Call for Proposals: Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Timor-Leste

Deadline: 24-Nov-23

UN Women is inviting applications to upscale the path to the economic empowerment of rural women, by supporting a project that will approach in a holistic way several challenges that weavers face.

Objectives

• The objective of this project is focus in five strategic areas that will tackle the identified challenges and threats to the weaving industry and weaver’s lives:
  • Structure and Organization
  • Infrastructure, equipment and lack of raw resources
  • Marketing and Communication
  • Advocacy
  • Capacity building and transmission of knowledge

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be US$ 250,000 – US$300,000.

Outputs

• Under the overall guidance of the Head of Office, with technical guidance and support of UN Women’s Programme Specialist for Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) and direct supervision of the National Programme Officer (WEE), it is expected that the Responsible Party presents activities to address the following outputs:
  • Output 1: Weavers are organized in a national association that will support their economic empowerment, access to markets, sector coordination and enhance their participation in political and economic decision-making spheres
    • In April 2023, UN Women contracted a legal consultation service that will assist with the legal registration of the Rede Soru Na’in. The responsible party will support the Legal Consultant in mobilising 6 weavers’ network, supporting with establishing standard operating procedures and once the Association is legally established, the responsible party will operationalise the network and handhold the day-to-day activities.
    • Through the official establishment of the Rede Soru Na’in, weavers can be provided with Government and Institutional support, undertake procurement contracts, will have broader access to markets, enhanced capacity building, peer to peer support, collective power and have increased opportunities to gain financial independence and secure adequate income from weaving.
    • The objectives of Rede Soru Na’in:
      • Economic Empowerment: help to enhance the economic empowerment of weavers by providing them with access to markets, establish and develop business opportunities, resources, and support in establishing and growing their own businesses.
      • Representation and Advocacy: provide a platform for weavers to have a voice and advocate for their rights and interests.
      • Skills Development: provide opportunities for women to develop and improve their skills and promote knowledge sharing.
      • Networking and Collaboration: provide a platform for weavers to network and collaborate with each other, as well as with other stakeholders.
      • Preserving Cultural Traditions: help to preserve Timorese cultural traditions and promote it among the younger generations.
    • Under this output, an officially registered National Rede Soru Na’in (Weaver’s Network) would be provided with strategic, financial, and organizational support to launch and operate a strong and sustainable association.
    • A sustainability strategy to that will address how the implemented activities can be carried on beyond the duration of this project should be presented under this output.
  • Output 2: Weavers groups and Rede Soru Na’in facilities are better prepared with adequate infrastructure, equipment and access to raw materials to set up and scale up their business. 
    • Women, particularly rural women, are more likely to be physically isolated from their peers and communities, relegated to the domestic sphere and with fewer or none access to proper and enough equipment to weave and infrastructure.
    • Through field consultations, one of the main struggles that weavers face is proper infrastructure for women to convene and weave, principally during the rainy season.
    • Under this Output, the responsible party will undertake the following activities:
      • In defined pilot municipalities, the focus will be to support the weavers’ groups and Rede Soru Na’in facilities to have adequate infrastructure, equipment, and access to raw materials to set up and scale up their business.
      • Establish at least two production centres in one municipality each with basic infrastructure allowing women weavers place for work
      • The production centers should be established within the communities to serve as a safe space for women and girls to explore their potential and build their agency.
  • Output 3: Increase market opportunities for weavers to promote and retail their products to national and international audiences, and enhance public knowledge of Tais and acknowledgement of the weavers as guardians and keepers the cultural heritage of Timor-Leste
    • To address one of the main challenges that weavers face, the lack of opportunities to promote their products to national and international audiences, UN Women aims to support the creation of the Rede Soru Na’in store in Dili, contributing to the enhancement of the economic empowerment of rural women and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Timor-Leste.
    • An opportunity to promote and retail their products in Dili to national and international audiences will contribute to enhancement of economic empowerment of rural women and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Timor-Leste.
    • Under this output the Responsible party will undertake the following activities:
      • Manage and run the commercial space for the Rede Soru Na’in in Dili.
      • Establish SOP (standard operating procedures) for the commercial centre
      • Increase the profitability of the centre so that it is self-sustainable by the end of the project duration
      • Create market linkages for the weavers
      • Build capacity of the weavers and handover the running of the commercial space to them
  • Output 4: Strengthen the weaver’s capacity to advocate and support the Weavers Network to be an active advocate for the industry in the policy and decision-making spheres
    • To ensure the perpetuation of Tais weaving it is required adequate public investment and a legislative and policy environment to regulate and protect the industry. The official recognition of the role of the weavers for the preservation and dissemination of the Timor-Leste heritage, traditions and values is vital for the acknowledgement of the value of their work and their role in society.
    • In the framework of the National Safeguard plan for Tais and the recognition of Tais as a as Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Safeguarding by UNESCO some initiatives have been introduced but there is still a long way to go to ensure that the weaver’s needs, and interests are to be successfully addressed.
    • Under this output and with close collaboration with UN Women, the focus would be to develop and implement an advocacy strategy that will approach National and Regional Authorities to support the sustainability of Rede Soru Na’in and advocate for the implementation of policies to protect and promote the weaving sector and the weavers from Timor-Leste. Advocating for Government funding for the network, procurement contracts, land and facilities for the weavers and plantation of cotton, the inclusion of Tais in school curriculums and the inclusion of the network in national and regional discussions about the weaving industry, are some of the objectives that the advocacy should cover.
  • Output 5: Enhance the capacity building of weavers and the support the knowledge and skills inclusion of younger generations.
    • Under this output, the focus will be on the mitigation of loss of knowledge transfer through the identification and engagement of master weavers with the RSN, promotion of the weaving practice among younger generations, through an inter-generational approach, product diversification, and enhancement of capacity building skills among weavers.
    • Under this output the responsible party will undertake the following activities:
      • Identify and at least 10 master weavers from across the country
      • Support the master weavers in conducting training of weavers
      • Identify and build capacity of 100 weavers
      • Build capacity od weavers on new skills
      • Build capacity of the weavers on new designs and product ideas

