Deadline: 9-Jul-25
UN Women is inviting civil society organizations to partner in implementing a transformative initiative titled “Enhancing Women’s Political Participation and Leadership”, aimed at strengthening the political capacity and leadership of women in Bangladesh.
This initiative will be implemented across three divisions—Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Chittagong—with a particular focus on empowering young women, especially those from marginalized communities, to actively engage in public life, influence policy, and take on leadership roles in governance and economic spheres.
The core objective of the initiative is to build a cohort of women with the capacity and agency to participate meaningfully in democratic processes and public leadership.
Drawing on feminist and human-rights-based approaches, the initiative is structured around three interlinked pathways. Firstly, it aims to establish a platform that provides women with access to mentorship and coaching, enabling them to build leadership skills and connect with leaders from various sectors.
Secondly, it will support network-building efforts by facilitating connections between politically motivated young women and second-tier political leaders across party lines.
Thirdly, the project will work to create an enabling environment for women to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, helping localize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 16 in Bangladesh while developing a scalable and replicable model for national planning.
The selected Responsible Party (RP) will lead the formation of the young women’s leadership platform, ensuring inclusive participation of diverse groups including women with disabilities, indigenous women, and gender-diverse individuals.
This platform will serve as a forum linked to feminist practitioners, UN and government actors, and civil society organizations, tailored to participant needs. Additionally, the RP will develop a peer support network of second-tier political leaders to bolster advocacy and solidarity for women’s political advancement.
The project must apply a human rights lens across all interventions, with safeguarding measures and risk mitigation strategies clearly defined, including specific actions to ensure participant safety and security. A comprehensive risk analysis will be required as part of the project design.
The initiative is funded within a budget range of BDT 19,000,000 to BDT 22,000,000 (approximately USD 182,000), with an implementation timeline of 12 months starting from 1 September.
The initiative is expected to contribute to two significant outcomes under UN Women’s strategic plan: by 2026, more vulnerable populations—particularly women, girls, and sexual minorities—will benefit from gender-responsive, accountable governance and an environment where they can exercise their rights and decision-making power, free from discrimination and harmful practices.
Proposals are open exclusively to non-governmental organizations registered in Bangladesh. Submissions can be made by individual entities or as part of a consortium, preferably involving women’s rights or feminist organizations. Eligible organizations must demonstrate experience in promoting democratic processes, women’s political participation, and leadership.
Required competencies include the ability to implement gender-focused capacity development, experience in advocacy, youth engagement, feminist methodologies, and prior partnerships with UN agencies or government actors. Geographic presence in the target divisions and a proven commitment to working with excluded or marginalized groups will be considered strong advantages.
Organizations with a reputation for autonomy, resilience, and a commitment to gender equality, as well as the capacity to deliver results-based documentation and reporting, are particularly encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit UN Women.
