Call for Proposals for Civil Society Organizations to expand women’s leadership and political participation: WYDE| Women’s Leadership Retour vers les opportunités

1.      Introduction

a.       Background and Context

The WYDE | Women’s Leadership Initiative is a collaborative global effort aimed at advancing women’s full and effective political participation and decision-making at all levels, especially those most often left furthest behind. Women and young women leaders remain unequally represented in decision making globally due to entrenched barriers to the full and effective participation of women in public life. Although women’s political participation has increased over the past 30 years, power imbalances remain, and progress is unequal between countries. As of 1 January 2025, the proportion of women heading ministries decreased to 22.9 per cent, down from 23.3 per cent one year before, and women led just 25 countries. Women remain significantly underrepresented in most regions as regards cabinet ministers, with nine cabinets having no women members at all.² This sets the backdrop for the continued implementation of WYDE | Women’s Leadership, showing the breadth of the work remaining to reach parity, as envisioned under the newly adopted CEDAW Committee General Recommendation 40 “On the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems”.³ Adopted in 2024 and developed in partnership with UN Women and IPU, the recommendation represents a visionary roadmap of legislative, policy and other measures which governments should take to achieve parity in leadership including youth engagement, intersectional approaches and structural transformation.

As a multistakeholder initiative, funded by the European Union, UN Women together with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) are implementing the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE)| Women’s Leadership component through the project titled “Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making through Social Norms Change, Networking and Global Advocacy”.

Over three years, this initiative seeks to address the multiple challenges to women’s participation through advocacy, networking, and transformative social norms change. The programme leverages collective action, partnerships, coordination, knowledge, and resources at global and regional levels, and specifically through:

1. Advocacy & Networking: Support women’s leadership through coordinated advocacy, intergenerational networking and access to knowledge and
2. Global Knowledge Sharing: Increase and share global knowledge on women’s political participation for use by policy makers and to inform capacity building

• Social Norms Change: Promote transformative social norms change on women’s political participation through evidence-based advocacy and capacity

Underpinning this work is the goal to ensure that women are perceived as equally legitimate political actors as men in decision-making processes and institutions. To accomplish these goals requires countering entrenched social norms which limit women’s rights and participation, and necessitates raising awareness and sensitizing community leaders, men and boys, as well as the public at large through specific and deliberate actions. Civil society and women’s rights organizations are fundamental in carrying out social norms change through demand driven approaches.

Therefore, through WYDE | Women’s Leadership, UN Women and partners will contribute to strengthening leadership and networking of women in public life including through existing dialogue mechanisms, at global, regional, and local levels. One of the approaches used is to strengthen partnerships with women’s organizations and networks to support the implementation of commitments made by the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership (AC6) by directly funding civil society and women’s rights organizations who are dedicated to advancing women’s political participation and with a specific focus on young women. This funding, through this Call for Proposals of approximately USD

$1,000,000, will directly support women’s organizations and youth movements which are advancing the AC6’s targets to support women and girls’ meaningful participation, leadership, and decision-making power.

This Call for Proposals is the second round of funding under WYDE | Women’s Leadership for civil society and women’s rights organizations. The first round of funding awarded approximately USD $900,000 to eight civil society and women’s rights organizations in four regions.

To be able to fully meet their potential as leaders and commitment makers, women’s organizations and youth leaders require long-term funding to strengthen and capacitate their organizations, promote knowledge-sharing and cross-learning and common action to meet the AC6 targets. During a time of increasingly shrinking space for women’s rights organizations around the world and reduced funding for these organizations and the work of advancing women’s leadership, this funding aims to mobilize feminist movements globally. The EU-UN shared ambition to fast-track progress on achieving SDG 5 gender equality goals, and to support partners to advance women’s participation in public life globally in line with CEDAW GR40 presents an important opportunity to leverage collective action, partnerships, coordination, knowledge, and resources at a global level to help address key obstacles to the full and effective participation and decision-making of women and girls in all their diversity.

2.       Description of expected results

This funding will enable UN Women to directly support civil society and women’s rights organizations, including young women’s organizations, in the context of increasingly shrinking spaces for women’s rights and civil society organizations. Civil society organizations and women’s rights organizations are on the forefront of shifting and redefining social norms to promote gender equality. Specifically, organizations funded through WYDE | Women’s Leadership focus on creating space and consultations to empower feminist networks, build capacity, provide networking spaces towards creating lasting and transformative social norms change over the next two years. Further, implementation of funded projects will directly work to strengthen the leadership of women in public life through dialogue mechanisms at global, regional and local levels.

