CSW70 CanWaCH delegation bursary program

The seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 9 to 20, 2026. This year’s priority theme focuses on ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, and addressing the structural barriers that limit their rights and opportunities.

To support meaningful Canadian participation, CanWaCH is pleased to launch a CSW70 delegation bursary program. The program offers a limited number of bursaries to help members engage in this important global forum and bring insights back to strengthen our collective work in Canada.

The bursary program will provide financial assistance to CanWaCH members located in Canada who would otherwise be unable to attend. Recipients will receive funding to attend CSW70, including: 

• Air travel 
• Accommodation for the duration of the session; 
• Registration
• A small stipend to cover other costs (meals, ground travel, etc.). 

Eligibility criteria* are as follows:

• Applicants work or volunteer for a CanWaCH member organization. 
• Applicants are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Applicants are currently based in Canada.

*Additional consideration will seek to provide access for and ensure representation from historically, persistently or systemically marginalized groups and those who work within organizations that have small operating budgets (SMOs). 

CanWaCH is committed to ensuring that our members in Canada, spanning diverse geographies, ages and backgrounds, can attend this important event. The delegation will support efforts to meaningfully participate in important discussions, engage in learning through impactful events and amplify key information at CSW70. The delegation will also engage, share and collaborate on resources and next steps with the wider CanWaCH membership following the conference. 

How to Apply:

To apply for the CanWaCH Delegation Bursary program, please complete this form. 

The deadline for applications is January 11, 2026 11:59 p.m. EDT. Successful applicants will be notified by January 19. 

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be notified. At that time, a letter of support from your organization may be requested to finalize your application. Final candidates should be prepared to provide additional documents or information to support with booking travel, accommodation, etc. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].