Up to $230,000 Spotlight Africa CSO Grant

UNDP Ethiopia is looking for an established African civil society organisation to deliver part of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0, the joint African Union, EU and UN effort to end violence against women and girls across the continent. The selected organisation will run advocacy work with the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities on laws against technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and support women-led and young women's organisations working on National Action Plans. Proposals can request up to USD 230,000 for work running from November 2026 to December 2028.

What you get:

• A Responsible Party Agreement with UNDP, with a fixed maximum budget of USD 230,000 in total
• Up to USD 82,000 for Activity B.1 (legislation and policy on technology-facilitated gender-based violence)
• Up to USD 148,000 for Activity B.2 (support to women-led and young women's organisations on National Action Plans)
• Implementation from November 2026 to December 2028, starting on signature of the agreement

What you'll do:

• Support the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities to influence Member States to develop, review and adopt laws and policies against technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including cyber-harassment, cyberstalking and hate speech, in line with the Malabo Convention
• Work with the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities to support women-led organisations, women mediators and young women's organisations in developing, implementing and reporting on National Action Plans on ending violence against women and girls and on Women, Peace and Security
• Submit a technical proposal (methodology, implementation plan, management structure and key personnel CVs) and a financial proposal within the fixed budget through UNDP's Quantum supplier portal

Key dates:

• Call published 18 September 2026
• Proposals close 2 October 2026 at 08:00 UTC (04:00 AM New York time)
• Implementation runs November 2026 to December 2028, starting on signature of the agreement

More information:

• Full call documents (Terms of Reference, Request for Information template, proposal submission form, technical and financial offer template) are linked from the procurement notice
• Questions go through the messaging function in the Quantum supplier portal; tender contact info.procurementet@undp.org
• Only one submission per organisation is allowed

• Non-governmental or non-profit organisation with valid registration for the last 5 years
• Maintains operations at regional, sub-regional or multi-country level in Africa; proposals must have scalable impact beyond national level
• Demonstrated experience strengthening legal and policy frameworks on ending violence against women and girls, harmful practices, SRHR and human rights at continental, sub-regional or national level
• Experience with the AUC, RECs, ACHPR and Special Rapporteurs, Member States and civil society networks is an asset
• Audited financial statements for the past two years, including management report and footnotes
• Board of Directors or equivalent governance structure, written financial and procurement rules, two-signature payments, and regular external audits
• Capacity to follow the UN Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• A minimum of 2 references
• Not under investigation or charged for fraud or misconduct, and not on any UN or other sanctions list
• Must register (free) and submit through UNDP's Quantum supplier portal using the organisation's full legal name as on its bank account