Applicant’s work should focus on actions to accelerate change to social norms and shift cultural attitudes which negatively portray women’s roles in communities and society while aligning with the goals and commitments of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership. Through coalition-building, organizations will work to transform social norms which often prevent women leaders from gaining traction and creating long-term change. It is envisioned

that results from the funded organizations will enable these shifts in societal attitudes through implementing new or existing evidence-based methodologies.

A strong and sustained women’s movement is the basis for achieving the intended results of the WYDE | Women’s Leadership programme. To advance the women’s movement, organizations should seek to promote and expand a transformative and intersectional approach to decision- making and leadership which could include intergenerational exchanges between seasoned women’s advocates and youth leaders. This may include mentoring young leaders to build the next generation of strong feminist leaders, as an example.

Therefore, seeking to expand women’s leadership and political participation, WYDE welcomes applicants from civil society and women’s rights organizations, and encourages those who are commitment makers of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movement’s and Leadership (AC6), to respond to this Call for Proposals. Based on expertise in their specific context, applications may focus on strategies including the following:

• Building women’s political leadership capacity: CSOs/WROs may choose to build women’s leadership skills through enhancing their capacity such as through the delivery of training materials or ⁴ In addition, organizations focusing on building the leadership capacities of underserved women and girls including women living with disabilities, Indigenous and representing the LGBTQI+ community, as non exhaustive examples, should be prioritized to meet the goals of advancing inclusive feminist movements.
• Mentorship for emerging leaders: CSOs/WROs may connect existing networks or feminist movements with youth-led or other emerging leaders with experienced activists to build their ability to make collective change. For instance, women’s and especially young women’s organizations may benefit from networking with organizations who have long histories of advocacy and impact in feminist movements. Activities can include funding programmes which equip feminist leaders with skills to mobilize communities towards shifting social norms through advocacy and coalition This may also include the use of new or innovative technologies to engage with young activists and encourage young women’s political engagement and participation. Youth-led organizations are highly encouraged to apply as the lead organization and/or be included as a sub-partner or as a member of a consortium involved in implementation.
• Leverage convening powers for social norms change: CSOs/WROs partners will engage men and boys and key stakeholders, like the media, as agents of change, and as strategic partners in eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls, by understanding and addressing unequal power relations, gender stereotypes and practices that perpetuate discrimination, combating gendered disinformation and supporting the design and implementation of policies and programmes that address the roles and responsibilities of men and boys in transforming negative social norms and attitudes. Further, as an illustrative example, organizations may work to prevent and address violence against women in public life through transforming social norms at all levels of society. In addition, supporting narratives shifts is a key strategy in transforming social norms. Therefore, organizations may work through the media, media training, or other campaign related initiatives to change social norms surrounding women’s political participation through supporting local narrative shifts.
• Bolster feminist movement building: Through building the capacity of the women’s movement through supporting women’s rights and civil society organizations as a consortium, lead organizations should ensure they are engaging in direct sub-partnering with additional civil society partners to best deliver the intended Further, lead and sub-partner organizations from constituency-led organizations are encouraged to apply to ensure representative perspectives in project implementation. Therefore, organizations submitting applications with partners will be prioritized.
• Increasing women’s political leadership: Organizations should consider implementation strategies which aim to increase the opportunities for women leaders to engage in consultations around new policies and legislations. Activities may therefore include advocacy to include women in decision making bodies through taking a structural change approach. This can also include creating knowledge and evidence around women’s political leadership. As an example, activities may include undertaking a perception survey or conducting baseline reviews to change social norms towards increasing women’s political

Organizations’ work should encourage inclusive feminist movements through taking an intersectional approach in programmatic activities. For example, organizations should ensure the active participation of women facing multiple threats of discrimination and disadvantages such as women with disabilities, Indigenous women, LGBTQ+ women and other underserved women to encourage inclusive leadership. In addition, organizations may take a specific approach to lead social norms changes focused on the intersectional discrimination experienced by women who are most underserved.

Finally, all proposals should include strategies and approaches that will contribute to achieving Outcome 1 under the results framework of WYDE | Women’s Leadership.

WYDE | Women’s Leadership Outcome 1: “Leadership and networking of women in public life are strengthened, including through existing dialogue mechanisms, at global, regional, and local levels.”

Applicants are encouraged to craft proposals which directly link to the above Outcome statement, and include this statement when creating their monitoring and reporting plans.

3.      Application modalities:

Successful applications from CSOs will include in their proposals to what extent they will use sub- partners, and include the names of all proposed sub-partners. The lead organization may aim to engage sub-partners to build the capacity of, and support, a consortium of organizations. This strategy of engaging sub-partners in a consortium should be clearly described in the proposal documents as an outcome of the proposed funding describing which organizations will be sub- partners, the methods of engagements and expected outcomes in terms of transforming social norms and building feminist movements and women leaders. Further, in addition to being lead organization applicants, applicants should prioritize engaging young women-led organizations as sub-partners should be considered as well as engaging constituent-led organizations where possible including organizations led by women living with disabilities and Indigenous-led/women-led organizations, among other women-led organizations.

