Organization: Women for Women International
Closing date:
19 Jan 2018I. Introduction
For nearly 25 years, Women for Women International (WfWI) has empowered more than 462,000 of the most economically, socially and politically excluded women in countries affected by violent conflict with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to be catalysts for change in their lives and families. Our holistic program offers women training in vocational and business skills, health information, and rights education so that they can overcome poverty, make healthy decisions, become leaders in their communities, and build local and global networks to advocate for their rights. Women for Women International has undertaken activities in eight countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Sudan. In 2016, WfWI closed down its South Sudan office in Yei due to the escalating conflict and insecurity.
WfWI remains eager to return to South Sudan once the situation stabilizes. Until that time, WfWI seeks to support marginalized South Sudanese women affected by conflict through partnerships with local NGOs serving this population, inside and outside of South Sudan. Therefore, WfWI is seeking applications from local non-governmental organizations that currently work with or seek to work with marginalized South Sudanese women in Uganda and in South Sudan. Currently, we will not accept applications for supporting South Sudanese refugees in other countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, etc. This request for proposals (RFP) contains all instructions and templates necessary to submit an initial application to be considered for funding under the grant program described below. A complete application should include the following items: Proposal and Timetable, Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative.
This RFP will be open until January 19, 2018. WfWI reserves the right to award one, several, or no grants based on funding available and the quality of applications submitted under this RFP.
II. Grant Details
A.Goal of the Grant
The main purpose of this RFA is to fund projects that support the lives and livelihoods of marginalized South Sudanese women impacted by conflict.
The projects proposed to WfWI should aim to achieve results that improve the lives and livelihoods of women impacted by the conflict, aligned with WfWI’s mission to help women:
· Earn and save money
· Improve health and well-being
· Influence decisions in the home and community
· Connect to networks for support
Some examples of project outcomes could include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Women served understand their rights and contribute to household decision-making
• Women served maintain sources of income and savings
• Women served increase their knowledge of health and critical disease prevention
• Women served increase their knowledge of GBV
• Women and men served participate in joint advocacy to reduce GBV in the community
• Women served share knowledge of rights with other women
• Women form attachments to group support networks
• Men trained on women’s rights
Given the short time frame of the grant and the funding levels, we encourage applicants to consider adding additional beneficiaries to a program they are already implementing with other funding.
- Participation of the Community
Participation is a key value of WfWI. Therefore, WfWI encourages applicants to take an active, participatory approach with their target communities. This approach encourages sharing information and experiences, and collaborating with beneficiaries and partners to focus on addressing common problems. Community involvement is encouraged at every step of the process, from the development of project ideas and project design, to the monitoring and evaluation of the project.
- Characteristics of Target Population
Through this RFA, WfWI encourages applicants to work with the mostmarginalized South Sudanese women impacted by the conflict. Target populations could include refugees, internally displaced persons, and women in their home communities. Where appropriate and essential to the success of the program, Ugandan women in host communities may be included as part of the target population; however, the majority of the direct beneficiaries should be South Sudanese women.
Target women should be those who have had little access to education and income generating opportunities. The targeted women could, for example, fall into the following categories:
· Female headed households
· War widows
· Illiterate
· Living below the $1.25/day income poverty line
· Disabled (if they can participate in activities)
· Survivors of GBV
D. Illustrative Projects
WfWI encourages applicants to propose creative and innovative activities to address the needs of the target population. Priority will be given to proposals that address either economic and/or social needs. Examples of the kinds of projects that may be supported by WfWI include, but are not limited to:
· Train women in key social and economic subjects, with a specific emphasis on Gender Based Violence (GBV)
· Train male leaders and male relatives of women on women’s rights and GBV
· Provide women a safe and welcoming space to come together
· Provide economic, social, legal and psycho-social support
· Provide women with skills, tools and opportunities to maintain current income streams and savings
· Provide women with skills, tools and opportunities to start or improve small business where feasible
III. Funding
The maximum amount of funding available for an organization under this program is $40,000. The budget must be prepared in USD and be based on activities described in the application.
The budget should cover a 6-month implementation period, beginning no later than April 1st, 2018**.** Funding will be subject to demonstrated successful performance.
