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Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS

Call for Proposals 2010

I. Introduction

With funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), UNIFEM (a part of UN Women) is launching the Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS. The Fund will implement a small grants programme in sub Saharan Africa aimed at facilitating strategic action to secure women’s right to property and inheritance in the context of HIV/AIDS by providing catalytic resources to NGOs or networks working at the community and grassroots levels.

Women’s property ownership and inheritance rights can play a significant role in potentially breaking the cycle of AIDS and poverty. There is growing evidence to suggest that where women’s property rights are upheld, women acting as heads and/or primary caregivers of HIV/AIDS affected households are better able to mitigate the impact of AIDS on their families and communities. Promoting and upholding women’s rights to inheritance and property may also help prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.

Realistic and workable strategies at the grassroots level have demonstrated that increasing women’s economic security and empowerment, enhances their negotiating power in the household and is a means to reducing their physical and social vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Through this Fund, UNIFEM aims to support several community-based strategies and interventions in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce or mitigate the impact of women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS by supporting women’s enhanced access in securing and claiming their property and inheritance rights. In 2010, the Fund will provide small, catalytic grants totaling $700,000 to grassroots and community-based organizations or networks. Projects will address the structural inequalities that make women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, specifically those that emphasize access to rights and resources related to property and inheritance.

II. About UNIFEM (part of UN Women)

UNIFEM (now part of UN Women) is the women's fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that foster women's empowerment. UNIFEM works on the premise that it is the fundamental right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence, and that gender equality is essential to achieving development and to building just societies.

UNIFEM brings gender equality and human rights perspectives to its work on women and HIV/AIDS. It works to:

· Amplify the voices of HIV-positive women, using strategies that promote the leadership and participation of HIV-positive women in decision-making;

· Integrate gender equality in national HIV planning, budgeting, and M&E

· Strengthen national institutions to deliver on commitments to HIV-positive women; and

· Address the intersections between HIV/AIDS and violence against women

III. Purpose of Guidelines

These guidelines are intended to assist applicants through the Call for Proposals. They contain in detail the scope of potential projects, eligibility criteria, application procedure, the review and selection process as well as the monitoring, reporting, evaluation and communication requirements for the implementation of the selected projects.

IV. Call For Proposals

The current call for proposals will open on 20 September 2010 and close on 20 October 2010. In 2010, a total amount of US$ 700,000 will be awarded to successful community-based and grassroots NGOs and/or networks. Applicants may request funding up to US$75,000 for a one-year project. Attention should be given to justifying the scale and duration of the proposed work relative to the grant objectives and the requirements of the proposed program of work.

Through this call for proposals, relevant organizations, with priority being given to grassroots and community-based organizations, especially those working at the intersection of women’s property and inheritance rights and HIV/AIDS, will be identified. Projects that demonstrate innovative and promising approaches will be selected.

V. Scope of Potential Projects and Expected Results

Project proposals should address at least one of the three outcome areas but do not necessarily have to address all three as outlined:

1. Strengthening legal frameworks and processes that promote women’s rights and eliminate gender inequality in the context of HIV/AIDS, particularly in relation to women’s property and inheritance rights.

2. Building the capacity of legal professionals and paraprofessionals (i.e. paralegals), informal justice system service providers to implement adequate legislation or remove gender discriminatory provisions in existing legislation relating to HIV/AIDS toward promoting and protecting women’s rights to property and inheritance.

3. Enhanced capacity and influence of gender equality experts, advocates and their organizations and networks to ensure that national HIV/AIDS laws, policies and strategies uphold and promote women’s rights

Priority areas of work include:

· Increasing women’s access to legal support services and legal aid;

· Interrogating the various legal systems (statutory, customary and shari’a) which discriminate against women in the context of HIV/AIDS and deny their rights to property and inheritance in order to implement gender responsive language or eliminate gender discriminatory provisions.

· Monitoring experiences of women infected and affected by HIV and AIDS who face dispossession, economic insecurity, and discrimination in accessing their rights to property and inheritance.

· Reducing barriers at the community level to transform informal systems and customary practices to create the necessary environment for dialogue and action to promote women’s rights.

