Deadline: 3-Nov-23
UN Women in Malawi is offering grant to Non-Governmental Organizations based in Malawi to support implementation of The Malawi Girls Can Code Project to reduce the digital gender divide and economically empower girls and young women through increased digital access and technology adoption by 2026 in line with the Malawi Implementation Plan – MIP2063 Enabler.
The Malawi Girls can code too project will enable the achievement of more genderbalanced access to technology which has positive potential for economic development for women, girls and the country at large. Specifically, the project will provide a unique opportunity for girls to acquire knowledge on entrepreneurship, coding and digital literacy which will stimulate them to become ICT Professionals; increase use of mobile phones and internet in accessing information for example on gender, entrepreneurship, and soft skills, GBV and other professional growth services.
It will also enhance monitoring and reporting of harassment and other forms of violence experienced by girls through online platforms. It will give a platform to participating girls to interact with other girls and women ICT experts in Malawi and Africa. Providing young women and girls ICT knowledge through MGCC2 will contribute to the transformation development of girls and young women through education, enhancing ICT, coding, and entrepreneurship knowledge, and therefore improving their ability to acquire income. This approach aimed at tackling gender inequality that ultimately improves women’s economic, social, and political life is central to advancing Ireland’s shared values and interests in Malawi.
Programme Objective
- The proposed project will contribute towards enjoyment of girl rights through usage of technology and innovation to address various gender inequalities and challenges. The project will enable the achievement of more gender-balanced access to and use of technology which has great positive potential for economic development for women, girls, and the country at large. Specifically, the project will provide a unique opportunity for girls to acquire knowledge on coding and digital literacy which will stimulate them to become ICT Professional; increase use of technological gadgets such as mobile phones, computers, internet, among others for daily livelihoods in the context of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. ICT also allows women and young girls to be engaged in part- time jobs which allows them to manage family responsibility at the same time.
Scope of Work
- UN Women Malawi wishes to engage the services of local NGOs to implement activities across the Outcome in the target districts of Dedza, Zomba, Balaka, Mzimba, Blantyre, Dowa and Lilongwe but starting with a few districts in the first year. The successful partners should have existing presence in the target districts and programming expertise in Education, Gender, Community Development and Women’s Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods. The specific outcomes are:
- Outcome: More gender -balanced digital access and technology adoption for both rural and urban girls and young women in Malawi by 2026.
- Percentage of girls enrolled in ICT (participate in technology and innovation).
- Percentage of people accessing digital technology (by sex, type of digital technology).
- Output 1: Girls acquire knowledge and skills on coding and digital literacy which will stimulate them to become ICT Professionals.
- Establish 20 eLearning hubs hosted in community day secondary schools annually for girls in rural areas.
- Conduct four 3-month training sessions on ICT literacy in e-learning hubs annually.
- Conduct four regional Bootcamps for fifty participants totaling two hundred women per year for girls and 1 national bootcamp for young women in urban areas.
- Develop a training manual covering ICT, Coding, and Leadership (adopted from the AGCCI to fit the Malawi context).
- Conduct a TOTs for young graduates who will be the main trainers for the programme
- Output 2: Increased access to information on ICT and other services (including GBV, SRHR, employment), and for professional growth.
- Purchase reliable off grid solar systems for powering 12 eLearning hubs.
- Conduct TOTs for young people to be able to maintain the equipment and to manage the eLearning hubs as a way of creating local jobs.
- Sensitize girls, community at large and duty bearers on maintenance and management of eLearning hubs and its benefit to the ecological system they live in.
- Output 3: Girls who have participated in the Coding Camps engage in opportunities in private sector, tech clubs, tech companies and CSOs working within ICT and Coding sectors.
- Facilitate engagement meetings with ICT private sector and other stakeholders.
- Establish networks/ user friendly e-platforms to ensure girls and women stay connected and can develop together and support each other across borders promoting regional integration.
- Train and establish a pool of young ICT and Coding experts/mentors to support development of code and applications.
- Sensitize the media, the public and other stakeholders on the MGCC2 for advocacy and national ownership.
- Output 1: Girls acquire knowledge and skills on coding and digital literacy which will stimulate them to become ICT Professionals.
Activities
- Output 1:
- Sensitising the community about the project
- Sensitising the community about creation of e-learning hubs
- Mobilising and boys and men to support the project beneficiaries.
- Identifying beneficiaries to be trained on ICT Literacy
- Mobilisation and selection of girls to participate in bootcamps.
- Following up on the girls that participated in the bootcamps to assess and support them on utilisation of resources.
- Support with beneficiary registration (updating beneficiary details into database).
- Output 2:
- Domesticate the media Campaigns to encourage more girls to participate in ICT and other STEM related activities.
- Provision of post training support including mentorship sessions.
- Provide soft skills trainings (life skills training sessions).
- Promote community ownership and security of the project equipment placed in the communities.
- Organising community open days or girls to showcase skills gained
- Organising radio programs to advocate for positive social change around programmatic issues (WEE-EVAW-GBG-DRR) through community radio stations.
- Identify and work with community influencers (change agents) to advocate for gender equality and participation of girls and women in ICT.
- Output 3:
- Facilitating linkages with private sector including organising district level interface meetings between private sector and e-learning hubs.
Duration
- September 2023-July 2024 (11 months).
Geographical Location
- Dedza, Dowa, Zomba, Balaka, Mzimba, Blantyre, Lilongwe.
Requirements and Competencies
- The CSO/NGO should have the following experience.
- Proven and demonstrable relevant experience of not less than 5 years, including demonstrable experience in community mobilisation, promoting girls’ education, gender, youth empowerment, and organizing or facilitating boot camps in different fields.
- Experience in gender equality and livelihoods programming, life/soft skills training, and youth employment programming.
- Those with ICT programming experience for primary or secondary schools will have an added advantage.
- Demonstrated (previous) experience in carrying out similar projects working with universities and girls from community members.
- Current experience in the operational areas in the named districts is strongly preferred.
- Understanding of UN, including development issues;
- Flexible and ability to timely respond to changes to the proposal as part of the review and feedback process.
For more information, visit UN Women.