ACU Gender Grants

Supporting initiatives to boost gender equity and equality on campus.

Three women smile and sit on stools in front of an audience at an event

Applications open: 12 March 2024
Applications close: 7 May 2024, 16:00 UTC

ACU Gender Grants are awarded annually to member universities to support initiatives that will boost gender equity and equality on campus.

The grants can be used for a diverse range of projects, workshops, and events in areas such as:

  • Supporting women in leadership
  • Raising awareness of sexual harassment and developing anti-sexual harassment initiatives
  • Supporting women in science and research
  • Creating effective institutional policies
  • Mainstreaming gender equity into the curriculum

The ACU is working in partnership with the Martha Farrell Foundation to provide three additional Gender Grants focused on creating effective anti-sexual harassment policies and strategies, drawing on the Foundation's expertise in anti-sexual harassment initiatives. These grants are open to staff members of ACU member universities in Africa and Asia and include online training and follow-up online support from the Martha Farrell Foundation.  

What does the grant include?

  • Thirteen awards of up to GBP 1,000 to help meet the costs of organising projects that promote gender equity and equality. 

How to apply

  • Be a staff member at an ACU member university.  
  • Submit an application through the online application form.
    • If you already have a MyACU account, you can access the grant application form here. 
    • If you do not already have a MyACU account, please ensure that you first register for an account here and then follow the instructions in the registration email to log in to the system before accessing the application form.

Meet our Grantees

Student
2022 gender grantees
Meet our Grantees
Five professional women stand in a circle and talk and smile in front of a sign about gender
2020-2021 Grantees
Meet our Grantees
A Group Of Women
Developing women leaders in research: University of Johannesburg, South Africa
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Midlands State University
Closing the gender gap for early career female academics: Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
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Associate Professor Of Gender And Development Studies, Grace Wamue Ngare At The Launch Of The SGBV App (2)
The professor of gender studies using tech to keep staff and students safe: Kenyatta University, Kenya
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No Bystander Training2
No-bystander training for a safer city: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
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Ariel Photo Of USP Campus
Raising awareness of sexual harassment on campus and beyond: University of the South Pacific, Fiji
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What our Grantees say

‘The ACU-funded workshop was an excellent opportunity for me to disseminate knowledge on gender equality among various stakeholders. The workshop has resulted in more attention from the university administration to the issue of gender equity and equality. University leadership, as well as other members of the university community, are now seeking my advice and support for initiating similar initiatives on SGBV prevention and other topics supporting gender equity and equality.’ 

Dr S Vasantha, Professor & Head of the Department, MBA - Logistics & Shipping Management, Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, India

‘As a result of the workshop, gender-related terminology was introduced to policy documents, and gender-related issues  included in teaching and curriculum. Jinnah Sindh Medical University has also established a gender just committee  that has been functioning actively.’

Ms Naushaba Khatoon, Director, APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Pakistan

‘The leadership development workshop motivated the participant female academics to upgrade their qualifications to PhD, a major achievement considering the university need for more staff with PhD qualifications.’

Dr Zakia Ali-Chand, Assistant Professor, College of Humanities and Education, Fiji National University