Call for Proposals: Template for Responsible Parties – Gilgit (Pakistan)

The UN Women–funded Catalyzing Economic Growth for Women initiative aims to empower 500 women and girls in Gilgit district through inclusive, climate-resilient and culturally rooted livelihood development. The programme prioritizes women with disabilities, minorities and transgender individuals while strengthening market access, collective agency and sustainable value chains. Eligible Civil Society Organizations can apply with proposals ranging from PKR 22.47 million to PKR 25.28 million.

Programme Overview

The Catalyzing Economic Growth for Women initiative, funded by UN Women, is designed to strengthen women’s economic participation and leadership in Gilgit district.

The programme responds to structural barriers such as geographic isolation, harsh climatic conditions and limited access to markets and financial services that disproportionately affect women’s livelihoods.

Overall Goal

The initiative seeks to empower 500 women and girls through inclusive economic opportunities, ensuring participation of women with disabilities, minorities and transgender individuals.

It focuses on strengthening skills, collective agency and access to markets while embedding gender equality and community-level transformation.

Key Sectors and Focus Areas

The programme supports women’s engagement across diverse livelihood sectors aligned with Gilgit’s local economy.

Priority areas include agriculture, livestock management, artisanal crafts, traditional embroidery, wool products, handicrafts and the emerging tourism economy.

Core Interventions

UN Women’s approach combines technical skills development with structural and social change.

Interventions include targeted capacity-building for women’s groups and cooperatives, support to home-based workers and artisans, improvement of product quality and consistency, and strengthening income-generating potential.

Market Access and Business Development

The initiative prioritizes improving women’s access to financial services, digital tools and business development support.

Activities include value addition, branding, digital marketing and strengthening linkages to markets and institutions to enhance women’s economic visibility and bargaining power.

Community Engagement and Gender Equality

Community-level advocacy is a core pillar of the programme.

The initiative promotes shared decision-making, gender equality and the active engagement of men and community leaders as allies in supporting women’s economic participation.

Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods

Given Gilgit’s environmental context, the programme emphasizes green, sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods.

Women are supported to contribute to culturally rooted value chains that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Budget Range

Proposals submitted under this initiative must fall within the approved budget range.

The minimum budget is PKR 22,476,000, and the maximum allowable budget is PKR 25,285,500.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Applications are open to nationally registered and reputed Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) based in Gilgit.

Eligible organizations must have at least five years of experience in women’s economic empowerment and gender mainstreaming programmes.

Consortium Applications

Consortium applications are permitted under specific conditions.

Only CSOs may act as the lead organization and contractual Responsible Party with UN Women, and clear documentation outlining governance, financial management, technical oversight and roles of all consortium members is required.

Organizational Capacity Requirements

The Responsible Party must demonstrate the capacity to manage large-scale training programmes involving at least 1,000 participants.

Organizations must have a valid MoU or No Objection Certificate from EAD or relevant provincial authorities and proven outreach capacity across Gilgit district.

Safeguarding and Compliance Standards

Applicants must demonstrate strong commitment to UN Women’s Leaving No One Behind principle and gender mainstreaming.

A robust Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, Harassment, Discrimination and Abuse of Authority (PSEAH) policy with survivor-centered reporting and complaint mechanisms is mandatory.

Additional Desirable Competencies

While not mandatory, certain competencies strengthen an application.

These include the ability to deliver training and mentorship in local languages and prior experience working with UN agencies or international development partners.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations must submit a detailed proposal aligned with the programme objectives, budget range and eligibility criteria.

Supporting documentation must include organizational credentials, safeguarding policies, consortium agreements if applicable and evidence of required approvals.

Common Tips for Applicants

Applicants should clearly demonstrate how proposed activities will reach marginalized women and address structural barriers.

Strong proposals link skills development with market access, collective action and community-level gender transformation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who will benefit from this programme?

The initiative targets 500 women and girls in Gilgit district, with explicit inclusion of women with disabilities, minorities and transgender individuals.

What types of livelihoods are supported?

Supported livelihoods include agriculture, livestock, traditional embroidery, wool products, handicrafts, artisanal crafts and tourism-related value chains.

What is the required budget range?

Proposals must have a total budget between PKR 22,476,000 and PKR 25,285,500.

Can international NGOs apply?

No. Only nationally registered Civil Society Organizations based in Gilgit are eligible to apply as lead organizations.

Are consortium applications allowed?

Yes, but only CSOs can serve as the lead and contractual Responsible Party, with clear governance and role documentation required.

Are safeguarding policies mandatory?

Yes. Applicants must have and enforce a PSEAH policy aligned with UN Women’s corporate standards.

Is prior experience with UN agencies required?

No, but prior experience working with UN agencies or international development partners is considered an asset.

Why This Initiative Matters

The Catalyzing Economic Growth for Women initiative addresses deep-rooted economic and social barriers faced by women in Gilgit.

By combining livelihood development, gender equality advocacy and climate resilience, the programme supports inclusive local development and sustainable economic transformation.

Conclusion

This UN Women–funded initiative offers a significant opportunity for qualified CSOs to drive inclusive economic empowerment in Gilgit district. Organizations with strong gender expertise, local presence and capacity to deliver large-scale programmes are encouraged to apply and contribute to lasting, women-led economic growth.