UN Trust Fund grants

The UN Trust Fund awards grants after an open and competitive Call for Proposals annually. For the 25th grant cycle (2021), the UN Trust Fund awarded 37 initiatives for a total of US 17 million in 28 countries and territories. The Call for Proposals, which received 1,396 applications, prioritized civil society-led, demand-driven initiatives that adopt an intersectional approach and the principle of leaving no one behind which work to end violence against women and girls, especially in the rapidly changing contexts and complex environments. 

Most organizations receiving funding were women’s rights organizations (73%). Nearly half of the organizations awarded grants are small organizations, of whom 82 per cent applied for a small grant. 

The UN Trust Fund received applications responding to three areas of results of the Strategic Plan 2015-2020: 

• Improved access for women and girls to essential, safe and adequate multisectoral services to end violence against women and girls. 

• Improved prevention of violence against women and girls through changes in behavior, practices and attitudes. 

• Increased implementationof legislation, policies, national action plans and accountability systems to prevent and end violence against women and girls. 

The Call for Proposals included priority consideration of women’s rights organizations, women-led organizations, and small women’s organizations. 

To date, the UN Trust Fund has awarded USD 215 million to 646 initiatives in 140 countries and territories. In 2021, the UN Trust Fund managed a portfolio of 157 grants in 68 countries and territories.