Deadline: 10-Jul-2026
UN Women Lebanon has launched a Call for Proposals to establish and operationalize Lebanon’s first Women in Leadership Academy. The initiative will support women leaders across political, public, economic, civic, and peacebuilding sectors through leadership development, mentorship, networking, and professional advancement. Eligible applications must be submitted by a consortium of at least two organizations, with a budget range of USD 480,000 to USD 600,000 for a 24-month implementation period.
Overview
UN Women Lebanon is inviting eligible organizations to submit proposals for the creation of Lebanon’s first Women in Leadership Academy.
The initiative aims to build a sustainable national platform that strengthens women’s leadership capacities and supports their participation in decision-making.
The selected consortium will establish and operationalize the Academy over 24 months, with a focus on long-term sustainability beyond the implementation period.
Purpose of the Call
The purpose of this Call for Proposals is to create a structured platform for women’s leadership development in Lebanon.
The Women in Leadership Academy will support women leaders by providing capacity development, mentorship, professional networking, and leadership advancement opportunities.
The initiative is designed to contribute to a more inclusive and representative public sphere by strengthening women’s participation in decision-making across multiple sectors.
Thematic Area
The thematic area of this initiative is Women’s Leadership and Decision-Making.
The Academy will support women leaders working across:
- Political sectors
- Public institutions
- Economic sectors
- Civic spaces
- Peacebuilding initiatives
- Governance and public leadership platforms
Key Focus Areas
The initiative focuses on women’s leadership, decision-making, academy design, institutionalization, leadership development, mentorship, professional networking, executive education, gender equality, governance, institutional capacity-building, women’s political participation, civic leadership, peacebuilding leadership, and long-term leadership advancement in Lebanon.
What the Initiative Supports
The Call for Proposals supports the establishment and operation of the Women in Leadership Academy.
Supported activities may include:
- Academy design and institutionalization
- Leadership development programmes
- Mentorship initiatives
- Professional networking activities
- Executive education for women leaders
- Capacity development for women in decision-making
- Leadership training across political, public, economic, civic, and peacebuilding sectors
- Development of a sustainable national leadership platform
- Institutional capacity-building
- Coordination with national stakeholders
- Development of long-term operational models for the Academy
The Academy should be designed as a lasting platform that continues to support women’s leadership beyond the project period.
Funding Amount
The initiative has a budget range of USD 480,000 to USD 600,000.
Applicants should prepare a realistic budget that reflects the scope, duration, staffing, activities, partnerships, and sustainability requirements of the Academy.
The budget should clearly support the establishment, implementation, and long-term institutionalization of the Women in Leadership Academy.
Project Duration
The selected consortium will implement the initiative over 24 months.
The proposal should include a detailed timeline showing how the Academy will be designed, launched, operationalized, and sustained.
Who Is Eligible?
Only consortium applications are eligible.
Each consortium must include:
- One lead applicant
- At least one sub-partner
This means each application must be submitted by a minimum of two organizations working together.
Consortium Requirements
UN Women Lebanon seeks to partner with a consortium of at least two organizations.
The consortium should bring together complementary expertise in leadership development, gender equality, governance, mentorship, executive education, professional networking, and institutional capacity-building.
Each organization may submit only one application as a lead applicant.
However, organizations may participate as sub-partners in multiple consortium applications.
Required Expertise
Applicants should demonstrate strong experience and technical capacity in relevant areas.
Required or relevant expertise may include:
- Leadership development
- Women’s leadership programming
- Gender equality
- Governance
- Executive education
- Mentorship programme design
- Professional networking
- Institutional capacity-building
- Civic participation
- Political participation
- Peacebuilding
- Women’s empowerment
- Programme sustainability
The consortium should clearly explain how each partner’s expertise contributes to the Academy.
Role of the National Commission for Lebanese Women
The selected consortium is expected to consult and coordinate closely with the National Commission for Lebanese Women.
This coordination should take place throughout the proposal development process.
The purpose of this collaboration is to ensure alignment with national priorities and ongoing initiatives related to women’s leadership and participation.
Applicants should explain how they will engage with NCLW and integrate relevant guidance into the Academy model.
Expected Academy Components
The Women in Leadership Academy should include three major components.
1. Academy Design and Institutionalization
This component should focus on creating the Academy’s structure, governance, delivery model, curriculum framework, partnerships, sustainability plan, and long-term institutional identity.
2. Leadership Development Programme
This component should provide structured leadership training for women leaders across key sectors.
Training may focus on decision-making, governance, advocacy, negotiation, public leadership, communication, policy engagement, peacebuilding, and professional advancement.
3. Mentorship, Leadership Development and Professional Networking
This component should connect women leaders with mentors, peers, networks, institutions, and professional opportunities.
It should strengthen relationships, visibility, confidence, and career advancement pathways for women in leadership.
Why It Matters
Women’s leadership is essential for inclusive governance, stronger institutions, peacebuilding, economic progress, and representative decision-making.
In Lebanon, a dedicated Women in Leadership Academy can help create structured pathways for women to strengthen skills, build networks, and take on leadership roles across sectors.
This initiative matters because it aims to create a sustainable national platform that supports women not only through one-time training, but through long-term leadership development, mentorship, and professional advancement.
Sustainability Requirement
Proposals must include practical approaches to ensure the Academy’s sustainability beyond the 24-month implementation period.
