UN Women to provide US$10.5m in grants for empowerment projects

New York, US (PANA) - The UN Entity for Gender and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has said it will provide US$10.5 million in grants to organizations working to advance economic and political empowerment of women in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Central Asia.

UN Women said in a statement obtained by PANA in New York on Friday that the grants would start at US$200,000 for initiatives that make tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls, from enabling women candidates to run for office, to managing resources to support themselves and their families.

It said approval for proposals to access the grants would be announced in October.

The statement quoted Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director for UN Women, as saying the UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality would give out direct grants for women’s empowerment and political participation".

''These investments are essential for women and also for the promotion of gender equality, democracy and inclusive economic growth," Bachelet said, while also announcing the grant recipients from the agency’s earlier call in October for proposals from the Arab States.

''Fifteen organizations will receive grants totalling US$4.85 million to work on innovative programmes that range from advancing women’s political participation in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Others include maximizing the use of technology for advocacy and fostering sustainable development initiatives run by women in rural Morocco, Algeria and the occupied Palestinian territories.

"At this moment of historic change, we cannot afford to leave women out. These grants will advance women’s efforts to achieve greater economic and political equality during this time of transition".

PANA learnt since its creation in 2009, the UN Women's Fund for Gender Equality has invested a total of US$43 million in 40 countries for projects working for gender equality.
-0- PANA AA/SEG 2Mar2012