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RFAs: Scaling the GALS Methodology and Youth Programming (Uganda)

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Deadline: 01-Mar-2026

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking a qualified partner to scale up the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodology within its Youth in Work programme in Uganda. The initiative aims to strengthen gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and youth employment in agribusiness value chains. With an indicative budget of 150,000, the project will expand GALS across Northern and Western Uganda through training, mentorship, monitoring, and institutional engagement.

Overview

WFP Uganda is expanding its gender-transformative programming by consolidating and scaling the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodology within the Youth in Work Activity.

The goal is to:

  • Strengthen gender equality

  • Promote women’s economic empowerment

  • Increase youth participation in agribusiness

  • Address gender-based violence (GBV) and restrictive social norms

  • Build sustainable and inclusive food systems

About WFP Uganda

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger globally.

In Uganda, WFP:

  • Supports refugees and crisis-affected populations

  • Addresses malnutrition among children (6–59 months)

  • Strengthens smallholder farmer productivity

  • Builds resilient livelihoods for young women and youth

The Youth in Work programme focuses on job creation across agribusiness value chains, including:

What is GALS? (Gender Action Learning System)

GALS is a community-led, participatory methodology designed to:

  • Address gender inequality at household and community levels

  • Challenge restrictive social norms

  • Promote joint decision-making

  • Improve equitable division of unpaid care work

  • Strengthen women’s economic agency

GALS uses visual tools and facilitated dialogue to encourage inclusive household planning and gender-equitable business development.

Results from the 2024–2025 Pilot

WFP piloted GALS in:

  • Kikube District

  • Kotido District

  • Obongi District

Key outcomes included:

  • Increased confidence among women

  • Greater male support for women’s businesses

  • Joint household investment decision-making

  • More equitable care work distribution

  • Improved mobility for women

  • Stronger participation of women and youth in agribusiness

These outcomes created enabling environments for sustainable livelihoods.

Objectives of the Scale-Up

The expansion phase aims to:

  • Institutionalize GALS within WFP’s Youth in Work programme

  • Build a critical mass of gender champions

  • Strengthen monitoring of social norm shifts

  • Improve integration of gender-transformative approaches in food systems

  • Enhance sustainability and long-term scalability

Key Components of the Initiative

1. National-Level Consultations

  • Sensitization meetings

  • Institutional ownership building

  • Government and partner engagement

2. Capacity Building

  • Refresher training for WFP teams

  • Training for cooperating partners

  • Certification of trainers and champions

Training Targets

  • 150 GALS Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and champions

  • 900 GALS couple champions for community-level scale-up

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Skills (KAPS) assessment

  • Endline KAPS assessment

  • Monitoring of gender norm shifts

  • Structured mentorship sessions

4. Leadership Development

  • Transformative leadership sessions for women

  • Youth leadership strengthening

  • Community advocacy capacity building

5. Documentation and Visibility

  • Reprinting and dissemination of adapted GALS guidelines

  • Production of a documentary

  • Publication of a magazine highlighting lessons learned

  • Visibility and knowledge-sharing materials

Funding Details

  • Indicative Budget: 150,000

  • Geographic Focus: Northern and Western Uganda

  • Target Districts: Kikube, Kotido, and Obongi (expansion beyond pilot groups)

Who Is Eligible?

WFP is seeking a partner organization that:

  • Has proven expertise in the GALS methodology

  • Demonstrates experience in gender-transformative programming

  • Has capacity to operate in Northern and Western Uganda

  • Can deliver large-scale training and certification

  • Has experience in monitoring and evaluation of gender norms

  • Understands food systems and agribusiness value chains

Organizations must demonstrate strong community engagement and partnership-building capacity.

Why This Initiative Matters

Gender inequality in food systems leads to:

  • Limited economic participation of women

  • Reduced productivity

  • Household-level power imbalances

  • Increased vulnerability to GBV

Integrating gender-transformative approaches:

  • Improves food system efficiency

  • Enhances household income

  • Strengthens youth employment outcomes

  • Reduces gender-based violence

  • Builds resilient and inclusive livelihoods

By scaling GALS, WFP aims to create systemic change, not just short-term behavioral adjustments.

How the Partnership Will Work

Step 1: Partner Selection

WFP will identify a qualified organization with strong GALS expertise.

Step 2: Institutional Engagement

Conduct national consultations and secure buy-in from stakeholders.

Step 3: Capacity Development

Train and certify:

  • 150 Trainers of Trainers

  • 900 Couple Champions

Step 4: Community Roll-Out

Expand GALS implementation across additional farmer groups.

Step 5: Monitoring and Documentation

Conduct baseline and endline assessments and produce learning materials.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Proposing generic gender training without GALS expertise

  • Weak monitoring frameworks for norm change measurement

  • Underestimating community-level mentorship requirements

  • Failing to integrate food systems and agribusiness context

  • Limited sustainability or scale-up strategy

Strong proposals demonstrate structured training pipelines, measurable outcomes, and long-term scalability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main objective of this partnership?

To scale up the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodology within WFP’s Youth in Work programme to strengthen gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

2. Where will the programme be implemented?

Northern and Western Uganda, including Kikube, Kotido, and Obongi districts.

3. How many individuals will be trained?

The programme aims to certify 150 Trainers of Trainers and 900 Couple Champions.

4. What is the indicative budget?

The initiative has an indicative budget of 150,000.

5. What type of organization is WFP seeking?

An organization with demonstrated expertise in GALS, gender-transformative programming, monitoring, and large-scale capacity building.

6. How will impact be measured?

Through baseline and endline Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Skills (KAPS) assessments, mentorship monitoring, and documentation of social norm shifts.

7. Why is gender-transformative programming important in food systems?

Because addressing restrictive gender norms improves productivity, income generation, food security, and long-term resilience.

Conclusion

The World Food Programme’s call to expand GALS within the Youth in Work programme represents a strategic investment in gender-transformative food systems in Uganda. By building a network of trained gender champions, strengthening institutional ownership, and measuring measurable shifts in social norms, the initiative aims to create sustainable, scalable change.

Qualified organizations with expertise in GALS and gender equality programming have a significant opportunity to contribute to systemic transformation in Northern and Western Uganda’s agribusiness landscape.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.

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