Open Call: Grant for the Prevention of Child, Early, and Forced Marriages (CEFM) – Turkey

Deadline: 2-May-25

Sabancı Foundation and UNFPA Türkiye are launching a new grant program to support civil society organizations (CSOs) working on or willing to engage in the prevention of child, early, and forced marriages (CEFM).

This grant call is part of the ‘Prevention of Child Marriages Project: Grant and Capacity Building Program’ which is implemented by UNFPA Türkiye with the financial support of Sabancı Foundation and UNFPA. The project’s grant component aims to enhance the technical capacities of CSOs, strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration and ensure sustainable impact through capacity-building, mentoring, and financial support.

Accordingly, the purpose of the grant call is to support CSOs working in or willing to engage in the field of prevention of child, early, and forced marriages (CEFM), as well as early risk identification, and intervention; by strengthening their institutional capacity. As a result, it is expected to integrate CEFM prevention and response strategies into existing CSO interventions while fostering collaboration between stakeholders, including municipalities and national organizations.

What does the Grant Program Cover?

• Strengthening Data Systems and Evidence-Based Work
• Enhancing Advocacy and Communication Capacity
• Strengthening Service Delivery and Intervention Capacity
• Strengthening In-House Partnerships and Coordination for CEFM Prevention

Outputs 

• The call is looking for proposals that would contribute to the achievement of UNFPA’s 7th Country Programme (2021-2025), particularly its following outputs:
  • Output 1.1: Strengthened capacity of vulnerable groups and institutions to increase access to high-quality, inclusive, and rights-based reproductive health services, including in humanitarian settings.
  • Output 2.1: Strengthened capacity of vulnerable groups and institutions to increase access to high-quality, inclusive, and rights-based protection and social cohesion services, including in humanitarian settings.

Outcomes

• In line with the context and purpose explained above, UNFPA is looking for submissions for grant proposals on the prevention of CEFM (child, early and forced marriages) aiming to contribute following outcomes:
  • Children and women at risk/survivors of CEFM have better access to quality protection and response services in line with international standards,
  • Social norms and attitudes favorable towards ending CEFM are promoted in targeted areas.

Eligible Activities 

• The following are some sample activities aligned with the purpose of the grant, for reference:
  • Strengthening Data Systems and Evidence-Based Work
    • Developing/strengthening data systems and evidence-based work in-house, enhancing the capacity for data collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
    • Developing tools to monitor existing CEFM action plans at the provincial level.
  • Enhancing Advocacy and Communication Capacity
    • Producing in-house content for youth and parents on digital platforms and conducting communication campaigns.
    • Developing effective advocacy strategies on CEFM, targeting different audiences, decision-makers, schools, etc.
    • Producing awareness-raising materials for parents, children, and/or youth on the harmful consequences of CEFM, reproductive health, adolescent health and development, the importance of education, and other related issues. (You may refer to the 2023 Türkiye Youth Research)
    • Developing tools to encourage the engagement and support of shopkeepers and men, and piloting necessary initiatives to integrate men and boys into CSOs’ work.
  • Strengthening Service Delivery and Intervention Capacity
    • Implementing interventions to enhance in-house service delivery capacity (Counselling, Early Risk Identification, Case Management, Prevention on CEFM, etc.).
    • Establishing/enhancing helplines dedicated to CEFM cases.
    • Strengthening preparedness capacity for CEFM-related interventions in disaster and emergency situations (including climate change).
    • Establishing Health Mediators Model capacity, in line with the guideline prepared by UNFPA.
  • Strengthening In-House Partnerships and Coordination for CEFM Prevention
    • Strengthening cooperation and coordination capacity within the organization to enhance collaboration with public institutions and organizations on CEFM and gender-related issues.
    • Developing in-house collaboration and partnership models with various sectors (e.g., national/local media, judicial authorities, local governments, education authorities, religious officials, civil society organizations, universities, etc.) to improve internal coordination on CEFM prevention.

Target Audience 

• Target groups shall be following:
  • Women and girls (at risk of/survivors of CEFM);
  • Youth (not in employment, education or training, adolescents/at risk of child marriages, living with disabilities);
  • Men and boys;
  • Rural populations;
  • Migrant agricultural populations;
  • Roma population

Who can apply?

• CSOs that are committed to preventing CEFM, strengthening their institutional capacity, and developing sustainable solutions are encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit UNFPA.

NEXT>>
<<PREVIOUS