Introduction — Why these grants matter right now
When humanitarian crises hit a community—whether due to conflict, forced displacement, economic collapse, or climate disasters—women and girls are often among the most affected. Yet they are also the most resilient: organizing shelters, teaching, rebuilding livelihoods, and holding social fabrics together. Despite this, funding rarely reaches grassroots women-led groups where it matters most. The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) has long worked to change that by directing resources to feminist and women-led movements across the continent. Two grant streams from AWDF — Inua and Siza — are specifically calibrated to meet different needs: institutional strengthening and rapid crisis response. Knowing which one fits your organization and how to apply can make the difference between incremental progress and transformational impact.
This guide gives you a practical, step-by-step playbook that a beginner can use to apply for AWDF Inua or Siza grants, including concrete examples, a budget checklist, monitoring tips, and a sample Statement of Purpose. The guidance is written for African applicants, with notes where lessons apply to similar crisis contexts in Asia.
(Official program pages used as sources: AWDF’s Inua grant page and AWDF’s Siza grant information.)
Quick snapshot: What are Inua and Siza?
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Inua Grants: Designed to support organizational strengthening, leadership development, and longer-term feminist programming. Funding is available up to USD 30,000 per year (and in some cycles, up to a specified limit tied to the organization’s income). These grants can be used for scale, governance, strategic planning, and systems strengthening.
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Siza Grants: A crisis response/flex funding stream meant for rapid, community-centred actions in emergencies. Siza provides flexible resources to small, even unregistered, grassroots groups responding to conflicts, overlooked forms of violence, or sudden humanitarian shocks. Funding levels typically cover modest but vital activities (often discussed as up to USD 15,000 in some promotions, although program terms vary by cycle).
Both grant lines are explicitly feminist in orientation, prioritizing women, girls, and gender-diverse persons as leaders and primary beneficiaries.
Who is eligible? (Short checklist)
AWDF’s eligibility expectations typically include:
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A women-led organization, network, movement, or collective (leadership and governance with women in key decision-making roles).
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Registered or operating in Africa (AWDF focuses on continental impact).
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Clear evidence of programming or community engagement with women and girls.
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Governance and basic financial accountability (even grassroots groups are expected to show how funds will be managed).
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Projects focused on gender justice, rights, leadership, or crisis response for women/girls.
Small, community-based groups, including informal collectives, are often explicitly considered for Siza (crisis) grants, while Inua tends to target established groups seeking capacity building and scale. Always check the specific call for proposals because AWDF circulates distinct cycles with details and deadlines.
How Inua vs. Siza compare — a compact table
| Dimension | Inua Grants | Siza Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Institutional strengthening, leadership development, strategic growth | Rapid, flexible crisis response & protection |
| Typical funding ceiling | Up to USD 30,000/year (some cycles with multi-year options) | Small to medium crisis grants (varies by cycle; often modest sums targeted at urgent need) |
| Best for | Organizations ready to scale governance, M&E, and programmatic systems | Grassroots groups needing immediate resources for protection, relief, or response |
| Project timeframe | Medium — 12 months (or multi-year for certain streams) | Short to medium — 3–12 months depending on need |
| Registration requirement | Registered organizations usually prioritized | Small/unregistered groups may be eligible (varies per call) |
| Use of funds | Institutional strengthening, training, program scaling, staff | Emergency goods/services, psychosocial support, community protection, small grants to survivors |
| Reporting expectations | Standard grant reporting (narrative & financial) | Flexible reporting but accountable recordkeeping required |
Before you apply: honest self-check (do this now)
Spend an hour answering these questions as a small team.
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Do we have at least one clear leader who is a woman and who can commit to reporting and decision making?
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Can we present a short account of the organization (history, mission, recent activities)?
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Do we have a basic bank account or a partner that can receive funds?
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Can we show how the project will benefit specific numbers of women/girls? (e.g., 200 displaced women receive safe space sessions)
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Can we produce a simple budget that ties all expenses to activities?
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Do we have community consent or evidence of community engagement for the intervention?
