The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) is launching a Women Community Activism Grant (WCAG) designed to support Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) operating in the following provinces: Masvingo, Midlands, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland East.
WCoZ brings together women from diverse backgrounds to advocate for the attainment and enjoyment of their socio-economic and political rights, ensuring that the empowerment of women and girls remains central to the national agenda.
WCoZ is a key implementing partner in Citizen Engagement for Accountability Activity (CEAA), a five-year activity implemented by a collective of Zimbabwean CSOs. The activity engages and supports efforts that strengthen the culture of civic engagement in Zimbabwe. The Activity works with and through local organisations’ initiatives and seeks unique methods and innovative pathways and partnerships to achieve this purpose. CEAA’s objectives are to: (1) Activate citizen agency for accountability, (2) Strengthen women’s leadership and inclusion; (3) Increase youth empowerment and positive engagement.
Focus Areas
WCoZ encourages concrete applications that focus on:
Women’s leadership: Promoting a conducive environment for the participation of women and girls in public life, including the recognition of women leaders’ contributions.
Women’s economic empowerment: Establishing community livelihoods or savings and loan schemes.
Male engagement: Involving men and boys in supporting gender equality interventions within the community.
Community advocacy: Engaging women and men in advocacy initiatives, collaborating with local councillors and Members of Parliament on priority issues for their communities.
Funding Information and Duration
Under this call for applications, WCoZ intends to award five (5) grants. Each grant will amount to USD 10,000 for a duration of twelve (12) months.
Eligibility Criteria
Community-Based Organisations that are women-led and actively operating in Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Masvingo, and Midlands are strongly encouraged to apply. Legally registered CBOs working with women, young people, and other marginalised groups in rural areas of the mentioned provinces are eligible to submit their applications in response to this call.
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
Be a legally registered Zimbabwean CBO with female leadership, comprising a majority (at least 51%) of female board members and an executive director. Please submit a proof in support of having majority female board members.
Have a presence and work with communities in the mentioned provinces, focusing on the funding priorities.
Have a functional governance structure that includes a Board/Coordinating Committee, a Chairperson, and a Director.
Demonstrate a track record in implementing women’s empowerment initiatives, including economic strengthening, women’s participation, male engagement, and women’s rights advocacy programs at the grassroots level.
Possess skilled and experienced human resources to effectively implement the proposed project.
Not be partisan or led by a civil servant/political leader.
Have a demonstrated track record of financial accountability and transparency through having sound financial control systems in place.
Pre-qualification assessment form: Applicants are requested to complete the provided form and return it as part of their submission. Applicants will receive a pass/fail rating on the mandatory requirements/pre-qualification criteria. WCoZ reserves the right to verify any information contained in the pre-qualification form. Incomplete or inadequate responses, lack of response, or misrepresentation in responding to any questions will result in disqualification.