4.      Timeframe: Start date and end date for completion of required services/results

·        Funding is available for a period of 12 – 22 month projects for a budget between minimum $45,000 – $150,000. Partner agreements are expected to be signed by 28 February 2026 at the latest.

·        Project implementation will take place after partner agreements are signed and will conclude by 31 December 2027.

Competencies:

Mandatory criteria

·        The lead organization must by a legally registered non-governmental organization with a proven track record in promoting women’s political participation, transforming social norms and leadership, enhancing in advocacy and movement building, or similar criteria.

·        The lead organization must have certified annual financial statements for the previous three years.

·        The lead organization must have at least 3 years of experience in work related to women’s political participation, leadership, human rights and/or movement building or related themes.

·        The proposal must be for an initiative in one country (applications must be single country proposals only).

·        The country of implementation must be located in a country eligible to receive Official Development Assistance.⁵

·        Applicants must answer the mandatory questions on (a) fraud and wrong-doing and (b) sexual exploitation and abuse and (c) sanctions. (I.e. not be under any sanctions or investigations or been the subject of a finding of wrongdoing following an investigation). These would need to be agreed to in order to sign the Partner Agreement.

·        The lead organization must accept the terms and conditions of the Partner Agreement.

·        The lead organization must ensure that the sub-partners adhere to the terms and conditions of the Partner Agreement.

Priority criteria:

Thematic expertise

·        Expertise in implementing projects to promote women’s political participation.

·        Track record and proven experience in transforming social norms to advance women’s participation; including results achieved in transforming social norms through work with men, boys, the media and community members.

·        Experience in implementing projects working with women’s networks or women’s and feminist movements and, ideally, as networks together with other CSO members. Applications will be prioritized for work to build and support feminist and women’s movements, and especially those promoting young women. Interventions could promote, create or expand networks and movements.

·        Proven organizational experience in coalition-building of relevant civil society organizations, including key local stakeholders such as local and national government agencies.

·        Champion diverse leaders including women leaders living with disabilities, Indigenous women leaders, LGBTQI+ women leaders, women leaders from the lowest income groups, among others.

·        Proven experience of operating in shrinking spaces and contexts for women’s rights and civil society operations.

• Experience in building the leadership and political capital of women leaders and/or training and capacitating young women on political leadership.

The Call for Proposals will prioritize the following:

• Prioritize women’s rights organizations: An organization must demonstrate its core work is dedicated to women’s rights and the leadership and promotion of gender This can be evidenced through the organization’s mission statement or vision statement.
• Prioritize Commitment makers to the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership: Organizations who are a commitment maker of UN Women’s Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership will be prioritized, globally.
• Prioritize organizations operating in Africa: In recognition of constrained resources for women’s rights and civil society organization in Africa, country-level projects from the African continent will be prioritized for funding.
• Prioritize organizations led by young women and/or dedicated to the advancement of young women’s leadership: A young women’s led organization would be defined as at least 51 per cent of leadership positions being held by young women, including directors and board members (young women to be defined between the age of 18-35).⁶ Proposals should indicate clearly in the application if they are a youth-led organization and/or dedicated to the advancement of young women’s leadership.
• Prioritize applications led by or for marginalized/underserved populations, specifically organizations led by women living with disabilities: An organization for instance led by and for the advancement of LGBTQI+ women leaders, organizations led by and for persons living with disabilities and Indigenous led organizations are examples.
• The lead organization should sub-partner with implementing partner organizations towards capacity building: To encourage building women’s movements, lead organizations should work to build the capacity of organizations through partnership on delivery of the programme.

Exclusionary criteria (specific to funding under the European Union)¹⁰:

Specific to whether the partner or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control over the organization, or a member of the organization’s administrative, management or supervisory body has been the subject of a final judgment or of a final administrative decision for one of the following reasons:

• bankruptcy insolvency or winding-up procedures;
• breach of obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions;
• grave professional misconduct, including misrepresentation;
• fraud;
• corruption;
• conduct related to a criminal organization;
• money laundering or terrorist financing;
• terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities;
• child labour and other trafficking in human beings;
• creating a shell company;
• being part of a shell company; or
• any other irregularities that may be a cause for

1. Acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in the template Partner Agreement

• Proponents must include an acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in the template Partner Agreement or their reservation or objections thereto.
• Submission of any such reservations or objections does not mean that UN Women will automatically accept them should the proponent be selected as a Responsible Party.
• UN Women will evaluate any reservation or objection during its evaluation of the proposal and may accept or reject any such reservation or objection.

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