Hivos Women Empowered For Leadership Programme Call For Concept Notes

Hivos International - Middle East and North Africa Office Women Empowered for Leadership Programme – Lebanon Call for Concept Notes Deadline: 31/12/16 Budget: €70,000 Duration: 9 – 12 months Starting Date: March 2017 A. Background The Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) programme, implemented by Hivos and local CSO partners and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs FLOW II Fund, aims to improve women’s political participation and leadership in the Middle East and Southern Africa. Our aim is to esure that women have the capacities and opportunities to participate equally and fully in public and political life and that the environment is sufficiently supporting. With a mix of training, networking, coalition building, lobby, advocacy and publications, WE4L targets potential women leaders themselves, as well as political parties, administrative bodies, trade unions and syndicates, civil society organisations, media and the wider public. The programme focuses on the local and sub-national levels that directly affect people’s day-to-day lives. The WE4L programme has four aims: Our first aim is that by the end of 2020 there are many more women in politics and public administration at the sub-national level, participating fully and effectively. Secondly, female leaders have more influence on political and societal developments and on public opinion. Thirdly, we want civic organisations such as trade unions and political parties to promote full and equal participation of women in leadership positions. Finally, we want the general public to fully recognize and support women in leadership positions. Hivos implements this programme together with local civil society organisations in the Middle East and Southern Africa. The activities include training and other sorts of capacity development of women who have political ambitions and leadership qualities. We organise networking, coalition building and cooperation between aspiring women leaders and women’s rights civil society organizations. Also, the empowered women leaders and organisations convince civic organizations, public institutions, community leaders and political parties of the added value of having both women and men in politics and the importance to have women in leadership positions. The programme also includes advocacy to promote gender-sensitive electoral reforms and quota for representation of women. In addition, we organise media campaigns to make the voices of aspiring women leaders heard, to show positive images of women in leadership positions and to encourage people to vote for women. Finally, the programme also includes the creation of databases of prominent women leaders. B. Thematic Areas for WE4L Lebanon Following a Theory of Change (TOC) workshop between Hivos and its Lebanese partners, the following overall objectives and outcomes were developed specific to the Lebanese context. Objective 1: Much more women in politics and public administration at the sub-national level, participating fully and effectively Expected outcome 1.1: Social obstacles hindering women's leadership are addressed. Expected outcome 1.2: More women in public administration Expected outcome 1.3: Political commitment to women's quota & gender-friendly electoral reform Expected outcome 1.4: More (young) women engaged in politics and run for Elections on the local and regional level. Objective 2: Female leaders have more influence on political and societal developments and on public opinion.; Expected outcome 2.1: Women leaders have better communication skills Expected outcome 2.2: Woman leaders (both urban and rural) have increased public visibility Objective 3: Civic organisations such as trade unions and political parties promote full and equal participation of women in leadership positions Expected outcome 3.1: More women reach leadership positions in unions Expected outcome 3.2: women's political rights activism in Lebanon is strengthened and influential. Expected outcome 3.3: More women reach leadership positions in political parties and political parties field more women candidates Expected outcome 3.4: More gender-friendly and appropriate media coverage Objective 4:Recognition and support from the general public for women in leadership positions Expected outcome 4.1: Social obstacles hindering women's leadership are addressed We are particularly interested in receiving concept notes for the following outcomes: 1.1. Obstacles hindering women's leadership are addressed. 1.3: Political commitment to women's quota & gender-friendly electoral reform 1.4: More (young) women engaged in politics and run for elections on the local and regional level. 3.2: Serious debate kicks off on how to reinvigorate women's political rights activism in Lebanon. 3.3: More women reach leadership positions in political parties and political parties field more women candidates. Projects which target non-urban areas are also encouraged. Format and content of the Concept Note Format: 4-pages maximum, Times New Roman, Font Size 12, excluding cover page and supporting documents. Applicants can send more than one concept note. Concept notes can cover more than one outcome. Required sections: a. Provide a Context and Problem Analysis (substantiate the information with evidence where possible). Describe the core problem(s) or challenges you are trying to address, making sure to link clearly to one or more of the outcomes mentioned above. If the project is focuse on a particular geographical area, please make the connection clear. b.Desired Change and Impact: Explain how the project will reach the desired change and maintain a significant and positive impact. c.Expected result(s) and activities. Please make a clear link to the outcome(s) you chose to focus on. d.Innovation: Please indicate how your strategy shows innovation or different/unique approaches to solve the problem(s) identified. e.Budget D. Budget The maximum budget available per concept note is €70,000. E. Eligibility Criteria. This call for concept notes is open specifically to local Lebanese civil society organisations, activists and gender experts who work primarily on women’s rights and gender equality. We welcome collaborative projects between 2 or more applicants, but the concept note must be sent in the name of a lead applicant. F. Review and Selection process The deadline for concept notes is 31 December 2016. Concept notes should be emailed to: lebanon@hivos.org. All queries concerning this call should be addressed to: Doreen Khoury on the same email address. Concept notes will be screened against these criteria and quality filters by a review team comprising members of Hivos, to select a shortlist. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a Theory of Change (TOC) workshop with the WE4L’s existing partners during in January. Detailed action-plans and budgets will be submitted two weeks following the TOC workshop. Projects will start no later than March 2017.