WYDE| Women's Leadership

The WYDE | Women’s Leadership Call for Proposals is a global initiative funded by the European Union and administered by UN Women. It is designed to support civil society organizations working to expand women’s political participation and leadership, particularly for those most often excluded from decision-making processes. The initiative falls under the umbrella of Generation Equality and focuses on implementing the commitments of the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership. The program aligns with broader efforts to address the global democratic deficit by strengthening women’s voices and agency in governance structures and political systems. This funding opportunity seeks proposals from civil society organizations that have demonstrated experience in advancing women’s political leadership and rights. Priority will be given to organizations that are women-led, work with marginalized populations, or employ intersectional feminist frameworks. Activities may include capacity-building, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and direct engagement with political processes. Special attention will be paid to youth-led, rural, Indigenous, migrant, and disabled women’s organizations, as well as groups working in fragile or conflict-affected settings. Applicants may propose projects of up to 24 months in duration. UN Women encourages proposals that reflect strong theories of change, detailed results frameworks, and clear sustainability plans. Projects should aim to increase the visibility, influence, and leadership of women in formal and informal political spaces, and must align with the overarching goals of the WYDE initiative to create enabling environments for inclusive participation. The submission deadline is November 10, 2025. All applications must be submitted electronically via the UN Women proposal submission system. Required components include a completed proposal form, organizational budget, CVs of key personnel, and documentation of legal registration. Proposals must be submitted in English. Late submissions will not be accepted. All proposals will be evaluated based on relevance, technical soundness, organizational capacity, sustainability, and value for money. A selection committee composed of UN Women personnel and EU representatives will review submissions. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for further clarification or negotiation. Funding levels will vary depending on project scope and organizational capacity, and indirect costs may be included if properly justified. For inquiries, applicants may contact Adina Wolf at WYDE@unwomen.org. Further details, including proposal templates and FAQs, are available in the official Call for Proposals document published on the UN Women website. This initiative is part of the European Union’s Women and Youth in Democracy initiative and reflects a shared commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance.

Align proposals with feminist leadership framework. Emphasize impact, sustainability, and inclusion. Use SMART objectives. Engage marginalized voices.