Inviting Civil Society Organizations for Funding Projects to Advance & Support Democracy

The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) is inviting civil society organizations for the twelfth round of its funding projects to advance and support democracy in order to strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes.

UNDEF supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. The large majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations — both in the transition and consolidation phases of democratization.

Priority Areas

UNDEF invites project proposals covering one or more of eight main focus areas:

• Gender equality
• Community activism
• Rule of law and human rights
• Youth engagement
• Strengthening civil society interaction with Government
• Media and freedom of information
• Tools for knowledge
• Electoral processes

Grant Information

• In principle, UNDEF grants will be allocated for projects with default duration of two years. However, it is acceptable to UNDEF if a successful applicant completes a project in less than two years. Grants will not necessarily match the full amounts applied for.
• Grant allocations will be of a minimum of US$100,000 and not exceed US$300,000 for any given project. Applicants must request an amount within this range. The majority of projects are granted no more than $250,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Local and Global/Regional Projects

• UNDEF will invite proposals for projects that either take place in one country only (local), or occur in several specified states of a region or sub-region (regional) or intend to operate at the global level (global).
• UNDEF will reserve at least 80% of its programmable resources in each funding round for projects taking place in one country and will allocate no more than 20% to global/regional projects.

Eligible Beneficiaries

• UNDEF funds projects implemented by non UN organizations, not individuals, profit-making or government entities. Eligible applicants must be duly constituted nationally or internationally and have legal status.
• At the project proposal stage, you will be required to indicate the type of organization applying for funding:
  • Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations engaged in promoting democracy
  • Independent and Constitutional Bodies,
  • Global and Regional inter-government bodies, organizations and associations other than the United Nations
• UNDEF’s priority is Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations. The organization must be legally constituted. UN accreditation is not a prerequisite to apply for UNDEF funding. UNDEF encourages local CSO’s to submit high quality project proposals.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit UNDEF Project Grant.

 Deadline: 20 December 2017