Small Grants for Women’s CSOs and CSOs working on Gender Equality (Turkey)

Deadline: 06-Apr-2026

UN Women is supporting civil society organizations in Türkiye to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls. Eligible CSOs can apply for grants ranging from USD 2,500 to USD 30,000 (submitted in Turkish Lira) for projects lasting up to 12 months.

About the Grant Opportunity

This UN Women grant opportunity in Türkiye supports projects that promote:

• Women’s rights

• Gender equality

• Women’s empowerment

• Inclusive and equitable societies

• Participation of women and girls in:

  • Development

  • Humanitarian action

  • Peacebuilding

The call is aimed at civil society organizations (CSOs) that use a rights-based approach to improve outcomes for women and girls.

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

UN Women is looking for projects that:

• Advance the rights and empowerment of women and girls

• Address gender-based inequalities

• Promote gender-responsive initiatives

• Support advocacy and policy influence

• Deliver services for women and girls

• Build more inclusive and equitable communities

In simple terms, the fund supports projects that create measurable progress in gender justice, women’s participation, and equal opportunities.

Grant Amount and Project Duration

Key funding details:

• Grant size: USD 2,500 to USD 30,000

• Budget submission currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)

• Project duration: Up to 12 months

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be:

• Women’s civil society organizations, or

• Civil society organizations working on gender equality

Organizations must also meet all of the following:

• Be legally established and operating in Türkiye

• Have statutes that clearly reflect commitment to:

  • Gender equality

  • Women’s rights, or

  • Empowerment of women and girls

• Have been operating for at least 3 years

• Demonstrate sufficient capacity to:

  • Work with stakeholders

  • Manage projects effectively

  • Maintain sound financial systems

• Comply with UN regulations and due diligence requirements

• Not be listed on the UN Security Council Sanctions List

• Not be under investigation for misconduct

Can Previous UN Women Grantees Apply?

Yes.

Previous UN Women Small Grant recipients may still apply, but:

• The total cumulative grant amount received must not exceed USD 60,000

Why This Grant Matters

This funding is important because it helps local CSOs in Türkiye:

• Expand women’s access to rights and services

• Strengthen gender equality work at community level

• Support advocacy and social change

• Increase women’s participation in public life

• Deliver practical, rights-based solutions for women and girls

It is especially valuable for organizations working at the intersection of gender justice, local development, and social inclusion.

How to Apply

While the full application procedure is not included in the provided text, interested organizations should prepare for a standard UN Women CSO grant application.

Suggested Steps

1. Check legal eligibility

   • Confirm your organization is legally registered and active in Türkiye

2. Review your mission and statutes

   • Make sure your governing documents clearly mention:

     • Gender equality

     • Women’s rights

     • Women’s and girls’ empowerment

3. Confirm organizational history

   • Ensure your CSO has been operating for at least 3 years

4. Develop a strong project concept

   • Align it with:

     • Women’s rights

     • Gender equality

     • Rights-based programming

     • Advocacy, service delivery, or gender-responsive action

5. Prepare the budget in Turkish Lira

   • The project budget should fall between:

     • USD 2,500–USD 30,000 equivalent

6. Keep the project duration within 12 months

   • Proposals should not exceed 1 year

7. Check compliance requirements

   • Ensure your organization is not under sanctions or misconduct investigation

8. Submit through the official UN Women application process

   • Follow the official call instructions and deadline when announced

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without a clear gender equality mandate in your statutes

• Submitting a project outside the USD 2,500–USD 30,000 range

• Forgetting that the budget must be submitted in Turkish Lira

• Proposing a project longer than 12 months

• Applying without proving at least 3 years of operation

• Not clearly showing a rights-based approach

• Ignoring UN compliance and due diligence requirements

FAQs

1. Who can apply for this UN Women grant in Türkiye?

Eligible applicants are women’s CSOs or CSOs working on gender equality that are legally established and operating in Türkiye.

2. What is the grant amount?

Projects can request between USD 2,500 and USD 30,000, but the budget must be submitted in Turkish Lira.

3. How long can the project last?

Projects can run for a maximum of 12 months.

4. What types of projects are supported?

Projects should focus on:

• Women’s rights

• Gender equality

• Women’s empowerment

• Advocacy

• Service provision

• Gender-responsive initiatives

5. Can previous UN Women grantees apply again?

Yes. Previous UN Women Small Grant recipients may apply if their total cumulative grant funding does not exceed USD 60,000.

6. Is legal registration in Türkiye required?

Yes. The organization must be legally established and operating in Türkiye.

Conclusion

This UN Women grant in Türkiye is a valuable funding opportunity for CSOs working to advance women’s rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls.

If your organization is legally registered in Türkiye, has at least 3 years of experience, and can deliver a strong rights-based project within 12 months, this grant could provide up to USD 30,000 in support.

For more information, visit UN Women.