Deadline: 31-Jul-2025
The UN Women is requesting applications from Civil Society Organizations to Implement Gender-Responsive Interventions in the Seedling and Onion Value Chains in Shkoder Municipality.
The selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will implement comprehensive, gender-responsive interventions to empower women in the seedling and onion value chains in the administrative units of Gur i Zi and Postribë, Municipality of Shkodër. These interventions will focus on inclusive group formation, capacity building, technical assistance, and market integration, tailored to the specific needs of rural women agricultural producers. The approach will apply participatory methods, ensure cultural sensitivity, and promote sustainability through institutional partnerships, strengthened extension services, and youth engagement.
The overall objective of the intervention in both lots is to empower women in the seedling and onion value chains by enhancing their access to knowledge, productive resources, and leadership opportunities. The interventions will improve productivity and quality through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), strengthen post-harvest infrastructure and market access, introduce gender-sensitive tools and mechanization, and promote women’s active participation in cooperatives, producer groups, and financial decision-making ultimately enabling them to become more visible, capable, and empowered economic actors within their communities.
Types of Lots
- LOT 1 – GUR I ZI (vegetable seedling value chain):
- The selected Civil Society Organization (CSO) will implement a comprehensive, gender-responsive intervention to empower women in the vegetable seedling value chain in Gur i Zi. The intervention will be carried out in close collaboration with the Municipality of Shkodër, the State Entity for Seeds and Seedlings (ESHFF), AREB Shkodër, and the “Ndre Mjeda” Agricultural Vocational School. The CSO will be responsible for delivering a tailored package of services that addresses the technical, regulatory, and social barriers faced by women seedling producers.
- LOT 2 – POSTRIBË (Drisht Onion value chain):
- The selected Civil Society Organization (CSO) will implement a comprehensive, gender-responsive intervention to empower women in the onion value chain in Postribë, with a particular focus on the native Drishti Onion. The intervention will be implemented in close collaboration with the Municipality of Shkodër, the “Qepa e Drishtit” Cooperative, AREB and QTTB Shkodër, local vocational schools, and other relevant stakeholders. The CSO will be responsible for delivering a tailored package of services that addresses the technical, infrastructural, and social barriers limiting women’s participation and leadership in onion production.
Funding Information
- The budget range for this proposal should be:
- Gur i Zi (Shkoder): all proposals under this Call must fall within a maximum of 8,000,000 ALL.
- Postribe (Shkoder): all proposals under this Call must fall within a maximum of 9,500,000 ALL
Expected Outcomes
- To achieve such result, UN Women is focused on three outcomes, which mirror verbatim the areas of focus of the United Nations Albania1:
- Increased and more equitable investment in people to remove barriers and create opportunities for those at risk of exclusion.
- Innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development.
- Gender-responsive governance that strengthens equality and non-discrimination.
Eligibility Criteria
- Competencies LOT 1 – GUR I ZI (vegetable seedling value chain)
- Technical/functional competencies required
- At least 7 years of experience in designing and implementing women’s economic empowerment initiatives, particularly in rural or agricultural contexts, using participatory and inclusive approaches.
- At least 5 years of experience in implementing value chain development projects with women’s groups, preferably in horticulture, nursery management, or seedling production.
- Demonstrated expertise in vegetable seedling production, preferably with nursery establishment, certified seed use, soil preparation, irrigation, pest and disease management (IPM), and post-harvest handling.
- Proven capacity to deliver training and coaching on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), business planning, financial literacy, access to finance, and entrepreneurship tailored to smallholder women farmers.
- Experience in facilitating group formation, governance training, and leadership development, particularly among rural women and youth.
- Demonstrated ability to support market access strategies, including branding, packaging, participation in fairs, and linkages with buyers and local institutions.
- Prior experience in coordinating with local government institutions, agricultural extension services (e.g., AREB), vocational schools, and national regulatory bodies (e.g., ESHFF) to ensure sustainability, policy alignment, and local ownership.
- Familiarity with national legal frameworks related to plant reproductive material and experience supporting producers in achieving certification and compliance.
- The applicant organization is expected to present a team of experts and/or staff with demonstrated expertise and an advanced academic background in gender-sensitive value chain development, particularly in horticulture or seedling production. This should be substantiated through detailed CVs and, where applicable, relevant publications or documented experience in similar initiatives.
- Technical/functional competencies required
- Competencies LOT 2: POSTRIBË (Drisht onion value chain)
- Technical/Functional Competencies Required
- At least 7 years of experience in designing and implementing women’s economic empowerment initiatives, particularly in rural or agricultural contexts, using participatory and inclusive approaches.
- At least 5 years of experience in value chain development projects with women’s groups, preferably in horticulture, vegetable production, or post-harvest systems.
- Demonstrated expertise in onion cultivation and post-harvest handling, including drying, grading, packaging, and storage infrastructure.
- Proven capacity to deliver training and coaching on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), financial literacy, business planning, and entrepreneurship tailored to smallholder women farmers.
- Experience in facilitating group formation, governance training, and leadership development, especially among rural women and youth.
- Demonstrated ability to support market access strategies, including branding, packaging, direct sales, and linkages with buyers and cooperatives.
- Prior experience in coordinating with local government institutions, agricultural extension services, vocational schools, and civil society organizations to ensure sustainability and local ownership.
- Familiarity with Geographical Indication (GI) products and value addition strategies for traditional or heritage crops.
- The applicant organization is expected to present a team of experts and/or staff with demonstrated expertise and an advanced academic background in gender-sensitive value chain development, particularly in horticulture. This should be substantiated through detailed CVs and, where applicable, relevant publications or documented experience in similar initiatives.
- Technical/Functional Competencies Required
For more information, visit UN Women.