Call for Proposals to establish Women’s Political Leadership Academy (Georgia)

Deadline: 26-Jun-23

UN Women is seeking proposals to establish Women’s Political Leadership Academy – a tailored political literacy and voter-education programme for women activists.

Women leaders, including LNOB women, have enhanced agency, voice and capacities to lead, monitor and promote the increased participation of women in political life and decision-making.

UN Women under the project “Women’s Increased Leadership for Democracy in Georgia” (WILD) generously supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)  ensures that civil society organizations and women leaders, including LNOB women, have enhanced agency, voice and capacities to lead, monitor and promote the increased participation of women in political life and decision-making. To achieve this transformative change, UN Women, along with a responsible party (RP) intends to establish a tailored political literacy and voter-education programme for women activists and to provide capacity  development to women aspirants, community and civil society leaders to strengthen their political literacy and promote their participation in decision making at all levels.

The selected organization will undertake the following work:

• Component 1: Development of the WPLA Training Programme/Curricula 
  • Under component 1, the project will develop a comprehensive training programme/curriculum for the WPLA. More specifically, this component will include the following tasks:
    • To establish a working group comprised of relevant specialists to design WPLA  Programme/Curriculum aligned with existing capacity needs and best practices at national and international levels.
    • To familiarize with UN Women’s corporate Leadership and Candidate training Curriculum  to inform the development of the WPLA Programme/Curriculum as relevant.
    • A provisional list of the topics to be covered under the WPLA Programme/Curriculum is suggested, however, the selected organization may suggest adding additional topics: transformative leadership, public speaking, democracy, gender equality and gender mainstreaming, unconscious gender bias, campaign messaging, constituency engagement et al.
    • To identify and mobilize highly qualified trainers/academic personnel who will deliver the WPLA Programme/curriculum.
• Anticipated results and Targets:
  • After eight months, WPLA Programme/Curriculum, including detailed methodology and training modules are developed and finalized.
  • WPLA academic personnel/trainers are selected and fully capacitated to deliver WPLA programme.
• Component 2: Delivery of WPLA to women leaders
  • Under component 2, the WPLA will be launched and delivered to women leaders across Georgia. More specifically, this component will include the following tasks:
    • To recruit participants of the WPLA on a competitive basis ensuring recruitment efforts reach all regions of Georgia and a wide range of communities.
    • Take coordination approach to the recruitment efforts with UN Women and the relevant UN Women CSO Responsible Partners to ensure synergies between the different components of the project, especially efforts and partners under the social mobilization component.
    • To ensure that LNOB principle is thoroughly streamlined in the selection of WPLA participants, and that diversity and inclusion are promoted in the participant selection processes.
    • To organize at least three rounds of WPLA for at least 150 women. WPLA is expected to take place face-to-face but may also entail online and/hybrid sessions as relevant.
    • To promote and facilitate team building and networking opportunities between WPLA graduates beyond the completion of the Academy
• Targets:
  • At the end of 40 months, at least 150 women leaders graduate from WPLA and have strengthened skills and knowledge for exercising leadership at community and political levels
  • A vibrant community of WPLA graduates is formed and holds at least bi-annual networking meetings (at least six meetings throughout the duration of the project).

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be [UN Women to insert the range (Min. 200 000 USD – Max. 240 000 USD)]
• Duration: 40 Months (1 September 2023 – 30 December 2026).

Geographic Area of Implementation: Georgia.

Competencies

• Minimum requirements for the Organization (for the consortium the experience of each partner will accumulate):
  • Officially registered legal entity status with presence in Georgia.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in delivering capacity development programmes with focus on voter education, democracy, good governance and gender equality
  • Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in working in the area of gender equality
  • Experience in working with multi-stakeholders: government, civil society, community-based organizations, and UN/multilateral/bilateral institutions (shall be considered as an asset).
  • General organizational capability (minimum staffing and structure of the organization) which is likely to affect implementation: organization can demonstrate that it has already developed and implemented similar projects.
• Minimum requirements for the Project Manager/ Team Leader:
  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Business Management, Political Science, Law, Economics, or a related field;
  • At least 5 years of experiencein implementing human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment programmes/projects;
  • At least 5 years of experience in designing and implementing trainings and managing events;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of women’s empowerment and gender equality issues;
  • Previous experience in working with UN agencies or other international organizations is an asset;
  • Language qualifications: Fluency in English; Fluency in Georgian.

Eligible Programme Proposal

• A 40-month implementation plan entailing detailed methodology activities, timelines and deliverables;
• Corresponding budget.

For more information, visit UN Women.