Short-Term Grants for Women’s Leadership in Peace Processes

Organisation Name:

The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)

Application Deadline:

Ongoing

About Organisation

The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is a global financing mechanism dedicated to empowering women in conflict and crisis-affected settings. Hosted by UN Women, it operates as a collaborative partnership between governments, UN entities, and civil society organizations, pooling resources to support impactful initiatives worldwide. The Fund works to advance women’s participation in peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and recovery processes, recognizing the critical role women play in shaping inclusive and sustainable peace. By providing flexible, rapid, and accessible funding opportunities, WPHF ensures that grassroots women’s organizations and civil society actors are not left behind in times of crisis. Its mandate aligns with global agendas on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and it addresses gaps in funding that often hinder women’s leadership and protection in fragile contexts. Over the years, WPHF has supported hundreds of organizations globally, strengthening advocacy, building capacity, and enabling local actors to respond swiftly to emerging crises. Through its Rapid Response Window (RRW), WPHF directly facilitates women’s inclusion in mediation and peace negotiations, making it a trusted ally for advancing gender equality and securing women’s rights in peace and humanitarian frameworks.

About the Grant

The Short-Term Grants for Women’s Leadership in Peace Processes, offered under WPHF’s Rapid Response Window (RRW), provide targeted financial support to strengthen women’s engagement in peace processes. The grant aims to ensure that women, particularly from grassroots organizations, play meaningful roles in decision-making, conflict resolution, and peace negotiations. By supporting initiatives that foster gender inclusivity, human rights, and leadership, these grants promote a transformative approach to peacebuilding. Funding of up to USD 100,000 is available for projects that demonstrate strong local partnerships, community relevance, and innovative strategies to advance women’s leadership in fragile contexts. The initiative addresses persistent barriers that limit women’s participation, including lack of resources, exclusion from negotiation tables, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. This short-term mechanism is designed to be responsive and flexible, enabling organizations to adapt quickly to dynamic political and conflict environments. Through this support, WPHF seeks to ensure that peace processes are more inclusive, sustainable, and representative of the needs of affected communities. Ultimately, the grant contributes to advancing global commitments under the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda while enabling women leaders to influence and shape lasting peace agreements and policies.

Who can Apply?

This funding opportunity is open to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofit organizations actively working in contexts with ongoing peace processes. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusive peacebuilding. Eligible organizations are expected to have proven experience in conflict resolution, mediation support, advocacy, or community mobilization, particularly in fragile or conflict-affected settings. While international organizations may collaborate, the grant strongly prioritizes local and grassroots women-led groups, as they are closest to the realities of communities impacted by conflict. Applicants should be legally registered in their respective countries and able to provide evidence of financial accountability and transparent management practices. Proposed projects must directly contribute to women’s meaningful participation in peace negotiations, peacebuilding platforms, or decision-making processes. Organizations should also be prepared to demonstrate measurable outcomes, community engagement strategies, and partnerships with relevant stakeholders such as governments, mediators, or civil society networks. Multilingual capacity and inclusive approaches to engage marginalized groups, such as displaced women and youth, are also encouraged. Only organizations aligned with WPHF’s principles of neutrality, nonpartisanship, and human rights are eligible to apply.

How to Apply?

Eligible organizations must prepare and submit a concept note outlining their proposed project, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. Applications should highlight alignment with WPHF’s mission to strengthen women’s participation in peace processes.