Call for Proposals: Protecting Human and Economic Rights of Female Sex Workers (Bangladesh)

Deadline: 22-May-23

UN Women now invites sealed proposals from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) or a coalition of partners to support female sex workers, strengthening their voice and agency through advocacy with duty bearers for enhancing access to alternative livelihood options and other essential services.

UN Women in Bangladesh supports the government to implement commitments to international normative standards on gender equality and women’s human rights.

The sex workers in Bangladesh are organizing themselves, establishing support networks to help their peers. The Bangladesh Sex Workers Network, a nongovernment organization working for the rights of sex workers, mobilized financial aid for more than 2100 sex workers across the country that was distributed through the active engagement of 26 community-based organizations during COVID-19 pandemics. However, pre-existing gender inequalities, GBV, and discrimination disproportionately affects the most vulnerable groups like sex workers and transgender, who have limited livelihood options and access to basic services, information, and decision-making processes.

The proponents submitting proposals should be legally registered civil society organization (CSOs) specialized on advancing women’s rights in Bangladesh. A consortium of partners may apply with one partner applying as the lead agency. The agreement and structure between the consortium members should be clearly outlined in the proposal, including the division of roles and responsibilities. The lead partner shall ensure that each consortium/coalition member agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Partner Agreement relevant to the portion of the work or services to be performed by such.

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be [UN Women to insert the range Min.USD15000 – Max.20,000 USD.
• Duration: The implementation period is 12 months with starting date of 1st July 2023 and completion date to be 30th of June 2024.

Results

• Carryout a needs assessment (related to social, legal and economic rights) of female sex workers and mapping out of the organizations (public and private) who provide different services and supports to female sex workers.
• Assess sex workers alliances/coalition for building leadership and life skills capacity to raise collective voice against exploitation and abuse.
• Design an evidence-based advocacy and capacity building initiatives by the sex workers coalition for enhancing access to alternative livelihood options and other essential services

Activities

• The results of this assignment will contribute to the UN Women Bangladesh’s existing outcome and outputs as envisaged in the strategic note and specifically aligned with the following outcome under Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) thematic area.
  • Outcome: By 2026, more people in Bangladesh, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized from all gender and social groups and those from lagging districts benefit from sustainable livelihood and decent work opportunities resulting from responsible, inclusive, sustainable, green, and equitable economic development.
  • UN Women will guide and provide advisory support to selected women led CSO/ Network to achieve the following outputs:
    • Output 1: Strengthened capacity, voice and agency of female sex workers/ coalition to build leadership and create a space for collective advocacy/ actions for their human and economic rights.
      • Activity1.1: Conduct Needs assessment (socioeconomic needs) of female sex workers (with special emphasize on the needs of street based young girls and older women) including sex workers networks/ coalition and identify gaps (services, policy, rules) to address their needs (education, health, economic and legal aid, and human rights).
      • Activity 1.2: Mapping of existing service providers (public and private) for the female sex workers in order to address their needs (e.g., education, health, economic and legal aid, and human rights).
      • Activity 1.3: Design an advocacy and capacity building interventions for the sex workers/networks/ coalition based on the needs identified through assessment.
      • Activity 1.4: Support sex workers networks/ coalition to build capacity of sex workers through leadership and life skills (financial literacy, IT skills and alternative livelihood skills)

Location: Dhaka

Competencies

• Technical/functional competencies required.
  • The call for proposals encourages innovative initiatives aimed strategically at promoting human rights of female sex workers. The lead partner applying on behalf of the consortium/coalition should be legally registered in Bangladesh. The agreement and structure between the consortium members should be clearly outlined in the proposal, including the division of roles and responsibilities. The lead partner shall ensure that each consortium/coalition member agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Partner Agreement relevant to the portion of the work or services to be performed by such.
    • Extensive experience in working on the women’s rights issues, including in human rights of vulnerable groups of women.
    • Experience in developing and implementing advocacy, capacity building and strategies for sex workers rights and services.
    • Track record of working with and organizing women who are most excluded and marginalized by the society.
    • Previous work experience with the sex workers network would be an added advantage.
    • Relevant experience in partnership with UN Women or other UN Agencies, government, CSOs networks and other development actors would be an advantage.

For more information, visit UN Women.