Call for NGOs: Women’s Empowerment and Economic and Financial Inclusion in Egypt

Deadline: 14-Mar-24

In partnership with the Government of Egypt and the European Union, UN Women implements the “Women’s Empowerment and Economic and Financial Inclusion in Rural Egypt – COVID19-Response”, there is a component focused on supporting ending violence against women and girls to enhance women’s access to protection and response services and raising awareness on the root causes and impacts of the different forms of gender-based violence against women.

This call aims to solicit an NGO to develop and carry out an innovative community engagement activity leveraging the capacities of local artists to raise community awareness of discriminatory norms underlying the various forms of violence women are subjected to and highlighting the impacts this has not only on the women themselves but also their families and communities at large. The NGO is to build the capacities of artists in Upper Egypt and enable them to showcase their work with the core aim of changing discriminatory gender norms and raising awareness on VAWG in their local communities.

The activity specifically aims to develop the capacities of local artists from Upper Egypt to use forum theatre to challenge gender discrimination and VAWG within their communities and support them in leading interactive street performances, taking theatre outside of theatrical institutions and into public spaces. Forum theatre transforms the performance space to a forum for discussion and is thus often used by socially excluded and disempowered groups to create awareness about and tackle social problems through a participatory approach.

The NGO will build the capacities of local artists, both men and women, from independent theatre troupes on forum theatre techniques, the tools and techniques necessary to challenge harmful beliefs and a clearer understanding of the different forms of VAW, it’s impacts and appropriate response and prevention mechanisms. The trained artists will then deliver interactive performances that have the potential to spark lasting social change towards greater gender equality and empowerment. By engaging young people in conversations around gender equality, performances inspire families and communities to rethink their own beliefs and attitudes.

Activity Objectives

• Support local artists in creating grassroots social dialogue around VAWG
• Raise awareness about the impacts and appropriate responses to VAWG
• Engage communities through grassroots messaging to become agents of change in ending violence against women.

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be 500,000 – 750,000 EGP.

Timeframe

• Start date and end date for completion of required services/results
  • The activities should commence on the 5th of May 2024 for 3 months of implementation.

Expected Deliverables

• Submit a workplan for the implementation of the proposed activities and specified targets. The workplan should reflect the expected output, activities, and indicators in line with the outcome/output of this CFP with a specific timeframe. The workplan should factor in the anticipated timeframe for obtaining any necessary government approvals (if required). The work plan should be complemented by a sustainability plan reflecting the mechanisms that will be put in place for continuation of the activities asthe programme phases out.
• Design and deliver training. The training will include different stages of theatrical performance, starting from playwriting, directing, acting, scenography, among others, with particular focus on Forum theatre techniques, providing participants with solid knowledge and skills for leading their own performances. Participants will also gain awareness on different forms of violence against women, its causes, consequences and different tools to prevent, recognize and counter. The trained artists will be guided through a creative process where they can learn to use theatre games and techniques, improvisation, and storytelling, among others, to develop better self-awareness, self-confidence, learn new forms of expression, while exploring and reflecting on issues that affect them. Participants will be guided throughout the workshop on developing interactive theatre performances on the issue of violence against women, devised from their own storiesto be publicly performed by the end of the workshop.
• Support public performances and community initiatives. The trained artists will perform the plays they developed highlighting key messages on VAWG using an interactive approach that involves Egyptian public from different backgrounds. The NGO will promote and manage public performances to ensure maximum reach among the intended target audience. This includes providing technical and financial support for the artists to produce their performances locally.

Target Audience

• Primary Target Audience:
  • Local artists, both men and women, from independent theatre troupes
  • Geographical area: Upper Egypt o Education: Literate
• Secondary Target Audience:
  • Women, men, boys and girls from diverse backgrounds
  • Geographical area: National
  • Education: Any

Competencies

• Technical/functional competencies required
  • The selected organization will be responsible for the implementation of programme activities ensuring the realization of the anticipated interventions in line with UN Women rules and regulations and will work in close collaboration with the UN Women team as well as the National Council for Women team.
    • The bidder must have a track record of at least 4 years of demonstrated experience in designing and delivering theatre trainings.
    • A minimum of 15 years of organizational experience and proven track record/credibility on social norms change and development, and other areas of expertise relevant to the services required;
    • Relevant experience dealing with stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations;
    • Previous experience in community development work in the intervention governorates. Having field offices in Upper Egypt is a plus;
    • Excellent soft skills, technical and training capabilities;
    • Soundness of the proposed results and activities, and linkages between them;
    • Soundness and adequacy of the technical approach and proposed strategies to support the achievement of results with a focus on sustainability of results;
    • Realistic detailed Implementation plan;
    • Soundness of the Monitoring and Evaluation approach and tools; –
    • The bidder shall submit comprehensive CVs for the lead team members
• Other competencies, which while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services
  • Management arrangement for the required services, including for monitoring and reporting, and if needed, evaluation;
  • Overall governance/management structure of the proponent organization.

For more information, visit UN Women.