Call for EOIs: Girl Empowerment Programme (Timor-Leste)

UNICEF is inviting grant applications to support adolescent girls’ protection, empowerment, and life skills development in selected communities in Baucau, Timor-Leste. The programme focuses on preventing gender-based violence through life skills training, community awareness, and youth empowerment activities. The indicative budget is approximately $60,000, with civil society organizations required to implement structured training, workshops, and reporting mechanisms.

Overview of the Programme

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is seeking grant proposals for a community-based initiative in Timor-Leste.

The programme is designed to:

• Strengthen protection systems for adolescent girls
• Prevent gender-based violence (GBV)
• Improve life skills and empowerment outcomes
• Address harmful social norms in communities

The initiative is specifically targeted at selected communities in Baucau, Timor-Leste.

Key Goals and Objectives

The programme focuses on building safer environments for adolescent girls at risk of violence.

Core Objectives

• Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment
• Strengthen child protection systems
• Prevent and respond to violence against children
• Improve life skills for adolescent girls
• Increase awareness of gender-based violence
• Engage communities in prevention of harmful social norms

Programme Design and Key Components

1. Girls Empowered Curriculum Implementation

A tailored version of the “Girls Empowered” curriculum will be delivered.

Key features:

• Reduced from 24 sessions to 10 core sessions
• Focus on life skills and personal protection
• Delivered by trained women facilitators
• Includes structured learning and peer engagement

2. Facilitator Training

Selected women facilitators will be trained to:

• Deliver life skills curriculum
• Support adolescent girls in safe learning environments
• Facilitate discussions on protection and empowerment

3. Peer Reflection Sessions

Each participating group of girls will:

• Meet at least two times for peer reflection
• Share experiences and learning outcomes
• Strengthen emotional and social support networks

4. Youth Empowerment Workshop

A two-day workshop will be conducted for youth participants.

Key topics include:

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Coping strategies and resilience building
• Psychosocial first aid
• Survivor-sensitive support approaches
• Peer encouragement and counselling basics

5. Community Awareness Activities

Community engagement will include:

• Awareness sessions on violence against children
• Education on online safety and digital harms
• Promotion of positive gender norms
• Strengthening referral pathways for protection services

6. Youth Voice Amplification (Podcast)

An online podcast episode will be developed to:

• Share youth perspectives on violence and exploitation
• Highlight child protection challenges in digital spaces
• Promote awareness through media engagement

Target Groups and Coverage

The programme targets multiple stakeholder groups.

Direct Beneficiaries

• 40 adolescent girls in pilot communities
• 25 youth participants in empowerment workshops

Indirect Beneficiaries

• At least 200 community members through awareness campaigns

Expected Outcomes

• At least 85% of participants report improved:
  • Life skills
  • Awareness of violence prevention
  • Attitudes toward gender equality and protection

Geographic Focus

The initiative is implemented in:

• Baucau, Timor-Leste

This region is prioritized for strengthening child protection systems and reducing gender-based violence risks.

Funding Overview

Indicative Budget

• Approximately $60,000

Funding Purpose

Supports:

• Training and facilitation costs
• Curriculum adaptation and delivery
• Workshops and community sessions
• Reporting and monitoring activities
• Media and awareness outputs

Eligibility and Reporting Requirements

Eligible Implementers

Civil society organizations capable of:

• Implementing child protection and gender programmes
• Working with adolescents and communities
• Managing structured reporting requirements

Reporting Obligations

Selected organizations must submit:

• Quarterly narrative reports
• Quarterly financial reports
• Final reports using UNICEF-standard financial documentation

Monitoring and Evaluation

Programme success is measured through:

• Participation rates
• Skill and awareness improvement
• Behavioral and attitudinal change
• Community engagement reach
• Protection system strengthening

Key Activities Summary

• Delivery of 10-session life skills curriculum
• Training of women facilitators
• Peer support and reflection sessions
• Youth empowerment workshop (2 days)
• Community awareness sessions
• Online podcast production
• Reporting and evaluation cycles

Expected Impact

The programme aims to:

• Reduce vulnerability of adolescent girls to violence
• Strengthen gender-sensitive community norms
• Improve access to protection and support systems
• Build youth resilience and life skills
• Amplify youth voices in child protection discussions

Conclusion

UNICEF’s Timor-Leste initiative is a structured, community-based grant programme focused on empowering adolescent girls through life skills training, gender-based violence prevention, and community engagement. With a clear focus on measurable outcomes, local capacity building, and youth participation, the programme aims to create safer and more supportive environments for vulnerable adolescents in Baucau.