If you can answer “yes” to most of these, keep going. If not, use the time to build those foundations and consider applying for smaller seed funding to get organized.
Step-by-step application guide for beginners
Below is a field-tested roadmap you can use to prepare your submission. I break it into actionable steps and include templates you can adapt.
Step 1 — Decide which grant to target
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If your primary need is organizational growth, staff training, governance, or program scale → go for Inua.
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If your community is in acute crisis and needs immediate, flexible support → go for Siza.
Use the AWDF call text to verify allowable activities and maximum amounts for the current cycle. AWDF issues specific calls which outline exact eligibility and amounts.
Step 2 — Read the Call For Proposals thoroughly
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Find the current AWDF call on the AWDF website or the specific cycle PDF. Identify: deadline, required documents, maximum grant amount, priority countries or thematic focus, application portal or email address for submission.
Make a checklist from the call. If a webinar is offered, attend — AWDF often provides informational webinars for applicants.
Step 3 — Prepare an organizational brief (1 page)
Write a one-page snapshot that includes:
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Organization name, legal status, year established
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Mission statement (one line)
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Geographic area of work (e.g., Borno State, Nigeria — Maiduguri & surrounding IDP camps)
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Core activities (bullet points)
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Key personnel (name + role + woman/man? — emphasize women leaders)
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One quick impact evidence (for example: “In 2024 we ran 12 psychosocial support circles for 340 women refugees”).
This concise brief is used in the main application and attached documentation.
Step 4 — Develop a problem statement & objectives
Problem statement (2–4 short paragraphs): Explain the immediate issue, who is affected, and why it matters now.
Objective(s) (SMART format):
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Specific — “Provide trauma-informed psychosocial support to 200 women displaced from X region.”
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Measurable — “Target reach of 200 individuals; 80% report improved coping by 3 months.”
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Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Step 5 — Build a simple workplan / activities table
Use a clear table that links activities to outputs and timelines.
Example:
| Activity | Lead | Timeline | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruit 6 peer facilitators | Project coordinator | Month 1 | 6 trained facilitators |
| Run weekly women’s safe-space sessions | Facilitators | Months 2–6 | 24 sessions; ~200 women reached |
| Distribute hygiene & dignity kits | Logistics officer | Month 3 | 200 kits distributed |
This shows reviewers you can manage time and deliverables.
Step 6 — Prepare a transparent budget
Match every activity item to cost lines. Don’t invent items; be realistic.
Budget headings:
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Personnel (rates & days)
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Training & capacity building
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Logistics (transport, venue hire)
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Materials (stationery, dignity kits)
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Monitoring & evaluation (simple tools, data collection)
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Administration & overhead (transparent; often 5–10%)
If you request salaries, justify them and show sustainability plans for after the grant.
Step 7 — Monitoring & evaluation plan (M&E)
For AWDF, M&E need not be complicated. Demonstrate:
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What you will measure (outputs and outcomes)
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How you will collect data (attendance lists, pre/post surveys, participant testimonies, photos with consent)
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Who is responsible
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How often you will report internally and to AWDF
Example outcome indicator: “80% of participants report an improvement in daily functioning three months after attending safe-space sessions.” Provide a short explanation of the tool you’ll use (e.g., a six-question wellbeing survey).
Step 8 — Write the proposal narrative
Follow the call’s required structure. Keep language clear and human. Avoid jargon. The narrative typically includes:
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Executive summary (short)
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Organizational background
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Problem statement and justification
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Purpose and objectives
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Activities and work plan (table)
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Budget summary and narrative justification
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M&E framework
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Sustainability plan & exit strategy
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Risk mitigation (brief)
Make each section readable: short paragraphs, bullet lists, and concrete examples.
Step 9 — Compile attachments
Common attachments requested by AWDF include:
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Registration documents (if available)
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Board list & short bios (show women leadership)
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Latest financial statement (audit or internal)
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Bank account details (name must match organization)
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Photos or short supporting documents (with consent)
For small groups without full registration, Siza may accept alternative documentation; check the call.
