Deadline: 07-Sep-2025
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has launched a call for proposals under the BRIDGE Phase 5 Programme, inviting rapid action projects aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in freshwater governance and management.
The focus is on gender mainstreaming grants to river basin organisations and transboundary water institutions, with the objective to enable and support RBOs and other institutions to strengthen inclusion through development of gender assessments, strategies and action plans, direct stakeholder engagement, and capacity building aimed at women. This falls under outcome 1 of BRIDGE: shared water agreements and institutions are strengthened, focusing on strengthening the role of women in terms of both participation and leadership.
The grants are designed to address poor governance that threatens the sustainability of freshwater resources, ecosystems, and political stability in water-scarce regions. BRIDGE recognises that women play an important role in water resources management but remain underrepresented in leadership positions. Through these grants, IUCN aims to increase recognition of women’s contributions and remove barriers to their meaningful participation in water institutions.
The total financial envelope available for the BRIDGE Women Grants is CHF 175,000, with each project eligible for up to CHF 15,000. Co-funding is not required, and projects should be realistic, achievable within the budget, and last no longer than nine months. Projects are expected to begin by October 2025, following the signing of grant agreements.
Eligibility is limited to registered, non-profit river basin organisations and transboundary water institutions with the statutory capacity to manage and implement grants. Projects must be implemented in one of the eligible countries listed under Annex 1 of the guidelines, covering selected basins across Africa, Asia, and South America. Activities must contribute to gender mainstreaming, with a focus on leadership, governance, and women’s empowerment in water management.
For more information, visit IUCN.
