The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is accepting applications for its 16th grant cycle (2011). Proposals will be accepted from government authorities, civil society organizations and networks — including non-governmental, women’s and community-based organizations and coalitions, and operational research institutions — and UN Country Teams (in partnership with governments and civil society organizations).
 
The 2011 UN Trust Fund Call invites proposals in the following areas of action:

1. Closing the gap on the implementation of national and local laws, policies and action plans that address violence against women
2. Addressing violence against women in conflict, post-conflict and transitional settings

Applicants are invited to submit grant proposals for a minimum of US$100,000 up to a maximum of US$1 million for a period of two to three years. The application deadline is 19 January 2012. The complete Call for Proposals detailing criteria, eligibility requirements and application guidelines is available at: http://www.unwomen.org/how-we-work/un-trust-fund/application-guidelines/ or via the UN Women homepage.

UN-HABITAT and UNDP have signed a Letter of Agreement to partner in a project under the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) GoAL-WASH programme to enhance pro-poor water governance in Lao PDR. The project will be a joint programme between the two agencies and in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT).

The agreement, signed in November 2011, aims to assist MPWT in preparing a National Water Supply Sector Strategy and establish a database of designs of water treatment plants of various capacities. The project is expected to strengthen the water sector through improved sector coordination and planning, as well as leading to an increase of cost-effective investments in water supply for small towns. The outcome will be an improvement in the access, quality and reliability of the water supply and sanitation services.

Read more about the programme

Photo: UN-HABITAT/Eeva Nyyssonen