Deadline: 21-Aug-23
The Strengthening the role of feminist CSOs working in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA) program aims at contributing to the effective implementation of the WPSA in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine through empowering feminist civil society organizations ( CSOs) and women-led Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to play a leading role in implementing the WPSA, combating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) comprehensively and enhancing women’s participation at local, national and regional levels.
The program started on 1st March 2023 and will run until 28th February 2026.
The program is structured around three components:
- Provision of financial support to national and local CSOs and CBOs
- Capacity-building and learning
- Regional networking and exchange of expertise and practices
The program is implemented by a consortium of five organisations in the four countries: EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), Women Empowerment Organisation (WEO) in Iraq, Arab Women Organisation (AWO) in Jordan, Association Najdeh (AN) in Lebanon and Palestinian Working Women Society in Development (PWWSD) in Palestine. All are members of EFI, a policy platform that provides expertise in the field of gender equality and women’s rights as inseparable from democracy building and citizenship, and advocates for political solutions to all conflicts, and for the right of peoples to self-determination.
This program is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) which implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France. The project will be implemented in Lebanon targeting seven governorates including (Akkar, BaalbekHermel, Beirut, Beqaa (Zahlé), Mount Lebanon, North and South)).
Within the framework of the program, the seed funds to women led CBOs aim at reaching out to women and girls while strengthening the CBOs and initiatives working at local and grassroots levels to widen the discussion on issues related to the WPSA, combating VAWG, and promoting women’s participation. The CBOs will be expected to expand and diversify their involvement on grassroots level to improve the coordination and dialogue among individuals, other CBOs and local authorities and influence public opinion towards women’s rights, participation and protection.
Funding Information
- The annual budget for each seed fund can range between a minimum of EUR 5,000 and a maximum of EUR 25,000 (or equivalent in local currency) depending on the size and experience of the CBO/local initiative and scope of their action.
Eligible Activities
- Eligible activities for seed funds may include but are not limited to:
- Provision of services and/or spreading information on provision of services for women and girls victims or at risk of violence at community level including prevention, counselling, reintegration.
- Awareness raising-activities and sensitization campaigns on UNSCR 1325, WPSA, VAWG and the link with women’s political participation in decision making.
- Advocacy and lobbying on local levels, e.g. through the organisation of community level dialogue led by women activists where reconciliation and peacebuilding initiatives are promoted, including Internally Displaced Persons (e.g. in Iraq), refugees (e.g. in Lebanon and Jordan) and host communities whenever relevant.
- Training and workshops supporting the empowerment of women and girls in raising their voices in the local communities.
- Skills development and support to income-generating activities at community level with specific focus on women from marginalised/excluded/discriminated against groups: refugees, displaced, women with disabilities, etc.
- Work with men and boys to promote positive masculinity, combat VAWG and promote women’s political participation.
- These examples are indicative, and there are no restrictions on the type of actions that can be proposed. Innovative and creative feminist approaches are strongly encouraged and will be given special consideration
Eligibility Criteria
- The beneficiaries of the seed funding will be registered women-led CBOs that have potential and intend to organize on the long run. The following criteria should be ensured to be able to apply:
- To be an officially registered grassroot CBO/local initiative in Lebanon.
- Clear governance and decision-making structure.
- To be led by women with a majority representation of women in its governance and decisionmaking structure.
- Manifest commitment to women’s rights.
- Active involvement in the WPSA and combating VAWG at local level.
- Clear goals and vision towards social change, inclusive of women’s rights and gender equality.
- Have a good level of experience in project management.
- Ability to implement activities that are relevant to achieve results, consistency and feasibility of their actions.
- The quality of a technical and financial proposal, which will outline the justification for the seed fund, how it will be used and dispersed, what impact their actions are expected to have on the community, and a sustainability plan.
- Capacity to reach out and engage local community.
- Potential for development and replication of proposed actions.
- Interest and willingness to participate actively in the sharing of experiences and capitalisation process of the program.
- Women led CBOs focusing on and/or made of the following groups, as well as those that work with and take into account their needs, interests and rights in their actions, are strongly encouraged and will be given special consideration: young women, women who are structurally marginalised/excluded because of their origin, status (e.g. refugee, migrant), disability, gender identity, social, economic or cultural background.
For more information, visit Najdeh Social Association.