Deadline: 27 July 2026. UN Women is inviting qualified civil society organizations, networks, coalitions and consortiums working across Africa to submit proposals for the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP) 2.0.

This is a regional partnership opportunity rather than a general small-grants scheme. Applicants should first test whether their geographic reach, technical experience and partnership structure match the official call before investing in a full submission.

Opportunity at a glance

  • Funder: UN Women through the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0.
  • Eligible organization types: Civil society organizations, networks, coalitions and consortiums.
  • Required reach: Continental, regional, sub-regional or multi-country operations in Africa.
  • Core focus: Ending violence against women and girls, harmful practices, sexual and reproductive health and rights, survivor-centred services, policy accountability, social norms change, and stronger women’s rights and youth-led movements.
  • Submission deadline: 27 July 2026. Applicants must confirm the precise submission instructions and time in the official documents.

Who should consider applying?

The call is most relevant to African organizations and partnerships with demonstrated experience in gender equality, women’s rights, prevention of violence against women and girls, survivor support, sexual and reproductive health and rights, policy advocacy or movement strengthening.

Because UN Women explicitly seeks organizations working beyond a single local project, applicants should be able to demonstrate coordination capacity across countries or regions. A local organization may be better positioned as a specialist consortium partner than as the lead applicant if it does not independently meet the geographic or operational requirements.

What a competitive concept should demonstrate

Clear alignment with the selected intervention area

Do not submit a generic gender project. Map each proposed result to the priorities and terminology in the official call. Explain the specific gap, the population affected and why the proposed partnership is positioned to respond.

Meaningful civil society leadership

Show how women’s rights organizations, youth-led groups and affected communities will influence decisions, budgets, implementation and learning. Partnership letters should describe real responsibilities rather than symbolic participation.

Survivor-centred and rights-based delivery

Proposals addressing violence must protect safety, dignity, confidentiality and informed choice. Applicants should explain referral pathways, safeguarding measures, ethical data practices and how people facing intersecting forms of exclusion will participate safely.

Evidence, learning and regional value

Define realistic outcomes and indicators, identify the evidence that will be collected, and explain how learning will travel across countries or networks. Regional projects should add value beyond repeating separate national activities.

Application checklist

  • Read the complete official call and use the required template.
  • Confirm that the lead organization and partners meet all legal and geographic eligibility conditions.
  • Select only the component or intervention area the consortium can credibly deliver.
  • Agree partner roles, decision-making arrangements and budget responsibilities before drafting.
  • Build a results framework connecting activities, outputs, outcomes, indicators and assumptions.
  • Prepare a costed workplan and confirm that every budget line is necessary, reasonable and traceable.
  • Review safeguarding, fraud prevention, procurement, data protection and partner due-diligence arrangements.
  • Submit early enough to resolve technical or document problems before the deadline.

Official application sources

Applicants should rely on the official UN Women call for proposals and download the official English application template. The official page also provides a French template and the designated UN Women contact.

Strengthen proposal readiness

Organizations preparing consortium proposals need a disciplined process for problem analysis, results design, budgeting, risk management and donor compliance. ATI’s Proposal Writing and Fundraising training develops the practical skills needed to turn programme evidence into a coherent, fundable submission.

Important verification notice

Funding details can be amended or clarified by the donor. Africa Training Institute is sharing this opportunity for informational purposes and is not the funding organization. Always use UN Women’s official page and application documents as the final authority on eligibility, deadlines, formats and submission instructions.