How to Apply to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has launched a Call for Proposals to support civil society organizations that demonstrate that violence against women and girls can be systematically addressed, reduced and, with persistence, eliminated.

For NGOs to win funding, it is very important to submit a strong application especially because there is huge competition for seeking grants from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. Keeping in mind the challenges faced by organizations in developing countries, we have developed a guide that can assist you in drafting an effective concept note.

What is the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women?

The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is a funding mechanism that supports country-focused efforts to end violence against women. It was established in 1996 and is administered by the UN Women.

The UN Trust Fund accepts multi-year grant applications for up to $1 million. The application process consists of two rounds:

• Submission of a short concept note.
• Successful applicants are invited to submit a full proposal.

Grants range from US$100,000 to US$1 million, with an average grant size of about $350,000.

Projects fall under one of several main areas:

• Under the three programmatic areas of the UN Trust Fund Strategic Plan 2021-2025
• Under the “special window” addressing violence against women and girls in the context of the current refugee crisis
• Under the “special window” addressing violence against women and girls with disabilities.

Who can apply?

• Your project must take place in one developing country listed in the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. To check if your country qualifies please click here.
• You are legally registered in the country where the project takes place
• You have a bank account
• You can show a track record of success
• You have an annual budget that is at least 50% of the size of the grant applied for. E.g. if you apply for $100,000 your annual budget must be $50,000 or more
• You can submit certified financial statements and audit reports for the past three years (2019, 2020, and 2021)
• Regional/international organizations can apply but must show that they or their implementing partner(s) are legally registered in the country (or territory) of implementation
• Only one application can be submitted
• You can add an optional endorsement or support letter
  

Special priority is given to:

• Women’s rights NGOs
• Women-led organizations
• Small and grassroots organizations (with an annual budget under $67,000 over the past three years)
• Applicants that work in partnership with other NGOs

Do not apply if:

• Your NGO is not legally registered
• You are a government agencies
• You are a UN agency
• You are an individual
• You are a private sector organization or company
• You are currently implementing a grant from the UN Trust Fund
• You only work in a country not listed in the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients
• You propose to work in more than one country
• You do not work in the field of the elimination of violence against women and girls, sexual and gender-based violence.
• You are a small NGO with a budget of less than $50,000 annually

Size of grants

• $150,000 to $1 million for three years for larger organizations
• $50,000 to $150,000 for small civil society organizations with a budget below $200,000 annually.

Number of grants and countries funded

Since its inception, the Trust Fund has awarded USD 198 million to 609 initiatives in 140 countries and territories – which is an average of three grants per country. But note that some countries get many more grants, with India, Nigeria, Peru, Cambodia, and Kenya all receiving over 15 grants.

In what language can I apply?

While the Call for Proposals is available in six languages, applications are only accepted in English, French, or Spanish.

Where do I apply?

You can apply On-Line only! At: http://grants.unwomen.org

Project proposals submitted by e-mail, post, fax, diplomatic or UN pouch, hand or courier-delivered, or any other channel are NOT considered.

We strongly recommend you download the MS Word version of the concept note and budget so you can review and fill out the concept note offline before submitting it. This will allow you to work offline, use spell-check, use a word count feature, share the document with colleagues for comments and editing, and save a copy for future use. Once developed, you can cut and paste the relevant text from your document into the online application form.

Check more for the application guidelines. 

When should I submit?

The deadline is 18 Jan 2023 11:59 PM (EST) – but don’t wait till the end to submit your application! Allow sufficient time to complete the form and upload documents as the volume of late applications may overwhelm the online system and cause delays close to the submission deadline.

What are my chances of success?

The UN Trust Fund allocates a large part of its budget to NGO projects. This means that local NGOs can apply and often succeed, sometimes competing against large international organizations. That being said, with so many applicants, UNDEF is very competitive, with an overall success rate of only around 2.65%. In 2021, out of 1396 applications, 37 applicants were awarded a grant.

In 2021, the UN Trust Fund managed a grants portfolio of 157 projects aimed at preventing and addressing VAW/G in 68 countries and territories, across five regions, with grants totaling USD74.7 million. Grant recipients were primarily CSOs; the majority (59 percent) were WROs.

NGOs with proven capacity will have a higher chance of receiving funding than limited-capacity NGOs. So if you have a great NGO running a wonderful, relevant program, and located in a country with fewer high-capacity NGOs, and you can develop a high-quality concept note, your chance of success may well be much higher. Before applying, internally review whether you are in a good position to compete and succeed and only put in the time and effort if the answer to those questions is a resounding yes.

When will I hear if I made it?

The concept notes will be reviewed after the closing deadline of 18 January 2023, and only applicants successful in the first round will be invited to submit a full-fledged proposal. This is likely at the end of February 2023. Full proposals will be reviewed in February-April 2023. Final decisions will take place between May-June 2023 and the contracts will be finalized by September at the earliest.

Where can I find more information?

Visit the UN Trustfund FAQ for more information: http://untf.unwomen.org/en/grant-giving/call-for-proposals/frequently-asked-questions

Top tips to improve your chances of success!

• Carefully check eligibility requirements, submit all the required documents, and follow all the rules
• Clearly explain how your project will promote the UN Trust Fund objectives as outlined on the website and the UN Trust Fund’s 2021-2025 Strategy. Also, mention the SDGs and the priorities of UNWOMEN.
• Clearly show how the project will benefit women.
• Show impact and value for money. The project does not have to be cheap, but it should have a high impact and reach a large number of women. The UN Trust Fund publicizes and promotes the high number of women reached and the low cost per woman of the programs supported.
• Highlight your past and proposed a partnership with the UN and other important development actors.
• Make sure you list specific activities. For example, instead of: “Run a series of workshops”, be specific: “Run a one-week workshop for 20 female mobilizers in community xx on legal protections….”
• Tell the UN Trust Fund how you will fundraise from other donors to increase the impact of the work. Highlight donors that are already supporting you. The UN Trust Fund uses this as a measure of the success of the project.
• Show in numbers how the project will impact women.
• Outline how you will ensure sustainability, including continued donor funding once the UN Trust Funding comes to an end; how the impact of the program will be long-lasting; and how policy changes will be sustained.
• Check the grant sizes that are typical for your country and your type of work in the UN Trust Fund database: https://grants.unwomen.org/ so you can decide on the scope and ideal budget for the project.
• Have an accountant or someone good with numbers review the budget. Make sure the budget covers all the costs associated with the project.
• Tell the UN Trust Fund how you will publicize and promote them using various communications channels (including social media).
• Have a native speaker review and edit your application before submission.
• Submit the application on time, and ideally several days before the deadline.
• If you know or partner with a local UN agency, ask them to review your application and provide suggestions for improvements.
• Carefully consider whether your project is controversial or confrontational with the national government, as the UN might hesitate to fund these.
• Realize that the UN Trust Fund will offer to fund again, and if not successful you can try again. Networking with UN Women in your country or New York outside of the funding window can give you insights on what to focus on next time you apply.
  

Good luck! 

For more information: https://www.unwomen.org/en/trust-funds/un-trust-fund-to-end-violence-against-women

We published a resource guide specifically addressing proposals for Women´s Projects to support NGOs. With this e-book, you can learn everything you need to know about writing proposals in this sector.

If you need some more inspiration, check out this article: 7 Tips for Proposals on Women`s Issues.

Disclaimer: This guide is intended to help NGOs apply to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women grant program. This is an unofficial guide that does not guarantee funding or support to applicants. The guide is intended to provide NGOs with suggestions. Readers are advised to use the guide at their own discretion.