WOMENS RIGHTS PROJECT: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

 

Preamble:

In its strategy for 2008-2011, the Norwegian Peoples Aid Southern Sudan Program has identified women’s empowerment as a key area of engagement.  NPA has already been implementing a project on Violence against Women and women’s participation from 2005.  To NPA, Empowerment means having control over the decisions and issues that affect one’s life, in particular having representation and therefore participation  in planning processes of  decision making bodies and access and control over resources and their distribution.

 

At the same time, NPA recognizes that the cross cutting issues of Gender and Violence Against women cannot be ignored if women are to be empowered and intends to mainstream these into all their programs, and  in the Women’s Rights Project, which retains an advisory role in ensuring cross cutting issues are mainstreamed.  Under the Women’s Rights Project, NPA will work in partnership with relevant Southern Sudanese Civil Society Partners in the following key areas:-

 

1.)Women’s legal and human rights, specifically targeting combating Violence Against Women

2) Building strategic networks/Advocacy and Lobbying to be able to influence and enhance sound and gender sensitive attitudes, laws and policies.

3) Contributing to Women’s political participation and empowerment, particularly using WCDI stages 1, II & III.

4) Promoting Women’s economic empowerment

 

The suggested activities under Womens Legal and Human rights include

a)    Paralegal mobilization and training

b)    Paralegal Curriculumn development and adjustment

c)    Training and recruitment of social counselors

d)    Training of various community leaders and members on Violence against women

The suggested activities under Building strategic networks/Advocacy and Lobbying include:

a)    Radio programs

b)    Newspaper  articles and magazines

c)    Advocacy and lobbying meetings

d)    Mobilization  and  focus group discussions

e)    Training of Community leaders on VAW

f)     Training of traditional leaders on VAW

g)    Training on networking and creation of   lobby groups

h)   Production of training tools and curriculums

To apply for funding under WCDI states I, II AND III, The organization must demonstrate that it has members or staffs who have participated in a WCDI training and workshop organization before. The proposal format is very specific but includes the following activities:-

a)    Mobilization

b)    4-5 day workshop for women on WCDI

c)    Local actions to be conducted by each trained group, within a month of participating in the WCDI workshops

d)    Evaluation workshops

e)    Additional session including civic education to create awareness on voting and elections in Southern Sudan

The suggested activities under women’s economic empowerment include:

a)    Providing technical training for specific economic activities  including among others,  bee-keeping, tailoring, horticulture, pottery, catering and hospitality and shop-keeping

b)    Providing training on Marketing, Product Development, Quality Control and Packaging

c)    Purchasing relevant  technological assets and spare parts to assist the groups in their economic activities

AREAS OF OPERATION

NPA Women’s Rights Projects invites proposals from partners in Southern Sudan, who will be based and/or operating in any part of JONGLEI STATE

 

THE FUND ADMINISTRATION

 

How much can be applied for?

NPA has set aside USD 120,000only for this particular call for Proposals, Organizations can apply for a minimum of 5000USD (Five thousand United States dollars) and a maximum of 15,000USD (Fifteen thousand United States dollars only). 

 

How will funds be released?

Once the prospective partner has gone through a screening process and been approved as a partner, and a contract is signed, partners will receive a cheque for the equivalent in Sudanese pounds.

 

Project duration

Each project should run for a minimum of Six (6) calendar months and a maximum of twelve (12) calendar months

 

Duration of call for proposals

NPA Southern Sudan Program shall be receiving proposals from partners for a period of 3 weeks between Friday 20^th March 2009 and Friday 10^th April 2009. Any proposals reaching the NPA Southern Sudan office after the close of Business (5pm local Juba time) on Friday 10^th April  2009 may not be accepted.

 

Where is NPA Southern Sudan Program Head Office?

We are located at Hai Jalaba area, off airport road, on the same row as the St Lukes Medical center. There are usually many cars with an NPA logo parked outside the office and there is also an NPA flag just inside the gate.

 

Where can I get NPA South Sudan Program office in Jonglei?

NPA staff  have been seconded to the Ministry of Agriculture offices  at State level in Bor town, Jonglei state. Hard copies of the proposals in an envelope clearly marked “PROPOSALS FOR WOMENS RIGHTS PROJECT FROM JONGLEI STATE TO NPA SOUTH SUDAN PROGRAM” may be sent to Samuel Deng, Project Officer MDTF, Bor Town Jonglei State or Abraham Mading, Deputy Project Officer MDTF, Bor town Jonglei State.

