International

UNISON International Development Fund (UIDF)

'Helping unions abroad protect workers and fight poverty'

International activists
© Credit China Labour Bulletin
UNISON believes that trade unions have a key role to play in reducing poverty and protecting human rights around the world. Not only do unions help workers out of poverty by demanding decent wages; they also enable workers to share their expertise on difficult issues such as the treatment of HIV/AIDS and campaign against common threats such as racism, human rights abuses and privatisation.

The UNISON International Development Fund (UIDF) was set up in 2005 in response to this belief. The aim of the fund is to promote growth of trade unions in developing countries and support trade unions facing difficulties as a result of wars, natural disasters or severe threats to workers rights.

International activists
© DENOSA
Call for Expressions of Interest: Deadline 28 February 2007

The fund is open to applications from trade unions and other non-governmental organisations working to promote workers rights. We will accept applications from organisations based in the UK or abroad but the project must be implemented outside of the UK. We particularly welcome applications from organisations based in developing countries and projects aimed at helping public sector workers.

In this round, in addition to our existing criteria, we are looking for project applications that aim to:

  • improve the conditions of public service workers to mitigate the loss of skills from migrant labour supplying countries;
  • address the issue of HIV/AIDS, especially in South Asia and Southern Africa;
  • campaign for effective public services and against privatization and cut-backs.

The UIDF often gives priority to projects that seek to increase the participation in trade unions of marginalized groups including women and young people. Grants will normally be made for between £1,000 and £20,000 and projects should last no more than one year.

If you would like to apply for funding please carefully read the “Guidance for Applicants” (bottom right) and then submit a completed “Expression of Interest Form” (bottom right)

For more information contact the UIDF team (contact details on top right of this page).
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7551 1777 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7551 1471

UIDF News

Acheivements of UIDF projects March 07

Acheivements of trade unions in developing countries supported by the UNISON International Development Fund up to March 2007.
Link to a PDF document on this siteUIDF acheivements

Project Report: Opposing water privatisation in Sri Lanka

(26/02/2007) The National Supply and Drainage Trade Union has completed a UIDF project  to educate workers and consumers about the threat of water privatisation. The campaign has contributed to the government giving assurances that it would not sell its water resources. It has also raised awareness about the effects of water privatisation among water employees and unions and increased membership of the union.
Download Report as PDF document

Unions fighting AIDS: Southern Africa Update

(13/01/2007) The UIDF has supported projects on HIV/AIDS in six southern African countries with grants amounting to £150,000. Seven projects are being implemented in Zambia, Malawi and South Africa, and were the subject of last year’s monitoring and evaluation visit. A UIDF monitoring team had the opportunity to evaluate these projects and to monitor how well the projects’ objectives were being achieved. more..

El Salvador water union fights privatisation despite death threat

(13/12/2006) A UNISON International Development Fund (UIDF) project is campaigning against privatisation of water and for the preservation of the water industry as a public asset which benefits all the people of El Salvador. The project is being run by water union SETA in cooperation with other unions, civil society and environmental groups and runs from April 2006 to April 2007. more..
CONTACT DETAILS
UNISON International Development Fund
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: uidf@unison.co.uk

View PDF fileProjects funded by UIDF

Project partners area
Where UIDF project partners can access standard forms and get information to help implement their projects.
2007 Application Schedule

28 February: Deadline for expressions of interest.

24 April: Deadline for full applications (only to be submitted if your expression of interest has been prioritised).

July: We will inform you of the decision.

UIDF Documents

Acheivements of UIDF projects March 2007

Acheivements of UNISON International Development Fund supported projects up to March 2007.
Link to a PDF document on this siteUIDF projects

UIDF Expression of Interest Form

Please read Guidance for Applicants before completingLink to a document on this siteWord version
Link to a PDF document on this sitePDF version

UIDF Guidance for Applicants

Link to a document on this siteWord version
Link to a PDF document on this sitePDF version

UIDF Full application form

(Only to be completed if your application is prioritised after submitting an Expression of Interest Form)
Link to a Word document on this siteUIDF application form
Link to a PDF document on this siteUIDF Full application form
All documents >