About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Gender Equality Partnerships 2026 grants are now open
Grants of £25,000 for partnerships between the UK and seven other countries to strengthen gender equality in higher education.
For 2026, UK institutions can partner with:
Bangladesh
Ghana
Kenya
Mexico
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Ukraine
About Gender Equality Partnerships
Objectives
Gender Equality Partnership projects will address one or more of the following overarching objectives:
Contribute to long-term and sustainable institutional change that promotes gender equality in higher education.
Enhance opportunities for women to access, participate in and progress through higher education and employment pathways.
Outcomes
Projects are expected to contribute to outcomes such as:
Strengthened institutional mechanisms supporting women's leadership.
Improved gender-responsive policies, governance and practices.
Increased participation and progression of women in higher education and STEM.
Stronger education-to-employment pathways for women.
Greater integration of intersectional approaches in institutional strategies and systems.
Themes
Projects may address one or more of the following themes:
Addressing underrepresentation of women in higher education leadership
Strengthening pathways into employment
Creating safe higher education spaces
Enabling participation of women in STEM
See the Call Guidance document below for country-specific thematic priorities.
Eligibility
Partnerships must include one eligible UK institution and a partner institution in one of the participating countries.
The UK lead institution must be a higher education provider with degree-awarding powers. Lead partner organisations must be higher education institutions or other eligible organisations as defined in the call guidance.
Applications must be jointly developed by the UK and overseas lead institutions and submitted by the UK lead institution through the Good Grants platform.
See the Call Guidance document below for additional country-specific eligibility requirements.
How to apply