Key take-aways:

• UN Women funds tend to be larger and global, requiring strong institutional systems and monitoring capacity.

• AWDF is Africa-focused, more flexible for smaller or grassroots organisations.

• Decide early: Are you going after a large grant or a smaller pilot? That determines your strategy.

Step-by-Step Guide for Newbies

Here’s a detailed workflow — a handy step-by-step guide to preparing your grant application.

Step 1: Identify your grant opportunity

• Visit the grants page of each funder (for example, AWDF’s “Apply for a Grant” section)

• Check geographic eligibility (which countries in Africa/Asia), thematic focus (economic empowerment, leadership, GBV), and timeline (deadline, application date).

• Subscribe to alerts or mailing lists so you don’t miss calls for proposals.

• Pick one or two grants that align best with your organisation’s mission and capacity.

Step 2: Define your project concept

• Think about the problem you want to solve (e.g., limited women’s participation in leadership, lack of economic opportunities for rural women, high rates of GBV in refugee camps).

• Define the target audience (women entrepreneurs, women living with disabilities, adolescent girls in rural areas, etc.).

• Outline the solution: What will your project do? For example: training and mentoring women entrepreneurs, establishing women’s leadership networks, advocacy campaign for domestic violence law reform.

• Link your solution to the funder’s thematic priorities (e.g., “Women’s economic empowerment”, “Movement building for gender justice”).

Step 3: Build partnerships and readiness

• Many grants expect collaboration: an organisational lead plus one or two partners (community group, local university, women’s network).

• Ensure your organisation is legally registered (if required), has basic financial systems, and has some track record in women’s work.

• If you’re in Asia or Africa and applying to global funds, local partner credibility helps.

Step 4: Develop the proposal components

You will typically prepare:

• Executive Summary (1 page)

• Problem statement & context (2–3 pages)

• Project goal, objectives, and outcomes (clear, measurable)

• Activities & timeline

• Budget & budget narrative

• Monitoring & evaluation (M&E) plan (indicators, baseline, methods)

• Sustainability plan (how will impact continue after grant ends)

• Risk assessment & mitigation plan

• Organisation profile (mission, past work, team profiles)

• Partnership details (roles, responsibilities)

Step 5: Budget wisely

• Align your budget with the funder’s instructions (some cap overheads, some require in-kind contributions).

• Show realistic costs: personnel, training, travel, monitoring, equipment (if any), communications.

• If the funder emphasises “women’s rights movement building”, budget for networking, peer-learning, conferences.

• Ensure budget weaves through your activities — every activity has a cost.

Step 6: Emphasise monitoring, impact and inclusion

• Funders of gender equality want measurable outcomes: e.g., number of women entrepreneurs trained, increase in women’s leadership positions, reduction in incidence of GBV.

• Show baseline data: “Currently only 10% of women in district X own a business; we aim to increase to 25% in 3 years.”

• Factor in inclusion: mention women with disabilities, rural women, refugee women if relevant.

• Showcase sustainability: “After the 24-month grant, women’s network will be self-funded via membership; local government will adopt training model.”

Step 7: Write and submit the application

• Follow the call template exactly (often the funder gives specific headings).

• Use clear, concise language — avoid jargon.

• Use data, evidence, anecdotes — show real stories of women’s lives.

• Ask for feedback within your network before submitting.

• Submit ahead of deadline; ensure all attachments are complete.

Step 8: After submission & if awarded

• Be ready for follow-up: funders may ask clarifications, ask for budgets in specific format, or require attachments.

• Implement the project with transparency: keep your records, procurement and finances in order.

• Monitor and document impact; many funders require interim and final reports.

• Plan for continuity: move beyond grant period, show how results will be sustained or scaled.

Key Insights & Real-World Examples

Benefits

• Grants for gender equality enable organisations to build capacity, scale programs, and influence policy.

• They can also create ripple effects: training one cohort of women entrepreneurs can generate new jobs, spur local economies, and change social norms.

