(United Nations, New York) UN Women Executive Director, Michelle Bachelet yesterday announced US$12.5 million in grants for 39 new grantees of the Fund for Gender Equality.

The grassroots organisations selected are working on programmes ranging from the creation of women’s business cooperatives in Ethiopia, to efforts to improve social protection for migrant women in Vietnam, to training women candidates for the upcoming elections in Mongolia, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.
Other strategies to advance economic and political empowerment will be supported across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and Central Asia. Earlier this year, funds were disbursed to grantees in the Arab States Region.
The Fund for Gender Equality is the only global fund exclusively dedicated to women’s economic and political empowerment. It awards multi-year grants starting at US$200,000 directly to women’s organisations and governmental partners that improve the lives of women and girls.
Since its inception in 2009, the Fund has invested a total of US$55.5 million to 94 programmes in 71 countries.
However, demand remains high, and needs remain unmet. This year alone the Fund received 901 proposals for a total of more than US$481.3 million.
“Women’s political and economic participation is not a luxury; it is a fundamental requirement for a prospering economy and a thriving democracy. The Fund’s grantees work hard and show us what works to make women’s empowerment a reality,” said Ms. Bachelet. “We need more funding so that more women can enjoy political and economic opportunities and make greater contributions to their societies,” she added.
The Fund was created with an initial contribution of US$65 million from the Government of Spain, and has since expanded with contributions from Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and individual donors.
More information on the Fund for Gender Equality is available at www.unwomen.org/fge/.