WfWI intends to award at least one grant under this RFA. The total budget amount will be paid in a series of installments. In addition to a small initial start-up advance, the payment of installments will be based on deliverables (i.e. reports, program materials, etc.) that show the completion of a set of activities. The required deliverables and payment installments will be determined by the selected organization and WfWI. The schedule will be included in the grant agreement.
IV. Eligibility Criteria
In order to receive funding, an organization must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The organization must be a local not-for-profit and registered with the Government;
- The organization must have been in existence and implementing programs related to women’s empowerment for more than two years;
- The organization must be able to demonstrate that it has other sources of funding and is receiving support from the community in which it is working;
- The organization must have solid accountability, financial management and program implementation structures in place; and
- The organization must have ongoing implementation activities.
Upon receipt of the completed application materials, WfWI will screen applications to assess conformity with the eligibility criteria described above. Although not required, WfWI will look favorably on applications submitted by women-led NGOs.
VI. Application Submission
A. Application Process
To apply for a grant, the organization must submit an application package that includes a proposal and timeline as well as a detailed budget and budget narrative. The application should contain the following information:
1. Proposal and Timeline (please email Gina Weires at gweires@womenforwomen.org for the template):
· Contact information
· Project Information (goal, outcomes, indicators, activities, etc.)
· M&E Activities
· Project Partners
· Project Personnel
· Management Capacity (including past projects)
· Timetable
2. Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative (please email Gina Weires at gweires@womenforwomen.org for the template):
3. Annexes
· NGO Registration Certificate, or another form of official government confirmation of the NGO’s identity
· Recent audited financial report or summary annual budget (2015 or 2016)
B. Submission Deadline and Method
Applications must be received by e-mail to Gina Weires, at gweires@womenforwomen.org, not later than 5pm EST United States, on January 19, 2018. No extensions or exceptions will be made. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please email Gina Weires at gweires@womenforwomen.org for the template documents to complete the application.
After the initial submission, WfWI may contact the organization to ask questions for clarification, make suggestions for revisions, and/or request additional organizational materials as part of a due-diligence grant management process.
VII. Proposal Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria below.
Application Evaluation Criteria
Weight
Organizational capacity and past experience
· Does the organization possess the relevant experience to implement the proposed project?
· Does the organization propose a strong team to implement the project?
25 points
Anticipated project results and benefits
· Are the anticipated outcomes linked to the overall goal?
· Are the benefits to the target population clearly articulated?
15 points
Project design and strategy
· Do the target communities meet the specified characteristics?
· Does the proposed initiative identify a problem, need or opportunity to address through the project?
· Is the proposed project design likely to achieve the stated goal and results?
· Does the project design take into account existing interventions and explain how it will complement them?
· Does the project design include a participatory community approach?
· Does the strategy lay out a feasible method to implement the project?
35 points
M&E plan
· Does the organization propose a quality M&E plan that will help measure project success?
10 points
Cost effectiveness of proposed budget
· Is the budget cost effective?
· Are all budget items clearly described?
15 points
Total
100 points
VIII. Grant Oversight
Throughout the grant period, WfWI will maintain an oversight and monitoring role, which may include site visits, both announced and unannounced, and periodic conference calls, as well as triangulating with Government officials and other development stakeholders in South Sudan or Uganda.
Where needed, WfWI will provide grant management support and technical assistance to the grant recipients.
IX. Reporting
The payment of budget installments will be based on deliverables (i.e. reports, program materials, etc.) that show the completion of a set of activities. The activities, required deliverables and payment of installments will be determined in collaboration between the selected organization and WfWI, as part of the grant negotiations. The schedule of deliverables and payments will be included in the grant agreement. WfWI expects there will be approximately three installments. The final deliverable will likely be a final report.
WfWI expects timely delivery of quality deliverables, per the grant agreement, and will not release payments unless the deliverables are satisfactory.
How to apply:Applications must be received by e-mail to Gina Weires, at gweires@womenforwomen.org, not later than 5pm EST United States, on January 19, 2018. No extensions or exceptions will be made. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please email Gina Weires at gweires@womenforwomen.org for the template documents to complete the application.