UNDP-Spain MDG Achievement Fund

Terms of Reference for Thematic Window on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

A Request for Proposals (RfP) by the MDG-F thematic window for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment was launched on April 26, 2007. The RfP closed on 8 June. Of the 57 eligible UN Country Teams, 53 submitted a proposal amounting to some $410 million. The proposals submitted to the window were reviewed by the Technical Sub Committee for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment over the period 10 June to 20 July. The Committee was convened by Ms. Winnie Byanyima, the Director of UNDP’s Gender Team. It included representatives of INSTRAW, UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNICEF, the World Bank as well as five independent experts and two experts nominated by the Government of Spain.

The Technical Sub Committee (TSC) for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment assessed 13 proposals as suitable for support by the MDG-F. The combined value of these 13 proposals was $102 million. 27 other proposals were rated as unsuitable in their present form but worthy of resubmission to a future RfP and 13 proposals were assessed as unsuitable under the current TOR of the thematic window. All applicants received written feedback from the Convenor of the Committee on their proposal.

The recommendations of the TSC were reviewed by the Fund’s Steering Committee at its meeting on 26 July, 2007. All of the proposals recommended as suitable by the TSC were endorsed by the Steering Committee. A list of the approved proposals, which includes an indicative budget for each, can be viewed on-line clicking here. UN Country Teams submitted their detailed Joint Programme documents which were reviewed by the MDG-F Secretariat with the support of various independent experts. 5 Joint Programme documents have been sent back to the Country Teams with recommendations and adjustments to be made prior to their approval. As of January 2009 the 13 Joint Programmes have been approved –Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Palestinian territories, Vietnam and Timor-Leste - with a total budget of $90 million out of a $90 million envelope.

Please note this thematic windows is currently closed to applications