Open Call for Gender Equality Partnerships Grants (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 21-Sep-2026

The British Council Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants support collaborative projects between eligible UK higher education institutions and partner institutions in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Ukraine. The programme offers grants of up to £25,000 to strengthen gender equality, improve women’s participation and leadership in higher education, promote gender-responsive institutional policies, and create more inclusive and equitable education systems.

About the British Council Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants

The British Council Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants are designed to strengthen gender equality within higher education institutions through international collaboration and institutional partnerships.

The programme supports projects that encourage sustainable institutional change by improving policies, governance, leadership opportunities, and educational practices that enable women to access, participate in, and progress through higher education and employment pathways.

Through collaborative partnerships, institutions are expected to develop innovative approaches that promote inclusive education, gender-responsive systems, and equal opportunities for women across academic and professional environments.

Funding Information

Successful partnerships may receive:

• Grant amount: Up to £25,000 per project
• Project duration: 17 months
• Project start date: 1 January 2027
• Application deadline: 21 September 2026

The funding supports collaborative institutional projects that deliver measurable improvements in gender equality within higher education.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen gender equality in higher education.
• Promote sustainable institutional change.
• Improve women’s participation in higher education.
• Increase women’s representation in leadership positions.
• Strengthen gender-responsive governance.
• Improve institutional policies and practices.
• Expand opportunities for women in STEM.
• Support education-to-employment pathways.
• Create safe and inclusive learning environments.
• Promote intersectional approaches to gender equality.
• Strengthen international higher education partnerships.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following priorities:

• Gender-responsive institutional policies
• Women’s leadership development
• Gender equality in higher education
• Women’s participation in STEM
• Safe and inclusive campus environments
• Education-to-employment pathways
• Gender-responsive governance
• Institutional capacity building
• Inclusive teaching and learning
• Gender-sensitive organisational practices
• Intersectionality in higher education
• Equal access to educational opportunities

Projects should demonstrate long-term institutional impact rather than one-time activities.

Expected Project Outcomes

Supported projects should contribute to measurable institutional improvements, including:

• Stronger gender-responsive policies
• Improved institutional governance
• Increased participation of women in higher education
• Greater representation of women in leadership positions
• Improved recruitment and retention of women
• Expanded participation of women in STEM disciplines
• Stronger pathways from education to employment
• Safer learning and working environments
• Better integration of intersectional approaches into institutional strategies
• Sustainable institutional systems that promote gender equality

Why This Programme Matters

Despite progress in higher education, women continue to face barriers related to leadership opportunities, participation in STEM fields, workplace transitions, and institutional inclusion.

This programme helps to:

• Promote equal educational opportunities.
• Strengthen institutional gender policies.
• Increase women’s leadership representation.
• Encourage diversity and inclusion.
• Improve higher education governance.
• Support equitable employment pathways.
• Foster international knowledge exchange.
• Build sustainable institutional change.

The initiative contributes to stronger, more inclusive higher education systems that benefit students, staff, and society.

Eligible Countries

Projects must involve a partnership between an eligible UK institution and an institution located in one of the following countries:

• Bangladesh
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Mexico
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• Ukraine

Each project must include one UK lead institution and one eligible overseas partner institution.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible UK Lead Applicants

Applicants must be:

• UK higher education providers
• Institutions with degree-awarding powers

The UK institution will act as the lead applicant and submit the joint application.

Eligible Overseas Partner Institutions

Partner organizations may include:

• Eligible higher education institutions
• Not-for-profit research organizations
• Not-for-profit education organizations

Organizations must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the programme guidance.

Partnership Requirements

Applications must:

• Be jointly developed by both partner institutions.
• Include one eligible UK lead institution.
• Include one eligible overseas partner institution.
• Demonstrate genuine institutional collaboration.
• Present shared objectives and responsibilities.
• Deliver sustainable institutional outcomes.
• Align with relevant gender equality policies.

Collaborative planning and joint implementation are essential components of the programme.

How the Programme Works

Selected partnerships will work together over the 17-month implementation period to design and implement institutional gender equality initiatives.

Projects may include:

1. Assessing institutional gender equality challenges.
2. Developing gender-responsive policies.
3. Strengthening institutional governance.
4. Delivering leadership development activities.
5. Supporting women in STEM.
6. Improving education-to-employment pathways.
7. Building staff capacity.
8. Monitoring institutional progress.
9. Sharing knowledge between partner institutions.

Projects should produce sustainable institutional improvements beyond the funding period.

How to Apply

Interested institutions should follow these steps:

1. Identify an eligible international partner institution.
2. Develop a joint project proposal.
3. Ensure the project aligns with programme priorities.
4. Define measurable institutional outcomes.
5. Prepare a realistic implementation plan and budget.
6. Complete the official application jointly.
7. Submit the application through the UK lead institution before the deadline.

Applications submitted independently by overseas institutions will not be accepted.

Tips for a Strong Application

To strengthen your proposal:

• Demonstrate strong institutional commitment.
• Clearly explain the gender equality challenge being addressed.
• Focus on sustainable institutional change.
• Present measurable outcomes.
• Include realistic implementation timelines.
• Demonstrate equal partnership between institutions.
• Align activities with national and institutional gender policies.
• Show how the project will continue beyond the grant period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Weak institutional partnerships.
• Projects without long-term sustainability.
• Activities not aligned with programme priorities.
• Unrealistic implementation plans.
• Limited evidence of institutional commitment.
• Poorly defined project outcomes.
• Incomplete applications.
• Missing the application deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the British Council Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants programme?

It is an international grant programme that funds collaborative projects between UK higher education institutions and eligible overseas partners to strengthen gender equality within higher education systems.

How much funding is available?

Each selected partnership may receive up to £25,000 to implement a collaborative gender equality project.

Which countries are eligible?

Projects must involve partner institutions from Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, or Ukraine, together with an eligible UK higher education institution.

Who can apply?

The lead applicant must be a UK higher education provider with degree-awarding powers. Overseas partners must be eligible higher education institutions or qualifying not-for-profit research or education organizations.

What types of projects are supported?

The programme supports projects that strengthen gender-responsive policies, women’s leadership, women’s participation in STEM, education-to-employment pathways, institutional governance, and inclusive higher education practices.

How long do funded projects last?

Selected projects will be implemented over a 17-month period, beginning on 1 January 2027.

When is the application deadline?

Applications must be submitted by the UK lead institution no later than 21 September 2026.

Conclusion

The British Council Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 Grants provide an excellent opportunity for UK and international higher education institutions to collaborate on advancing gender equality through sustainable institutional change. With funding of up to £25,000, the programme supports initiatives that strengthen women’s leadership, expand participation in higher education and STEM, improve gender-responsive governance, and create inclusive learning environments. By fostering long-term international partnerships, the initiative contributes to building more equitable, diverse, and resilient higher education systems across participating countries.

For more information, visit British Council.