Open Society Institute (OSI) and the International Women's Program (IWP) invite grant proposals from Nepal, Tajikistan, Algeria, Iraq (including refugees in the region), Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The mission of IWP is to use grant-making and programmatic efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and girls in priority areas around the globe where the principles of good governance and respect for the rule of law are absent or destroyed because of conflict. IWP seeks to promote the advancement of women's rights and gender equality in law and practice, and the empowerment of women to ensure participation in the democratic processes.


IWP invites proposals focusing on one or more of the following objectives:

1) Reducing discrimination and violence against women

2) Strengthening women's access to justice

3) Increasing women's role as decision-makers and leaders


Organisations can apply for 1 - 3 year grants ranging from US$25,000 to US$200,000 per year. Organisations can apply for a general support grant or support for a specific project. Preference is given to:

• Organisations managed and led by women
• Organisations that have a five-year plus track record and demonstrate sustainability
• Organisations that forge partnerships with other civil society groups working on similar issues
• Local/indigenous independent non-governmental organisations or initiatives that link local and international organisations

The deadline for proposals is March 8 2009.

Click here or here for more information.


Click here to download the complete call for proposals in MS Word format with proposal templates. The IWP requests that applicants write 'February 2009 call, country, and organisation name' in the subject line of emailed proposals when sending attachments to the address in the contact information below. If an organisation does not have email access, please fax or mail the application to the contact information below.

Press Release from The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Resource Net on February 18 2009.