Partnerships for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Programme (Zimbabwe)

Deadline: 23-Jun-2026

The Partnerships for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme supports women’s rights organisations and civil society actors working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe. The programme focuses on strengthening financial sustainability, diversifying domestic funding sources, and improving long-term resilience across the VAWG ecosystem. A total of £500,000 is available for the first phase, with grants of up to £150,000 expected.

Overview

The Partnerships for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme is inviting applications to support organisations working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.

The programme aims to strengthen women’s rights organisations and improve the long-term sustainability of services that support women and girls affected by violence.

It responds to the reduction in international donor funding by helping locally led organisations build stronger and more diverse domestic financing models.

Key Focus Areas

The programme focuses on sustainability, domestic resource mobilisation, and support for organisations working on violence against women and girls.

Key focus areas include:

• Violence against women and girls prevention
• Violence response services
• Women’s rights organisations
• Financial sustainability
• Domestic resource mobilisation
• Diversification of funding sources
• Corporate giving
• Individual giving
• Diaspora funding
• Long-term financial resilience
• Local organisation strengthening
• Civil society sustainability
• VAWG ecosystem support
• Domestic financing for women’s rights work
• Zimbabwe-based prevention and response services

Purpose of the Programme

The purpose of the programme is to strengthen organisations working to end violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.

The programme aims to help these organisations maintain and expand essential prevention and response services by improving their financial resilience.

It also seeks to support the broader mobilisation of domestic resources so that local organisations can reduce dependence on international donor funding and build more sustainable funding systems.

Funding Available

A total of £500,000 is available for the first phase of the programme.

The first phase will run up to March 2027.

There is a possibility that both the total programme value and duration may increase in the future.

Grant Amount

The programme is expected to award a total of 2 to 4 grants.

Each grant may have a maximum value of £150,000.

At least one grant will be awarded under each programme component.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be organisations or consortia that are legally registered and able to operate in Zimbabwe.

Eligible applicants include:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• Civil society organisations
• Consortia of eligible organisations
• Women’s rights organisations
• Organisations working on violence prevention and response
• Organisations involved in civil society programming

Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience and meet required due diligence standards.

Experience Requirements

Applicants should show experience in one or more relevant areas.

Relevant experience may include:

• Reducing violence against women and girls
• Advancing women’s rights
• Delivering prevention and response services
• Supporting survivors of violence
• Strengthening local civil society systems
• Mobilising resources for social impact
• Delivering community-based programming
• Supporting women and girls through advocacy or service delivery

What the Programme Can Support

The programme can support activities that improve the sustainability and resilience of organisations working to end violence against women and girls.

Supported activities may include:

• Development of domestic fundraising strategies
• Diversification of funding sources
• Engagement with corporate donors
• Individual giving campaigns
• Diaspora fundraising initiatives
• Financial sustainability planning
• Organisational capacity strengthening
• Ecosystem-level resource mobilisation
• Strengthening prevention and response services
• Building long-term funding resilience for local organisations

Projects should clearly contribute to stronger and more sustainable support for women and girls affected by violence.

Domestic Resource Mobilisation

A major focus of the programme is domestic resource mobilisation.

This means helping organisations raise support from sources within or connected to Zimbabwe, rather than relying only on international donors.

Potential domestic financing sources may include:

• Local corporates
• Local philanthropists
• Individual donors
• Diaspora communities
• Community-based fundraising
• Local partnerships
• National funding opportunities

This approach is intended to help organisations build a more stable and diverse funding base.

Why It Matters

Violence against women and girls remains a serious human rights and development issue.

Organisations working in this sector provide essential prevention, response, advocacy, and protection services.

However, reductions in international donor funding can threaten the continuity of these services.

This programme matters because it helps women’s rights organisations and civil society actors strengthen their financial foundations, protect essential services, and continue supporting women and girls in Zimbabwe over the long term.

How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains their experience, organisational capacity, sustainability approach, and contribution to ending violence against women and girls.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should first confirm that they are legally registered and able to operate in Zimbabwe.

