Deadline: 22-Feb-21
Applications are now open for Women in leadership – Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World. Women are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers, and some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic.
The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women carry. Globally, the 8th of March marks the celebration of International Women’s Day – a day when women are recognized for their contribution to the world.
In this context, the International Women’s Day 2021 theme is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
UN Women Afghanistan is opening a community-driven call for ideas to provide national support to Afghan women leaders who are pivotal in stopping COVID-19 from spreading further into their communities. Civil society organizations, grassroots women-led organizations, and women’s rights activists are encouraged to submit their ideas on how to strengthen the role of Afghan women at the forefront of the COVID-19 response.
What are they looking to fund?
- They want to fund community-led initiatives that amplify, elevate, and connect Afghan women leaders across provinces, sectors, across generations, and geographies to create a more equal post-COVID-19 Afghanistan. They are especially interested in initiatives that promote and support Afghan women leaders with a track record of bringing positive changes in their family, community, and nation. They invite initiatives that reach women leaders across sectors- from entrepreneurs to farmers, journalists, parliamentarians, teachers, activists. Activities led by young women are strongly encouraged.
- Within a maximum ceiling of $2,000/grant, eligible initiatives can include but are not limited to, advocacy campaigns that foster legislative change, information campaigns on the importance of women leaders for the benefit of societies at large, leadership trainings for young women, forming alliances to strengthen women’s voices influence policy-making, campaigns aimed at identifying the next generation of Afghan community leaders, exhibitions promoting Afghan women leaders, technology-based innovations that empower women to lead. All activities will take place in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.
- The minimum number of direct beneficiaries for each grant: 130.
Eligibility Criteria
- Women’s rights activists, women’s rights organizations, individuals with a proven experience of working on women’s rights in Afghanistan, civil society organizations based and active in Afghanistan. Innovative approaches in implementing the leadership campaigns/projects/activities are highly encouraged.
- Action-oriented projects and concrete results must be demonstrated. Partnerships with various stakeholders are highly encouraged. Only initiatives targeting Afghanistan and conducted by Afghan citizens, organizations active in Afghanistan will be selected.
How to Apply
- Phase 1 – Proposals: Submit your idea: They invite you to submit your idea using the form no later than 22 February 2021.
- Phase 2 – Shortlisting: Your chance to further develop your idea. Based on the ideas submitted, they will create a shortlist of ideas with the greatest potential. They will then invite shortlisted applicants to a call to give you feedback on the proposals, and review and work on your ideas together. The aim of this is to support the development of the shortlisted ideas, explore any outstanding questions and ensure the proposals are adequately framed.
- Phase 3 – Final proposals: The final proposals will be reviewed by a panel comprised of UN Women staff and women’s rights activists.
- Phase 4 – Implementation: They expect all activities to take place between 1st – 25th March 2021. They will conduct monitoring missions during this timeframe to ensure smooth implementation of proposed activities.
For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=75434