Step 10 — Final review & submission
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Proofread for clarity.
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Ensure budgets and activities match.
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Check file sizes and formats (PDF preferred for narratives).
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Submit via the correct portal/email before the deadline.
If AWDF offers a submission confirmation, save it. If not, follow up politely if you don’t hear back in the timeframe stated by the call.
Realistic example — a mini case study (fictional, practical)
Group: Women’s Resilience Collective (WRC) — a grassroots women-led group in Eastern Uganda that runs community healing circles.
Context: Floods displaced families; women in temporary shelters face GBV risks and loss of livelihoods.
Grant target: Siza (crisis response).
Project summary: WRC will establish three women’s safe spaces in displaced person camps for 6 months, train 9 peer supporters, distribute 300 dignity kits, and run 12 livelihood starter workshops. Budget: USD 18,500.
Key indicators: # of women attending sessions, # of dignity kits distributed, % of participants reporting reduced stress in follow-up.
This simple example would be structured into the AWDF narrative and submitted with attachments: WRC profile, bank details, short bios of peer supporters, and a budget.
The proposal tone: how to write with credibility and empathy
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Show, don’t preach. Use short stories or vignettes (one or two lines) to demonstrate community need.
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Be specific with numbers. Vague claims like “many women” are weaker than “approximately 300 women from X camps.”
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Avoid sensational language. AWDF wants honesty and evidence, not inflated claims.
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Show feminist values. Describe how women lead decision making and how activities reinforce women’s agency.
Your Statement of Purpose — a simple, strong structure (SOP template)
Many applicants struggle with an SOP. Here’s a short, adaptable format (300–500 words) that centers clarity:
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Opening (1–2 sentences): Name the organization and summarize the purpose (“We are X, a women-led collective working with displaced women in Y…”).
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Context & Need (3–4 short paragraphs): Provide the immediate problem, the groups affected, and why current services are insufficient.
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Proposed Solution (2–3 paragraphs): Describe the project (activities, timeframe, who will lead), and why it is feasible.
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Outcomes & Impact (2 paragraphs): State intended outcomes and how they will improve womens’ lives, with indicators.
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Organizational Strength & Sustainability (2 paragraphs): Explain leadership, prior experience, partnerships, and a brief note on what happens after grant funding ends.
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Closing (1 sentence): Reaffirm commitment and gratitude for consideration.
Use plain language, keep it focused, and tie every activity to an outcome.
Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
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Mismatch between budget and activities. Cross-check: every budget line must be tied to a specific activity.
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Unclear leadership. If AWDF can’t see women in decision roles, the application weakens. Include short bios.
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Overly long narratives. Keep the proposal concise and to the point; AWDF reviewers read many applications.
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No M&E details. Even a simple attendance register and short pre/post survey counts.
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Missing required docs. Use the call’s checklist and provide alternatives if you are unregistered (for Siza, this is sometimes allowed).
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Exaggeration. Don’t overstate reach or impact. Reviewers favor realism.
Monitoring, reporting and accountability — practical tips
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Keep simple, daily logs. A Google Sheet or physical register documenting attendance, dates, and activities is invaluable for reporting.
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Take consented photos & testimonies. Always secure consent and avoid showing identities in sensitive contexts.
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Use short surveys. A 5–8 question baseline and follow-up can show measurable change.
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Document financials. Keep receipts, a petty cash log, and a spreadsheet cross-referencing expenditures with budget lines.
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Schedule internal reviews. Monthly check-ins help course correct and produce timely reporting.
Sustainability & post-grant considerations
AWDF favors projects that think beyond a single grant cycle. Include:
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Capacity building: training peer facilitators or volunteers who continue the work.
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Community ownership: how community structures (e.g., women’s cooperatives, local leaders) will maintain services.
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Small income lines: livelihood training linked to micro-enterprises (if appropriate and ethical).
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Partnership plans: linkages with local service providers, NGOs, or government where feasible.
