Apply for UN Women – Localising VAW Prevention Initiatives 2026

Application Deadline: 03 May 2026

About the Initiative

UN Women Bangladesh, with funding from the European Union, is inviting civil society organisations to implement a national programme focused on preventing violence against women (VAW). The initiative strengthens coordination between government and civil society, builds capacity for prevention strategies, and supports localised interventions on sexual harassment in workplaces and public transport. It aims to improve policy implementation, community awareness, and evidence-based action to reduce VAW in Bangladesh. Violence against women remains a pervasive issue in Bangladesh, affecting millions of women and girls across the country. Despite strong legal frameworks and policy commitments, implementation gaps persist. This initiative seeks to bridge those gaps by empowering local civil society organisations to work alongside government stakeholders, deliver prevention programmes, and advocate for systemic change at both national and local levels.

Funding Details

• Total Budget Range: BDT 34,500,000 – BDT 35,000,000 (approximately USD 315,000–320,000)
• Funding Source: European Union (through UN Women Bangladesh)
• Programme Focus: National programme on preventing violence against women, with emphasis on sexual harassment in workplaces and public transport

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered civil society organisations (CSOs) in Bangladesh
• Women-led organisations (strongly encouraged to apply)
• National organisations or consortia of CSOs
• Organisations with proven technical expertise in VAW prevention
• Groups working with government and community stakeholders

Required capabilities:

• Experience in gender equality programming and women’s rights
• Capacity building expertise (training, mentoring, technical assistance)
• Policy advocacy experience at national and/or local levels
• Ability to operate at both national and local levels (from policy to community action)
• Proven track record in violence against women prevention work
• Strong relationships with government stakeholders and community networks

Additional considerations:

• Organisations with experience in workplace sexual harassment prevention are particularly encouraged to apply
• Consortia applications (multiple CSOs working together) are welcome
• Organisations must be legally registered in Bangladesh

Why This Initiative Matters

Violence against women is a human rights violation and a public health crisis that affects women’s ability to participate fully in economic, social, and political life. In Bangladesh, despite legal protections and growing awareness, VAW remains widespread. Sexual harassment in workplaces and public transport are particularly pervasive issues that limit women’s mobility, economic participation, and sense of safety.

This initiative addresses these challenges by:

• Investing in local civil society – Recognising that community-based organisations are best positioned to deliver effective prevention
• Focusing on implementation – Moving beyond policy to action, addressing real-world gaps in enforcement and awareness
• Targeting specific settings – Workplaces and public transport, where sexual harassment is common but often unaddressed
• Strengthening coordination – Ensuring that government and civil society work together, not in silos
• Building evidence – Contributing to knowledge about what works in the Bangladesh context

For civil society organisations working on women’s rights and VAW prevention, this funding represents a significant opportunity to scale up proven interventions, pilot new approaches, and contribute to national efforts to end violence against women.

Programme Focus Areas

Key priority areas for this initiative include:

1. Strengthening Coordination Between Government and Civil Society

• Building bridges between national policy frameworks and local implementation
• Creating sustainable mechanisms for ongoing collaboration
• Ensuring civil society voices inform government decision-making

2. Building Capacity for Prevention Strategies

• Training CSOs and government partners on evidence-based VAW prevention
• Developing tools, resources, and curricula for prevention programming
• Strengthening organisational capacity to deliver effective interventions

3. Localised Interventions on Sexual Harassment

• Addressing sexual harassment in workplaces (private sector, government offices, factories)
• Addressing sexual harassment in public transport (buses, trains, rickshaws, ride-sharing)
• Developing context-appropriate solutions for different settings and communities

4. Improving Policy Implementation

• Supporting effective enforcement of existing laws and policies (e.g., Prevention of Oppression against Women and Children Act, Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain)
• Monitoring implementation gaps and advocating for corrective action
• Building awareness of legal rights and reporting mechanisms

5. Community Awareness and Prevention

• Engaging communities in dialogue about VAW and gender equality
• Challenging harmful social norms that perpetuate violence
• Mobilising men and boys as allies in prevention efforts

6. Evidence-Based Action

• Collecting and using data to inform prevention strategies
• Documenting best practices and lessons learned
• Contributing to the evidence base on what works in the Bangladesh context

Expected Outcomes

The programme aims to achieve:

• Reduced incidence of violence against women, particularly sexual harassment in workplaces and public transport
• Strengthened capacity of CSOs and government partners to deliver effective VAW prevention
• Improved coordination between government and civil society on VAW issues
• Enhanced policy implementation and community awareness
• Documented evidence and best practices for replication and scaling

Application Process

Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Link: Click here (UN Women procurement portal)

Application Requirements:

• Completed application form (via UN Women e-tendering system)
• Organisation registration documents
• Technical proposal outlining programme approach and methodology
• Financial proposal/budget breakdown
• CVs of key personnel
• Organisational capacity statement
• Past performance references or examples of similar work

Important Notes:

• Interested organisations must register on the UN Women e-tendering portal to access the full tender documentation
• Late applications will not be accepted
• Only shortlisted organisations will be contacted

For More Information: Visit the UN Women e-tendering portal