WomenStrong International is inviting expressions of interest from grassroots organisations led by women in eight Francophone West African countries. The opportunity combines flexible multi-year unrestricted financing with tailored organisational strengthening and peer learning. Its purpose is not simply to pay for a new short-term project: it is designed to help locally rooted organisations withstand funding cuts, diversify income and strengthen their ability to act on priorities they identify themselves.
Grant at a glance
- Geography: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo
- Funding: Up to US$50,000 per year in flexible, multi-year unrestricted funding
- Application deadline: 1 December 2026
- Access route: Open expression of interest; shortlisted organisations enter a partnership assessment
What the fund supports
WomenStrong says selected partners may receive up to US$50,000 per year rather than a single pooled grant of that size. The support can be used for agreed organisational priorities such as financial sustainability, systems, leadership wellbeing and resilient programming. Grantees also join a Learning Lab where peers exchange approaches. The funder does not promise every qualifying organisation an award. An expression of interest is an initial screening stage, not a signed grant contract.
Who can apply
The call names Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Applicant organisations must be locally registered nonprofits, led by women who hold most leadership positions, governed locally, and led by nationals based in their operating country. Annual budgets must be below US$1 million. Importantly, applicants must already have more than one donor and at least two staff members or volunteers. Those restrictions should be checked before time is spent drafting.
How to prepare a credible proposal
A credible expression of interest will show the organisation’s local roots, the problems women and girls face, its strongest evidence of work already delivered and the pressures affecting its long-term financial health. Rather than listing every activity, the applicant should identify two or three practical capacity priorities. For example, a women-led service provider facing highly restricted donor grants could explain how it would improve revenue diversification, grant cost recovery or reliable finance controls while protecting its core work.
Application steps and deadline
Start at WomenStrong’s official grantmaking page and follow its call for Expressions of Interest for Francophone West Africa. The source announcement, published 6 October 2026, provides forms in French and English. Prepare the registration details, governance information, annual budget, number of donors, workforce size and a concise description of women-centred work. The published information session is on 2 November 2026 at 15:00 West Africa Time. The EOI deadline is 1 December 2026.
Eligibility and budget risks
Unrestricted does not mean unconditional: the grant agreement and the recipient’s applicable local legal and financial rules still matter. The call’s eligibility requirements make this unsuitable for newly formed groups with a single funder or organisations that operate through an external board without local governance. An applicant should present its existing funding mix accurately, not classify anticipated donor conversations as income. Provide verifiable figures and distinguish commitments from donations received.
Illustrative project approach
Consider a registered women-led organisation in Senegal that has several existing donors, runs documented gender-responsive livelihoods projects, and wants to strengthen its operating reserves and diversify revenue. It could present a sustainability plan linking improved financial reporting, staff development and a small earned-income test to its women’s economic empowerment mission. This is an illustration of how to frame a strong EOI, not a claim that the example would be selected.
Application readiness checklist
- Confirm legal, geographic and applicant-type eligibility against the official call.
- Collect evidence of previous work and get required letters or registrations before submission.
- Build an itemised budget that matches the proposed activities and funding ceiling.
- Describe specific outcomes, indicators, responsible people and a feasible timeline.
- Submit through the published channel and save the confirmation before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Is the funding restricted to new projects?
No. The fund describes the support as flexible and unrestricted, subject to grant terms.
Can a Kenya-based organisation apply?
Not under this specific call, which names eight Francophone West African countries.
Is registration necessary?
Yes. The current WomenStrong EOI requires nonprofit registration in the operating country.
Does a single existing donor satisfy the requirements?
No. Applicants must have more than one donor when applying.
When do EOIs close?
1 December 2026.
Conclusion
This opportunity is best approached after checking the eligibility requirements, evidence and reporting obligations. Read the official funder guidance and application instructions before submitting. Information verified on 24 October 2026; funders may revise procedures or close application windows.
For additional organisation-level preparation, use the Africads Funding Readiness Toolkit to identify material gaps before committing to an application.
