UNDP announces Call for Proposals for Access to Justice for Legal Empowerment in Kyrgyz Republic

Deadline: 1 June 2020

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is inviting Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) operating in the Kyrgyz Republic to participate in a competition for proposals to increase the potential of target groups and expand legal opportunities, especially for the most vulnerable groups of the population – rural women and people with disabilities.

This Grant Request for Proposals has been announced as part of the joint project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and UNDP “On Sustainable Access to Justice to Enhance Legal Opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic” (hereinafter the Project).

The population of the Kyrgyz Republic and especially vulnerable groups, such as rural women and people with disabilities, still have low awareness of their rights, and often do not have legal protection and access to legal remedies, despite the existence of an improved legal framework in the country aimed at ensuring access to justice for all citizens. The project supports the implementation of activities at the national and local levels in the Chui and Osh regions, whose population is more than 60% of the total population of the country.

Grant Goals

Reduce and eliminate discriminatory stereotypes towards the Project target groups (people with disabilities, rural women);
Raise awareness and literacy of people with disabilities and rural women regarding their legal rights;
Ensure legal empowerment of target groups through increased number of legal assistance applications to the FLA Centers and Buses of Solidarity in Chui and Osh oblasts.

Grant Objectives

Deliver trainings on the rights of rural women and people with disabilities, as well as eradication of the negative stereotypes towards them in accordance with the Project training manuals in all 15 districts in Chui and Osh oblasts.
Monitor training results through increased number of legal assistance applications to the FLA Centers and the Bus of Solidarity.
Conduct other additional relevant activities aimed at achieving the above mentioned grant goals.

Funding Information

The maximum allowable budget for Lot No. 1 is USD $40,000.
The maximum allowable budget for Lot No. 2 is USD $40,000.

Duration

All projects shall be implemented within the period starting from signing of the Cooperation Agreement with UNDP till September 30, 2021.

The Project Grant Beneficiaries and Target Groups

The grant beneficiaries include the entire rural population of the Chui and Osh oblasts. The rural population in 105 aiyl aimaks (AA) in Chui oblast is 772,138 people, of which 387,694 are women; and the rural population in 88 AAs in Osh oblast is 1,238,916 people, of which 612,068 are women. The total rural population in 193 AAs in both pilot oblasts is 2,011,054 people, of which 999,762 are women.
The Project grant target groups include:
- Rural women;
- People with disabilities;
- Local NPO representatives, that are not the grant implementers;
- State bodies’ staff, providing services to the population in rural areas;
- Local self-government staff.

Expected Outcomes

At least 1,200 representatives from the target groups under the grant funding are trained on the rights of vulnerable groups and eradication of discriminatory stereotypes towards them in all 15 districts in Chui and Osh oblasts (including representatives from all 193 AAs).
The capacity of civil society organizations and target groups involved in the project grants’ implementation to empower women and people with disabilities to exercise their rights, and to monitor progress is strengthened.
A significant increase in the number of women and people with disabilities who regularly contact FLA Centers and Buses of Solidarity under the Ministry of Justice is achieved.

Eligibility Criteria

Proposals from a consortium of two or more non-profit organizations established and registered in the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter the Applicant) shall be accepted.
All Consortium members – Grant Applicants shall be legal entities established and registered in the Kyrgyz Republic as non-profit organizations in accordance with the current legislation.
The Applicant shall submit the project proposal on behalf of one of the organizations authorized by the consortium member organizations to represent the consortium, with all subsequent commitments to its members and the Grantor.
The Grant Applicant shall have at least 3 years of proven work experience with rural women/people with disabilities.
The Grant Applicant shall have a network of representative offices/branches in Chui and Osh oblasts.
Participation of at least one of the Applicant’s consortium members received skills in the Project’s ToT conducted earlier on eradication of discriminatory stereotypes towards rural women and people with disabilities shall be an advantage during the review and selection of the grant applications.
The Applicant shall indicate the Lot number of the submitted proposal in the application.

Selection Criteria

The grant applicant shall have at least 3 years of proven experience working with rural women/people with disabilities;
The applicant has a network of representative offices/branches in Chui and Osh oblasts;
Maximum coverage of target groups in the pilot areas:
- Minimum of 600 confirmed trained participants from all 193 AAs of 15 districts in Chui and Osh oblasts for Lot No. 1 Applicant;
- Minimum of 600 confirmed trained participants from all 193 AAs of 15 districts of Chui and Osh oblasts for Lot No. 2 Applicant.
Project proposals with a higher coverage of target groups than a minimum requirement will have an advantage.
The project activities included in the proposal envisage use of the Project Training Guide on eradication of discriminatory stereotypes towards people with disabilities and rural women. Skills and previous practice are an advantage.
Activities or approaches increasing the number of women and people with disabilities who seek legal aid in FLA Centers and Buses of Solidarity, as well as follow-up monitoring, are included in the Applicant’s project proposal.
Activities or approaches to address eradication of discriminatory stereotypes towards women and people with disabilities in the community and among duty bearers are included in the Applicant’s project proposal.
The project proposal is composed in strict accordance with the format; the information provided is complete, accurate and clear.