Call for Proposal: Women Peace and Protection Joint Programme in Somalia

Deadline: 25-Mar-2026

UN Women is inviting proposals under the Women, Peace and Protection Joint Programme (WPP II) in Somalia to strengthen women’s leadership, participation, and protection in peacebuilding, governance, and security. Eligible partners can apply for USD 100,000 to 150,000 to support women’s meaningful participation in peace processes, conflict prevention, inclusive governance, and community resilience.

About the Opportunity

This UN Women initiative supports the Women, Peace and Protection Joint Programme (WPP II) in Somalia.

The programme builds on the first phase and is designed to advance:

• Women’s participation in peacebuilding

• Leadership in decision-making

• Protection of women and girls

• Inclusive governance

• Gender-responsive security and justice systems

It aligns with Somalia’s commitment to implementing its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP-WPS).

Funding Available

The proposed project budget should be within:

• USD 100,000 to 150,000

Programme Goal

WPP II aims to position women as active agents of peace and security in Somalia.

The programme supports efforts to:

• Strengthen women’s voice in peace and security processes

• Improve institutional capacity for gender-responsive governance

• Mainstream gender equality in decision-making and security systems

• Promote inclusive, rights-based peacebuilding approaches

• Improve protection outcomes for women and girls

Key Focus Areas

The programme focuses on:

• Promoting women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding

• Increasing women’s leadership and decision-making roles

• Strengthening peace infrastructures through:

  • Legislation

  • Policy reform

  • Community interventions

• Empowering women-led organizations and grassroots actors

• Engaging youth in inclusive peace processes

• Supporting knowledge exchange

• Establishing early warning systems for:

  • Conflict prevention

  • Prevention of sexual violence

• Challenging harmful social norms

• Working with:

  • Government institutions

  • Clan elders

  • Religious leaders

  • Women leaders

  • Youth

  • Civil society organizations

What WPP II Seeks to Achieve

The programme is expected to support:

• Women’s leadership in peacebuilding, mediation, and security sector reform

• Better institutional coordination and accountability for WPS implementation

• Women’s economic empowerment and resilience linked to peacebuilding and recovery

• Stronger knowledge generation, monitoring, and learning

• Evidence-based policymaking and progress tracking on WPS commitments

Who Should Apply?

UN Women is looking for partners with strong experience in:

• Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

• Peacebuilding

• Security sector reform

Partner Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience

• Proven capacity to support implementation of Somalia’s NAP-WPS

• Field presence across Federal Member States

They should also have experience in:

• Gender analysis

• Mediation

• Inclusive governance

• Conflict prevention

• Training delivery

• Trauma healing

• Women’s economic empowerment

• Coordination with community-based organizations

• Collaboration with civil society actors

Why This Opportunity Matters

This is a significant opportunity for organizations working in Somalia on the intersection of:

• Women’s rights

• Peacebuilding

• Conflict prevention

• Security sector reform

• Governance

• Community resilience

It is especially relevant for partners that can combine policy-level engagement with community-based implementation.

FAQs

1. How much funding is available?

Applicants can propose projects with a budget of:

• USD 100,000 to 150,000

2. What is WPP II?

WPP II stands for the Women, Peace and Protection Joint Programme (Phase II) in Somalia, focused on women’s participation, leadership, and protection in peace and security processes.

3. What are the main focus areas?

Key areas include:

• Women’s leadership in peacebuilding

• Security sector reform

• Conflict prevention

• Early warning systems

• Economic empowerment

• Inclusive governance

• Social norm change

4. Who can apply?

Organizations with strong technical expertise in:

• Women, Peace and Security

• Peacebuilding

• Security sector reform

5. Is prior Somalia experience important?

Yes. Applicants should show:

• Experience supporting Somalia’s NAP-WPS

• Field presence across Federal Member States

• Strong understanding of local stakeholders and implementation realities

6. Is economic empowerment part of the programme?

Yes. The programme also links women’s economic empowerment and resilience with peacebuilding and recovery outcomes.

Conclusion

The UN Women WPP II call in Somalia is a strong opportunity for experienced organizations working on Women, Peace and Security to support women’s leadership, protection, and inclusion in peacebuilding and governance.

With funding of USD 100,000–150,000, the programme is well-suited for technically strong partners that can drive both institutional reform and community-level impact across Somalia.

For more information, visit UN Women.