Deadline: 29-May-2024
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invites civil society organizations (CSOs), to submit proposals to support enhanced prevention and response mechanisms at grassroot, and subnational levels; and to increase awareness and advocacy against harmful practices and empower the public and survivors regarding their protection and rehabilitation.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development establishes a global framework to foster a diverse society that is equitable and inclusive for all. Central to this agenda is the commitment to reduce inequalities and promote societies that are peaceful, just, and inclusive. In alignment with these goals, UNDP Malawi’s programme on Governance Pillar III: Oversight Mechanisms, Human Rights, and Rule of Law, aims to strengthen institutional oversight, human rights, the rule of law and GBV prevention and response mechanisms by law enforcement and transformative practices to ensure adherence to legal frameworks and protection of GBV survivors in Malawi.
The Programme focuses on strengthening the human rights of vulnerable populations in Malawi by empowering civil society to effectively represent, access and defend the rights of vulnerable groups including women, key populations and young people so that they are enabled and effectively resourced to lead human rights service delivery, advocate for and enjoy rights, and overcome social and structural barriers to human rights. A key element of this initiative is the creation of mechanisms for promoting and protecting the rights of marginalized women, children, people with disabilities including persons with albinism and key populations. This includes increasing public awareness campaigns against GBV, harmful practices, Sexual and reproductive health and rights violations and child marriages among others.
The project seeks to increase capacity of grassroot structures including civil society, traditional leaders through the chiefs’ forums, to establish and promote a robust platform for engagement between stakeholders in the promotion of the rights of survivors of child marriages, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and harmful practices.
The project aims at building on the impact of chiefs’ forums in recent years which includes – the termination of several child marriages and establishing mechanisms for de-normalising SGBV, increased awareness regarding GBV laws and facilitating identification and reporting of SGBV cases.
Objectives
- The main objective of the grant selection process is to identify NGO/CSOs with operational presence and capacities to engage in advocacy and awareness campaigns against harmful practices, child marriage, SGBV survivors’ protection, and access to economic empowerment in Malawi preferably in Nsanje, Machinga, Dowa, Ntchisi, Mzimba, Nkhatabay, Mangochi or Nkhotakota districts.
- NGO/CSOs are requested to submit one proposal specifying which districts they will cover in their advocacy work and why (a maximum of 3 districts). Each proposal should demonstrate the specific added value the NGO/CSO can deliver in specified districts.
Funding Information
- The budget should be detailed, complete, rational and realistic, and must not exceed the equivalent of USD 40,000.
Duration
- The project duration will not go beyond 6 months, counted from the date of the contract signature to the date when all relevant activities have been successfully completed.
Expected Outputs/Deliverables
- Conduct dialogue, advocacy, multimedia information and awareness-raising sessions for community members, community-based groups, chief forums and traditional leaders regarding child marriages and related harmful practices.
- Through the chiefs’ forums, establish and promote a robust platform for engagement between stakeholders in the promotion of the rights of survivors of child marriages, SGBV and harmful practices, and establish mechanisms to de-normalise SGBV, increase awareness regarding GBV laws and facilitate the identification and reporting of SGBV cases.
- Provide psychosocial support and safe spaces for survivors of child marriage.
- Support economic empowerment, livelihood trainings and starter tools/materials for survivors of child marriage.
Target Groups
- The Project’s maingoals are to strengthen the capacity of civil society andtraditional leaders to effectively prevent and respond to SGBV issues, harmful practices, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) issues and child marriages. The project seeks to strengthen the grassroot structures’ customary institutional capacity to protect human rights while enabling SGBV survivors access services in secure and safe spaces including access to economic empowerment.
- Therefore, the Project shall target both duty bearers (represented mainly by State institutions and traditional leaders) and rights holders (represented by the general population with particular focus on vulnerable groups, such as women, children generally, children in marriage and the youth population.
- The Project will focus on districts with the highest SGBV, harmful practices and prevailing SRHR issues. It will also build on existing support on provision of safe spaces and survivor livelihood training.
Eligibility Criteria
- The NGOs must meet the following criteria to be eligible for selection.
- Be legally registered as NGO/CSO and in possession of a valid registration certificate.
- Possess a mandate and founding document in line with the activities for which the funds are being sought.
- Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in implementing projects related to human rights, legal advocacy, or support services for key and vulnerable populations.
- Have an established office and experience in implementing SGBV, SRHR, Human Rights or similar/related interventions and activities.
For more information, visit UNDP.