Women and the World of Work Innovation Grants initiative: 2025 year in review

This report highlights the wide range of innovative, high-impact projects delivered in the various UN Women country offices over the past year through the Women and the World of Work Innovation Grants, demonstrating UN Women’s diverse approaches to promoting decent work and entrepreneurship around the world, bridging global frameworks and local priorities.

Recognizing the power of innovative and creative thinking in a changing world of work, in 2024 the Economic Empowerment Section at UN Women Headquarters launched the Women and the World of Work Innovation Grants initiative to support UN Women country and regional offices with seed funding of up to USD 25,000 to implement one-year projects that advance decent work and entrepreneurship for women. Nine of the fourteen grant proposals selected through a competitive process are showcased in this publication, illustrating multidisciplinary approaches, which bridge elements of art, science and technology, media and storytelling, agriculture and climate resilience, pay inequality, and care.

The report highlights project activities, results, and impact in the various countries and the diversity of women supported, including women in the informal economy, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, and women living in rural areas. The report demonstrates the enormous capacity for creativity and innovation within UN Women, drawing on extensive insights from the reports and presentations of the various country offices that benefited from the 2025 grant cycle.