CFPs: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion (Sierra Leone)

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

UN Women is inviting legally registered women-led and women’s rights organizations in Sierra Leone to implement community-based initiatives promoting peace, social cohesion, conflict prevention, and gender equality. Selected organizations will receive between $70,000 and $82,340 for projects implemented in Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, Kono, or Tonkolili over a one-year period from 9 November 2026 to 8 November 2027.

About the Funding Opportunity

The funding is available under the project titled “Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion through a National-led Prevention.” The project seeks to transform Sierra Leone’s approach to conflict prevention by establishing a nationally owned, inclusive, and participatory prevention framework. UN Women will select qualified local organizations to serve as Responsible Partners. These partners will help translate Sierra Leone’s National Prevention Strategy into practical, community-driven interventions in four target districts. Purpose of the Project The project aims to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to prevent conflict and sustain peace by addressing the underlying causes of instability.

Its primary objectives include:

- Localizing Sierra Leone’s National Prevention Strategy. - Strengthening local peacebuilding structures. - Increasing grassroots participation in conflict prevention. - Promoting women’s leadership in peace processes. - Supporting meaningful youth engagement. - Countering hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation. - Strengthening trust and social cohesion within communities. - Supporting vulnerable and at-risk groups. - Promoting inclusive and accountable governance. - Preparing communities to manage tensions ahead of the 2028 elections. Development Context Sierra Leone’s peace and stability may be affected by political polarization, hate speech, disinformation, social exclusion, and limited public trust. These challenges can become more serious during politically sensitive periods, including the period leading up to the 2028 elections. Women, young people, and vulnerable groups are often directly affected by instability but may remain underrepresented in formal conflict-prevention and peacebuilding processes. This project places these groups at the centre of community-based peace initiatives. What Is the National Prevention Strategy? Sierra Leone’s National Prevention Strategy establishes a national framework for identifying, preventing, and responding to risks that could undermine peace and social cohesion. Localizing the strategy means translating its national objectives into district- and community-level action.

This may involve:

- Identifying local conflict risks. - Strengthening early-warning and response systems. - Supporting local mediation structures. - Improving coordination among institutions. - Engaging women and young people in decision-making. - Developing locally appropriate peace messages. - Countering harmful or misleading information. - Strengthening dialogue between communities and authorities. Geographic Focus All proposed activities must be implemented in one or more of the following districts in Sierra Leone: - Western Area Urban. - Western Area Rural. - Kono. - Tonkolili. Applicants should demonstrate an operational presence and relevant experience in at least one target district. Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be:

- Legally registered organizations in Sierra Leone. - Women-led organizations or women’s rights organizations. - Governed by an established governance body. - Operationally present in Sierra Leone. - Experienced in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda. - Familiar with the context of one or more target districts. - In operation for at least five years. - Able to maintain a valid organizational bank account. - Willing to accept the terms of the template Partner Agreement. - Capable of implementing and reporting on a one-year project. Applicants should provide evidence that women hold meaningful leadership and decision-making roles within the organization. Organizations That Cannot Apply

The following are not eligible:

- Government agencies. - United Nations entities. - Private individuals. - Private-sector entities. - Organizations under investigation. - Organizations included on relevant sanctions or exclusion lists. - Entities that cannot legally enter into a Partner Agreement. - Organizations that do not meet the required operational and governance standards. Funding Amount Each selected organization will receive between:

- Minimum funding: $70,000.

- Maximum funding: $82,340.

The proposed budget should be realistic, cost-effective, and directly connected to the planned activities and expected results. Applicants should use the official budget template and follow all UN Women rules concerning eligible expenditures. Project Duration Funded interventions will run for one year:

- Expected start date: 9 November 2026.

- Expected end date: 8 November 2027.

Applicants should design activities, outputs, milestones, and budgets that can be completed within this implementation period. Priority Areas for Proposed Interventions Proposed projects should use innovative, gender-sensitive, and locally appropriate approaches.

Relevant interventions may include:

- Community peace dialogues. - Conflict-prevention education. - Women-led mediation initiatives. - Local early-warning and response mechanisms. - Peace messaging and public-awareness campaigns. - Initiatives addressing political polarization. - Community action against hate speech. - Media and digital literacy activities. - Responses to misinformation and disinformation. - Youth-led peacebuilding activities. - Support for women and other at-risk groups. - Training for community peace structures. - Engagement with traditional and religious leaders. - Collaboration with local media. - Activities promoting accountable governance. - Digital tools for peacebuilding and civic participation. All activities