BMGF Call for proposals: Supporting coordinated, effective gender equality advocacy in Europe

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is issuing an open request for proposals for supporting coordinated, effective gender equality advocacy in Europe. The aim is to develop a network, hub, or collaborative for European gender equality advocacy. We see this effort as leveraging existing community expertise and supporting ambitious ideas that can help build shared power of the European gender equality advocacy ecosystem.

Objectives:

1. Advocate for More and Better Funding – Increase the amount, and improve the quality, of European ODA for gender equality directed to the global south, from bilateral governments and any relevant multilateral organizations.
2. Advance Policy – develop meaningful gender equality language and recommendations for strategies and policies, provide policy analysis, and make policy recommendations connected to funding.
3. Strengthen Strategic Communications – Increase the prioritization or importance that target audiences attribute to gender equality. Infuse key decision makers’ spaces with data, evidence, policy recommendations, content, and compelling communications, priming them to be more receptive to advocacy efforts and ultimately raising the cost to leaders for ignoring or weakly engaging on gender equality. 

Eligibility:

• Develop a concept that broadly meets the goals and potential activities outlined above
• Be able to articulate the type of space, collective or network you aim to create, who will be part of it, and how you will build trust and work together to develop and achieve collective goals
• Present a clear vision for how your work will address gaps in the gender equality advocacy space while incorporating the community’s existing strengths and relationships.
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively champion gender equality priorities with key decision makers and partners.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the feminist and gender equality policy spaces, credibility on gender equality issues, and familiarity with the donor funding landscape in Europe
• Have a plan for engaging a range of partners across feminist groups, networks, iNGOs, and campaign organizations. We are also open to the inclusion of groups that work on domestic European issues where strategic, so long as the primary focus of this effort remains on advancing resources and policies for gender equality in the global south.
• Develop a concept that has reach in multiple European countries/spaces, with an initial plan to target work in at least four of the following: EU, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain.
• Be a registered organization or submit as part of a collective application where at least one participant is legally registered and able to receive grant funding from a U.S. private foundation

Funding details:

• $6-7 million total over three years (2023, 2024, and 2025)

Read more here

Application deadline November 18, 2022.