Key insights and practical lessons learned from award cycles
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Local voice matters. Grants that demonstrate women’s leadership in practice—decision making, design, facilitation—score well.
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Simplicity is strength. Clear, pragmatic projects often beat complex multi-component plans that appear unmanageable.
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Flexibility helps. For crisis work, funds that can be reallocated to urgent needs are more effective; show how you’ll use flexible funds responsibly.
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Evidence counts. Even small impact data (attendance numbers, participant quotes) make a difference.
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Diversity & inclusion: AWDF actively encourages projects by women with disabilities, gender-diverse persons, and those in under-resourced language contexts—signal inclusion strategies in your proposal.
(These lessons reflect typical funder preferences and are grounded in AWDF’s public calls and guidance to applicants.)
Sample simple timeline (6-month Siza example)
| Month | Key Activities |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | Needs assessment; recruit trainers; procure dignity kits |
| Month 2 | Begin safe-space sessions (weekly); distribute first 100 kits |
| Month 3 | Livelihood or skills workshops; midline survey |
| Month 4 | Continue sessions; case management for referral cases |
| Month 5 | Final community engagement; prepare final materials |
| Month 6 | Endline survey; documentation of learnings; closeout reporting |
Frequently Asked Questions (concise but useful)
Q: Can grassroots groups without formal registration apply?
A: For Siza (crisis) grants, AWDF has historically accepted applications from small/unregistered groups in some cycles—always check the specific call. For Inua, registration is often expected.
Q: How long does AWDF take to respond?
A: Response times vary by cycle. AWDF’s calls usually specify an application review timeline; for the cycle that closed May 27, 2025, communication timelines were posted with the call.
Q: What supporting documents matter most?
A: Registration, governance documents, basic financial records, bank details, and short bios for leadership. Photos and short reports strengthen credibility.
Q: Can funds be used for cash transfers to women directly?
A: Some AWDF grants permit cash transfers if ethically designed and risk-assessed; include a clear rationale and accountability measures if proposing direct cash support.
Q: How to show accountability & safeguarding?
A: Include a short safeguarding statement: how you handle GBV cases, referral pathways, informed consent, and confidentiality.
Common proposal phrases that win reviewers’ attention
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“Women-led decision making” (followed by a short example).
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“Community-driven solutions” (show community consultation).
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“Feasible within the timeframe” (back with a compact plan).
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“Scalable & sustainable” (include a concrete path beyond grant end).
A short checklist before you click submit
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Did you match your request to the correct grant (Inua or Siza)?
- Are your leadership documents attached and up to date?
- Does your budget add up and tie to activities?
- Does your narrative show numbers, timeline, and responsible people?
- Did you include monitoring methods and safeguarding protocols?
- Did you proofread and get a second pair of eyes to read the application?
If the answer is “yes” to most items — submit confidently.
Ethics, consent and safety (non-negotiables)
When working in crisis contexts, safety comes first:
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Never publish identifying details of survivors.
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Use consent forms for photographs and testimonies.
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Protect data (simple password protection for spreadsheets; limit access).
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Have referral pathways for GBV and mental health — list partner agencies and hotlines where available.
AWDF gives high emphasis to ethical programming; ensure your application reflects these values.
Concluding thoughts — more than money
AWDF’s Inua and Siza grants are designed to do more than deliver funds — they invest in women’s collective power, leadership, and survival strategies in contexts where those qualities are most needed. Funders like AWDF want to support projects where women are not passive recipients but the authors of solutions. Your proposal should evidence that shift: clear leadership, realistic planning, measurable outcomes, and rooted community accountability.
If you are a newly formed group, consider local partnerships or mentorships to strengthen governance and financial systems. If you are an established group, use the Inua opportunity to institutionalize lessons and scale impact. And if your community faces immediate danger, the Siza line is meant to be responsive — plan for flexibility and be ready to demonstrate your grassroots legitimacy.
“Women respond to crisis not as an afterthought but as the first line of recovery. Fund those who are already doing the work.” — (Practical guidance distilled from AWDF grant philosophy).
