Call for Expression of Interest – Implementation Partner to ensure gender equality

Background:

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been supporting humanitarian and development projects in Lebanon since 2016, in partnership with local NGOs. WHH has submitted a concept note for a new 43-month project funded by the German Ministry for Development and Economic Cooperation (BMZ) starting in October 2023 which aims at strengthening women's livelihoods and increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities engaged in smallholder and subsistence agriculture. The proposal still needs to be developed for submission during June.

Two main implementation partners are already identified. As the project will focus on supporting and empowering women, WHH envisages a third local partner organisation to ensure that the project activities are designed to effectively address gender equality. Additionally, the organisation will provide tailor-made training for women in leadership, business development and social skills, provide legal support, contribute to the gender analysis and the outreach process.

Local organisations interested to contribute to the development of the proposal and to fill the role of an implementation partner are invited to submit their proposal/concept for how to achieve the below outlined responsibilities and objectives. Please present the organisation’s experience in the relevant fields; a detailed description of the proposed activities and approach as well as a tentative budget (containing budget headers for Project activities, Operational costs, Staff, and Other) in 3-5 pages.

Project Name:

Empowering women and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable rural and urban communities in South Lebanon and Beirut

Geographical scope:

Governorates South, Nabatieh, Beirut

Envisaged start date:

October 2023

Project description:

Project objective: Strengthening women's livelihoods and increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities engaged in smallholder and subsistence agriculture.

The following is to be achieved on the overall:

Outcome 1: Agricultural and urban target groups have sustainably in-creased income through expanded skills: Training of beneficiaries in agriculture, food processing, marketing, and involvement of participants in CfW activities

Outcome 2: Women-led MSMEs, cooperatives and start-ups improve their economic performance: The target groups are mostly small enterprises and cooperatives.

Outcome 3: Social cohesion and relationships between communities with different backgrounds are strengthened: Activities for to support the strengthening of networks, cooperation and structures to support social stability and protection systems on community base

Interested organizations are asked to describe to WHH how they can support the other implementing organizations and contribute to the following:

• The empowerment of women in South Lebanon is a priority of the project, with a target of at least 60% female participation.
• Participation of women's organizations in the selection committees and in the planning of activities.
• Conducting a gender study during the planning phase that analyses cultural, social, political, and economic barriers to participation in project activities from a gender-sensitive perspective and identifies counterstrategies to provide targeted support to women.
• Training of personnel on gender mainstreaming.
• Assignment of a gender officer and consultation by a gender committee.
• Annual workshops with stakeholders to discuss how to contribute to reducing gender inequality.
• Addressing childcare needs and women's safety on the way to activities to ensure women are protected from gender-based violence.
• Establish reporting procedures for women, raise awareness of gender-based violence.

In monitoring and evaluation, disaggregate all M&E data collected by gender to separately assess project impact on women. Special evaluation questions to promote women's status, rights and participation.