Call for Gender Equality Accelerator Project Proposals (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Deadline: 07-Jun-2026

The Gender Equality Accelerator Programme is a joint United Nations initiative designed to address structural gender inequalities affecting women and girls across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The programme is implemented by:

• UN Women
• UNICEF
• United Nations Development Programme
• United Nations Population Fund

The initiative is coordinated with:

• Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The programme aims to create long-term systemic change by supporting inclusive, transformative, and intersectional gender equality initiatives.

Programme Focus Areas

The public call supports projects related to:

• Elimination of violence against women and girls
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Women’s leadership development
• Gender-sensitive governance
• Leadership networking and intergenerational exchange
• Creative expression for social transformation
• Art and storytelling for social change
• Advocacy and communication campaigns
• Gender equality awareness
• Toxic masculinity prevention
• Prevention of gender-based violence
• Inclusive participation and intersectionality
• Leave No One Behind (LNOB) implementation

Projects should address both structural inequalities and harmful social norms.

Understanding the Intersectional Approach

The programme emphasizes:

• Intersectionality
• Inclusion
• Equity

This means recognizing that women and girls experience discrimination differently based on factors such as:

• Age
• Disability
• Socio-economic status
• Rural or urban location
• Political exclusion
• Social marginalization

Projects should therefore develop solutions that respond to diverse lived experiences and barriers.

Key Programme Objectives

The initiative seeks to:

• Strengthen women’s rights and participation
• Promote inclusive leadership opportunities
• Challenge discriminatory norms and stereotypes
• Support social and cultural transformation
• Increase public engagement on gender equality
• Build partnerships for systemic change

The programme also encourages broad participation in efforts to create safer, more inclusive communities.

Target Groups

Projects should support:

• Women facing multiple forms of discrimination
• Girls and young women
• Young people aged 18 to 35
• Marginalized communities
• Survivors of gender-based violence

The programme also encourages participation from:

• Boys and men as allies
• Youth leaders
• Community advocates
• Cultural and creative actors

The initiative recognizes the importance of engaging all sectors of society in advancing gender equality.

Role of Boys and Men

The programme specifically encourages boys and men to participate as:

• Allies in gender equality
• Advocates against toxic masculinity
• Supporters of violence prevention
• Participants in social norm transformation

The initiative promotes positive masculinity and inclusive community engagement.

Organizations and Sectors Encouraged to Participate

The programme seeks collaboration among:

• Civil society organizations
• Government institutions
• Political representatives
• Media organizations
• Cultural institutions
• Educational institutions
• Academic institutions
• Private sector actors

The goal is to encourage broad societal dialogue and coordinated action around gender equality and women’s rights.

Advocacy and Communication Activities

The programme supports:

• Public awareness campaigns
• Advocacy initiatives
• Storytelling projects
• Cultural engagement activities
• Creative communication approaches

Special attention is given to:

• “16 Days of Activism” campaign activities

Projects may use:

• Art
• Media
• Performance
• Digital storytelling
• Public dialogue

to challenge harmful stereotypes and encourage social change.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil society organizations
• Associations
• Foundations

Applicants must:

• Be based in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Operate within Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Clearly identify a project leader in the proposal

Organizations should demonstrate capacity to implement inclusive and transformative initiatives.

What Types of Projects Are Encouraged?

The programme encourages projects that:

• Combine multiple focus areas
• Promote transformative social change
• Include marginalized voices
• Strengthen women’s leadership
• Encourage youth participation
• Foster partnerships and collaboration
• Integrate advocacy and community engagement

Strong projects typically demonstrate both:

• Practical impact
• Long-term systemic relevance

Why This Programme Matters

Gender inequality continues to affect women and girls through:

• Gender-based violence
• Economic exclusion
• Political underrepresentation
• Harmful social norms
• Unequal access to opportunities

Intersectional inequalities further affect:

• Rural women
• Women with disabilities
• Young women
• Economically marginalized communities

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen inclusive participation
• Promote social transformation
• Support systemic policy and cultural change
• Encourage shared responsibility for gender equality

How to Prepare a Strong Proposal

Applicants should:

• Clearly explain the gender equality challenge being addressed
• Demonstrate understanding of intersectionality
• Include inclusive participation strategies
• Present realistic implementation plans
• Show strong community engagement approaches
• Include measurable outcomes and impact indicators
• Demonstrate collaboration and partnership potential
• Integrate advocacy or communication components

Strong proposals often combine:

• Community-based action
• Policy relevance
• Creative engagement
• Leadership development
• Sustainable impact strategies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Weak intersectional analysis
• Limited inclusion strategies
• Unclear project leadership structures
• Overly broad objectives
• Lack of measurable outcomes
• Limited engagement with affected communities
• Excluding youth or marginalized groups from participation

Applications with clear transformative goals and inclusive implementation models are generally stronger.

How the Application Process Works

Organizations typically need to:

• Prepare a project proposal
• Identify the project leader
• Define objectives and target groups
• Present implementation and budgeting plans
• Demonstrate organizational capacity
• Submit all required application documents

The complete application package and detailed guidelines are available on:

• The official United Nations website in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Projects are reviewed based on:

• Relevance
• Transformative impact
• Inclusion
• Feasibility
• Partnership strength

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Gender Equality Accelerator Programme?

It is a joint UN initiative supporting transformative and intersectional gender equality projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Which organizations are implementing the programme?

The programme is implemented by:

• UN Women
• UNICEF
• United Nations Development Programme
• United Nations Population Fund

What issues does the programme focus on?

The programme focuses on:

• Violence against women
• Women’s leadership
• Economic empowerment
• Social norm transformation
• Advocacy and inclusion

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil society organizations
• Associations
• Foundations operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Does the programme support youth participation?

Yes. Young people aged 18 to 35 are an important target group within the initiative.

Are boys and men encouraged to participate?

Yes. The programme encourages boys and men to engage as allies in preventing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.

What is the Leave No One Behind principle?

The Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle promotes inclusive development that prioritizes people facing marginalization and multiple forms of discrimination.

Conclusion

The Gender Equality Accelerator Programme represents a major effort to advance women’s rights, intersectional inclusion, and transformative social change across Bosnia and Herzegovina. By supporting initiatives focused on violence prevention, leadership development, advocacy, creative expression, and inclusive participation, the programme seeks to strengthen long-term gender equality outcomes and systemic change.

Civil society organizations with strong community engagement strategies, inclusive approaches, and commitment to social transformation are well-positioned to contribute meaningful impact through this opportunity.

For more information, visit UNDP.