The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is inviting qualified regional NGOs to partner with its East and Southern Africa Regional Office to advance feminist, rights-based advocacy and social norms change to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV). The partnership supports the 2026–2029 Regional Programme and aligns with the 2026–2030 Regional Result Framework. Eligible applicants must demonstrate regional operational capacity across East and Southern Africa.

Overview

UNFPA seeks regional non-governmental organizations, particularly women-led and youth-led organizations, to strengthen advocacy, accountability, and movement-building efforts aimed at ending:

Gender-based violence (GBV)
Harmful practices
Structural gender inequality

The initiative focuses on regional coordination, policy engagement, grassroots leadership, and protection of feminist and youth activists facing backlash.

Strategic Focus Areas

1. Health (Adolescent & Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Projects may address:

Adolescent health
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
Access to integrated GBV and health services
Survivor-centered approaches

2. Protection (Gender-Based Violence)

Priority areas include:

Prevention of GBV and harmful practices
Strengthening response systems
Community mobilization
Survivor support mechanisms
Improved implementation of the Essential Services Package for GBV prevention and response

3. Social Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy-related components may include:

Policy reform and legislative engagement
Monitoring regional and national commitments
Engagement with governments and regional bodies
Social norms change interventions
Evidence-based advocacy

Key Objectives of the Partnership

Strengthen Feminist, Rights-Based Advocacy

UNFPA aims to amplify:

Women-led organizations
Youth-led movements
Grassroots feminist networks

The partnership supports collective action and regional movement building.

Promote Social Norms Change

The initiative seeks measurable shifts in harmful gender norms that perpetuate:

Violence against women and girls
Child marriage
Other harmful practices

Approaches may include:

Community dialogues
Media advocacy
Youth engagement
Faith and cultural leader engagement

Enhance Accountability Mechanisms

Partners are expected to monitor implementation of commitments such as:

The African Union Accountability Framework

Monitoring should track national and regional commitments to end GBV and harmful practices.

Document Resistance and Backlash

Recognizing growing pushback against feminist and youth advocacy, the partnership includes:

Documentation of political, social, religious, or cultural resistance
Risk-informed advocacy strategies
Activist safety planning
Alliance-building to mitigate threats

Expected Outcomes

UNFPA expects measurable improvements in:

Leadership and influence of regional women-led and youth-led organizations
Policy engagement at community, national, and regional levels
Community awareness about GBV and harmful practices
Social and gender norms transformation
Monitoring and reporting of GBV-related commitments
Evidence-based advocacy using survivor-centered documentation
Risk mitigation capacity among advocacy groups

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Regional non-governmental organizations
Women-led organizations
Youth-led organizations
Civil society networks operating across East and Southern Africa

Applicants must:

Demonstrate regional operational capacity
Coordinate programming across multiple countries in East and Southern Africa
Align with UNFPA’s 2026–2029 Regional Programme
Show experience in GBV prevention, advocacy, and social norms change

Local organizations without regional coordination capacity may not qualify unless part of a broader regional network.

Why This Partnership Matters

Gender-based violence remains a systemic barrier to:

Gender equality
Public health
Human rights
Youth empowerment
Sustainable development

This regional partnership strengthens:

Feminist leadership
Accountability systems
Grassroots movements
Policy reform
Protection of activists

It addresses both prevention and response while confronting backlash against rights-based advocacy.

How the Partnership Works

Step 1: Demonstrate Regional Reach

Applicants must show:

Operational presence across East and Southern Africa
Existing partnerships with national actors
Experience engaging regional institutions

Step 2: Align with UNFPA Frameworks

Proposals must connect clearly to:

2026–2030 Regional Result Framework
2026–2029 Regional Programme
AU Accountability Framework commitments

Step 3: Present a Clear Advocacy Strategy

Include:

Theory of change
Social norms change methodology
Policy engagement strategy
Monitoring and evaluation framework
Risk mitigation plan

Step 4: Strengthen Safeguarding & Protection

Outline:

Activist safety protocols
Backlash response strategies
Risk-informed advocacy planning

Step 5: Submit Proposal to UNFPA Regional Office

Applications must comply with UNFPA partnership guidelines and regional coordination requirements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Submitting proposals limited to one country
Failing to demonstrate regional coordination capacity
Not addressing backlash or activist protection
Weak monitoring and evaluation plans
Lack of alignment with AU or UNFPA frameworks
Absence of measurable social norms indicators

Strong proposals integrate advocacy, accountability, movement-building, and safety planning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who issued this call?

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through its East and Southern Africa Regional Office.

2. What geographic region is covered?

East and Southern Africa, with a requirement for regional coordination across multiple countries.

3. Are national NGOs eligible?

Only if they demonstrate regional operational capacity or participate within a regional network structure.

4. What themes are prioritized?

Gender-based violence prevention and response, harmful practices, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, feminist advocacy, and social norms change.

5. Is activist protection part of the expected results?

Yes. Risk-informed advocacy, documentation of backlash, and activist safety planning are central components.

6. What is the AU Accountability Framework?

It is a regional monitoring mechanism under the African Union that tracks member states’ commitments to ending GBV and harmful practices.

7. What outcomes is UNFPA seeking?

Increased leadership of women- and youth-led organizations, stronger policy influence, improved monitoring of commitments, measurable social norms shifts, and enhanced activist protection.

Conclusion

UNFPA’s regional partnership call represents a strategic investment in feminist leadership, rights-based advocacy, and systemic change to prevent and respond to gender-based violence across East and Southern Africa. By strengthening regional coordination, accountability, and protection mechanisms, the initiative aims to shift harmful norms, elevate grassroots voices, and reinforce commitments to gender equality at all levels.

Organizations with proven regional reach, strong advocacy capacity, and risk-informed strategies are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to this transformative agenda.