Entries open — Pakistan Women Leaders (PWL) Project
UN Women & UNDP (EU-funded) launch the Mentorship Programme for Aspiring Women Leaders (2026–2029) to strengthen women’s political leadership and inclusion across Pakistan.
Deadline: Oct 20, 2025
Donor: UN Women (EU-funded)
Category: Leadership & Mentorship
Quick summary
- Goal: Build a critical mass of trained women leaders ready to contest elections, shape policy, and promote inclusive governance.
- Scope: Mentorship programme + leadership bootcamps, outreach and mobilization across federal, provincial, and district levels.
- Scale: At least 1,700 women trained in bootcamps; 170 mentees supported with 20-month mentorships.
- Geographic coverage: Federal Capital, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh (priority districts listed below).
- Budget range: PKR 185,000,000 – PKR 198,000,000 for 35 months.
What the programme includes
- Structured outreach & mobilization at federal, provincial, and district levels.
- Leadership bootcamps combining academic & experiential learning, exposure visits, and applied leadership projects.
- Structured 20‑month mentorship for 170 mentees with matched mentors and personalized development plans.
- Alumnae network for all bootcamp participants to sustain advocacy, visibility, and peer learning.
- Strong focus on inclusion: women with disabilities, minority groups, transgender women, and youth (LNOB principle).
Priority districts (highlights)
Federal & Provinces: Islamabad (Federal Capital), Quetta (Balochistan), Peshawar, Swat, Khyber, Shangla, Battagram (KP), Lahore, Multan (Punjab), Karachi West, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Ghotki, Khairpur (Sindh).
Implementation will be tailored to local contexts and needs.
Implementation will be tailored to local contexts and needs.
Who should apply (CSOs) — key requirements
- Registered Civil Society Organizations with at least 5 years relevant experience.
- Proven capacity to design and manage large-scale political training and mentorship programmes.
- Provincial presence across Pakistan and robust financial systems to manage contracts > USD 250,000/year.
- Demonstrated curriculum design expertise, partnerships with authorities, and PSEA (prevention of sexual exploitation & abuse) policies aligned with UN Women standards.
- Bonus strengths: training in local languages, UN experience, data protection, and engagement with parliaments, political parties, media, and academia.
Selection & evaluation
- Proposals evaluated for technical excellence, operational capacity, inclusion strategy, value for money, and sustainability.
- Shortlisted CSOs will be invited to present implementation plans and demonstrate financial & programmatic readiness.
How to apply
- Prepare a detailed technical and financial proposal aligned to the Terms of Reference.
- Provide proof of registration, financial statements, key staff CVs, and relevant project examples.
- Submit proposals via the UN Women call for proposals portal (link below).
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