Deadline extended till 15 October 2020
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has announced the call for partnerships (CFP) for the Boys4GenderEquality Initiative.
Within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG5 and SDG4, and UNESCOs Global Priorities Africa and Gender Equality, UNESCO proposes to scale-up the global Boys4GenderEquality Initiative. Building on past projects and working closely with key knowledge, network, institutional and financial partners, this Initiative seeks to promote positive redefinitions of social norms of masculinities and the meaningful engagement of men and boys, alongside women and girls, as agents of change in the global movement for gender equality.
Objectives
The objective of this Call for Proposals is to:
- Identify partners to produce improved quality data, knowledge and research methods on norms of masculinities and gender norms to inform gender-transformative policymaking;
- Identify partners to help design and launch an operational support mechanism in response to the data; i.e. to identify and analyse good practices and develop tools and methods that will strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders to design and effectively implement comprehensive gender-transformative policies and practices;
- Identify partners to support UNESCO in its efforts to contribute to the transformation of perceptions, attitudes and behaviours related to gender equality at community and individual levels to foster a gender-transformative change of social norms and norms of masculinities, in public and private spaces, with aim to end gender-based violence and improve the well-being of all individuals;
- Identify partners to support and assist with partnerships, resource mobilization and outreach efforts (advocacy, communications and campaigns).
Pillars
The implementation strategy of the Boys4GenderEquality Initiative is structured around three main pillars:
- Pillar I: Research, data collection and analysis for an improved evidence-base towards policy guidance on gender norms, including norms of masculinities, and on the interlinkages between the deconstruction of gender stereotypes and gender equality;
- Pillar II: Capacity reinforcement for the dissemination and development of theoretical and practical knowledge tools and programmatic support for the adaptation, replication and scale-up of promising interventions, good practices and policy recommendations;
- Pillar III. Communication and advocacy to sensitize the public and meaningfully mobilise all stakeholders, with a particular focus on youth, towards the achievement of gender equality.
Funding Information
UNESCO expects the technical partner to support UNESCO’s fundraising efforts and to fundraise at least 50% of their total budget by the following deadlines:
- 3 months after the signature of the IPA for proposals of USD 100,000 (minimum) to USD 249,999 that will be implemented at city and country levels;
- 6 months after the signature of the IPA for proposals of USD 250,000 USD to USD 699,999 that will be implemented at the country level or in multiple countries of a same UNESCO region;
- 12 months after the signature of the IPA for proposals of USD 700,000 and above (up to maximum USD 5,000,000) that will be implemented globally in several countries of different UNESCO regions, preferably including Africa since it is a UNESCO Global Priority.
Expected Deliverables
- Produce improved quality data, knowledge and research methods on norms of masculinities and gender norms to inform gender-transformative policymaking;
- Help design and launch an operational support mechanism in response to the data; i.e. to identify and analyse good practices and develop tools and methods that will strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders to design and effectively implement comprehensive gender-transformative policies and practices;
- Support UNESCO in its efforts to contribute to the transformation of perceptions, attitudes and behaviours related to gender equality at community and individual levels to foster a gender-transformative change of social norms and norms of masculinities, in public and private spaces, with aim to end gender-based violence and improve the well-being of all individuals;
- Support and assist with partnerships, resource mobilization and outreach efforts (advocacy, communications and campaigns).
Eligibility Criteria
- Technical expertise
- Proven experience collecting, processing and presenting data in areas including gender equality, masculinities and social inclusion;
- Proven experience developing accessible, policy-focused analysis of data, including through the production of reports, social media products and other outreach activities;
- Proven experience using data to inform and support technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives;
- Proven experience using data on gender equality, masculinities and social inclusion to influence the design and implementation of evidence-led gender-transformative policy and practice at the local, country and regional levels;
- Proven experience in co-designing large, multi-activity initiatives in the areas of gender equality, masculinities and social inclusion.
- Skills, capabilities and networks
- Proven success in fundraising on similar initiatives to collect and use data;
- Proven network of technical and political contacts in the areas of research on and advocacy for gender equality and redefined norms of masculinities;
- Proven experience of successfully working in complex, politically sensitive and multicultural environments;
- Proven capacity for adaptability and versatility in project implementation;
- Prior work of a similar nature with UN system entities (desirable).
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Sound technical proposal that includes innovative and replicable mechanisms to maximize the value transfer to the beneficiaries;
- High impact interventions directly targeting and responding to the needs established in the TOR;
- Participatory work elaboration, monitoring and evaluation that will contribute to building a sense of ownership among the beneficiaries (young men and boys; relevant stakeholders) to promote the sustainability of the interventions;
- Demonstration of added value of the partner in terms of their access to and experience working with relevant data and capacity to mobilize relevant technical and political networks for the development of the project (including for joint-fundraising efforts);
- Evidence of capacity to manage the volume of funds and to implement the proposed activities in an efficient and effective manner;
- Established track record and international recognition within the thematic area related to gender equality and masculinities
Selection Criteria
UNESCO will review proposals through a five-step process:
- determination of eligibility;
- technical review of eligible proposals;
- scoring and ranking of the eligible proposals based on the assessment criteria outlined in the previous section, to identify highest ranking proposal;
- round of clarification (if necessary) and work plan elaboration with the highest-scoring proposal; and,
- Implementation Partners’ Agreement (IPA) signature.
For more information, visit https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/109622