The Nigerian Women Trust Fund has opened its 2026 Call for Grant Applications, inviting eligible organizations to submit proposals for projects that strengthen institutions, promote women’s voices, advance rights, and help end violence against women and girls across Nigeria. The announcement, made on November 26, 2025, states that the application process is now open to groups working within these focus areas. According to the Fund, the call is part of its ongoing commitment to support women-led efforts that address inequality and harmful practices affecting women and girls.
NWTF is a non-profit organization dedicated to closing gender gaps in governance and improving women’s leadership and political participation. Over the years, NWTF has implemented several national projects such as Create Her Space, She Should Contest, Start Early, Ascend! Young Women Leaders Project, Creating Spaces, the EU–SDGN #OurVoteCountsNG project, Towards Inclusive Governance in Nigeria, and the Gender and Accountability Project. The organization noted that it maintains a nonpartisan position while promoting inclusion, equity, and the elimination of all forms of gender-based discrimination and violence.
The Fund announced that the 2026 grant represents the sixth edition of its project focused on gender-based violence and institutional strengthening. NWTF said the initiative is designed to support women-led groups operating across all six geopolitical zones. The main goal of the grant is to help organizations implement interventions that push for the eradication of gender-based violence while also boosting the leadership and institutional capacity of groups advocating for women’s rights. In its statement, NWTF said this approach reflects its commitment to advancing gender equality and supporting long-term, positive change across communities.
The objectives of the grant include strengthening the effectiveness of women-led and women-focused organizations through capacity building, mentorship and better institutional systems. It also aims to promote understanding and practice of women’s leadership and inclusion, while showcasing their contributions to community development. Another objective is to support advocacy that challenges harmful cultural norms and pushes for policy reforms that protect women’s rights.
The project will run for four months, from January to April 2026. Applicants are required to download all proposal templates and guidance documents through the provided Google Drive link (drive.google.com/drive/folders/1v8HfWMDv7-cMoaHVnfpds5X6JPW3qzLj?usp=sharing) and must submit completed applications by December 12, 2025 to grants@womenfund.org.
Eligible organizations must be gender-focused, registered as local NGOs or CBOs for at least two years and demonstrate functional administrative, financial and human resource systems. NWTF encourages applications from women-led groups, organizations serving Persons with Disabilities and groups in hard-to-reach areas.