A strong sustainability plan may include:
- Institutional hosting arrangements
- Long-term governance model
- Partnerships with national stakeholders
- Continued mentorship networks
- Alumni engagement
- Resource mobilization plan
- Integration with existing women’s leadership initiatives
- Training-of-trainers model
- Cost-sharing or future funding strategy
- Continued coordination with NCLW
The Academy should be designed to remain active and relevant after the grant period ends.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a consortium-based proposal that clearly explains the Academy model, methodology, targets, roles, sustainability approach, and budget.
Step 1: Form an Eligible Consortium
The application must include one lead applicant and at least one sub-partner.
Applicants should select partners with complementary expertise in gender equality, leadership development, governance, mentorship, education, and institutional strengthening.
Step 2: Define the Academy Model
The proposal should explain how the Women in Leadership Academy will be designed and institutionalized.
This should include:
- Academy structure
- Governance model
- Curriculum framework
- Target participants
- Delivery approach
- Mentorship model
- Networking strategy
- Sustainability plan
Step 3: Identify Target Groups
Applicants should clearly define the women leaders who will benefit from the Academy.
Target groups may include women in political, public, economic, civic, and peacebuilding sectors.
The proposal should explain how participants will be selected and supported.
Step 4: Develop the Methodology
The methodology should explain how the Academy will deliver leadership development, mentorship, networking, and professional advancement.
It should include:
- Training methods
- Mentorship structure
- Coaching or peer learning activities
- Networking events
- Institutional partnerships
- Monitoring and evaluation approach
- Participant support mechanisms
Step 5: Coordinate with NCLW
Applicants should consult and coordinate with the National Commission for Lebanese Women during proposal development.
The proposal should explain how the Academy will align with national priorities and ongoing women’s leadership initiatives.
Step 6: Define Partner Roles
The proposal should clearly describe the role of the lead applicant and each sub-partner.
This should include responsibilities for management, technical delivery, curriculum design, mentorship, outreach, monitoring, reporting, and sustainability planning.
Step 7: Prepare the Budget
The budget should fall within the range of USD 480,000 to USD 600,000.
Applicants should ensure that the budget is realistic, well-justified, and directly linked to Academy activities and expected results.
Step 8: Submit the Proposal
Applicants should submit a complete consortium application with all required information, including targets, methodology, partner roles, budget, sustainability plan, and implementation approach.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on quality, feasibility, partnership strength, sustainability, and alignment with UN Women’s objectives.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Strength of the Academy design
- Relevance to women’s leadership and decision-making
- Quality of the leadership development programme
- Strength of the mentorship and networking model
- Consortium expertise and complementarity
- Coordination with NCLW
- Clear targets and measurable outcomes
- Feasibility of the 24-month implementation plan
- Sustainability beyond the project period
- Budget realism and value for money
- Institutional capacity of the lead applicant and partners
Tips for a Strong Proposal
A strong proposal should clearly show how the Academy will become a sustainable national platform.
Applicants should:
- Build a strong consortium with complementary expertise
- Define clear roles for the lead applicant and sub-partners
- Align the Academy with national priorities
- Coordinate with NCLW early
- Include a strong leadership curriculum
- Design a practical mentorship model
- Build professional networking opportunities
- Target women leaders across multiple sectors
- Include measurable outputs and outcomes
- Present a realistic 24-month workplan
- Provide a strong sustainability strategy beyond the grant period
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Applying as a single organization without a consortium
- Not including at least one sub-partner
- Submitting more than one application as lead applicant
- Providing unclear partner roles
- Weak coordination with NCLW
- Failing to define target groups
- Providing a general training plan instead of an Academy model
- Not explaining institutionalization
- Missing a sustainability plan
- Providing unclear methodology
- Submitting an unrealistic budget
- Not showing expertise in gender equality, leadership, governance, or mentorship
FAQ
1. What is the UN Women Lebanon Women in Leadership Academy call?
It is a Call for Proposals to establish and operationalize Lebanon’s first Women in Leadership Academy, supporting women’s leadership and decision-making across multiple sectors.
2. What is the thematic area of the initiative?
The thematic area is Women’s Leadership and Decision-Making.
3. Who can apply?
Only consortium applications are eligible. Each consortium must include one lead applicant and at least one sub-partner.
4. Can one organization apply alone?
No. Single-organization applications are not eligible under this Call for Proposals.
5. How much funding is available?
The initiative has a budget range of USD 480,000 to USD 600,000.
6. What is the implementation period?
The selected consortium will implement the Academy over 24 months.
7. What should the Academy include?
The Academy should include academy design and institutionalization, leadership development programming, mentorship, professional networking, and leadership advancement activities for women across political, public, economic, civic, and peacebuilding sectors.
Conclusion
UN Women Lebanon’s Call for Proposals offers an important opportunity to establish Lebanon’s first Women in Leadership Academy. With a budget range of USD 480,000 to USD 600,000 and a 24-month implementation period, the initiative aims to create a sustainable national platform for women’s leadership development, mentorship, networking, and professional advancement. Eligible consortiums should submit strong proposals that demonstrate relevant expertise, clear partner roles, close coordination with NCLW, measurable targets, and a practical sustainability plan beyond the project period.
For more information, visit UN Women.