Last year, the United Nations (UN) launched the Gender Equality Accelerator Programme (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Programme”), a joint initiative of UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, and UNFPA, introducing a holistic and cross-sectoral approach to advancing gender equality. The Programme aims to target the three “E’s” of gender equality:
- ELIMINATING – Elimination of violence against women and girls,
- EMPOWERING – Economic empowerment of women, and
- ELEVATING – Women’s leadership and gender-responsive governance.
In coordination with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Equality Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARS BiH), the Joint Programme builds upon previous programmes, evaluations, research, and consultations with key stakeholders in order to accelerate progress in the field of gender equality and women’s rights.
The Joint Programme is implemented at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina (state, entity, cantonal, and local levels) and involves public institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
The Joint Programme is designed to apply an integrated approach that combines technical assistance for improving public policies and the legal framework, institutional capacity development, and strengthening public advocacy. It also promotes inclusive political dialogue, coalition-building, and evidence-based activities as catalysts for joint progress in gender equality priorities.
The primary beneficiaries of the Joint Programme are women and girls, including those at risk of marginalization, whether due to surviving violence, exclusion from decision-making structures, or facing other intersecting forms of discrimination.
General Objective of the Public Call for Project Proposals
The purpose of this Public Call is the selection and funding of integrated, transformative, and intersectional interventions by civil society organizations that advance gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina by strengthening women’s leadership and transforming discriminatory social norms, while ensuring that no one is left behind (Leave No One Behind – LNOB).
Theme and Priority Areas of the Public Call
Area: Women’s Leadership, Networking, and Intergenerational Exchange
Activities within this area should focus on strengthening an inclusive leadership ecosystem for women and girls through transformative, intersectional, and intergenerational approaches.
Area: Creative Expression and Transformation of Social Norms
Interventions in this area should support long-term changes in social norms through creative and intersectional approaches.
Conditions for Support
Project proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Clearly defined and realistically achievable contribution to the use of culture, art, and storytelling for advancing narratives and encouraging social change.
- Integration of intersectionality and LNOB principles into project design and implementation, with concrete and applicable measures.
- Demonstrated capacity to implement the proposed activities, including project, resource, and deadline management.
- Realistic potential to influence social norms, with clearly defined target groups and approaches.
- Quality and feasibility of communication and advocacy activities, including contribution to the “16 Days of Activism” campaign.
- Relevant partnerships and collaborations contributing to the quality and sustainability of results, with the potential for further scaling of intervention effects.
Target Groups
Projects supported under this Public Call should focus on the following primary target groups, which are central to the interventions and directly participate in project activities:
- Women leaders of all generations or those aspiring to become leaders
- Women and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those facing multiple forms of discrimination, such as:
- Youth (young women and men) aged 18 to 35, as key actors in transforming social norms
- Boys and men, as allies in achieving gender equality, changing harmful norms, combating toxic masculinity, and preventing gender-based violence
The participation of these groups should be substantial rather than symbolic, through their active role in project activities, decision-making, and the creation of solutions that respond to their needs and project outcomes.
Secondary target groups (indirect beneficiaries and agents of change) influencing systemic changes, public policies, and social norms include:
- Civil society organizations, especially women’s organizations and youth initiatives
- Government institutions at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina (state, entity, cantonal, and local levels)
- Representatives of political life and decision-makers
- Media and public opinion creators
- Cultural institutions, including museums, theatres, and organizations responsible for preserving and promoting cultural heritage
- Educational institutions and the academic community
- The private sector, especially in the field of women’s economic empowerment
Tertiary target groups (the wider social community), important for long-term norm transformation, include the general public in Bosnia and Herzegovina, local communities including families and informal support networks, as well as professionals in the sectors of social protection, education, healthcare, and the judiciary.
Who Can Apply?
Civil society organizations (associations and foundations) headquartered and operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina are eligible to apply under this Public Call. The project lead applicant must be clearly indicated in the application.
Project Duration and Implementation Period
Projects may last from three (3) to five (5) months during the period from July to December 4, 2026, calculated from the date of contract signing. All project proposals must be completed no later than December 4, 2026.
Locations for Project Implementation
Project activities may be implemented throughout the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Where and How to Obtain and Submit Application Materials
The complete application package, including all necessary information regarding the Public Call, is available electronically on the official website of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Submission Method
Completed applications and accompanying documentation must be submitted exclusively in electronic PDF format to the following email address:
geajavnipoziv@undp.onmicrosoft.com
with the subject line:
“Application for the Public Call related to the Gender Equality Accelerator (UNDP)”
The deadline for submission is June 7, 2026, by 23:59.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the size of the documents exceeds the limit for sending in a single email, it is permitted to submit the documentation in several consecutive emails. Each subsequent message must be clearly marked as a continuation of the previous one (e.g. “Application… – continuation 1”, “Application… – continuation 2”, etc.).
Would You Like to Learn More About the Procedure?
An online information session for all interested applicants from across Bosnia and Herzegovina will be organized via the Teams virtual platform on Friday, May 22, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM. Registration and access to the info session can be completed through the provided link.
Additional Information
For any additional questions regarding the Public Call, interested parties may contact:
geajavnipoziv@undp.onmicrosoft.com
The subject line of the message must include the reference:
“Public Call related to the Gender Equality Accelerator (UNDP)”
Questions may be submitted no later than June 2, 2026. Responses will be provided in written form via email within three (3) working days from the date of receiving the inquiry.
Notification of Decision
The results of the Public Call will be published on the official UNDP website within 30 working days after the application deadline. Reports on the evaluation process and assessed projects will be submitted to the Steering Committee of the Gender Equality Accelerator, which will make the final decision on funding approval or rejection of any project within this Public Call. Only applicants whose project proposals are approved for funding will receive additional notification through official written communication.
