Call for Proposals: Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (Iraq)

About

The Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) has launched a call for proposals in Iraq to support civil society organizations to implement projects focusing on conflict prevention and crisis planning, as well as supporting local women and young women's rights organizations through institutional funding.

Objectives

• The overall purpose of this call for proposals is to provide grants to local civil society organizations in Iraq focused on (i) increased meaningful participation and decision-making of women in conflict prevention processes, and (ii) enhanced participation and leadership of women in humanitarian crisis planning and response with local women and young women’s rights organizations. The call for proposals specifically contributes to WPHF’s overall goal of contributing to peaceful and equal societies.

• Initiatives should aim to reach those women and girls experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as those excluded due to geography, ethnicity, disability, age, migratory status, among others and which is in alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the principle of leaving no one behind.

Type of Funding

• Institutional Funding: (USD $2,500 - $30,000)

  • Aims to reinforce the institutional capacity of women’s rights/led organizations working on women’s specific issues in peace and security and humanitarian contexts, to ensure they are able to sustain themselves and to improve their impact. Prospective applicants will need to demonstrate how the current context affects their institutional and financial capacities and how the funding would support them as an organization.

  • It will finance a limited range of activities to support the development or strengthening of a CSO’s institutional capacity. The purpose of this funding stream IS NOT to finance programmatic activities. Organizations who apply for institutional funding, should have a mandate aligned to the objectives of the call for proposal.

• Programmatic Funding (USD $30,000 - $200,000)

  • This funding stream will finance projects which aim specifically to fund programmatic activities aligned with the following impact area(s):

    • WPHF Impact Area 2: Increased meaningful participation and decision-making of women in conflict prevention processes and response

    • WPHF Impact Area 3: Enhanced participation and leadership of women in humanitarian crisis planning and response

Duration

• CSOs can apply for a project duration of maximum 2 years (24 months) in the following areas: 

  • WPHF Impact Area 2 (Conflict Prevention) 

  • WPHF Impact Area 3 (Crisis Planning) 

• Note: Each applicant's proposal must align with the National Strategy for Women 2023-2030, and articulate how the proposal will contribute to its objectives. In addition, proposals will be appraised based on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Location

• The WPHF will fund qualifying projects in Iraq with a geographical focus in: North, Central and South of Iraq, aiming at an equitable distribution for the three regions, based on needs and vulnerabilities on the ground.

• Multi-country projects, or projects outside the geographical focus will NOT be accepted

Ineligible

• The following are not eligible to apply for a grant from the WPHF: 

  • International non-governmental organizations; 

  • Government agencies or institutions; 

  • UN agencies or UN Country Teams; 

  • Private individuals; 

  • Private sector entities; 

  • Universities, Think Tanks or Education or Research Institutions

Eligibility

• National, regional or local/grassroots women or young women led, women’s rights, youth rights, feminist, or civil society organizations with a proven track record working with women, young women and girls, are eligible to apply. Organizations who are led by women who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination are encouraged to apply, including disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc.

• Women’s Rights or Feminist Organization: The organization’s must have justice between men and women and women’s rights at the core of their official mission/vision statement. The organization’s experience should clearly reflect addressing multiple/intersecting forms of discrimination and advancing justice between men and women and women’s rights and aim to address the underlying drivers/systems/structures, including patriarchy and dynamics, and work to transform these.

• Women-Led Organization: must be headed by a woman as director/head of organization.

• Youth Focused Organization: To be considered “youth focused”, the organization’s core mission/vision must focus on supporting the social, economic and political participation of young women and young men and addressing multiple/ intersecting forms of discrimination against young women and men. WPHF will provide specific attention to youth focused organizations supporting young women, advancing justice between men and women and peacebuilding.

• Young Women Led Organization: must be headed by a young person aged between 18 and 29 years old who serves as director/head of organization.