• Participating in grant programmes raises organisational credibility and unlocks future funding.

Real-World Example (Africa)

The funder report of the Fund for Gender Equality indicates that since 2009, UN Women has supported 96 programmes in 72 countries, aimed at economic and political empowerment of women.
In Ghana and Nigeria, AWDF has funded women-led organisations through its grant streams (main grants, small grants).
These examples illustrate that both major funders are active, accessible (for eligible organisations) and impactful.

Statement of Purpose — Simple, Strong Structure

When writing the narrative part of your application, you can use this structure:

• Opening story/problem: “In rural District X of Country Y, more than 60% of women lack access to business training; women’s representation in local councils remains under 5%.”

• Solution: “Our programme will establish a Women’s Leadership & Entrepreneurship Hub in District X, training 200 women per year, mentoring 50 peer entrepreneurs, and creating a local council incubator for women leaders.”

• Expected outcomes: “Within 24 months, 400 women trained, 100 new businesses, representation of women in district council increases from 5% to 12%.”

• Why now & who we are: “Our organisation has worked for 10 years on girls’ education and women’s health. We partner with local university and district municipal leadership. Our project aligns with funder’s priority for women’s economic empowerment.”

• Sustainability: “Post-grant, the hub will transition to membership fees plus local microfinance partnerships; the peer network will be self-managed. Local district government commits to adopt the leadership incubator.”

• Closing call: “By funding this hub, we can transform the lives of hundreds of rural women, enabling them to lead and build businesses — advancing the SDG 5 agenda in Country Y.”

Common Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them

• Mistake: Vague outcomes and indicators
  Avoidance: Define precise numbers and timelines (e.g., train 300 women in year 1, achieve 60 new businesses, increase women’s leadership participation by X%).

• Mistake: Weak or unclear budget
  Avoidance: Ensure budget aligns with activities, provides justification, and stays within permissible overheads.

• Mistake: No baseline or context data
  Avoidance: Include data on current state (e.g., women’s business ownership, leadership rates, GBV comparative stats).

• Mistake: Ignoring sustainability
  Avoidance: Show how the project continues after grant ends — via local government, membership fees, network support.

• Mistake: Poor alignment with funder priorities
  Avoidance: Mirror the thematic areas and criteria of the grant call; show how your project meets their objectives.

• Mistake: Single-person project leadership
  Avoidance: Demonstrate team, partnerships and shared leadership, especially women-led leadership in the organisation.

FAQs (Concise but Useful)

Q1: Can small grassroots groups apply?
Yes — for example AWDF has small-grant streams tailored to grassroots women’s groups.

Q2: Are individuals eligible?
Usually not. Most funders require an organisation (NGO or civil society organisation).

Q3: What countries are eligible?
It depends on the call. AWDF is Africa-focused; UN Women calls may cover Asia and Africa. Always check country-lists.

Q4: How long are typical grants?
Often 12-24 months. Some smaller grants are 6 months (AWDF Economic Justice grants).

Q5: Does the funder support organisations led by women only?
Many funders emphasise women’s-rights organisations or networks with strong women leadership — but requirements vary.

Conclusion

Gender equality and women’s empowerment remain foundational to sustainable development in Africa and Asia. Grant opportunities via UN Women and AWDF provide a vital route for organisations and movements to access funding, build scale, drive impact and shift norms. By following the step-by-step guide above — from identifying the right grant, defining your project, crafting a strong proposal, budgeting wisely, monitoring impact and avoiding common mistakes — you increase your chances of success.

“When women’s voices are heard, their leadership valued and their opportunities expanded, whole communities thrive.”

Call to action:
If you lead a women’s movement, NGO or community organisation in Africa or Asia, download our free grant-application checklist (link) and start mapping your project today. The first step is to identify a grant that fits your mission — then write a compelling story of change, backed by data, partnership and sustainability. Start now — the world needs your vision and leadership.