Deadline: 19-Jun-25
The UN Women is seeking proposals for its Twinning Initiative to strengthen the role of Women CSOs and supporting gender-responsive humanitarian & basic needs nexus programming.
UN Women’s programming approach in Afghanistan is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to, and capacities of, partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls.
General overview of services required/results
- UN Women is seeking to engage 14 small and medium women led /women focused CSOs to participate in an initiative aimed at strengthening these organizations’ capacities to play an effective role in the humanitarian response and in addressing Humanitarian and Basic Human Needs (BHN) of women and girls in the Western and Eastern regions (Western region: Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor. Eastern region: Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Nuristan).
- The 14 organizations will deliver programmes in support of Afghan women and girls, and receive dedicated training and mentoring by UN Women and partner international NGOs to:
- Deliver gender-responsive, results driven programs linking the humanitarian response to basic human needs programming.
- Influence the aid coordination structure to increase the accountability of the humanitarian response and its connection with basic human needs programming.
Funding Information
- CSOs are expected to implement seed grants (approximately USD 15,000),
Duration
- Timeframe: Indicative start date and end date for completion of required services/results
- Start date: 15 July 2025
- End date: 28 Feb 2026
Description of required services/results
- CSOs are expected to ensure the participation of key personnel in a three-month Technical and Operational Capacity Building Programme, with a focus on key areas such as programme management, operations, leadership and gender equality, as well as access and negotiation in humanitarian settings.
- Following the capacity-building process, CSOs are expected to apply their enhanced technical competencies across key humanitarian and basic human needs programming sectors, including but not limited to livelihoods, protection, WASH, and cash-based interventions.
- CSOs are expected to actively participate in relevant humanitarian coordination mechanisms, contributing to collective response efforts and promoting gender-responsive approaches within inter-agency platforms.
- CSOs are expected to engage in ongoing programmes led by UN Women and/or partner INGOs (where relevant) facilitating the practical application of acquired knowledge through hands-on involvement in programme implementation.
- CSOs are expected to implement seed grants, with technical guidance provided, to deliver gender-responsive and results-oriented programmes that address basic humanitarian needs and strengthen linkages between response and development. These interventions should also aim to inform and influence aid coordination structures, enhancing accountability and the integration of gender equality considerations.
Competencies
- Technical/functional competencies required:
- Be small or medium Local Women-led Organization (WLO): (Small: having governance body, limited local presence, limited paid staff, 2 to 3 management staff. Medium: having a governance body, some broader local presence, good number of paid staff (up to 10) management positions.)
- Legally constituted organization with a valid registration in Afghanistan.
- To have an active bank account in order for UN Women to transfer funds.
- Operational presence in one or more of the provinces in Eastern/ Western regions. (Western region: Herat, Farah, Badghis and Ghor. Eastern region: Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar and Nuristan)
- Previous engagement in providing Humanitarian assistance and Basic Human Needs (BHN)/Development programming in the past 3 years.
- Availability of minimum technical and human resources and capacity.
- Exclusion criteria: Organizations who are existing Humanitarian cluster members and already implementing large humanitarian projects will not be considered for this initiative.
- Other competencies/experience, which while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services:
- Experience of working with UN Women
- Experience of working with other UN Agencies
- Handled grants from USD 10,000 – 49,000
- Handled grants more than USD 50,000
- Previous experience as sub-grantee with UN Agencies or INGOs
For more information, visit UN Women.