UNFPA Call for Proposals on Feminist Advocacy to End Gender-Based Violence

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) invites women-led and youth-led organizations across East and Southern Africa to submit proposals for partnerships aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices. The initiative supports feminist, rights-based advocacy, social norms change, and community mobilization, strengthening leadership, policy engagement, and regional coordination. Selected partners will work under the 2026–2029 Regional Programme with an indicative budget of $30,000.

Program Overview

UNFPA, the leading UN agency on reproductive health and gender equality, seeks to strengthen regional interventions to prevent GBV and harmful practices. The partnership aims to:

• Amplify women-led and youth-led grassroots leadership

• Promote feminist and rights-based approaches

• Support advocacy, social norms change, and community mobilization

• Enhance policy engagement and coordination at community, national, and regional levels

The initiative aligns with the UNFPA East and Southern Africa 2026–2030 Regional Result Framework and regional commitments to end gender-based violence.

Geographic Scope

The call targets selected countries and sub-national regions across East and Southern Africa:

• Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana

• Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Angola

• Lesotho, United Republic of Tanzania

Focus Areas

The program emphasizes:

• Feminist, rights-based advocacy: Policies, campaigns, and evidence-based initiatives to prevent GBV

• Social norms change: Promoting community awareness and transforming gender norms

• Leadership strengthening: Building capacity of women-led and youth-led organizations for advocacy and accountability

• Intergenerational collaboration: Encouraging cooperation between youth and senior leadership in advocacy initiatives

• Monitoring and evidence use: Documentation of survivor stories, program outcomes, and resistance to GBV

Who is Eligible?

Eligible organizations include:

• Women-led NGOs

• Youth-led NGOs

• Other non-governmental organizations actively working on GBV prevention, response, or harmful practice mitigation

Organizations must demonstrate:

• Capacity for feminist, rights-based advocacy

• Engagement at community, national, and regional levels

• Ability to document and monitor outcomes

• Risk-informed approaches to address potential backlash

Expected Outcomes

Partner organizations are expected to achieve:

• Increased regional leadership and coordination of women-led and youth-led advocacy networks

• Strengthened policy engagement with governments and regional bodies

• Improved community awareness and positive shifts in social and gender norms

• Enhanced documentation and evidence use to inform policies, programming, and funding

• Development of risk-informed strategies to mitigate backlash against activists

How to Apply / Submission Process

1. Proposal Preparation:

   • Describe your organization, mission, and experience in GBV advocacy

   • Include a clear work plan detailing activities, timelines, and expected results

   • Outline capacity for feminist and rights-based approaches, including risk management

2. Budget Submission:

   • Proposals should align with the indicative budget of $30,000

   • Include clear breakdowns for advocacy, community mobilization, monitoring, and capacity-building

3. Submission Requirements:

   • Use UNFPA-prescribed application templates

   • Attach all supporting documents and evidence of organizational registration and legal status

4. Deadline and Contact:

   • Specific submission deadlines and contact points are communicated by the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office

Tips for a Successful Proposal

• Clearly link proposed activities to feminist, rights-based approaches

• Demonstrate community engagement and leadership capacity

• Highlight strategies for risk-informed advocacy and protection of activists

• Ensure measurable outcomes that align with the 2026–2029 Regional Programme objectives

• Provide evidence of previous experience or results in GBV prevention or harmful practice mitigation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply for this partnership?
   Women-led, youth-led, and other eligible NGOs across East and Southern Africa.

2. What is the purpose of this program?
   To strengthen advocacy, leadership, and community-based interventions that prevent and respond to GBV and harmful practices.

3. Which countries are included?
   Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, DRC, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Angola, Lesotho, Tanzania.

4. What is the budget available?
   Indicative funding is $30,000 per selected organization.

5. What outcomes are expected from selected partners?
   Increased leadership, policy influence, community awareness, social norms change, and risk-informed advocacy.

6. Are there specific areas of focus?
   Feminist advocacy, youth leadership, GBV prevention, harmful practice mitigation, and documentation of outcomes and risks.

7. How should proposals be submitted?
   Through the official UNFPA application templates and submission process as guided by the Regional Office.

Conclusion

This UNFPA 2026–2029 partnership opportunity empowers women-led and youth-led organizations to lead rights-based advocacy and social norms change initiatives across East and Southern Africa. By promoting leadership, community mobilization, and evidence-based interventions, the program aims to reduce gender-based violence, transform harmful practices, and strengthen regional and national accountability mechanisms.