Call for EOIs: Partnerships for Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation

Deadline: 11-Jun-23

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the project ‘Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship’ (CWE), funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, and implemented by ESCAP.

The objective is to partner and provide grant funding in Fiji and Samoa, two of the Catalysing Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) programme’s focus countries, under the following themes:

• Theme 1) Increasing the economic empowerment of rural and remote indigenous women entrepreneurs.
  • The proposals submitted under this theme should aim to increase the economic empowerment of rural and remote indigenous women entrepreneurs in Fiji and / or Samoa through collective structures, that will promote individual women as key actors to strengthening village and community-based economies with access to increased resources, training, and/or other forms of support.
• Theme 2) Promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
  • The proposals submitted under this theme should provide innovative approaches to supporting women’s entrepreneurs in the agriculture, fisheries, and/or tourism sectors to adapt their business models and ways of working to the context of climate change and/or to develop business solutions tailored to the Fijian and/or Samoan context, which contribute to climate change resilience and adaptation.

Scope of the Work

• This Request for EOI is designed to support rural and indigenous women entrepreneurs and their businesses’ resilience and adaptation to climate change in Fiji and / or Samoa.
• As part of the agreement, the applicants might undertake a range of activities including but not limited to these:
  • Increasing the economic empowerment of rural and remote indigenous women entrepreneurs.
    • Supporting formal collective structures that create access to economic opportunities for individual women
    • Training women entrepreneurs or their associations on business development
    • Development of community-based finance solutions for women
    • Provision of access to finance for rural and indigenous women
    • Mentoring and assisting rural and indigenous women to increase their access to existing finance solutions in the country
    • Capacity building for individual rural women and rural collective structures (women’s groups, organisations, networks, etc.)
  • Promoting women’s entrepreneurship in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
    • Business development and capacity building to support women entrepreneurs in the priority sectors in implementing climate change mitigation strategies.
    • Increasing women entrepreneurs’ ability to access finance for climate-related projects.
    • Providing women entrepreneurs with access to information and training on climate change adaptation and technologies and practices
    • Supporting women-owned or women-led businesses which propose solutions for climate change adaptation and resilience in Fiji and/ or Samoa

• Note: Given the high rates of domestic violence in the target countries, the interventions must consider this aspect and ensure that they will not further increase the prevalence of domestic violence.

Funding Information

• Applicants may request up to US$30,000 per proposal.
• Project Implementation Timeline: 15 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, or any shorter timeframe proposed within these dates.

Target and Customers

• The project activities should focus on increasing the economic empowerment of rural and remote indigenous women entrepreneurs in Fiji and Samoa through collective and climate adaptation and resilience approach.

Target Countries: Fiji and Samoa.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are open to all organizations which hold a not-for-profit statusin Fiji and / or Samoa. A proof of the organization’s not-for-profit status will be required as part of the application process. Applications are also open to other UN, government and multilateral entities, who have the skills and expertise in developing similar initiatives.
• Minimum qualification criteria
  • Applications are open to all organizations which hold a not-for-profit status provided that the applicant demonstrates prior experience and capability of proposed staff members of the team. Not-for-profit lead organizations may partner with private sector institution(s) to implement activities if appropriate. A proof of the lead organization’s not-for-profit status will be required as part of the application process. Applications are also open to other UN entities, government and multilateral organizations who have the skills and expertise in developing similar initiatives.
  • Have proven understanding of the Fiji and/or Samoa context and can legally operate in the targeted countries mentioned.
  • The application submission must be complete and received before the application deadline.
• Additional requirements and for applicants
  • Previous experience in the area of expertise proposed.
  • Given the high rates of domestic violence in the target countries, the interventions must consider this aspect and ensure that they will not further increase the prevalence of domestic violence.
• Other General Requirements or Preferences:
  • Confirmed human resources to cover all planned/required activities;
  • Commitment and ability to provide on-site resources (e.g., staff, consultants) as needed;
  • Experience working with women (entrepreneurs) at the local level;
  • Experience working with international organisations and understanding of the challenges of working with them is preferred;
  • Current presence in Fiji and/or Samoa;
  • Previous experience implementing similar programmes in Fiji and/or Samoa.

For more information, visit ESCAP.