Tunisia: Supporting the Inclusion of Vulnerable Communities

Deadline: 1-Jun-21

The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs’ Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) and the United States Embassy in Tunisia is seeking proposals to empower vulnerable communities in Tunisia by promoting favorable social and institutional reforms that grant greater access to resources for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and people with disabilities.

Objectives

A successful project will result in:

Effective coordination between Tunisian government and civil society institutions to increase support to GBV victims and implement laws protecting their rights
Improved government capacity to identify people with disabilities and use data to distribute benefits that people with disabilities are legally entitled to
Increased awareness and capacity among GBV victims and people with disabilities to understand and exercise the rights afforded to them.

Priority Areas

This notice identifies two Priority Areas. Successful applicants will address each Priority Area and all of the components deemed required.

Empowering & Protecting GBV victims (Priority Area 1): In order to empower victims of GBV, it is essential to build the capacity of entities providing resources to victims. The first priority area therefore focuses on supporting victims’ shelters and women’s centers, improving the implementation of Law 58, and granting victims better access to legal aid and other support services. Successful applicants shall develop additional activities, but the following components are required:
- Provide capacity building for GBV victims shelters and women’s centers and create a sustainable, income-generating model to reduce reliance on foreign funding;
- Support the establishment and development of the National Observatory for the Fight Against Violence Against Women to effectively monitor the implementation of legislation and policies, with a focus on standardizing data collection and a response framework for GBV victims;
- Assist the National Observatory for the Fight Against Violence Against Women to better track instances of GBV;
- Facilitate improved access to social services for GBV victims and better connect them to legal aid adapted to their needs; and
- Promote increased understanding of Tunisian women’s rights and protections afforded under anti-discriminatory laws.
Empowering & Protecting People With Disabilities (Priority Area 2): The number of people with disabilities is severely undercounted in Tunisia and thus a significant portion of this vulnerable community is not currently receiving the social benefits available to them under Tunisian law. The second priority area aims to strengthen government data collection and management to improve distribution of disability benefits to Tunisians. Successful applicants shall develop additional activities, but the following components are required:
- Assist the MoSA with the establishment of a task force that develops and deploys a nation-wide survey on the prevalence of disability in each governorate and the existing levels of support for people with disabilities;
- Support the Tunisian government to create an efficient and equitable benefits distribution mechanism by developing a QR code-based disability card system;
- Conduct advocacy campaigns to raise awareness among people with disabilities of their rights;
- Promote and support efforts to destigmatize negative connotations associated with disability benefit cards; and
- Identify synergies with Priority Area 1 to ensure GBV victims with disabilities have access to support services adapted to their needs.

Funding Information

Estimated Initial Project Funding: $4,000,000
Estimated Initial Award Ceiling: $4,000,000
Estimated Initial Award Floor: $3,000,000
Estimated Length of Initial Project Period: Three years
Maximum Length of Project Period with Option Year(s): Five years

Eligibility Criteria

U.S. or foreign
- Non-profit organizations;
- For-profit organizations;
- Private institutions of higher education;
- Public or state institutions of higher education;
- Public international organizations;
- Small businesses with function and regional experience in the areas of: good governance, human rights, or organization strengthening in the MENA and Africa regions.
To be considered for funding under this opportunity, applicants SHALL:
- Have demonstrable previous experience working in the MENA region;
- Have demonstrable previous experience working with government ministries and partners on good governance and human rights issues;
- Have demonstrable previous experience working with government ministries and partners on electronic solutions;
- Meet the requirements of the government of Tunisia to conduct programmatic activities within the country.