 

How do I send a soft(computer) copy of the  proposal, budget, work-plan and other documents?

 

a)    All prospective partners are requested to send a soft copy of the proposal to the following email address,  wproposals09@npaid.or.ke 

 

b)    You may also deliver a soft copy of the proposal, to Mr Samuel Deng, MDTF Project officer on  sdeng@npaid.or.ke, or Abraham Mading, MDTF Agriculturalist on  amading@npaid.or.ke, or leave it on their Computor at the Jonglei State  Ministry of Agriculture offices in Bor town.(see details of the two above.)

 

c)    It would be good if you could send a soft (computer) copy of the proposal, budget, work plan and other documents to all the three emails at the same time, that is wproposals09@npaid.or.ke, sdeng@npaid.or.ke and amading@npaid.or.ke.

 

d)    The Front office Receptionist at Juba office will also be able to transfer soft copies of your documents and proposals to their computer and forward to the relevant department internally.

 

 

How do I send a hard copy of my proposal, budget, work-plan and other documents?

a)    If you can access the NPA Juba office, the Front Office Receptionist inside the NPA Southern Sudan Program Head office will be able to receive the documents in an envelope clearly marked CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR NPA WOMENS RIGHTS PROJECT FOR JONGLEI STATE, before close of this call for  proposals.

 

b)     You can leave hard copies of your documents with Samuel Deng, MDTF Project officer  or Abraham Mading MDTF Agriculturalist  at the Jonglei State Ministry of Agriculutre offices in Bor town.

 

 

Please note that NPA Juba office has a room for partners where CBOs and NGOs can access internet facilities in the office.

 

How will I know if my proposal has been accepted or rejected?

A project approval committee shall be convened internally and will meet   between Friday 24^thApril 2009 and Friday 8^th May 2009 to short list successful proposals. Successful candidates will be contacted between Monday 11^th May 2009 and Friday 22^nd May 2009. Thereafter there will be meetings to discuss specific accepted proposals at the Juba office until Friday 5^th June 2009. Contracts wit successful candidates will be signed during this period.

 

Those with rejected proposals will also be informed officially during the same period by email and by a letter in hard copy.

 

What are some of the criteria that will be used to select a partner?

 

The selection committee will inter alia be looking at the following issues in the selection process

a)    Whether or not the recommended format has been followed

b)    Whether or not  a soft copy TOGETHER WITH a hard copy of all required documents have been sent

c)    Whether or not the duration of the project  is between 6 months and 12 months

d)   Whether or not the budget sent falls between equivalent of USD 5000 and USD 15000 only

e)    Whether or not ALL  required attachments have been received

f)     Whether or not the proposed activities and plans are flexible, dynamic and reflect areas of NPA operation and interest

g)    Whether or not the applying organization has had a proposal rejected before by the same committee

h)   Whether or not the activities are going to have a direct impact on local communities

i)     How long the partner has been operating in Central Equatoria

 

 

PARTNERSHIP CRITERIA

For CBOs, including Womens Groups.

1. Registered or approved through a letter of recognition as an association of individuals or groups by the local GOSS structure (State/County/Payam/Boma administration) or expressed intention to be formally registered. 
2. A well defined constitution (laws and by-laws) with clear structures and responsibilities such as chairperson, secretary, treasurer, member, etc. or an intention and expressed commitment in writing to develop these. 
3. Bank account in the name of the CBO or the association or a financial management and monitoring system such as;
4. • Record keeping (elected treasurer with book keeping),
   • System of financial disbursement (documented request, approval, authorization and reception)
5. Living and working in the project area.
6. Official recommendation by State/County/Payam/Boma administration.
7. Project proposal with well defined goal/objective, strategy, tasks, time frame, and a realistic budget (a simple action plan could also be taken equally).   

