Women-Led Collective Action Across Somalia
About CEF
The Civic Engagement Facility (CEF), supported by Sweden and Denmark, aims to expand civic space amplify civic voices, and catalyze collective action. It does so by facilitating greater collaboration among public institutions, civil society, and the private sector around issues that matter to Somali communities. Through catalytic funding, CEF supports initiatives that strengthen civic networks, promote inclusive and innovative channels for civic engagement, and facilitate constructive dialogue between citizens and decision makers.
Opportunity Description
This funding opportunity supports women-led collective action across Somalia. CEF recognizes that women are already active civic actors who organize, mobilize resources, build networks, and work collectively to address issues affecting their lives and communities. It seeks to strengthen women-led collective action that enables women to amplify their civic voice, engage constructively with decision-makers, promote greater accountability, and contribute to more inclusive governance.
The opportunity promotes locally led, inclusive, adaptive, and conflict-sensitive approaches. Rather than prescribing thematic priorities or specific approaches, CEF encourages applicants to identify the issues, partnerships, and forms of collective action most relevant to their contexts, with particular emphasis on collaboration, local ownership, resource mobilization, inclusion, and sustainable impact.
Objectives of the Opportunity
CEF seeks initiatives that contribute to:
Women-led collective action and problem-solving by enabling women to organize, collaborate, mobilize resources, and jointly design and implement practical solutions to priorities they identify.
Stronger women's networks, partnerships, and collective influence through collaboration, learning, alliance-building, knowledge exchange, and constructive engagement at community, sub-national, and national levels.
Local ownership, resource mobilization, and sustainability by strengthening community ownership, mobilizing locally available resources, and building the foundations for collective action that continues beyond the period of CEF support.
The Process
Submission of Concept Notes
Concept Notes must be submitted electronically through the CEF Submission Portal. Email submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants must use the information provided under Annex I – Concept Note Format and Content Requirements when preparing their submission.
Concept Notes must not exceed eight (8) PowerPoint slides, excluding annexes. Templates are available on the portal.
Two-Step Grant Application Process
This funding opportunity follows a two-step grant application process.
Step One includes the submission and evaluation of Concept Notes. The highest-ranked applicants will then undergo a Due Diligence and Capacity Assessment (DDCA).
Step Two begins with an invitation to shortlisted applicants who successfully complete the DDCA to develop a full proposal. This is followed by proposal review and a collaborative co-design process with the CEF team to refine the intervention, implementation approach, and results framework before the grant is awarded.
Clarifications (if required)
CEF may request additional information or clarification from shortlisted applicants during the evaluation process where necessary.
Selection and Notification
Following the evaluation, presentations, DDCA, proposal development, and co-design process, successful applicants will be notified and invited to enter into a grant agreement. Applicants who are not successful will also be informed of the outcome.
Who can apply:
CEF invites Concept Notes from:
Somali women-led organizations
Women's networks
Women's associations
Women's cooperatives
Community-based organizations
Other women-led civic actors
Applications may be submitted by individual organizations or consortia. All lead applicants must be Somali women-led organizations.
Minimum Requirements:
Applicants must:
Be registered as a legal entity in Somalia.
Be compliant with applicable tax obligations.
Ensure that the applicant and any consortium partners are not listed on United Nations Security Council or European Union sanctions lists.
Duration & Award Type
Performance Period: October 2026 – September 2028
Award Type: Milestone-Based Grant (or another grant modality as determined through the DDCA)
Funding Ceiling: USD 1,800,000 total, with up to two awards of USD 900,000 each.
Key Dates:
Application Submission Deadline: 19 August, 2026 at 17:00 EAT
Submit your application via the CEF Submission Portal using the available templates before the deadline. Click here to watch the tutorial video on how to submit your application
*Please note, all templates necessary for your submission are also present on the CEF Submission Portal*
Virtual Pre-Bid Session : 6 August 2026 at 10:00 AM EAT
Submit clarification questions by: 7 August 2026 at 5:00 PM EAT
Answers to clarification questions plus pre-bid presentation deck will be posted here on 9 August, 2026.
Support for Technical Challenges
If you experience technical challenges during submission, or need to update a submitted proposal before the deadline, please email:
procurement@somalicef.org
and copy:
Please ensure requests are submitted at least 4 hours before the submission deadline, as reopening requests will not be accepted during the final 4 hours before the deadline.
If you have clarification questions about this specific opportunity, please contact CEF via:
Please note:
Check deadline for submitting clarification questions above before you proceed. CEF does NOT accept submissions by email. All proposals must be submitted through our portal.