Guidance

LGBT+ inclusive approaches to conflict and the WPS agenda: terms of reference and objectives

Published 25 August 2021

Objective

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (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 our commitments under UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security (WPS) 2018-2022 and the Integrated Review.

The Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Portfolio funds innovative projects which address emerging trends and critical gaps within the WPS agenda, ensuring that the needs of women, girls and marginalised people are at the forefront of conflict responses.

This project will contribute to the implementation of the Government Equality Office Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Action Plan and the UK’s more integrated approach to working on conflict by addressing grievances and marginalisation, as set out in the Integrated Review, committing the UK to improve the lives of LBGT+ people globally.

Conflict affects everyone within society; however, vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected and are the most at risk. Since its inception, the WPS agenda has taken a heteronormative view, mainly focusing on the experiences of cisgender women and largely excluding those vulnerable to insecurity and violence due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. Humanitarian assessments and plans, peace processes, official statements and policies rarely recognise the existence or needs of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) minorities.

The same concepts and norms posing challenges for heterosexual, cisgender women recognised by the WPS agenda form the basis of discrimination against the LGBT+ community. SOGI minorities tend be specifically targeted for blackmail, abuse, violence and sexual assault. For instance, LGBT+ individuals are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV), especially LBT women, as these acts are ‘based on gender norms and unequal power relationships’ .

Recognising and challenging how gender norms, ideas of masculinity and femininity and sexuality feed into political power systems, the project will focus on intersectionality and the needs of SOGI minorities, and seek to address the discrimination and prevailing power relations, that contribute to the insecurity faced by marginalised communities.

Project content requirements

The implementer will pilot interventions under the following suggested priority sub-themes:

a) research and data gathering on LGBT+ populations affected by conflict to understand specific challenges and needs that could lead to meaningful programming for grass root organisations, practitioners, and policy makers.

b) capacity building and strengthening the relationships between organisations and communities such as women’s rights organisations and LGBT+ organisations

c) challenging social norms on femininity and masculinity to address the root cause of violence and promote equality for SOGI minorities

d) promote increased recognition or participation of LGBT+ people in peacebuilding and policymaking under the WPS agenda

e) improving gender-based violence programme design and service provision for SOGI minorities

If the implementer considers additional sub-themes to be relevant, they are welcome to propose these in their Project Proposal.

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 and monitoring the 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 1 to 3 countries or regions. Previous focus areas have been Africa, the Caribbean and the Indo Pacific; however, 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 £100,000 up to GBP £250,000. 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. The funding will be available as Official Development Assistance in line with the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.

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 and LGBT+ programming
• project and budget management skills, experience, capabilities and capacity
• programme experience

Eligibility criteria

The project will be managed under an accountable grant agreement (or memorandum of understanding 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 15 September. Emails should include “LGBT+ Inclusive approaches to Conflict and the WPS agenda” in the title

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 October 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