 

For Indigenous NGOs

1.    The NGO shall be officially registered with a valid registration document.

2.    The NGO shall be based in Southern Sudan with active operational programs.

3.    There shall be documented and verifiable institutional policies, procedures and guidelines such as

·         Constitution ,

·         HR policy,

·         Ethical code of conduct,

·         Financial and other operating guidelines,

·         Procurement policy,

4.    Proven financial resource management capacity with:

·         Financial management guidelines,

·         Bank Account(s) in the name of the organization,

·         Last audit and financial report

 

5.    Institutional experience or history in the relevant project or sector in Southern Sudan or elsewhere.

6.    Official recommendation from relevant GOSS central/state level bodies and/or past donors

7.    Project proposal with well defined goal/objective, strategy, activities, indicators, time frame and budget.

8.    Active policy or clear commitment to develop policies on gender, HIV/AIDS and environmental protection.

 

PROPOSAL FORMAT GUIDELINES

 

A.  Proposals are not to exceed 8 A4 size pages

B. Budgets are not to exceed 2 pages

C.  Attatchments to the Proposal for a first time should include:-

·         Registration certificate AND other registration documents of the organization (With GOSS) ,

·         List of names and valid email and telephone contacts  of previous donors, particularly the two (2) latest ones ,

·          Amounts given  by previous donors, on the two(2) latest previous projects,

·         A   five (5)  line description of  two of the latest  previous projects’ results (Objectives, outputs, outcomes, activities completed)

·         Strategic plan of the organization

·         Constitution of the Organization

·         Minutes of 2 previous AGMs (within a year from date of application )

·         List of names and valid email and telephone contacts of four(4) of the  key staff of the secretariat  who will be working on the project

·         List of names and valid email and telephone contacts and valid colored  passport photographs (not more than 2 months old)  of at least four(4) of the board members as well as their directorship in any other organization.

·         Other occupation of the directors

·         Physical address of the offices of the organization in South Sudan (with a map showing neighboring key landmarks for easy identification) and post office address where available

The proposal should then be done in the format below :-

 

1.PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Title
Project Duration
Amount requested
Goal of Project

 

Objectives (4-6)	Outputs (4-6)	Outcomes  (4-6)	Activities  (4-6)

 

 

2. DESCRIPTION OF ALL ACTUAL ACTIVITIES INTENDED (not less than 4 and not more than 6 activities )

 

3. PROJECT RATIONALE

a) Background to the problem including consultative stakeholder processes and past experience of organization

What are some of the issues that the proposal intends to address? These can be tied in to objectives and outputs and outcomes.

b) Main problems to be addressed by the Project

What are some of the issues that the project intends to address in the community or society in which it is to be implemented

c) Links to gender equity/equality aims

How will you ensure that the project includes women, men and children and promotes gender equality and equity?

 

4. EXPECTED IMPACT

a) How will the project impact on women, men and children?

b) How will the project address gender barriers that women face in your community?

c) How will the project improve capacity and capability of your organization?

 

5. RISKS AND SUSTAINABILITY

a) What are some of the risks that could affect your implementation and  intended outputs and outcomes ?

b) What will you do as an organization to address these possible risks?

c) How will the project sustain itself(exit strategy)?

 

6. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

a) What arrangements have you made with regard to:

·         Mobilization  of relevant stakeholders for activities

·         Purchase of relevant equipment before starting the implementation process

·         If coordinating with other groups or organizations, name and briefly describe some other coordinating bodies you will work with in implementing this project (including GOSS and other NGOs) and what their role will be in this project

·         Describe how the organization will handle the funding ( NPA releases money to bank accounts of legally registered NGOs and CBOs with demonstrated capacity to manage grant funds) and the staff who will handle release of funds and financial accounting

·         Do a work-plan with activity’s clearly outlined in format below(Which is an example)

Activity  Description	Jan				Feb
Baseline Survey Design		X
Community Meetings			X
Field Interviews				X
Data inputing &  analysis						X	X
Purchase of equipment					x
Report editing & completion								X	X

 

7. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

a) How do you intend to monitor the project’s implementation?

b) What are the key indicators (ways of measuring) to be used to monitor proposed project against planned outputs and intended outcomes

 

8. PROJECT BUDGET

Line Item Description	Unit Cost	No of days/weeks	TOTAL IN SDG
Component 1
Personnel
Accomodation
Meals and water
Per diems /transport refund
Workshop materials
Other (specify
Sub-total of component 1
Project Support Costs
Personnel
Communication
Report Preparation
Office utilities
Local transport
Sub-total Project Support costs
FINAL TOTAL