Fourth Programming Round of Elsie Initiative Fund for Women – Apply Now

Application deadline: January 31, 2026

The Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations (EIF) will launch its fourth programming round on October 9, 2025, marked by a high-level event uniting UN leadership, Member States, donors, and partners. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, this launch provides a pivotal opportunity to reflect on progress and challenges in advancing the meaningful participation of uniformed women in peacekeeping.

The EIF is a global catalytic fund dedicated to achieving gender equality in peace operations through evidence-based, sustainable institutional reform. By supporting troop- and police-contributing countries (T/PCCs), the Fund drives systemic change, aligns with UN priorities such as Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+) and the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS), and strengthens gender-responsive peace and security frameworks worldwide.

About the Elsie Initiative Fund

The Elsie Initiative Fund is a UN-led, multi-donor fund that addresses the underrepresentation of uniformed women in peacekeeping particularly in leadership roles by investing in structural, institutional reforms. It acts as a learning and innovation mechanism, identifying barriers, testing solutions, and scaling what works to create lasting change within national security institutions.

Focus of the Fourth Programming Round

This round builds on lessons from prior funding cycles and aims to accelerate gender-transformative reforms. The launch event will highlight successful EIF-supported projects that have:

• Revised national policies and recruitment strategies.
• Developed leadership pathways for uniformed women.
• Improved mission infrastructure and living conditions for women peacekeepers.
• Integrated gender perspectives into training, planning, and operations.

The round seeks ambitious proposals that make women’s participation in peace operations more accessible, safe, meaningful, and sustainable.

Funding Details

• Grant Range: USD 100,000 to USD 1,500,000 per project.
• Project Duration: Up to 2 years for standard projects. Barrier assessment projects may run for ~12 months.
• Gender Strong Unit (GSU) Premium: Projects that qualify for the GSU designation demonstrating a commitment to deploying units with significant female representation may access additional funding and extend implementation to up to 3 years.

Key Requirement: All proposals must contribute to at least one of the EIF’s four core outcomes:

• Enhanced understanding of barriers to women’s deployment.
• Increased meaningful deployment of uniformed women to UN peace operations.
• Expanded pool of eligible uniformed women.
• Improved working and living conditions for women in missions.

Eligibility & Application Requirements

Eligible applicants include:

• National Governments of T/PCCs, or those with a credible commitment to become one.
• UN Entities in partnership with eligible governments.

Application must include:

• High-level endorsement from a relevant national authority (e.g., Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, Police Commissioner).
• Clear alignment with EIF outcomes and UN frameworks (A4P+, UGPS, New Agenda for Peace).
• Compliance with UN policies, including the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) and Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• A compelling rationale demonstrating the project’s potential for institutional impact and sustainability.

Why Apply?

This funding represents a unique opportunity to:

• Access strategic resources to undertake institutional diagnostics and reforms.
• Enhance national and institutional contributions to UN peacekeeping.
• Join a community of practice and exchange knowledge with global peers.
• Translate Women, Peace, and Security commitments into measurable, on-the-ground progress.
• Contribute to more effective, inclusive, and legitimate peace operations.

Key Dates

• Launch Event: October 9, 2025
• Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
• Implementation Start: Successful projects will commence after the selection and approval process in 2026.

How to Apply & Learn More

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the detailed call for proposals, guidelines, and outcomes framework on the official EIF website.

Click here to apply