The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a call for proposals for “Establish and Run National Women’s Peacebuilding Network” to advance the women, peace and security agenda.

This call seeks proposals that can support intergenerational voices of women peacebuilders and enhance their engagement in peacebuilding and the peace and security agenda through the establishment and Running of a National Women Peacebuilders' Network to advance the women, peace and security agenda. The successful implementing partner will have a deep understanding of the transformational role of women peacebuilders as decision makers in local peace and security activities. The application will have demonstrated experience of working with women peacebuilders, particularly rural and young women, across provinces. In addition, applicant should have technical capacity to develop and manage the intergenerational network of women peacebuilders with a nation-wide reach, and have the right technical, financial and conceptual background to effectively implement the project. 

Deliverables

Provide professional services which includes technical expertise to ensure following deliverables are provided within the timeframe of this project: 

• A comprehensive work plan for the development and running of a National Women Peacebuilders' Network to advance the women, peace and security agenda will be developed and agreed upon with UN Women Afghanistan, including a methodology for securing buy-in with stakeholders and developing the governance structure and operating modalities, as well as TOR for the network;
• Finalize an annual work plan for the network, linked with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Afghanistan and approved by UN Women;
• Build an initial membership list in a consultative manner, in close cooperation with UN Women and in line with the TOR, preferable based on the applicants already existing networks and proven technical experience in the field;
• Publish, with UN Women, a policy and practice paper on the roles and contributions of women peacebuilders in achieving and sustaining peace, with a particular focus on young women peacebuilders t, but also details the context and frameworks, challenges and opportunities;
• Develop an annual work plan that details the modalities for the capacity building activities, to be approved by UN Women (*please include proposed modalities in the proposal*);
• Support the network to undertake capacity building activities for its members across the full scope of the WPS agenda — from peacebuilding, to mediation and negotiation, consensus building, justice issues, overall WPS advocacy etc. depending on the of the members priorities and considering their unique cultural needs in each targeted communities. Emphasis is given for transmitting already existing knowledge and expertise from experienced community members and peacebuilders to younger peacebuilders;
• Monitor and evaluate the network's activities and progress and regularly report to UN Women;
• Create communications tools/ products that inform partners about the network and its work;
• Building linkages between the network and relevant local, national, regional and international networks;
• Design and develop a fundraising and sustainability plan for the network;
• Develop a document capturing the good practices and lessons learnt on experiences, efforts and contribution of women peacebuilders at provincial/grassroot level to achieving lasting peace.

Funding Information

• The budget range for this proposal should be AFG 11,557,500 ($150,000).
• Timeframe: Proposals should be 12 months in duration.

Competencies

UN Women Afghanistan is looking to partner with a national registered non-governmental organization to carry out the activities listed in this CfP. The partners NGO must have the following technical and functional competencies. 

• Reputation of Organization and Staff:
  • Documented successful track record (for newly formed organizations, the personnel to be assigned to the UN Women project should have a proven track record of 5 years in the subject field);
  • A proven commitment to results (able to provide records of successful projects);
  • Proven credibility in the region, especially credibility in terms of working towards gender equality, women's rights, women, peace and security.
• General Organizational Capability:
  • Strength of project management on creating or managing knowledge networks, convening a wide range of stakeholders, and generating policy advice.
  • Track record of working with governments, civil society, UN, and other major multilateral or bilateral actors.
  • Record and evidence of organizational culture of accountability, such as a written code of conduct, measures on anti-corruption and sexual harassment policy.
  • A track record of delivering quality and timely project results.
• Organizational expertise in the area of specified programme:
  • Evidence that the organization has previous experience and expertise of successfully managing projects of the same nature, related to peace and security issues, in particular in relation to peacebuilding with a cross-generational and knowledge transformative approach.
  • The organization must have presence/links not only in Kabul and other major cities but especially in hard to reach and insecure parts of Afghanistan with a capacity to bring together communities across provincial borders and tailormade activities using a conflict sensitive and do no harm approach.
• Accountability and Financial Control:
  • A functioning internal control framework and process to deliver quality and timely project results.

For more information, visit UNDP.