Announcement: Regional Digital Challenge "Small Shifts – Big Impact"
Submission deadline: 30 September 2026
Everyday actions can transform communities.
CHANGE Programme invites civil society organizations, grassroots initiatives, youth groups and activists from across Central Asia to join the regional challenge "Small Shifts – Big Impact."
The four-week challenge is designed to showcase how everyday actions can help advance gender equality by challenging harmful gender stereotypes and social norms. Through creative digital storytelling, participants will share inspiring stories of positive changes in families, workplaces and communities while connecting with changemakers from across the region.
As part of the challenge, participants will also strengthen their communication and advocacy skills through weekly online learning sessions on storytelling, social photography, community mobilization and advocacy.
Who can participate?
The challenge is open to:
- Civil society organizations;
- Grassroots and community initiatives;
- Youth organizations and informal groups;
- Youth leaders and activists;
- Community representatives from across Central Asia.
Challenge themes
Each week participants will create and publish original content around one of four themes:
Week 1 – Sharing Care
Recognizing and redistributing unpaid care and domestic work.
Week 2 – Changing the Conversation
Challenging harmful stereotypes through respectful and inclusive communication.
Week 3 – Women Leading Change
Highlighting women's leadership, participation in decision-making and contributions to their communities and professions.
Week 4 – Shaping the Future Together
Developing a shared vision of gender-equal communities through collaboration and collective action.
Participants may submit their stories in a variety of formats, including short videos, photo stories, social media carousels, written stories and collaborative creative projects.
Capacity-building
Throughout the challenge, participants will take part in four practical online learning sessions covering:
- Storytelling: 5 September, 11.00–13.00 (Astana, Ashgabat, Dushanbe and Tashkent time), 12.00–14.00 (Bishkek time)
- Social photography - TBD
- Community mobilization - TBD
- Advocacy -TBD
The sessions are designed to help participants strengthen their digital communication skills and increase the impact of their advocacy initiatives. You can register in advance to take part in the training sessions by clicking on the following link: Registration
Recognition
Submissions will be reviewed by a jury based on relevance, originality, storytelling, impact and technical quality.
Outstanding entries from each thematic week will receive commemorative awards and certificates. Selected stories may also be featured across UN Women communication platforms with full author attribution.
Winners will be invited to participate in the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence Regional Forum, which will take place in Bishkek in late October 2026.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted by 23:59 (Astana time) 30 September 2026 to [ Click to reveal ] with the subject line "Online Challenge."