Deadline: 30-Sep-2025
The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) has launched a new call for proposals to support local women’s and young women’s rights organizations in Mali.
This funding opportunity is focused on empowering grassroots initiatives that promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls in conflict and crisis-affected areas.
The primary goal of this initiative is to provide targeted grants to organizations working in the areas of humanitarian and crisis response, as well as the protection and empowerment of women and girls. Projects must align with the overarching mission of the WPHF to foster peaceful, inclusive, and gender-equal societies, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the principle of leaving no one behind.
Funding will be allocated to projects operating within specific regions in Mali, including Bandiagara, Bougouni, Dioila, Douentza, Gao, Kidal, Koulikoro, Ménaka, Mopti, San, Ségou, Sikasso, and Timbuktu. Only initiatives based in or directly impacting these areas will be considered, and multi-country or out-of-scope projects will not be eligible.
Eligible civil society organizations may apply for project durations of up to 12 months. Funding is open to national, regional, or local women-led and young women-led organizations, feminist groups, and civil society groups with a strong track record of working with women, young women, and girls. The call encourages applications from organizations that represent or work with marginalized groups, including displaced persons, people with disabilities, and communities facing intersecting forms of discrimination.
To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria. Women-led organizations must be headed by a woman, while youth-focused groups must demonstrate a core mission of advancing the rights and participation of young women and men. Young women-led organizations must be led by a woman aged between 18 and 29. The organization’s mission must clearly reflect a commitment to advancing gender equality, transforming power dynamics, and challenging patriarchal systems.
Entities not eligible to apply include international NGOs, government bodies, United Nations entities, private sector actors, individuals, and academic institutions.
Two types of funding are available under this call. Institutional Funding ranges from USD $2,500 to $30,000 and is intended to strengthen the internal capacity and sustainability of eligible organizations. This funding is not intended for program delivery but rather to support organizational development in challenging environments.
Programmatic Funding, ranging from USD $30,000 to $200,000, is available for projects that contribute to either of two key impact areas: strengthening the participation and leadership of women in humanitarian and crisis planning (Impact Area 3), or improving the safety, human rights, mental health, and well-being of women and girls in these contexts (Impact Area 5).
This call for proposals represents a powerful opportunity for community-based organizations in Mali to enhance their impact, secure their operations, and continue their vital work supporting women and girls in some of the country’s most vulnerable regions.
For more information, visit Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund.