Deadline: 10-Jul-25
Applications are now open for the Faith-Based Initiative for Gender Equality: Men’s Caregiving and Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme. This opportunity seeks a qualified Civil Society Organization (CSO) to serve as an Implementing Partner, leading efforts to engage religious institutions across the MENA region in promoting gender equality through men’s caregiving and women’s economic participation.
The initiative aims to harness the influence of religious institutions to reshape social norms. It calls for meaningful dialogues, targeted capacity building, and the creation of knowledge resources to support gender-transformative change. While the program will particularly focus on Sunni Muslim actors—the dominant religious demographic in the target countries—it will also support inter-faith dialogues with Shia Islam, Christianity, and other religious traditions.
The selected Implementing Partner will be responsible for developing a regional manual to guide religious leaders and institutions on how to promote gender equality. This manual will focus on encouraging men and boys to take on unpaid care and domestic responsibilities, while also advancing opportunities for women in paid employment. It will be tailored for Sheikhs and Imams in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan and will be published in Arabic, English, and French. The final product must be professionally designed, under 40 pages in length, and of high publishable quality.
In addition to the manual, the Implementing Partner will organize a regional inter-faith dialogue, bringing together religious institutions to elevate the importance of engaging men and boys in caregiving and supporting women’s economic empowerment. A Training of Trainers (ToT) session will also be delivered to religious leaders from the four target countries to roll out the manual in collaboration with UN Women’s national implementing partners.
Another major deliverable is the development of a short, compelling Public Service Announcement (PSA) or animated video. This PSA will highlight religious teachings that support gender equality, especially in relation to men’s household responsibilities and women’s inclusion in economic life.
This project is supported with a budget between USD 120,000 and USD 154,000 and will be implemented over a 12-month period, beginning on 1 July 2025 and concluding by 30 June 2026.
The initiative targets three core outcomes. First, it seeks to increase the involvement of men and boys in caregiving across the MENA region. Second, it aims to transform patriarchal norms and masculinities by working with religious institutions. Third, it envisions a future where men and boys are actively supported by laws and policies—such as paternity leave—to share caregiving duties more equitably.
To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate at least a decade of experience working with religious actors in the Arab States region. This includes a solid track record of promoting human rights and sustainable development, strong familiarity with Sunni theological interpretations, and experience in fostering interfaith dialogue. Competency in Arabic is essential, as is an in-depth understanding of the cultural and religious dynamics in the region.
Applicants must also prove their administrative and financial capacity to manage large-scale projects, including recruitment, training, knowledge product development, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing. Legal registration and a defined governance structure are mandatory.
Additional assets include a strong internal commitment to gender equality, previous experience in engaging men and boys in care work, and organizational policies that support work-life balance, such as parental leave and flexible working arrangements.
This program presents a vital opportunity to create regional momentum for religiously grounded advocacy on gender equality—specifically through the dual pillars of men’s caregiving and women’s economic empowerment.
For more information, visit UN Women.
