Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Ethiopia Programme call for bids: Supporting Women, Peace and Security
Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) calls for bids in the Global Women, Peace and Security agenda and on Gender Equality in Ethiopia.
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Details
The CSSF is a cross government fund that supports and delivers activity to tackle instability and to prevent conflicts that threaten UK interests. It has been a catalyst for a more integrated UK government response to fragility and conflict, including delivering the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security (WPS) 2018-2022.
The CSSF Ethiopia programme contributes to a managed and inclusive political transition in Ethiopia and is seeking bids for a new WPS project that will deliver measurable outcomes on gender equality by either supporting women’s meaningful political participation and decision-making and/or gender-sensitive security and justice.
Grants will be in the range of £25,000 to £200,000, and may be awarded for one or more research projects. The selected bidder must be able to receive funding in British currency. The total duration of the project from the start date is up to 10 months, with a possibility of extension. All research projects must be 100% Official Development Assistance eligible.
13 November 2020 is the deadline for bids.
Background
CSSF Ethiopia Programme
The CSSF is a cross government fund that supports and delivers activity to tackle instability, prevent conflicts and respond to fragility.
The CSSF Ethiopia Programme’s overall objective is to contribute to a managed and inclusive political transition in Ethiopia, alongside supporting the establishment of security and justice institutions with civilian oversight, that provide human security for all, including girls and women.
The programme outcomes are that:
- Political initiatives are supported that lead to a shift towards an inclusive political transition;
- Performance and impartiality of security and justice actors is strengthened;
- Conflict management mechanisms are built and tested; and
- Efforts to enhance gender equality and achieve objectives of the Global Women Peace and Security agenda cut across all outcomes.
Global Women Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and the UK National Action Plan (NAP)
The UN Security Council adopted the Women Peace and Security (WPS) Resolution, (UNSCR) 1325, in the year 2000. The objective of the resolution is to promote and fulfil women’s human rights and achieve gender equality, as part of efforts to build more peaceful and stable societies for all. The WPS agenda is founded on an understanding that people experience violent conflict differently according to their gender, with women and girls being particularly affected.
The UK National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS sets out how the UK Government will integrate gender perspectives to build security and stability, protect human rights of women and girls and promote their meaningful participation in conflict prevention and resolution. The strategic outcomes of the UK NAP on WPS are: 1) Women’s Decision Making; 2) Peace keeping; 3) Preventing and Responding to Gender Based Violence; 4) Humanitarian response; 5) Security and Justice; 6) Preventing and countering violent extremism and 7) Strengthening UK capabilities
Objective and Scope of Work
The CSSF Ethiopia programme team is seeking bids for projects that deliver against the UK NAP Strategic Outcome 1 (Women’s Decision-Making) and/or Outcome 5 (Security & Justice). Proposals will be accepted for bids that address one or both of these strategic outcome areas. More specifically, we would like to receive bids which deliver or contribute to the following desired outcomes:
1. Decision-making and meaningful political participation:
1.1. Increase in women’s meaningful and representative participation in decision making processes, including conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding at community and national
1.2. Enhanced women’s voice during the upcoming election in Ethiopia and meaningful contribution of women in the political settlement within the Ethiopian Political transition
2. Security and justice:
2.1. Increasingly accessible, accountable and responsive security and justice sectors and non-state justice mechanisms, to women and girls’ rights and needs
2.2. Increased integration of gender equality and gender perspectives into security and justice management and provision, including the protection of the safety and rights of women working in the justice and security sector
Given the (limited) value and timescale, we would welcome bids that:
- Are a niche intervention which play a catalytic role, e.g. to speed up, or add value to broader and bigger processes, programmes or strategic efforts supported by others
- Are coalition bids or those which facilitate horizontal collaboration, including with emerging organisations
- Pilot activity to draw out learning and/or build the evidence base/ generate data which can be used to scale up efforts on the outcome areas above
- Recognise intersectionality of gender inequalities and apply in analysis and design of projects
Project Budget:
The total funding available for this work is £200,000.
Depending on the bids received, we could be awarding funds for one or more projects in the range of £25, 000 - £200,000. We encourage organisations to submit consortium bids.
Duration:
The total duration of the project from the start date is up to 10 months, with a possibility of extension. It must be noted that for successful bidders, funding is only guaranteed up to March 2021 as the CSSF fund secures allocations annually (April to March). It will be possible to put in place contract arrangements for 10 months, but with a break clause in March 2021.
Assessment
Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Strategic fit: Alignment with stated objectives. Proposal could fit one or both of the priority outcomes listed above.
- Project design: including clear and achievable outcomes and outputs. A clear approach to conflict sensitivity and risk management.
- Project Viability: including a good contextual and problem analysis, demonstration of evidence of demand, a realistic description of activities including methodology and capacity to adapt to the restrictions and other impacts of COVID -19 pandemic
- Stakeholder Engagement: capacity of implementing partner to engage and network with key stakeholders
- Project assurance and compliance standards: set out how project assurance and financial compliance are met, especially given the current constraints on the operating environment due to COVID -19 pandemic.
- Value for money: financial soundness of the proposed activity, demonstration of economy and efficiency of costs, and a strong monitoring and evaluation framework
- Sustainability: evidence that the project benefit will be sustained after the project completion.
Bidding Process
- Complete the project bid in the ‘Project Proposal Form’ and ‘Activity Based Budget’ in English using the guidance provided (See ‘Guidance for Bidding Organisations’). The proposal forms come with different value ranges. Please choose the appropriate form for your proposed amount of bid.
- Completed forms should be sent in standard format with the subject title “CSSF Ethiopia WPS Project: XXX name of the implementer”, to shewit.gebrehiwot@fcdo.gov.uk
- Bidders will be notified via email, of the outcome of assessment by 23 November, once internal approval process has been complete. Due to the volume of bids expected, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids.
Please also familiarise yourself at an early stage with the standard ‘Grant Agreement Template’ and ‘Guidance for Bidding Organisations’ documents attached.
More information and documents
- The British Embassy will conduct a due diligence assessment on the successful potential partner(s)
- The British Embassy will subsequently sign a standard contract (Grant or Commercial) with the successful partner/s. The terms of the standard contracts are not negotiable.
- Additional project documentation will be completed by the successful bidder/s, following the award.
- Please read all guidance and ensure that project proposals are designed and submitted in accordance with it. Proposals that do not meet the criteria and guidance will not be accepted.
Contacts
Please contact shewit.gebrehiwot@fcdo.gov.uk with any questions or queries.
Indicative Timeline
| Dates | Activity |
|---|---|
| 30 October 2020 | Announce request for submission of Bids |
| 13 November 2020 | Deadline for bidders to submit Bids |
| 23 November 2020 | Post announcement on outcome of Bids |
| 20 December 2020 | Due Diligence Assessment, Contracts and financial arrangements completed |
| 01 January 2020 | Planned Start of Projects |
| 31 October 2021 | Project/s completed |