Deadline: 31-Jul-2025
The UN Women is accepting applications for Civil Society Organization(s) to support empowering women through sustainable MAPs production.
UN Women will engage Responsible Parties to implement targeted, gender-responsive interventions in the municipalities of Malësi e Madhe, Dibër, and Bulqizë through two distinct lots. The overall objective of the intervention is to empower women in the MAPs (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants) value chains by addressing structural barriers to their economic participation, enhancing their access to productive resources, and strengthening their roles in decision-making and market engagement.
The selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will implement a comprehensive package of services that include technical expertise, mentoring and coaching, training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), support for organic certification, and facilitation of women’s representation in producer groups and associations. These efforts aim to strengthen women’s roles in the MAPs sector, improve their income and visibility, and contribute to inclusive rural development in line with national strategies and CEDAW recommendations.
Funding Information
- LOT1 – Malesi e Madhe: all proposals under this Call must fall within a maximum of 8,000,000 ALL.
- LOT2 – Diber and Bulqize: all proposals under this Call must fall within a maximum of 7,000,000 ALL.
Expected Outcomes
- To achieve such result, UN Women is focused on three outcomes, which mirror verbatim the areas of focus of the United Nations Albania:
- Increased and more equitable investment in people to remove barriers and create opportunities for those at risk of exclusion.
- Innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development.
- Gender-responsive governance that strengthens equality and non-discrimination.
Eligibility Criteria
- Technical/functional competencies required
- At least 7 years of experience in implementing value chain development and implementation with women’s groups is required.
- Experience in conducting MAPs value chain development interventions (in cultivation, processing, and marketing) with focus on women’s economic empowerment is an added advantage.
- Prior experience to deliver training and coaching on business planning, financial management, access to finance, and entrepreneurship tailored to micro and small enterprises.
- Experience in facilitating group formation, governance training, and leadership development, especially among women and youth.
- Demonstrated experience to support market access strategies, including branding, packaging, digital marketing, and establishing connections with buyers and retailers.
- Ability to engage and coordinate with local government, chambers of commerce, and civil society organizations to ensure sustainability and policy alignment.
- The applicant organization is expected to present a team of experts and/or staff with demonstrated expertise and advanced academic background in gender-sensitive value chain development, particularly in the field of MAPs. This should be substantiated through detailed CVs and, where applicable, relevant publications or documented experience in similar initiatives.
For more information, visit UN Women.