UN Women Fund for Gender equality

The Fund for Gender Equality is a UN Women grant-making mechanism dedicated exclusively to the economic and political empowerment of women worldwide. Since its launch in 2009, the Fund has delivered grants of USD 56.5 million to 96 grantee programmes in 72 countries. Each programme supports women, especially those who are marginalized, with what they need and require to regain control over their lives, whether they are trying to start a business or initiate a grassroots movement.

Background

The Fund for Gender Equality is designed to maximize national ownership, harmonization and alignment, and holistic strategies that will accelerate progress on gender equality in line with National Development Strategies (NDSs) and advance commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Beijing Platform for Action, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and other global and regional agreements.

Mission

The Fund’s mission is in line with the Monterrey Consensus (2002), the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), and the Accra Agenda for Action (September 2008), and follows the Development Assistance Committee Guiding Principles for Aid Effectiveness, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (December 2008).

Launched with an initial contribution of US$65 million (EUR 50 million) from the Government of Spain and housed in a Secretariat at the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Fund for Gender Equality is guided by a Steering Committee composed of donor, governmental and NGO representatives from partner countries, multilateral agencies and the private sector. A Technical Committee of experts on women’s economic and political empowerment supports the review and selection of grant proposals.

The Fund’s principles and practices will be based on lessons learned by other thematic funds, including the Fast Track Initiative on Education for All; the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Spanish MDG Achievement Fund; The Dutch MDG3 Fund; and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

How to apply

For instructions on how to apply, please consult the Application Guidelines. If you have questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions section.

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