Up to $20,000 WHO SPARK Grant

The WHO/IBP Network, a World Health Organization network for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and rights, is funding youth-led, women-led and Indigenous-led community organisations through its new SPARK grant programme. Between 5 and 10 organisations will receive up to USD 20,000 each to run a one-year project that adapts WHO guidelines and tools to their own communities, with communities rather than institutions setting the agenda. Applying starts with a concept note of no more than 500 words, in English, French or Spanish.

What you get:

• Direct, flexible grant funding of up to USD 20,000 to carry out your proposed work
• Technical support from the WHO/IBP Network and access to relevant WHO guidelines and tools
• A place in IBP's global Communities of Practice: WHO Guidelines, Adolescent, Women's Health and Powershifting
• Opportunities to document and showcase your work to a global audience

What you'll do:

• Run a project of about one year that applies or adapts at least one WHO sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child or adolescent health guideline or tool
• Connect that health work with another area such as maternal health, climate, livelihoods and poverty reduction, education or faith-based initiatives
• Involve community members in design, decision-making and evaluation, not just delivery

• Must be a youth-led, women-led or Indigenous-led community-based organisation (the application form offers only these three organisation types)
• Open worldwide; WHO aims to fund at least one organisation per WHO region: Africa, the Americas, South-East Asia, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific
• Strongly encouraged: operating for at least 2 years
• Strongly encouraged: previous experience implementing at least one WHO guideline, tool or product
• Priority to organisations new to WHO/IBP Network funding that show strong community accountability and leadership
• Concept note of no more than 500 words covering your organisation, proposed activity, power-shifting approach, a budget of up to USD 20,000, a timeline and a documentation and learning plan
• Shortlisted applicants may be asked for financial statements, one letter of support and WHO's requirements for working with non-state actors