Deadline: 08-Jun-2026
UN Women Türkiye, with funding from the European Union, has launched a Call for Proposals to strengthen prevention, protection, and support services for women and girls affected by the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. The programme provides up to USD 110,000 per lot to civil society organisations and academic institutions to improve shelters, institutional capacity, and survivor support systems across affected and migration-receiving provinces.
UN Women Türkiye Earthquake Response Programme Overview
This initiative is part of a 36-month project implemented by UN Women Türkiye to restore and strengthen systems addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG). It focuses on rebuilding essential protection infrastructure and improving coordinated service delivery in regions impacted by the earthquakes.
The programme also supports long-term recovery by improving institutional capacity and expanding socio-economic empowerment opportunities for survivors.
Key Objectives and Focus Areas
The programme aims to strengthen prevention and protection systems through:
- Reconstruction and refurbishment of women’s shelters for survivors and children
- Upgrading Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers
- Improving access to quality survivor-centred protection services
- Enhancing coordination between service providers and institutions
- Strengthening technical capacity of public personnel in VAWG response
- Expanding socio-economic empowerment opportunities for survivors
- Supporting post-shelter recovery and long-term wellbeing
- Improving crisis-response capacity in disaster-affected regions
Context and Background
The February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye caused widespread damage across southeastern regions, severely impacting:
- Women and girls at risk of violence
- Shelter and protection infrastructure
- Public service delivery systems
- Government and frontline personnel capacity
Key challenges included:
- Increased exposure to gender-based violence
- Disruption of essential protection services
- Overburdened or displaced public personnel
- Reduced access to safe shelters and support systems
This programme directly responds to these systemic gaps.
Project Implementation Scope
The initiative focuses on strengthening both infrastructure and human capacity:
Infrastructure Support
- Reconstruction of women’s shelters
- Refurbishment of protection and monitoring centres
- Alignment with national and international shelter standards
Capacity Building
- Training for Ministry of Family and Social Services staff
- Capacity strengthening for law enforcement and frontline responders
- Development of technical tools and service protocols
Survivor Support
- Socio-economic empowerment programmes
- Post-shelter reintegration support
- Long-term wellbeing and recovery services
Target Locations
The programme supports:
- Earthquake-affected provinces in Türkiye
- Provinces receiving migration from affected regions
The focus is on areas where service systems were disrupted or overloaded.
Funding Structure
- Total funding per lot: up to USD 110,000
- Number of lots: 2
- Funding type: Project-based grants under Output 1.3
- Duration: Part of a 36-month EU-funded programme (started December 2024)
Eligible Applicants
Eligible organisations include:
- Civil society organisations (CSOs)
- Academic institutions
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Experience in gender-based violence prevention or response
- Capacity to implement survivor-centred programmes
- Strong institutional and operational capability
- Experience working in humanitarian or post-disaster contexts
Programme Priorities
The call prioritises:
- Survivor-centred protection systems
- Gender-based violence prevention and response
- Strengthening institutional coordination
- Improving shelter quality and accessibility
- Capacity building for frontline service providers
- Post-disaster recovery and resilience building
- Socio-economic empowerment for women and girls
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is important because it:
- Restores critical protection services after a major disaster
- Reduces risks of violence against women and girls
- Strengthens national GBV response systems
- Improves quality and accessibility of shelters
- Builds capacity of frontline service providers
- Supports long-term recovery and empowerment of survivors
- Enhances coordination between institutions and service providers
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applications may be weaker if they:
- Lack experience in GBV or survivor support programming
- Do not demonstrate post-disaster or humanitarian experience
- Fail to align with survivor-centred approaches
- Ignore infrastructure and institutional capacity requirements
- Provide unclear implementation strategies
- Lack coordination with government institutions
- Do not address both prevention and protection components
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly demonstrate experience in GBV prevention and response
- Show understanding of post-earthquake recovery context
- Include strong survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches
- Highlight capacity-building strategies for public institutions
- Demonstrate ability to refurbish or manage shelter systems
- Ensure strong coordination with national authorities
- Present clear, measurable outcomes for survivors
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is funding this programme?
UN Women Türkiye, with funding support from the European Union.
What is the main goal?
To strengthen prevention and protection services for women and girls affected by the February 2023 earthquakes.
What is the funding amount?
Up to USD 110,000 per lot, with two lots available.
Who can apply?
Civil society organisations and academic institutions.
What areas does the programme cover?
Earthquake-affected provinces and migration-receiving regions in Türkiye.
What services are being improved?
Shelters, Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centres, and survivor support systems.
What is Output 1.3 focused on?
Targeted interventions strengthening survivor-centred services and institutional capacity.
Conclusion
The UN Women Türkiye Call for Proposals is a targeted recovery initiative designed to restore and strengthen protection systems for women and girls affected by the 2023 earthquakes. By investing in shelters, institutional capacity, and survivor empowerment, the programme aims to rebuild essential services, enhance coordination, and ensure long-term safety and recovery for vulnerable populations.
For more information, visit UN Women.