Guidance

Support for women’s rights organisations in conflict-affected states: terms of reference

Published 21 May 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund gender, peace and security: calls for bids 2021 to 2022 now closed

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stabilisation-and-security-fund-gender-peace-and-security-calls-for-bids-2021-to-2022/support-for-womens-rights-organisations-in-conflict-affected-states-terms-of-reference

Objective

The CSSF is a cross government fund that supports and delivers activity to tackle instability and to prevent conflicts that threaten UK interests. It has been a catalyst for a more integrated UK government response to fragility and conflict, including delivering the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security (WPS) 2018-2022.

The Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Portfolio funds innovative projects which address emerging trends and gaps within the WPS agenda, including by providing flexible support to women’s right organisations working in conflict-affected states. Not only does this support the implementation of the UK NAP on WPS, but supports the UK’s goals as set out in the Integrated Review to: be a force for good, support open societies, protect human rights, and prevent conflict and instability.

Project content requirements

With recognition and evidence of the important role that women’s rights organisations play in progressing gender equality and building sustainable and inclusive peace, the CSSF is looking to fund a project which will provide grants to women’s rights organisations in conflict affected states.

This will take forward recommendations made (including in UK-funded consultations and research) to provide funding for women’s rights organisations that allows them to determine their own priorities and activities, respond flexibly to changes in contexts and emergencies, including COVID-19, and protect their civic space.

This project aims to:

  • strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of women’s rights organisations working in conflict-affected countries
  • protect civic space and support women’s leadership as civil society leaders, especially those active on WPS issues
  • build the evidence base on effective ways to support women’s rights organisations and their contributions to peace and security outcomes

The implementer will set up a grant-making mechanisms to provide flexible core support for local and/or national women’s rights organisations and/or networks undertaking work under the following suggested priority sub-themes:

a) Peace-building, mediation and conflict prevention

b) Women’s participation and leadership

c) Gender-based violence prevention or response

d) Responses to C-19 and crises

e) Climate-change and environmental degradation

If the implementer considers additional sub-themes to be relevant then in their Project Proposal they are welcome to propose these. Implementers might also consider how they can allow WROs to feed in to

Proposals should clearly outline timeframes, costs, risks and sustainability. Activities should take an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach, working with local organisations and partners wherever possible.

Bids for the project should address the following key concerns:

a) How your organisation is well-equipped with the expertise and resources for this project

b) Your organisation’s proposed approach to delivering, measuring progress and monitoring the short-term impact of the pilot. Bids should include a particular focus on how they shall measure the value for money impact of their proposed approach. Strong proposals will be high-impact interventions, defined by clear evidence of the potential to deliver solutions that are sustainable and/or scalable

c) How your organisation will deliver its activities and outcomes under different COVID-19 scenarios, including full or partial lock-downs and restrictions on local/international travel.

Bids should look to focus on one to three countries. Priority geographies include:

  • Cyprus (non-ODA only)
  • Lebanon
  • Occupied Palestinian Territories
  • Columbia
  • Libya
  • Yemen
  • Ukraine
  • Nigeria
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Afghanistan

If the implementer considers additional geographies to be relevant, they are welcome to propose these.

Scope and scale

The project will require that all activity take place by 31 March 2022. The project can range in value from GBP 500,000 up to GBP 1,500,000. Though the majority of the budget is available as Official Development Assistance (ODA), £250,000 is available as non-ODA. In the Project Proposal, the Implementer will need to explain if they consider the activity, and therefore expenditure, to qualify as ODA or non-ODA.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a term created by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to measure aid. ODA should be undertaken to promote of economic development and welfare as the main objective in ODA-eligible (i.e. low- and middle- income as defined by the OECD’s DAC list) countries.

Bidders should not craft proposals in such a way to reach the budget ceiling. Bidders should instead construct their Tender to specifically meet the objectives in pursuit of demonstrable impact and value for money.

Essential skills and competencies of the implementer

The implementer will have:

  • experience working on the relevant issues identified in this document
  • relevant network of contacts in the UK and in the proposed geography
  • experience and familiarity of gender programming
  • experience and familiarity with grant-making and supporting feminist led organisations
  • project and budget management skills, experience, capabilities and capacity
  • programme experience
  • experience of MEL processes, including but not limited to outcome harvesting

Eligibility criteria

The project will be managed under an Accountable Grant Agreement (or MoU for inter-governmental organisations only). Projects in this framework are not allowed to generate a profit for the delivery partner.

Proposals from for-profit organisations can only be considered if an officially registered non-profit making arm or division of the for-profit organisation will deliver the project.

Bidding process

  1. Potential implementers are invited to submit a completed Project Proposal Form (PPF) and Activity-based Budget (ABB) to CSSFGender.PeaceSecurity@fcdo.gov.uk by 23:59 (BST) on the 10 June. The title of the email should include “Support for Women’s Rights Organisations in Conflict-Affected States”.

  2. We will not consider proposals that are delivered after the submission deadline.

  3. The GPS Team will evaluate all submissions using the Selection Criteria (see below) and decide which proposals should be funded. Feedback will be provided for incorporation in any successful proposals. Unfortunately, as we expect a large amount of interest, we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids.

  4. The project approved for funding will start in July 2021.

All bid submissions must be in English. The Budget must be presented in pounds (GBP).

Selection criteria

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • value for money - criteria for economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and cost- effectiveness
  • alignment with the terms of reference
  • project viability, including capacity and capability of implementing organisation(s)
  • project design, including clear, achievable objectives/outputs/outcomes/impact

Contact

Please send queries to CSSFGender.PeaceSecurity@fcdo.gov.uk.

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