Deadline: 26-Jun-2025
The UN Women is seeking applications for its Digitalization for Women’s Economic Empowerment Project to equip young women aged 18–35 in Punjab (Lahore, Faisalabad and Mardan) districts with digital skills through training, mentorship, and stakeholder engagement.
The project aims to enhance the economic empowerment of young women through digital skills development, mentorship opportunities, and the creation of supportive environments for women’s participation in the technology sector. By fostering access to IT-enabled services, software development, and data analytics, and strengthening industry-academia linkages, the project promotes inclusive participation in the tech sector and enhances women’s employability in the digital economy.
Towards the purpose of accelerating economic engagement of young women through digital enablement and innovation, UN Women – with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is implementing the project titled, ‘Digitalization for Women Economic Empowerment (D4WEE)’ in Pakistan. The project is being implemented in six districts across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) namely, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Mardan and Swabi from 2024 to 2028.
This project, led by UN Women, seeks to address these challenges by focusing on enhancing digital skills through capacity building programs, creating supportive environments by liaising with the private sector for successful job placements, and establishing strong industry-academia linkages for improved employment opportunities.
Objectives
- To support the implementation of the project targeting young women’s digital empowerment in the province of Punjab (Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan), UN Women is seeking Responsible Parties (RPs) for submission of technical and financial proposals.
- The program activities specified in the Call for Proposal will be implemented at the grassroots level by UN Women through the Responsible Party.
Categories
- Tier 1 – Intermediate Targets beneficiaries around 18 years old facing cultural or financial barriers to skill acquisition:
- In-Demand Skills: Training in data entry, digital marketing, and graphic design.
- Freelancing Skills: Training to empower beneficiaries for independent work in the digital marketplace.
- Tier 2 – University Students Targets 20-25-year-old university students:
- Specialized Training: Core programming, web development, data analysis.
- Skill Development Integration: Collaborating with universities to integrate skill development into academic curricula.
- Community Centers: Establishing hubs for collaboration and skill-sharing.
- Tier 3 – Graduates and Older Segment Targets 26-35-year-old graduates and those re-entering the workforce:
- Advanced IT Skills: Training in project management, digital entrepreneurship, and remote work strategies.
- Tailored Programs: Designing programs for niche skill sets and emerging job roles.
- Community Hubs: Fostering collaboration and professional growth through community spaces.
Funding Information
- The budget range for this proposal should be PKR 255,200,000 – 277,200,000.
Competencies
- Technical/functional competencies required:
- A nationally registered and reputed organization with an office in Pakistan and a strong local presence and geographic outreach in Punjab with a proven understanding of local socio-cultural dynamics impacting women’s participation in the technology sector.
- Proven track record of working in women’s economic empowerment focusing on IT sector related training and relationship with relevant stakeholders. Experienced in delivering hybrid learning models (online/in-person) using accessible tools and platforms with an inclusive and gender-sensitive pedagogical methods.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing structured mentorship programs including engagement of mentors (from academia, tech industry, public sector) as well as mentor-mentee matchmaking processes. Capability to link trainees with employment opportunities for successful job placements.
- Ability to equip and manage multi-purpose centres at the district level to develop a strong infrastructure for smooth delivery of trainings.
- Prior experience of working with tech companies, MSMEs and academic institutions.
- Commitment to UN Women’s “Leaving No One Behind (LNOB)” principle
- Previous work experience with UN agencies or other international development agencies is an advantage with a particular understanding on UN progress reporting templates to track Quarterly progress and financial reporting.
- Capacity to comply with UN Women’s Partner Agreement terms, anti-fraud policies and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) standards.
- Other competencies, which while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services:
- Ability to communicate in local language, that is, Punjabi will be an added advantage.
For more information, visit UN Women.