The China Gender Facility (CGF) was set up in September 2004 by the UN China Theme Group on Gender (UNTGG) with the objective of advancing gender equality and women\'s empowerment in China.[1] The CGF operates within the context of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) an international framework for protecting women’s rights. The overall goal of the facility is to contribute to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals and the reduction of gender inequalities in China, in line with relevant international conventions and agreements.[2]

Since its inception, the CGF has been providing support for strategic action and generating models of good practices on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The CGF has contributed to broadening awareness and understanding of gender equality issues and concerns, advocating for gender responsive policies and laws, promoting women’s access to services and develop sustainable capacities for continued progress on gender equality. Grantees, comprising government and non-governmental organizations, have engaged diverse actors, such as policy makers, academe, women’s and rights based organizations, indigenous communities, and the media.

The CGF awards grants through an open and competitive process. The Facility provides grants of up to 30,000 USD to government, local and national civil society organisations and academic institutions in mainland China to fund innovative and catalytic proposals that support research on contemporary gender issues, and/or advocacy and dialogue leading to integration of gender into Chinese development plans, policies and programmes.

The CGF is supported by UN Agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, WHO, UNAIDS and UNIFEM), and bilateral donors (AusAID, CIDA, SIDA and France).

The fifth call for proposals will focus on the realization of women’s human rights through effective implementation of CEDAW. Priority will be given to the following themes:

The proposals may include, but are not limited to:

(1)   Action-Related Research on persisting and emerging issues of gender discrimination, to provide evidence for development interventions and policy decisions.

·         These projects may be directly linked up with the adoption/revision of a national/regional policies and laws. The research will help build justification for the inclusion of gender consideration in policy/law making, and develop tools for advocacy.

(2)   Gender-Sensitivity Training for government and non-government institutions.

·         This will enhance the ability of personnel to promote gender mainstreaming in policy making and intervention actions, to respond to gender discrimination, understand its causes and consequences, and develop and implement policies to combat it. Training can involve groups such as emergency workers, civil servants and officials in government departments, law enforcement officers and legal practitioners, health care providers, and social and education workers, and media employees.

(3)   Awareness Raising and Advocacy on gender that aim to enhance the government’s responsibility for promoting gender equality.

·         Examples include expanding public understanding about specific gender issues, e.g. violence against women and girls, and women’s unpaid work; working with the media; educating communities on how to demand government action to eliminate discrimination against women; publications including books, brochures, and organization of conferences, workshops and seminars.

Proposals must address specific issues and problems that occur:

·         In the national context, which affect multiple regions in the country;

·         Within a specific region or province, but have implications for other regions or provinces;

·         In a local community, directly impacting the lives of men and women living in the community and providing opportunities for awareness raising and advocacy.

 

Actions must take place in the People’s Republic of China.

The recommended duration of the projects supported by the CGF is 18 months from the time of the grant approval to the conclusion of the contract.

 

The recommended ceiling for budget requests is USD 30,000.

 

Applications can be submitted by an organization or jointly by two or more legally constituted organizations which fall under any of the following categories:

·         Non-governmental organizations

·         Community-based groups

·         Central or local governmental agencies

·         Educational and academic institutions

·         National or local institutions affiliated with government departments

·         National or local associations

·         Unions

 

Proposals submitted by individuals or by organizations without legal status will not be accepted.

 

In cases where two or more organisations jointly submit a proposal, it should be clearly stated which organisation represents the applicant and takes legal responsibility for administering and implementing the project.

The deadline for submission of applications is 18:00, 31 August 2010. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

 

Applications should be submitted in Chinese. An accompanying English translation is desirable, but not required. Please send proposals by e-mail, clearly labelled ‘China Gender Facility 5^th Call for Proposals’ to: unifem_china@unifem.org.

Project selection shall be made by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), composed of CGF donors under the UNTGG. TAC welcomes proposals that apply innovative and/or catalytic approaches to respond to acute, persisting and emerging gender issues in China which require immediate action. The selection criterion requires proposals:

·         Take a human rights-based and gender-responsive approach;

·         Address gender equality issues, responding to identified local needs;

·         Include a policy advocacy component;

·         Demonstrate the applicant’s institutional capacity and credentials;

·         Apply participatory planning processes and bring together various and strategic partners;

·         Build the capacity of target beneficiaries;

·         Incorporate a clear implementation plan that illustrates the project’s sustainability.

Please check the attachment to download the Operational Guidelines, Assessment Criteria, and the Application Form. 

For further information, please contact Mr. Ma Leijun at UNIFEM China in Beijing: