Deadline: 25-Apr-23
UNOPS launched two calls for proposals under the Sustainable Integrated Municipal Actions project (SIMA) to support the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Beirut in the operational management and maintenance of two project sites, UNESCO Palace and Beit Beirut in Beirut, Lebanon.
The Sustainable Integrated Municipal Actions (SIMA) project funded by Germany through KfW development Bank aims at improving the access to critical municipal services and increasing the resilience of the Beirut and Bourj Hammoud municipalities, affected by the explosion. Beyond the improved public service delivery, the project’s adopted accompanying tension-mitigation measures, extensive community engagement activities, and grants support to local CSO/NGOs, aim at reducing tensions in the targeted communities, enhancing community resilience, and helping rebuild the trust in the local authorities.
The call for proposals is open for officially registered Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, foundations and academic institutions that are interested in providing activities in the two sites, including provision of operational support and implementation of participatory social activities with the engagement of women, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities and marginalized groups.
Scope
- UNOPS is tailoring the grants component along KfW’s requirements and UNOPS guidelines, in close coordination with the Municipality of Beirut based on their prioritized needs within the project’s scope and targeted sectors.
- Through the operationalization and maintenance of Beit Beirut, UNOPS can support the Municipality of Beirut in bringing social activities to a greater number of marginalized groups hence increasing resilience and building back the trust between citizens and government.
- Therefore, with the grant component, access to this space would be strengthened by rebranding and reintroducing Beit Beirut as a more accessible public space to active community groups such as students, scouts and grass root artists. NGO(s) are invited to include an initial outreach and communication plan in their proposals to ensure an inclusive implementation of the activities and can be further developed and coordinated with the Municipality of Beirut once selected.
- Furthermore, Beit Beirut can support social activities through the design of inclusive operations and events that not only cater to the needs of specific Lebanese communities but also expand outreach and services to marginalized groups. Social connections and positive relations can also be strengthened between people participating and experiencing the space through events, fairs, and exhibitions that foster social and economic links between different individuals and groups, including youth.
- Grant Proposals must follow humanitarian principles. Priority will be given to proposals with special considerations for the inclusion of minorities and marginalized groups including women, migrant workers, youth, elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Duration: The expected duration of the grant/funding is 2 years
Included countries: Lebanon
Targeted Impact
- The grant(s) targeted impact is mainly to improve inter-communal relationships and the positive perception of the community on the public services.
- The outputs listed are at a project level and need to be further complemented with the specific monitoring and evaluation plan to be provided by the granted NGO(s) based on their proposed specific activities. The outputs of the available grant for each package are:
- Number of social activities addressing inter/intra-communal tensions with active participation of different communities living in the project targeted areas and/or involving municipal authorities.
- Target: Minimum of 44 – 2 social activities per month and one exhibition over a period of 22 months
- Number of people involved in the CSOs/NGOs grant activities (by age group <15, 15-24,>24, >65, nationality, gender, disability)
- Target: Minimum of 40 participants per social activity with a minimum 40% female participants (total of 1,760 participants over the grant period) and minimum of 10,000 participants in the exhibition(s) over a period of 22 months.
- Proportion of people involved in the CSOs/NGOs grant activities report that their perception of inter and intra communal relationship has improved after their participation.
- Proportion of people involved in the CSOs/NGOs grant activities report that their willingness to participate in social activities has increased after their participation.
- Number of social activities addressing inter/intra-communal tensions with active participation of different communities living in the project targeted areas and/or involving municipal authorities.
Activities
- Potential social activities that could be conducted include, and are not limited to:
- Foreseen facility management activities that support the functionality, safety and sustainability of the building, include, but are not limited to:
- Maintenance services
- Cleaning / housekeeping services
- Landscaping
- Waste management
- Occupancy and space management
- Catering services (when needed)
- Car parking
- Booking services
- Security services (when needed)
- The required facility management activities are expected to improve the performance of the facility as a whole, by delivering operational efficiencies, reducing energy consumption costs, reducing the carbon footprint of the estate, creating an environment conducive to productivity, finding and adopting technological solutions, guaranteeing regulatory compliance and minimizing risks to the facility and employees.
- UNOPS would help establish a committee, including MoB Representatives and NGO(s)/CSO(s) representatives for the approval of the events program to facilitate operations and keep in line with the vision of Beit Beirut operations. In addition, an MoU will be signed prior to the creation of the committee to establish and elaborate the operational procedure of the site along with the scope of work for the NGO(s)/CSO(s).
- UNOPS is planning to also support UNESCO Palace with rehabilitation works. The design brief of the rehabilitation works will start six months after the provision of the grant. NGO(s)/CSO(s) are expected to provide feedback and lessons learned to be considered in the design brief.
Target Beneficiaries
- The beneficiaries of the SIMA project are the two targeted municipalities and their population. The direct beneficiaries of this project are the population living in targeted areas of Beirut and Bourj Hammoud. The initial number of 300,000 direct beneficiaries represents the number of residents and potential beneficiaries in the targeted municipal area of Beirut and Bourj Hammoud affected by the Beirut Blast. The project also has an estimate of 2,586,875 indirect beneficiaries, of which 1,177,028 males and 1,409,846 females, including 12.7% under 18.
Eligibility Criteria
- Only officially registered NGOs/CSOs, foundations, and academic institutions – legal status with the Ministry of Interior.
- Proven capacity to implement projects in the project context (present last 3 projects).
- Only CSOs and NGOs with an all-inclusive approach to doing business should be eligible.
- Lebanese CSOs and NGOs, no international organization operating locally.
- No affiliation to political parties.
- Organizations can apply as a consortium. The evaluation will be done on the cumulative capacity of the consortium to implement activities.
- One organization can submit one proposal (application) with multiple options.
For more information, visit United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
