Briefly
Program description
The Rapid Response Window of the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) provides short-term grants to local women's rights organizations. Grants of up to 100,000 USD fund urgent projects that address barriers to meaningful women's participation in formal peace processes or implementation of peace agreements. Legal registration is mandatory, applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Projects may include advocacy campaigns, preparation and capacity building for women in decision-making processes, strategic planning for engagement with key actors, preparation and formulation of declarations to influence peace processes, and mechanisms for monitoring implementation of gender provisions in peace agreements.
The grant is provided through an international NGO partner, which also provides technical and strategic support for the project.
Main Information
Eligibility
Applications are accepted from local/national women's rights organizations, youth or women-youth-led organizations, feminist civil society organizations and their coalitions; international NGOs, government agencies, UN entities, private companies, universities and political parties are not eligible.
For short-term grants, legal registration is mandatory; organizations must be from countries with an official peace process (Track 1 or 2) or implementation of a peace agreement.
Financing
Projects that promote women's participation in peace negotiations or implementation of peace agreements are supported – such as advocacy campaigns, shuttle diplomacy missions, preparatory sessions and capacity building for negotiation participants, strategic planning for access to key actors, organizing and preparing women's participation, formulating declarations, and creating mechanisms for monitoring gender provisions of peace agreements.
Supported Activities
In accordance with program areas – advocacy campaigns for women's participation in peace negotiations, preparatory and training events, strategic planning for work with key actors, development and submission of collective declarations, mechanisms for monitoring implementation of gender provisions in peace agreements.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. For a short-term grant, you need to fill out a concept note (in .doc, .docx or .pdf format) in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese or Russian and send it with proof of registration to WPHF-RRW@unwomen.org.
Do not send additional materials; applications in other formats or incomplete applications will not be considered.
After submitting the concept note, WPHF verifies eligibility and informs the organization within 5 business days; successful applicants are sent a full application template with additional instructions.
Required Documents
Completed concept note in the established format and confirmation of the organization's legal registration
FAQ
YES, for short-term grants. The lead applicant organization must have legal status and submit proof of registration with the application package. Registration in another country is exceptionally allowed if registration in the country of implementation is complicated by conflict. Statutory documents are not considered proof of registration. Organizations with international scope of activity are not eligible to apply. NO – for direct support or co-implementers or consortium partners; such partners are not required to provide proof of registration.
YES. You can apply for both instruments simultaneously, but you need to submit a separate form for each; approval of one type of funding does not guarantee approval of the other.
YES. Joint projects or requests for direct support with other local women's rights, youth or women-youth-led organizations are encouraged. For joint projects, only the lead organization must meet eligibility criteria.
YES. WPHF accepts proposals for ongoing projects funded by other donors; however, it is necessary to clearly describe the added value of the contribution and its connection to the Rapid Response Window objectives.
NO. Civil society organizations are not required to contribute to the project budget.