Apply for the Search for Common Ground Rapid Response Fund for women, peace, and security projects(Grants of up to $250,000)

The SHE WINS Rapid Response Fund (RRF) is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis with no set deadline. This funding opportunity is open to local women-led groups in several countries, providing essential support to women peacebuilders.

Eligible Countries

Women-led groups based in the following countries can apply: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte D’Ivoire, Croatia, the Dominican Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Venezuela, the West Bank and Gaza, and Zimbabwe.

Eligibility Criteria

The SHE WINS RRF supports projects that allow women peacebuilders to respond swiftly to urgent changes in their environments. Funding is aimed primarily at local women-led or women-serving groups, with rare exceptions for international organizations. Applicants must either already possess a Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov or be willing to secure this registration.

Applicants may submit only one application at a time. If an application is unsuccessful, you can reapply with a different project that meets the criteria. However, cost extensions of past or existing projects are not eligible. If you have previously received RRF support and completed your project, you can apply again, provided it’s for a different initiative. Priority is given to highly strategic and impactful initiatives in the field of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), ensuring funds are distributed across a wide range of organizations and countries.

The RRF cannot fund projects involving or targeting security forces or those intended to support individuals (such as for emergency assistance or travel to conferences). Ineligible expenses include proselytizing activities, support for individuals, vehicle purchases, entertainment, and other costs specified in the full call for proposals.

Funds can be used to hire consultants, provide technical assistance to government agencies or strategic partners, and support projects with specific short-term gains. Local and women-led organizations are prioritized. In certain contexts, technical or logistical challenges may require funds to be administered through international NGOs (INGOs).

Quick Eligibility Checklist

Before applying, ensure your project meets these criteria:

• Is your organization women-led or women-serving?
• Does your project address a time-sensitive need or opportunity that arose in the past few months and requires action within the next 6–12 months?
• Does your project focus on at least two of the following areas?
  • Women’s involvement in ongoing or local peace processes
  • Immediate gender-based needs of women in conflict situations
  • Increasing women’s political participation, alongside another WPS priority area
• Will your project have measurable outcomes by the end of implementation?
• I certify that the proposed intervention does not directly involves or target security forces, is solely to support individuals for emergency assistance, individual travel to conferences, professional development opportunities, proselytizing activities, vehicles, entertainment, and other ineligible costs as detailed in the call for proposals (Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, French).

Apply

Before starting, please read the full call for proposals (Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, French).

Applicants should email WINS-RRF@sfcg.org with a completed application form (Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, French) and budget (Arabic, English, Russian, Spanish, French). Within two weeks, an initial screen will assess whether you meet technical criteria and within two months you will receive a final decision on your application.