Call for Applications: Women’s Political Participation Program in Ukraine

Deadline: 23-May-25

The UN Women is accepting applications for the Women’s Political Participation Program to empower women to participate in politics and decision-making process by strengthening their capacity and networking at the local level.

It will also seek to promote increased awareness of women’s leadership by conducting a communication and advocacy campaign informed by the evidence and designed to shift social norms, reduce stereotypes and empower women.

Description of required services/results

• Through this Call for Proposal, UN Women intends to sign a Partner Agreement with a civil society organization (community-based organization, non-governmental organization, youth-led organization, or other non-state, non-profit, voluntary entity) to act as a Responsible Party for implementation of the interventions that will contribute to the fulfilling of the following outcome and outputs of the UN Women Ukraine Country Programme 2025-2029:
  • Outcome 1: By 2029 society is more inclusive and cohesive with active civic space and more effective, accountable institutions that enable reform and recovery and safeguard rule of law, human rights, and gender equality (UNSDCF Outcome 4)
  • Output 1.2: Women leaders and WROs at all levels have strengthened capacities to express their agency, voice, and leadership to meaningfully engage in decision-making and participate in political life.

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be 160,000.00 USD Min. – 180,000.00 USD Max

Duration

• The approximate duration of the assignment is 6 months: July – December 2025.

Eligible Activities

• The following activities should be completed:
  • Activity 1: Facilitate the preparation and implementation of at least 17 in-person trainings (each 3 days long), targeting women leaders by engaging UN Women-certified trainers on women’s leadership and using UN Women’s “Political Leadership and Candidate Training” curriculum and agenda 
    • Develop a training schedule in coordination with UN Women-certified trainers.
    • Identify women leaders as potential participants and mobilize at least 425 women to complete the trainings.
    • Ensure full logistical support for the trainings (including venue, accommodation, printing, invitation of guest speakers, and other necessary arrangements).
    • Contract, guide, supervise and monitor the performance of the UN Women-certified trainers by reviewing their training reports and capturing lessons learned and challenges encountered during the sessions.
    • Provide supervision support to trainers, if requested.
  • Activity 2: Facilitate women’s leaders networking and contribute to the coordination efforts of stakeholders working on women’s leadership and participation in Ukraine.
    • Contribute to the establishment of the women leaders’ network through creating a database of trained women leaders and facilitating a virtual community of practice.
    • Conduct follow-up learning and peer-to-peer support sessions for trained women leaders.
    • Organize a concluding event (forum) to facilitate networking, gather feedback, reflect on lessons learned, and discuss the next steps. The forum should also include the presentation and validation of research findings, among other objectives. Priority should be given to the participation of prominent women leaders who completed the training.
    • Participate in the meetings of the Women’s Political Participation Task Force, co-led by UN Women, and other relevant events, as requested by UN Women
  • Activity 3: Conduct research and develop an analytical paper on how the war in Ukraine affects women’s political rights.
    • The research should include a desk review, survey, interviews, and focus group discussions. The paper may explore, but is not limited to, the following areas:
      • How the full-scale invasion has shifted gender dynamics in political decision-making.
      • Public perceptions of women’s political participation, and whether there has been a shift in voter attitudes toward women politicians and aspiring candidates during wartime.
      • Legal and structural barriers to women’s political participation.
      • Challenges within the current electoral law that hinder women’s equal participation.
      • New pathways or obstacles to women’s political engagement that have emerged as a result of the full-scale invasion.
      • Effective strategies for raising awareness and garnering public support for women’s political participation.
  • Activity 4: Develop and disseminate communications products and messaging to raise awareness and promote women’s leadership and participation. 
    • Design and implement evidence-based communication campaign to promote changes in public attitudes and behaviors that sustain gender inequality and exclude women from politics and decision-making.
  • Activity 5: Support the documentation of experiences of women leaders to advance gender equality and increase women’s engagement in political processes. 
    • Develop and disseminate women’s impact stories.

Competencies

• Technical/functional competencies required
  • Minimum 2 years of experience relevant for the ToR (providing professional training, mentoring and career coaching services, communication campaigns and media engagement). The proponent as an organization has to be in operation for at least 5 years since registration.
  • At least 3 years of experience in work related to women’s political participation, leadership, human rights and/or movement building or related themes.
  • Track record of minimum 2 assignments undertaken with similar value, nature and complexity over the last 2 years (For JV/Consortium/Association, all Parties cumulatively should meet requirement).
  • Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders, including but not limited to government agencies, civil society organizations and media.
• Other competencies, which while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services
  • Prior experience of working with UN/UN Women.
  • Previous experience of implementing initiatives using an innovative approach

For more information, visit UN Women.