About the opportunity
The WPS Civil Society Activation Initiative, implemented under The Asia Foundation’s AMPLIFY program, provides flexible resource grants to support small-scale experimentation, new thinking, and innovative approaches to Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Southeast Asia. The initiative funds small pilot projects addressing environmental security, digital transformation, or women’s participation in peacebuilding. In addition to project funding, selected participants attend a regional convening to share learning, build cross-border connections, and explore future collaboration.
Funding and benefits
- Grant funding of up to $3,000 to develop and test a small pilot initiative.
- Participation in a 2-day regional WPS Activation Initiative convening in February or March 2027.
- Full coverage of agreed travel, accommodation, and participation costs for the regional convening provided separately by AMPLIFY.
- Opportunities for peer feedback, regional networking, and future collaboration across Southeast Asia.
Who can apply?
- Open to individuals, informal groups, networks, women's rights organizations, and civil society organizations from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Organizational registration is not required.
- Eligible applicants include women human rights defenders, WPS or peacebuilding practitioners, artists, researchers, and advocates.
- Must demonstrate relevant experience or commitment to WPS, women's equality, peacebuilding, or related issues.
- Must be able to complete proposed activities within the project timeframe (November 2026 – January 2027).
- Sufficient English proficiency is required to participate in the regional convening.
Required documents
- Statement of Interest
- Description of the Activity
- CV or Portfolio
- Indicative Budget
- Other supporting documents included in the application set
When to apply
- Application deadline: November 6, 2026.
- Project development and implementation period: November 2026 – January 2027.
- Regional convening: February – March 2027.
- Project conclusion: around International Women's Day 2027.
How to apply
- Download the official Application Set PDF from The Asia Foundation webpage.
- Complete the Statement of Interest, Activity Description, CV/Portfolio, and Indicative Budget.
- Email the complete application package to amplifyinfo@asiafoundation.org with the subject line 'WPS Civil Society Activation Initiative_Name or Organisation_Country'.
- Complete the short online registration form via the WPS Civil Society Activation Initiative submission platform after sending the email application.
Additional information
- Proposals must address at least one of three focus areas: Environmental security, Digital transformation, or Women's participation in peacebuilding.
- Eligible activities include short research, digital tools, workshops/dialogues, advocacy initiatives, artwork/storytelling/performance, or testing new methodologies.
- Projects can be conducted in local languages, though agreed research outputs for regional dissemination must be in English.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Grassroots activists, researchers, and creative practitioners seeking rapid, flexible seed funding to test innovative peacebuilding ideas.
- Civil society actors in Southeast Asia aiming to build regional networks and present grassroots insights at a pan-regional convening.
- Unregistered collectives or informal networks needing accessible pilot grants without heavy administrative registration hurdles.
What should you think carefully about?
- The implementation window is compressed into three months (November 2026 to January 2027), requiring high readiness and swift execution.
- Funding is capped at $3,000 and is intended for new or adapted pilot ideas rather than ongoing operational overhead or existing budget gaps.
- Applicants must have sufficient English communication skills for effective participation in the regional convening.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This initiative provides direct seed funding and regional exposure for Southeast Asian practitioners testing creative approaches to WPS issues. It offers a structured springboard for turning novel ideas into practical tools, research, or local actions while forging lasting partnerships across the region.
Our take
Strongly recommended for Southeast Asian activists, researchers, and women-led civil society groups looking for small-scale pilot grants to launch new ideas in peace and security. It is less suitable for entities seeking long-term organizational core funding.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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