The section below covers information in the application form about how to write about project beneficiaries and their problems and about your partnerships in the application form for seeking grants from the Global Fund for Women.
1. Describe the individuals who benefit from or participate in your organization’s activities. Describe the communities that they come from (for example, are they ethnic, religious, or cultural minorities, LBTQI, migrant workers, women with disabilities, adolescents, etc.?)
In this part, you have to provide information about your beneficiaries. This part is a vital part of the online application system. It will define relevance of your group for women and girls centered work. Global Fund for Women prefers to fund for women and girls. They also give special attention to marginalized and underserved women and girls. So highlight if your organization serves ethnic, religious, or cultural minorities, migrant workers, adolescent and migrant workers and LGBTQI.
2a. What are the problems / needs of women in your community that your group addresses?
Describe here the problems that women and girls are facing in your community. Be sure to critically analyze what barriers they are facing, what are the root causes, what are the underutilized resources that can be used for promotion of women and girl’s rights. If possible quote data and statistics and build your case based on research. Try to use recent statistics and research.
Your problem statement may like this:
“Women and girl’s rights in XXX country are not recognized or respected, with women facing discrimination, verbal and physical abuse, and unique legal and social challenges. Many face discrimination in terms of education, economic and political participation and equitable access to health care services. In general 45% of women are victims of gender based violence and about 70% married women are victims of intimate partner’s violence and forced sex with partners. Women have to bear the burden of reproductive health and child bearing. Around 60% of girls get married within 16 and most of them have their first birth before they reach 18. These factors limit their access to education and employment opportunity. Adolescent and young girls are denied to sexual and reproductive health rights”.
This is an imaginary short example. Don’t forget to include reference and source of data. Problem statement should include following information:
- Geographical region and demography
- Information about target people’s economic condition (poverty, employment etc.), education
- Gender Issues
- Health and HIV/AIDS
2b. What do you see as the root causes of these problems/needs of women in your community, and how do your activities address these root causes?
Here you have to identify the root causes that limit women’s access to social, economic, political and other services. You also have to identify the resources and anti-discrimination laws and concepts that may be used to promote women’s rights but are not properly using. You may write like this way:
“In XXX country, the four main root causes of discrimination against women are: (1) improper legal and institutional structure. (2) Lack of capacity among CSOs to challenge discrimination against women and girls and advocate for proper implementation of constitutional guards safeguard and anti-discrimination concept through advocacy, lobbying, litigation, monitoring and documenting human rights violations (3) Religious and cultural taboo and misconceptions surrounding women’s issues (4) Lack of access to social, economic, education and medical services. There is a lack of awareness regarding laws and policies and facilities to ensure protection to women and girls.”
3. Currently, who are the most important partners/collaborating organizations in your work? Please list any women’s groups in your country or community that you are currently collaborating with and describe how you are working with them.
Here you have to mention the partner organizations of your group. Partner organizations can be the donors who give you funding, organizations which you collaborate to accomplish your assignment, and different national, regional and international network which you are a member etc. You should also list names of all women groups or organizations you are working with because this is what Global Fund for Women is most interested in.
Governance and Structure
1. Please describe and indicate the numbers of your staff, board, advisors, volunteers, and members, including their roles (i.e. organizational decision-making, day-to-day operations, etc.)
Here you have to indicate number of board members, advisors, staff and volunteer working for your organization and describe their role within your organization. Global Fund for Women interested to support women’s groups led by women and girls. It is not sufficient if women and girls are actively represented in the board and management of the organization because according to basic eligibility criteria “Women must fill all or most of the leadership roles”.
2. Are the women/girls who benefit from your group’s activities represented in the leadership or decision-making of your group? If yes, please describe how and in which roles. If not, please describe why.
This part is your chance to convince evaluators that local ownership is ensured in your organization by including beneficiaries in the leadership position or decision making of your group (senior management, board members or advisory post). Leadership or decision making position should have representatives who truly represent the beneficiaries. Ideally they should not have any personal interest but the welfare of the beneficiaries. You have to describe in what position beneficiaries are represented what roles they play within your group. Describe briefly as much as possible. If beneficiaries are not represented in the leadership of your group then you have to have to very good and convincing reason for that otherwise you will lose some marks here.
