Call for Proposals on the Theme: Peace and Security and Violence against Women

Call for Proposals on the Theme:
Peace and Security and Violence against Women

Pursuant to African Union (AU) Assembly Decision no: Assembly/AU/Dec.277(XVI) and EX.CL/Dec.539(XVI) on the launching of the African Women’s Decade (AWD) and the Fund for African Women, the African Union is pleased to announce the call for the submission of project proposals under the 2018 Theme of the African Women’s Decade, namely «Peace and Security And Violence Against Women». The implementation of the Decade themes is within the context of the integration of NEPAD into the African Union structures and in line with Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.333(XVI) not only to consolidate the gains made so far and ensure consistency, but also to Reaffirm the African Women’s Decade as the overall implementation framework for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). The Fund for the African Women’s Decade is the vehicle for the mobilization of resources, in accordance with Executive Council Decision EX.CL.Dec.539 (XVI)(4), and calls made for the support of Development Partners.

By this call, the Commission hereby invites Member States and stakeholders to submit their project proposals on the 2018 Theme « Peace and Security and Violence against Women » as endorsed by Ministers responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs in 2017 in New York.

The Fund will benefit women, through grassroots initiatives, as follows:

a. African Union Member States: ;

b. Civil Society Organizations working in the areas of Peace and Security and Violence against Women.

The funds will be for the benefit of women and girls through national or local initiatives according to the quality of the project based on the selection criteria, its relevance, its viability and its positive impact on women.
The ceiling amount of fifteen to twenty thousand dollars (15 000 to 20 000 US dollars) will be allocated to cover the funding of approved proposals for one (1) year. Twenty to twenty five (20 to 25) projects will be selected across the five regions of Africa. Special attention will be given to countries in the North, Centre and Southern regions that have not received funding.

In accordance with 2018 Theme project proposals should meet the following criteria.

1. Criteria for the selection of project under the theme Peace and Security and Violence Against Women

Criteria for the selection of projects under the Peace And Security and Violence Against Women theme are based on the Maputo Protocol Adopted by the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union In Maputo on the 11th of July 2003, The Solemn Declaration On Gender Equality In Africa (SDGEA) adopted on the Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Addis Ababa from 6-8 July 2004, Africa Union Agenda 2063.

1.1) The criteria for selecting Projects under the Peace and Security theme

The project should:
a) Support/creating education to promote peace, a culture of peace and tolerance.
b) Establish structures and processes for conflict prevention, management and resolution at local, national and regional level.
c) Support increased participation, competence and influence of women in peace negotiations processes.
d) Support inclusion of gender equality perspective in peace negotiations and peace agreements.
e) Support the effective participation of women in decision-making processes at local, national and regional levels in post conflict contexts and political transitions.
f) Involve women in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and peace building in post conflict context.
g) Strengthen women’s economic empowerment in post-conflict and protracted/ recurrent crisis situations.
h) Provide gender equality perspective and strengthen the human right of women in security sector reform and in transitional justice processes.
i) Address the full range of violence against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations, including efforts to prevent and address rape as a systematic method of warfare by State and non-state actors
1.2) The criteria for selecting projects under Violence against Women

The project should:
a) Strengthen the implementation of laws, policies and action plans on violence against women and girls through data collection and analysis, and by ensuring institutions are more effective, transparent and accountable in addressing violence against women.
b) Provide access to services for women and girls to end violence against women.
c) Develop actions plans and accountability schemes to prevent and reduce violence against women.
d) Prevent violence against women through changes in awareness, attitudes and harmful practices.
e) Develop specific strategies for primary prevention of violence against women and girls that will lead towards stopping violence. .
f) Develop interventions by working with men and women on changing gender norms and social practices which encourage and fuel violence against women.
g) Develop and implement training programmes on AU, National and local legislations and policies promoting women’s Human rights.
h) Engage stakeholders such as faith-based organizations, tribal leadership, media, employers, and other strategic groups working with women, men and young people in preventing and stopping violence against women.
i) Raise public awareness in all segments of society regarding harmful practices against women through information, formal and informal education and outreach programmes.
j) Involve men and women to end violence against women through changes in awareness, attitudes and harmful practices.
k) Ensure survivors’ access to justice, by strengthening implementation of existing national legislation, and alignment with international, continental and regional human rights’ standards; including quality health and other services e.g. hotlines, safe spaces, legal assistance and crisis counseling.
l) Respond to the needs and human rights of especially excluded and underserved women groups, such as women living in poverty, migrant women workers, women domestic workers, indigenous communities, women living with HIV or disabilities, women who have been trafficked, female headed household.
m) Put an end to harmful cultural and religious practices which affect the status, dignity and health of women e.g. child and force marriages, harmful widowhood practices, Female Genital Mutilation. FMG.
n) Conduct awareness-raising actions against child labor.

2. Mode of application

2.1. Submission of a brief and schematic Concept Note in line with the application characteristics provided (attached). The Concept Note should be in summary form to facilitate technical evaluation and provisional approval or rejection by the Steering committee. It should not exceed one page;

2.2. Submission of a more detailed, well formulated project proposal, in accordance with the format provided (attached), which meets key operational, technical and procedural requirements required for the final evaluation of the proposal.

The application should include the following information:

i. A one page synthesis of the Concept Note (attached), as follows:

• Basic data (project name, management details, duration, geographical location, context and rationale of the project);
• Description of the project (purpose, goals and objectives, expected outcomes, activities, indicators, beneficiaries, entities and partners);
• A brief presentation of the implementing agency: 1) governance structures, financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability plans;
• Names and contact details (telephone numbers, email, etc.) of signatories.

ii. Detailed Project Proposal: Refer to attached guidelines

iii. A page containing:

• The detailed budget in dollars (US$) and equipment (available and required). Distribution: 50% for equipment, and 50% for training and general expenses. The Fund for African Women does not cover salaries;
• Bank details of the organization.
All applications should include a letter of recommendation from national Coordination Committees or Ministries responsible for Gender and women’s Affairs. NGO’s and CSO’s, should provide a copy of the Letter of Information sent to your Ministry of women Affairs. All hard copies of applications should be sent through the respective Embassies of Member States in Ethiopia, with electronic copies submitted directly to the Commission, addressed to the Director- Women, Gender and Development Directorate, AU commission Fund for African Women, by 30 August 2018.

Kindly note that the commission will only accept proposals that adhere to the indicated theme.

This call for proposal will be posted on the AUC website http://www.africa-union.org. The detailed format in which concept notes should be submitted is available on the website in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic.

Member States and grassroots organizations with the requisite capacity, experience in networking with women’s groups, community cooperatives, the informal sector, and addressing gender inequality are encouraged to apply.

For further information or clarifications, please contact WGDD@africa-union.org; Mr. Adoumtar Noubatour, Senior Programme Officer, Tel: +251 11 518 21 11, email: adoumtarn@africa-union.org and Mrs. Fiorella Di Pede, email : FiorellaP@africa-union.org, Tel.: +251115182115.