They should also confirm that they are a not-for-profit organisation, civil society organisation, or eligible consortium.

Step 2: Demonstrate Relevant Experience

The application should clearly show the organisation’s experience in women’s rights, VAWG prevention, response services, or civil society programming.

Applicants should provide examples of past work, community reach, partnerships, and impact.

Step 3: Explain the Sustainability Challenge

Applicants should describe the financial sustainability challenge they are addressing.

This may include:

• Reduced international donor funding
• Limited domestic funding access
• Weak fundraising systems
• Overdependence on one funding source
• Need to diversify income
• Need to sustain prevention and response services

Step 4: Present a Domestic Resource Mobilisation Strategy

The proposal should explain how the applicant will build or strengthen domestic resource mobilisation.

This may include plans to engage:

• Corporates
• Individual donors
• Diaspora networks
• Local partners
• Community supporters
• National institutions
• Philanthropic actors

Step 5: Show Benefits for the VAWG Ecosystem

Applicants should explain how their project will support the wider ecosystem working to end violence against women and girls.

This may include strengthening networks, improving coordination, sharing learning, or developing models that other organisations can use.

Step 6: Prepare a Realistic Budget

Applicants should prepare a budget of up to £150,000.

The budget should be clear, justified, and directly linked to activities that improve financial sustainability, organisational resilience, or VAWG prevention and response capacity.

Step 7: Meet Due Diligence Requirements

Applicants must be able to meet required due diligence standards.

This may include governance, financial management, safeguarding, legal registration, reporting capacity, and organisational accountability.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting weak or unclear proposals.

Common mistakes include:

• Applying without legal registration
• Not demonstrating the ability to operate in Zimbabwe
• Failing to show relevant experience in women’s rights or VAWG work
• Providing a vague sustainability strategy
• Focusing only on short-term activities without long-term resilience
• Not explaining domestic resource mobilisation clearly
• Ignoring corporate, individual, or diaspora funding opportunities
• Submitting an unrealistic budget
• Not showing how services for women and girls will be strengthened
• Failing to meet due diligence requirements

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should be practical, evidence-based, and sustainability-focused.

Useful tips include:

• Clearly explain the organisation’s role in ending violence against women and girls.
• Show strong experience in prevention, response, advocacy, or women’s rights programming.
• Describe the financial sustainability gap the project will address.
• Present a clear plan to diversify funding sources.
• Include domestic financing opportunities such as corporates, individuals, and diaspora networks.
• Show how the project will build long-term organisational resilience.
• Explain how women and girls will benefit from stronger services.
• Demonstrate strong governance and financial management capacity.
• Include partnerships where they strengthen the proposal.
• Keep the budget realistic and aligned with the programme goals.

FAQ

1. What is the Partnerships for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme?

It is a funding programme that supports women’s rights organisations and civil society actors working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe.

2. How much funding is available?

A total of £500,000 is available for the first phase of the programme, running up to March 2027.

3. What is the maximum grant amount?

Each grant may have a maximum value of £150,000.

4. How many grants are expected?

The programme anticipates awarding 2 to 4 grants, with at least one grant awarded under each component.

5. Who can apply?

Legally registered not-for-profit organisations, civil society organisations, and consortia that are able to operate in Zimbabwe may apply.

6. What experience is required?

Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience in reducing violence against women and girls, advancing women’s rights, or delivering civil society programming.

7. What is the main focus of the funding?

The main focus is to strengthen financial sustainability, diversify domestic financing sources, and build long-term resilience for organisations working in the VAWG ecosystem.

Conclusion

The Partnerships for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls programme provides important support for organisations working to sustain and strengthen VAWG prevention and response services in Zimbabwe.

With £500,000 available in the first phase and grants of up to £150,000, the programme aims to help local organisations diversify funding, mobilise domestic resources, and build long-term resilience. Strong applications should demonstrate relevant experience, legal eligibility, clear sustainability planning, domestic fundraising potential, due diligence readiness, and meaningful contribution to ending violence against women and girls.

For more information, visit Gov.UK.