The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a call for proposals for the Operating Women Protection Center (WPC) in Afghanistan.

Women Protection Center are safe shelters for survivors of violence and their children that provide vital essential services. The services provided in the WPCs include 24/7 free safe shelter, legal aid, healthcare, education (basic literacy and numeracy), vocational training (catering services, handicraft classes, computer, and English classes), psychosocial services, family counselling, support for reintegration into a safe living situation in their families or in the community, and referral to other services.

A women's empowerment approach includes the following:

• Ensure that women participate in decision making and are meaningfully and regularly engaged in the management of the centre, particularly for WPCs
• Ensure women and child-centred support is available for women and girls throughout their journey through the system
• Ensure staff are trained to work on behalf of, and to represent the interests of, women and girls
• Ensure staff respect the expressed wishes and decisions of women and girls
• Ensure any representation on behalf of women and girls is carried out with their explicit and informed consent

In line with the Essential Services Package, delivery of essential services in WPCs should follow these key principles:

• A rights-based approach
• Advancing gender equality and women's empowerment
• Culturally and age appropriate and sensitive
• Victim/survivor centred approach
• Safety is paramount
• Perpetrator accountability.

Quality essential services have the following key characteristics:

• Availability
• Accessibility
• Adaptability
• Appropriateness
• Prioritize safety
• Informed consent and confidentiality
• Effective communication and participation by stakeholders in design, implementation and assessment of services.
• Data collection and information management
• Linking with other sectors and agencies through coordination
• Services should be delivered without any form of discrimination, regardless of their life experiences, age, identity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and language preferences.

Funding Information

• Budget should be around 11.5 million AFN (Afghani) per WPC.
• Timeline: 1 Year (1 March 2021 - 31 March 2022, 13 months) one month of inception, and 12 months of implementation.

Competencies

• Technical/functional competencies required:
  • All staff have expertise and experience working with women and girls survivors of violence
  • All staff demonstrate an understanding of the prevalence, nature and causes of violence against women and girls
  • Staff demonstrate an understanding of, and experience in, 'best practice' responses to women and girls experiencing violence based on international standards
  • Services provided in the WPC provide a safe, supportive and respectful work environment for staff and survivors of violence and their children
• Other competencies, which while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services
  • All staff have expertise and experience supporting children.

For more information, visit UNDP.