Eligibility Criteria

What does the ONSIDE Fund mean by ‘girls, women, and non-binary persons from systemically oppressed and marginalised communities’?

• The ONSIDE Fund aims to support girls, women, and non-binary persons from systemically oppressed and marginalised communities. This could include but is not limited to: LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, Black people, people of colour and/or racialised people, Roma people, people in rural communities, people in marginalised urban communities, homeless people, sex workers, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and internally displaced people, youth, elderly, people affected by the caste system, and other social, political or religious minorities.​
  
  Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and we encourage applicants from or working with other marginalised communities to apply for funding.

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What does the ONSIDE Fund mean by clearly led by girls, women, and/or non-binary persons?

• For groups, collectives and organisations in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, this means that girls, women, and/or non-binary persons hold at least 75% of leadership positions or represent 75% of those in active decision-making. For groups, collectives and organisations in the MENA region, this means that girls, women, and/or non-binary persons hold at least 60% of leadership positions or represent at least 60% of those in active decision-making. Please note that while the leadership criteria is more flexible for applicants in the MENA region, priority will be given to those clearly led by girls, women, and/or non-binary persons.
  
  In the case of groups working at the intersection of disability, gender justice, and sport, priority will be given to those clearly led by girls, women, and/or non-binary persons with disabilities in all their diversity or where they are meaningfully involved in leadership and decision-making.

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What does the ONSIDE Fund mean by ‘governed by feminist principles and practices’?

• The ONSIDE Fund recognises that feminism is understood differently across regions, countries, and communities, and there are multiple and diverse forms of feminism. We are also aware that, in some contexts, openly identifying as feminist might pose a risk to the safety of girls, women, and/or non-binary people. For these reasons, we ask applicants to focus on their own definition of feminism, including the principles and practices that guide their work, and how it is informed by the contexts and communities they are part of and/or support.

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How does the ONSIDE Fund define disability?

• The ONSIDE Fund defines disability in accordance with  the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD). According to the UN-CRPD, ‘persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.’ We recognise that the definition of disability varies according to each country’s unique context, and we do not restrict our understanding to the legal definitions used in the regions where we provide funding. As such, we encourage applicants representing a range of disabilities, in line with the UN-CRPD, to apply, even if their disabilities are not legally recognised in their local contexts.

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We are  a group of girls, women, and/or non-binary persons with different types of disabilities. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. We aim to support girls, women, and non-binary people with disabilities in all their diversity, including those with invisible, less visible and/or underrepresented disabilities.

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We are a group led by women, girls and non-binary persons with disabilities, but we are not based in any of the priority regions. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. However, please keep in mind we will prioritise applicants from Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, in line with the regional priorities indicated above.

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Why are the eligibility criteria slightly different for applicants from the MENA region?

• In response to a low number of applications from the MENA region in the first call for proposals, the ONSIDE Fund decided to collaborate with a group of consultants with deep regional knowledge and expertise to develop a bespoke grant-making and outreach strategy for MENA. As a result, the ONSIDE MENA sub-fund was launched in 2022. The eligibility criteria from the first call for proposals were adapted in line with the insights gathered by the group of consultants and in close discussion with the ONSIDE MENA Advisory Committee in an effort to better respond to the specific needs and priorities of girls, women, and non-binary persons in the region.

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We are a group led by cis men. Can we still apply?

• Unfortunately, you cannot apply. In line with its mission and vision, the ONSIDE Fund supports groups, collectives and organisations clearly led by girls, women, and/or non-binary people.

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Which countries are considered to be part of the Middle and North Africa Region (MENA)?

• When the ONSIDE Fund refers to the MENA region, we include the following countries:
  
  Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Western Sahara, Qatar, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Moroccan Sahara.

I am an individual. Can I still apply?

• Only self-identified girls, women and non-binary persons from the Middle East and North Africa region are eligible to apply. Please note that individual applicants can only apply for a grant of 2,500 or 5,000 USD.

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Our group is NOT legally registered. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. Your group does not need to be legally registered to apply for funding. We welcome applications from both registered and unregistered grassroots groups, collectives, and organisations.

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We are an emerging group and do not have annual income. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. In the application form, you will be asked to provide the name and contact details of an organisation or group that you have previously worked with, whether formally or informally, as part of the due diligence process.

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We use yoga, dancing and other alternative forms of movement and play-based activities in our work. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. The ONSIDE Fund defines sport broadly to include all forms of physical movement and play-based activities, both competitive and recreational, that promote enjoyment, self and collective care, and physical and mental well-being.
  
  This includes para sports, which are sports played by people with a disability, including physical disabilities, deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, chronic pain and/or chronic illness. Some parasports are forms of adapted physical activities from existing sports played by able-bodied individuals, while others have been specifically created for persons with a disability (PwD) and do not have a non-disabled equivalent (e.g. club throw).

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We are a group working in a high-risk context. Can we still apply?

• Yes, you can apply. We acknowledge that the rise in anti-gender and anti-rights forces worldwide poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of girls, women, and non-binary people advancing gender justice in their communities. The risk is even higher for those organising in contexts of protracted conflict and/or living under authoritarian regimes with shrinking civic space. If you would like to apply but have safety and security concerns regarding the application process, please reach out to us at onside@womenwin.org with the subject line ´Call for proposals - Safety concerns’ and we can discuss how to proceed. Please note that while we welcome applications from those in high-risk contexts, we cannot provide emergency grants or humanitarian assistance.

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What does ONSIDE not fund?

• Organisations, groups or individuals who are aiming to convert people to any religious belief or further a religious agenda;

• Any kind of political party, or a women-specific extension of a political party;

• Departments of governments.