Call for Applications: BREN Programme to enhance Human Security of Women and Marginalised Groups in Armenia

Deadline: 14-Jul-23

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) is currently accepting applications from civil society organisations in Armenia as part of the programme Building Resilience in the Eastern Neighbourhood (BREN).

The overall aim of the BREN programme is to enhance the human security of women and marginalised groups in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova through building the resilience of civil society.

Thematic Priorities

• In Armenia, BREN has the following thematic priorities:
  • Advancing the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda (WPS) in Armenia.
    • Initiatives on the implementation of the Localisation of the WPS strategy in municipalities and local self-governments of Armenia to ensure the implementation of the legal frameworks on gender equality and WPS at the local level.
    • Activities and initiatives on the implementation of the 2nd Armenian NAP on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and development and implementation of local action plans.
    • Awareness-raising, networking, partnership, and experience-sharing activities aimed to foster collaboration among civil society, local self-governments, and ministries to advance the WPS agenda in Armenia and localization of UNSCR 1325 with a particular focus on bordering regions.
    • Initiatives aimed at women’s increased participation in decision-making, peace-making, and security planning.
    • Activities advocating for the rights of women in the Police, army, and other law enforcement and security-related structures.
    • Production of written materials and audiovisuals on the WPS agenda that bring knowledge, attitudinal and behavioral changes.
  • Increasing inclusion of diverse groups (minority groups, people with disabilities, and others) in peace and security discussions and decision-making in Armenia.
    • Projects and initiatives on psychosocial support and trauma healing especially for conflict-affected women and communities located in border regions.
    • Initiatives and activities focusing on human security and positive peace and emphasize women’s important role in ensuring long-lasting peace and security.
    • Awareness raising and capacity-building initiatives for journalists on factual, WPS-related reporting.
    • Media-led activities such as debates on peace and conflict that provide more space for discussion of the WPS agenda from different perspectives that result in knowledge, attitudinal and behavioral changes.
    • Awareness-raising initiatives challenging negative stereotypes that surround the work of women, women human rights defenders, and other activists.
• Please note: this grant call is open to new organisations not previously supported under the BREN programme, as well as previous grantees. Partners previously supported under the BREN programme, or those who have applied for other BREN funding opportunities may apply for this call. However, please note a maximum of one grant will be issued per organisation during 2023.

Funding Information 

• The budget range for supported projects is between 20,000-50,000 GBP.
• The proposed project should be no longer than seven months.

Eligible Activities

• IWPR can support activities that focus on:
  • Production of materials: For example, research, production of educational, promotional or media content around project issues.
  • Advocacy: For example, advocacy activities targeted at government, local government, or community entities, such as educational and religious institutions.
  • Community work: Activities focusing on increasing knowledge and skills of vulnerable communities, especially women, ethnic and religious minorities, IDPs and refugees and others.
  • Capacity Building: Activities providing capacity building support to beneficiaries, partner organisations, or other stakeholders in the thematic areas identified.
  • Networking: Activities that support networking between groups or individuals working within the thematic areas identified, including sharing resources and efforts to build on or catalyse change amongst diverse groups/individuals.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are open to all civil society organisations registered in Armenia.
• Interested applicants should aim to align to the thematic priorities.
• They strongly encourage applications from:
  • Organisations led by women and/or youth;
  • Orgnisations led by IDPs, ethnic and religious and other minority groups;
  • Organisations working outside the capital, especially those working in border regions;
  • Newly-formed organisations.
• This call aims to facilitate partnerships among organisations, therefore joint applications are encouraged, especially with the following combinations:
  • Organisations based in and outside the capital;
  • Organisations that have different areas of expertise;
  • CSOs partnered with media organisations;
  • Organisations led by majority and minority groups;
  • Organisations from different BREN countries. If an organisation wishes to submit a proposal jointly with an organisation from another country, IWPR will support the identification of relevant partners.
• Potential applicants should demonstrate:
  • Respect for gender equality and diversity;
  • Conflict and gender sensitivity;
  • Ability to identify, analyse, and mitigate risks;
  • Transparency and accountability in project management, including management of finances;
  • Willingness to learn and share experience with other grant recipients;
  • A sustainability plan to continue the work started under the grant.
• This call is a part of the wider BREN project. The applicants will be advised to participate in its national and regional experience-sharing and capacity-building activities, including in the areas of cyber security, safeguarding and strategic communications.

For more information, visit Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).