Competencies

• Technical Capacity
  • Documented successful track record
  • A proven commitment to delivery of results (able to provide records of successful policy advocacy and monitoring of projects involving rural women and other marginalized groups);
  • Has internal programmatic, administrative and financial processes in place to ensure delivery of quality and timely programme results;
  • Proven credibility among stakeholders in Timor-Leste, especially in terms of working with Tais and promoting and preserving Cultural Heritage
  • Has grassroots presence/outreach in relevant communities
  • Has adequate numbers of professional staff with adequate qualifications and experience;
  • Previous experience working with UN Women, other UN agencies or significant non-governmental funding partners
• Governance and Management Structure:
  • Is officially registered in Timor-Leste;
  • Has a Board of Directors/ managing committee or an appropriate governance structure which are politically impartial, and review key decisions affecting strategy, partnerships, programmes, finance and procurement;
  • Key decisions are subject to review by a committee of the Board;
  • Has no conflict of interest between staff between the organization and UN Women;
  • Has an anti-fraud and corruption policy of substantive standard as UN Women and consistently implements the policy;
  • Has in place policies and procedures regarding data privacy and data protection;
  • Has gender considerations reflected by proportion of women in management and Board of Directors;
  • Has the capacity to follow the UN Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, including reporting requirements to UN Women;
• Financial and Administrative:
  • Has and follows written and transparent financial and administrative rules and regulations;
  • Has a clear system for procurement and subcontracting with appropriate checks and balances;
  • Has clear documented procedures and internal controls governing the payment cycle (requisition, approval, disbursement versus cash, vouchers etc.;
  • Has segregation of duties in receipt and management of funds. Payments require two or more signatures;
  • Is subjected to regular external audits (separate from donor mandated programme specific audits);
  • Previous unqualified audits available for the past 3 years;
  • Has a sustainable financial position

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