Dear colleagues and partners

For your information below as one of the areas to be funded is devoted to women.

Kind regards

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UN Democracy Fund Invites Civil Society Organizations to Apply for Funding

Date: 8 November 2010

The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) invites civil society organizations to apply for funding for projects to advance and support democracy. Project proposals may be submitted online between 15 November and 31 December 2010 at
www.un.org/democracyfund, where applicants can also find guidelines, fequently asked questions, and lessons learned from previous rounds. Those who plan to apply are strongly encouraged to visit this page
as soon as possible to familiarize themselves with what is required.

Only online applications in either English or French will be accepted.

UNDEF supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. The large majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations — both
in the transition and consolidation phases of democratization. In this way, UNDEF plays a novel and distinct role in complementing the UN's more traditional work — the work with governments — to strengthen democratic governance around the world.

UNIFEM (part of UN Women) assists women’s groups in the planning and implementation of approximately 10 percent of UNDEF projects. While grants across the board contribute to realizing broad gender equality goals, UNIFEM puts deliberate
emphasis on ensuring that women have an equal voice in governance and public decision-making.

This is the Fifth Round of Funding to be launched by UNDEF, which provides grants of up to US$500,000 per project. In four rounds of funding so far, UNDEF has supported more than 330 projects in 115 countries at a total amount of US$93
million.

Applications are subject to a highly rigorous and competitive selection process, with about 3 percent of all applications approved for funding. Projects are two years long and fall under one or more of six main areas:

• Community development
• Rule of law and human rights
• Tools for democratization
• Women
• Youth
• Media