Deadline: 31-Aug-23
Applications are now open for PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund for raising community-awareness on the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) committed by aid workers and available reporting channels is critical to preventing of SEA, as well as to ensuring that victims know where and how to safely report SEA when it does take place.
Established in 2020 as a joint initiative of UNHCR and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), the Interagency PSEA Community Outreach and Communication Fund provides rapid, targeted financial support to NGOs to develop and disseminate Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) outreach and communication materials.
The aim of the PSEA Fund is to support the critical work that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) do every day to ensure that people they serve are fully aware that humanitarian assistance is never conditional on any transaction or exchange of any kind and to prevent situations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). The Fund responds to the need for effective and timely information, education and communication materials on PSEA that are tailored to local cultural contexts, operational realities, and the groups that are most at risk, while also taking into account, among others, considerations of language, literacy, age and capacity.
The Fund promotes the localisation agenda, by investing in community-led efforts to help ensure that survivors know how and where to safely report SEA. It is rooted in the recognition that local capacities and expertise, including rights holders from affected communities themselves, are essential to effectively reinforce protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
Funding Information
- Grants of USD $20,000 will be awarded to NGO applicants.
- The timeframe for programme implementation is 5 months starting from 1 October 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
- Who can apply?
- NGOs, particularly those that may have limited financial capacity to develop outreach and communication materials on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). NGOs contributing to humanitarian responses are encouraged to apply.
- NGO fora or networks can apply as well, or one of their members can apply on their behalf.
- Large global organisations will not be considered for this Fund.
- What can the funds be used for?
- The funds can be used to develop or adapt context-specific PSEA outreach and communication materials targeting communities, such as:
- Awareness-raising materials (including print, video or audio) that explain core concepts, such as what can constitute “sexual exploitation and abuse’; the obligations of all actors to prevent and address such acts; protect witnesses, victims and survivors and clarify that protection, assistance and access to solutions are never conditional on sexual favours or relationships.
- Materials (including print, video or audio) that share information on where to safely report and seek help, in line with established complaints and feedback mechanisms (CFMs) and referral pathways.
- Community engagement tools, such as outlines and facilitators guides to lead community dialogues, role plays or focus group discussions that increase awareness on SEA risks, and the rights of communities and people affected by crises to receive protection and assistance free from sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Other appropriate PSEA information, education and communication (IEC) materials, tools and approaches, as relevant to the local operational and cultural context.
- The grants can also be used to adapt or translate existing PSEA outreach materials that are currently not appropriate to target communities where the applicant is working or not available in local languages.
- All materials developed under the grants will be “open source” and publicly available for the benefit of other humanitarian actors and communities.
- Selected grantees will receive technical support during the design process.
- The funds can be used to develop or adapt context-specific PSEA outreach and communication materials targeting communities, such as: