The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has opened applications for Cycle 6 of the Gender Empowerment Now! – Women, Peace and Security Programme. This initiative invites NGO representatives, gender practitioners, and independent activists working on gender equality, peacebuilding, and development to strengthen their capacity to design and deliver gender-responsive training programmes.

The application deadline is 20 March 2026 (11:59 p.m. EAT, UTC+3).

The programme aims to empower professionals across civil society organizations by equipping them with practical skills to promote gender equality, mainstream gender perspectives in institutional frameworks, and implement impactful community initiatives.

Programme Background

The Gender Empowerment Now! programme has been implemented since 2021 and has trained more than 220 professionals from government institutions and civil society organizations throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Supported by the Cyprus, the initiative has engaged participants from:

Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia

Cycle 6 will expand the programme’s reach while continuing to focus on practical training and community-level impact in gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

Apply gender mainstreaming principles within institutions and community initiatives.
Cascade knowledge and build local capacity for gender equality.
Plan and facilitate participatory workshops for community engagement.
Develop training materials and monitor the impact of gender-focused initiatives.

Programme Structure

The programme consists of three major phases designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical implementation.

Training of Trainers (April–May 2026)

Participants will attend four to six structured online workshops conducted by UNITAR. Key topics include:

Participatory training design and facilitation methods
Designing gender-responsive community initiatives
Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of training programmes
Strategies for localization, sustainability, and community engagement

Community-Level Implementation (July–August 2026)

After completing the training, each participant will organize and facilitate an in-person community workshop in their country for 15–20 participants.

These workshops will aim to:

Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment
Strengthen local capacity for gender mainstreaming
Encourage community engagement in gender-inclusive development

Participants will prepare training manuals and produce reports documenting workshop outcomes, including photos, testimonies, and lessons learned. Financial support will be provided to assist with organizing these workshops.

Reflection and Reporting (September 2026)

Participants will take part in reflection sessions to review their experiences, discuss challenges and successes, and consolidate knowledge gained during the programme.

Each participant will submit a comprehensive report outlining:

Best practices and lessons learned
Workshop outcomes and impact
Recommendations for future programme cycles

Eligibility Criteria

The programme is open to gender practitioners working in civil society organizations in the MENA region who meet the following requirements:

Active engagement in gender equality, women’s rights, or girls’ empowerment
Affiliation with an organization capable of institutionalizing gender mainstreaming
Strong motivation to share knowledge and build community capacity

Applicants must also:

Be 28–45 years old
Be fluent in Arabic (spoken and written)
Demonstrate knowledge of gender equality or gender mainstreaming
Have worked with the same organization for at least two years
Hold a role related to programme implementation, advocacy, policy, or training
Have experience or strong potential in training and facilitation
Be able to apply gender mainstreaming in their organization and train others
Be available for all programme sessions and follow-up activities

Preference will be given to applicants affiliated with women’s rights organizations or organizations where women’s and girls’ rights are a core focus.

Selected participants must secure a letter of support from their organization or a local partner confirming their willingness to host the community workshop.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including:

Demonstrated expertise in gender equality
Institutional role and potential for community impact
Experience in training and facilitation
Motivation and commitment to knowledge sharing

Final selections will ensure balanced representation across participating MENA countries.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit their applications through the online application form (in Arabic).

Key details:

Application deadline: 20 March 2026 (11:59 p.m. EAT, UTC+3)
Application language: Arabic
Notification: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

About UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) serves as the training and capacity-building arm of the United Nations. The institute delivers innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide.

In 2023 alone, UNITAR trained approximately 550,000 learners globally, supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development, peace, and inclusive societies.

UNITAR operates globally with offices in:

Geneva
Hiroshima
New York City
Bonn

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the programme. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.