
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Advance gender equality and women’s rights through advocacy
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Strengthen civil society influence on public policy and decision-making
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Promote inclusive, gender-responsive laws, strategies, and programs
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Support women’s leadership and participation across sectors
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Address root causes of discrimination affecting women and girls
Thematic Priority Areas
Advocacy initiatives must align with one or more of the following priority themes:
Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls
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Preventing gender-based violence
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Strengthening survivor-centered policies and protection mechanisms
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Addressing structural drivers of violence and discrimination
Women’s Economic Empowerment
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Increasing women’s labor force participation
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Addressing unemployment, informal work, and job insecurity
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Promoting fair distribution of unpaid care and domestic work
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Elevating the care economy in sustainable development debates
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Responding to economic crises and disaster-related livelihood losses
Gender-Responsive Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction
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Integrating gender perspectives into climate and environmental policies
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Addressing women’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate change
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Promoting women’s leadership in resilience-building and just transition processes
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Supporting inclusive disaster risk reduction strategies
Women’s Leadership, Rights, and Civic Space
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Strengthening women’s leadership and decision-making
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Promoting women’s rights and empowerment agendas
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Enhancing civic space for gender equality advocacy
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Supporting rights-based advocacy at national and local levels
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Be a legally registered civil society organization in Türkiye
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Demonstrate proven experience in gender equality and women’s rights advocacy
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Show capacity to address structural and systemic inequalities
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Have experience engaging with communities, policymakers, or institutions
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Be able to implement advocacy initiatives at national or local levels
Primary Beneficiaries
The main beneficiaries of the supported initiatives will be:
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Women and girls in Türkiye
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Individuals experiencing structural, systemic, and intersectional discrimination
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Groups facing barriers to safety, economic resources, services, and decision-making
Funding Framework
At the EOI stage:
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No budget submission is required
For shortlisted organizations:
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Full proposals will be requested
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Indicative funding range: USD 90,000 to USD 100,000 per initiative
Funding will support advocacy-focused activities rather than direct service delivery.
How the EOI Process Works
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CSOs submit an Expression of Interest outlining advocacy experience and thematic focus
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UN Women Türkiye reviews EOIs based on relevance, capacity, and alignment with priorities
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Shortlisted organizations are invited to submit full project proposals
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Full proposals include detailed activities, budgets, and advocacy strategies
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Selected initiatives proceed to implementation in coordination with UN Women Türkiye
What Makes This Opportunity Important
Why Women’s Economic Empowerment Is a Priority
Women in Türkiye face persistent barriers including low labor force participation, high unemployment, informal employment, and unequal unpaid care responsibilities.
Economic crises and recent earthquakes have further deepened these challenges, disproportionately affecting women’s livelihoods and economic security.
Advocacy under this theme is expected to influence inclusive economic policies and elevate care economy considerations within sustainable development frameworks.
Why Gender-Responsive Climate and Disaster Advocacy Matters
Gender inequalities increase women’s exposure to climate risks and disasters.
Advocacy initiatives are expected to:
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Integrate gender equality into climate and disaster-related policymaking
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Promote women’s participation in resilience and recovery efforts
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Support just transition and inclusive environmental governance
Common EOI Mistakes to Avoid
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Proposing service delivery instead of advocacy-focused interventions
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Failing to address structural or policy-level change
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Submitting vague advocacy objectives without clear influence pathways
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Overlooking intersectionality and inclusion
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Not demonstrating prior experience in gender equality advocacy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this UN Women Türkiye Expression of Interest?
It is a call for civil society organizations to propose advocacy initiatives addressing gender equality and women’s rights priorities in Türkiye.
Who can apply?
Eligible civil society organizations with proven advocacy experience in gender equality and women’s rights.
Is a budget required at the EOI stage?
No. Budgets are only required at the full proposal stage for shortlisted organizations.
How much funding is available?
Indicative funding for selected proposals ranges from USD 90,000 to USD 100,000.
What type of activities are supported?
Advocacy, policy influence, community engagement, and rights-based initiatives rather than direct service provision.
Who are the primary beneficiaries?
Women and girls in Türkiye facing structural, systemic, and intersectional discrimination.
Are climate and disaster issues included?
Yes. Gender-responsive climate action and disaster risk reduction are key thematic priorities.
Conclusion
The UN Women Türkiye Expression of Interest presents a strategic opportunity for civil society organizations to shape gender equality and women’s empowerment agendas through advocacy.
By supporting rights-based, policy-oriented initiatives across economic empowerment, violence prevention, climate action, and leadership, this initiative seeks to drive lasting, systemic change for women and girls in Türkiye.
For more information, visit UN Women.
