Through this special call, Urgent Action Fund – Africa (UAF – Africa) will be providing funding for a range of initiatives aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with grants of up to USD 20,000 for up to nine months!

Who can apply?
Informal and formal, small / medium women-led organisations, groups, cooperatives or collectives in rural, peri-urban and urban areas of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, such as (but not limited to):

• women’s rights organisations
• associations of women with formal businesses
• associations of women with informal businesses
• women’s self-help groups
• women’s collectives
• women’s cooperatives

All organisations/collectives must fit the following criteria:

• be based in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania
• be led by women who are part of the initiative
• have a majority (at least 70%) of women members or staff/board with women holding positions of power and authority
• be committed to gender equality
• the project/initiative to be carried out within 3 months for Rapid Response Grants and 6 -9 months for Advocacy and Alliance Building Grants
• for informal organisations or collectives, the group should be made up of at least 10 members

Please Note: For-profit organisations, individuals, political parties or government bodies are not eligible for funding.

What can you do with the grant?
The grant must be aimed at supporting women’s small – medium informal and formal enterprises (e.g. women in agribusiness, street vendors etc), it may be used for a range of activities/initiatives which advocate for or facilitate the following:

• inclusive market infrastructure development
• increasing women owned enterprises’ productivity
• inclusion of informal enterprises in local development
• response to emerging issues pertaining to land access and ownership
• access to market opportunities
• holistic security, safety and well-being for the women and activists championing WEE
• mobilising and sustaining movements and alliances for strategic engagement
• Campaigns championing women’s economic empowerment
• women’s engagement in economic discourses and decision making
• safeguarding and defending resources and opportunities
• an enabling environment for WEE

What can you not do with the grant?

• Profit-making/income-generating projects
• Microfinance or grantmaking
• Purchasing of buildings/land or construction
• Capital Expenditure
• Capacity Building activities
• Scholarships
• Lobbying (see below what lobbying refers to)

Lobbying refers to communication with government officials or employees who may participate in the formulation of legislation, calls to action which encourage people to share views with government officials, and expressing views on legislative proposals.

To get more information on how to apply, VISIT THIS PAGE.