Closed
Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations
Funding to advance women’s role in peace operations
Last Update: April 21, 2026
Funding available
$ 100,000 - $ 1,500,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Canada
Overview
The Elsie Initiative Fund supports up to USD 1,500,000 for projects that increase women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations. It also funds barrier assessments and gender-strong unit premiums for troop- and police-contributing countries and UN organizations.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 5% of project cost
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Public administration
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Civic and Advocacy Organizations
- International Activities
- Not Elsewhere Classified
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Women & girls
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Community leaders
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- International
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Barrier assessments on women’s participation in peace operations
- Projects to remove barriers identified through assessment
- Deployment of gender-strong units
- Pilot projects to improve women peacekeepers’ working and living conditions
Documents Needed
- Letter of Interest (LOI) template
- LOI explainer
- Barrier assessment report, if applicable
- Project proposal or detailed proposal, if applicable
- Signed PDF and Word versions of the LOI
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Troop- and police-contributing countries
- United Nations organizations
- United Nations peacekeeping missions for flexible project funding
Who is not eligible
- Civil society organizations applying independently
- Military and police institutions applying through one joint assessment
- United Nations missions for barrier assessment or GSU premium funding
Eligible expenses
- Barrier assessment costs
- Project activities to address identified barriers
- Deployment premium for gender-strong units
- Costs linked to improving women’s working or living conditions in peace operations
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects that do not align with EIF outcomes
- Flexible project funding without a completed credible barrier assessment
- Requesting all three funding types in one application
- Partial unit deployments for GSU premiums
Eligible geographic areas
- Troop- and police-contributing countries worldwide
- United Nations organizations and missions involved in peace operations
Processing and Agreement
- LOIs are reviewed after the submission deadline.
- Selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals.
- Proposals undergo technical review and feedback from EIF bodies.
- Final approval is made by the Steering Committee.
- Funding is disbursed after required agreements are signed.
Additional information
- Separate applications are required for military and police institutions.
- For this round, each country may submit only one military LOI and one police LOI.
- LOIs must use the EIF templates and annexes.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations?
The Elsie Initiative Fund supports up to USD 1,500,000 for projects that increase women’s meaningful participation in UN peace operations. It also funds barrier assessments and gender-strong unit premiums for troop- and police-contributing countries and UN organizations.
How much funding can be received?
Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations Funds up to 5% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations program?
To be eligible for the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations program, you must:
Must support one EIF outcome.
Barrier assessment needed for project funding.
Uses credible assessment method.
What expenses are eligible under Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations?
Barrier assessments on women’s participation in peace operations
Projects to remove barriers identified through assessment
Deployment of gender-strong units
Pilot projects to improve women peacekeepers’ working and living conditions
Who can I contact for more information about the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations?
You can contact Diverse Citi Athletic Foundation (DCAF) by email at elsie.mptf@unwomen.org.
Where is the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations available?
The Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations program is available across Canada.
Is the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations is a Researchers And Facilities