The United Nations Democracy Fund invites civil society organizations to apply for funding for projects to advance and support democracy during the annual proposal window, which is open only from 15 November to 31 December at www.un.org/democracyfund. Only on-line proposals during this period, in either English or French, will be accepted.

UNDEF projects are two years long.  Applicants can request a grant of  a minimum of 100,000 US dollars and a maximum of 300,000 US dollars.

• Community Activism
• Rule of Law and Human Rights
• Tools for Knowledge
• Women’s Empowerment
• Youth Engagement
• Media and Freedom of Information
• Strengthening Interaction with Government 

2. Long List

Proposals are subjected to a thorough process of assessment, quality control and due diligence. An initial examination by a team of independent assessors is conducted, a process in which all applications are judged on their inherent quality and scored according to the following criteria:

• The project promotes the objectives of UNDEF
• The project draws on the United Nations comparative advantage
• The project will have a significant impact
• The project will encourage inclusiveness
• The project will enhance gender equality
• The project has strong prospects for successful implementation
• The applicant organization has a strong track record
• The project is technically sound in conception and presentation
• The project represents good value for money
• The project has strong prospects of sustainability beyond the project duration.
• The UNDEF team then narrows down the list to 200-300 of the highest scoring projects. In doing so, the global and regional projects is considered separately from the various national project proposals and are considered within the respective global and regional baskets.

3. Short-List

The long list produced by the  team of independent assessors is then examined by the Fund’s Programme Consultative Group - comprising the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Development Programme, the UN Development Fund for Women and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime - in consultation with United Nations Resident Coordinators in the field. 

4. UNDEF Board

The Programme Consultative Group review yields a short list which is reviewed by the UNDEF Advisory Board -- comprising Governments, civil society and individuals. 

5. UN Secretary-General 

The final short list is then submitted to the UN Secretary-General for approval, usually in May or June.

6. Project Document

Once the short list is approved by the Secretary-General, the proposal moves into the final stage in the selection process: the negotiation of a project document, which is in effect the contract between UNDEF and the grantee.  This negotiation requires the applicant to provide a more elaborated project design, and involves detailed input from both UNDEF and the applicant, as well as scrutiny and due diligence enquiries by UNDEF.  Only upon successful conclusion of the project document, and its approval by the United Nations Controller, will the project proposal formally be approved for funds disbursement. This can be expected to happen in September at the earliest.