Belgrade, 14 April 2021 - Recognising the importance of SOS helplines for support to women who are exposed to violence, the Coordination Body for Gender Equality and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia are launching a call for proposals for granting funds to civil society organisations (CSO) that provide this service.

The goal of the call is to ensure continuity in the provision of support to women who are exposed to violence via SOS lines, as well as to tailor these services to the needs of their beneficiaries in the course of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Women who experience domestic and intimate partner violence often need to talk and consult with someone they can trust and who will trust them, before they decide to report the violence to institutions. Precisely that kind of trust, along with information on how to protect themselves from violence and empowerment programmes upon surviving violence, is provided to women by civil society organisations via SOS lines.

SOS helplines are of particular importance in the course of long-lasting crisis situations, such as the COVID-19 epidemic, when due to unsafety, limited contacts and limited access of women to institution, there is an increased risk of escalation of domestic and intimate partner violence. On the other hand, civil society organisations often face lack of funds required for the continuous provision of this support.

Civil society organisation may apply to this call with their project proposals focused on:

1.        Legal advising and psychological support via SOS helpline to their beneficiaries - survivors of violence, including survivors of sexual violence and rape;

2.      Empowering women who survived intimate partner violence;

3.      Adapting the approach in the operation of the SOS helpline in crisis circumstances such as the COVID-19 epidemic;

4.      Informing on domestic and intimate partner violence against women.

Project proposals may be submitted by civil society organisations providing specialized services of SOS support to women exposed to violence, via telephone, or electronically - through on-line communication platforms, emails and similar solutions in order to provide them with anonymous consultations and information about their rights, connect with other services and empower women.

The total value of individual project proposals may be up to USD 5,000. The projects may last from 3 to 6 months, and should be implemented by 15 December 2021.

Detailed call terms, application forms and instruction for their completion are available in Serbian on this link.

Civil society organisations should submit their applications, as well as any questions in regards the call to the following email address: grants.vaw@undp.org.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 28 April 2021 until 17:00 hours.

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The call is launched within the Project “Integrated Response to the Violence Against Women and Girls in Serbia III”, which is, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and Coordination Body for Gender Equality being jointly implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA with the support of the Government of Sweden. This initiative is focused on the development of a social and institutional environment that contributes to zero tolerance and eradication of the violence against women and girls in Serbia.