· Transforming and supporting the implementation of existing legal frameworks through policy advocacy.

· Strengthening the capacity of coalitions and networks to amplify their collective voices in national, sub-regional and regional fora.

· Facilitating policy dialogue between and amongst organizations to demand accountability of national governments to deliver on internationally agreed commitments.

· Building the capacity of legal, judicial and law enforcement actors, including informal justice service providers to protect and promote women’s rights with respect to property and inheritance.

Expected results/outcomes:

· More enabling legal frameworks and processes that reflect women’s property and inheritance rights requirements in the context of HIV/AIDS.

· Greater understanding and awareness of women, especially those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, of their legal rights with respect to property and inheritance as well as strengthened capacity to claim their rights and entitlements in the context of HIV/AIDS.

· Increased and improved access of women to legal services and support to secure property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS through a strengthened cadre of community and legal service providers, including lawyers, paralegals, and judges.

· Better data with respect to violations of women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS; as well as the number of cases filed and/or contested by women in formal and informal justice systems.

· An evidence base documenting and testing community interventions to secure women’s property and inheritance rights as a means toward reducing or mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on women.

VI. Eligibility

Eligible organizations

Organizations eligible to receive funding through the Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the context of HIV/AIDS must meet the following criteria:

· The organization must be a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization

· The organization must be duly registered in the country where the main project activities take place, either at national or local government level.

· The organization must be engaged in promoting, advocating, or implementing initiatives on women’s inheritance and property rights for a minimum of three years and as suggested by previous experience and reputation.

· The organization must obtain a letter of endorsement from an international NGO, UN Agency, or other development partner. (See Annex 4 for Guidelines for Letter of Endorsement).

Proposals from more than one organization or entity as co-applicants will be considered so long as both organizations meet the organizational criteria above. Proposals must also clearly indicate which organization will take lead responsibility for project management and contractual obligations.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects under the current Call for Proposals will have a duration of one year. Projects will focus on different levels of action, including but not limited to service delivery, outreach and awareness-raising, capacity development, partnership building, advocacy, and accountability/monitoring mechanisms. Proposals should have the potential to contribute to the growing body of evidence which links secure property and inheritance rights to a reduction in women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Eligible Costs

The proposed costs of the project must be reasonable and in line with budgetary guidance provided in Annex 3. Applicants may request up to $75,000 for a one-year project. Applicants should identify appropriate resources to achieve expected results within the project’s limited timeframe.

Eligible costs include:

· The cost of staff assigned to the project, corresponding to actual staff salaries and other remuneration-related costs.

· Travel costs for staff taking part in the project

· Costs for carrying out project activities and be incurred by the applicant within implementation period.

· Costs of equipment, excluding vehicles.

· The cost of consumables and supplies.

· The aggregate cost of personnel and administrative salary costs should not exceed 20%.

An estimate of all activity costs need to be provided using the budget template in Annex 3.

Ineligible costs include:

· Indirect costs (overheads) as a lump sum

· Debts and provisions for losses

· Interest owed

· Items already financed in another framework, project or by another donor

· Currency exchange losses

· Preparation costs in relation to the project proposal

· Contingency reserve

VII. Application Procedure

Schedule

20 September 2010	Call for Proposals Launched
20 October 2010	Deadline for proposal submission by 11:59 PM EST
20 October – 15 November	Proposals evaluated and short-listed
30 November	Successful applicants notified / Awards announced

Proposal Requirements

The project proposal must be developed using the proposal template provided in Annex 2 as well as the project budget template in Annex 3. Application materials can also be found on UNIFEM’s website www.unifem.org.

Applications must be submitted by email to WPIR-HIV@unifem.org with a signed cover letter from the primary applicant and any organization listed as a co-applicant by 11:59 PM EST Wednesday, 20 October 2010. In addition, applicants should include a letter of endorsement from a UN or international development partner as part of their application package. (Refer to Annex 4 for Guidelines for Letter of Endorsement). Applications can only be submitted in English at this time. All correspondence, including grant agreements, between UNIFEM and applicants will also be conducted in English.

Once the proposal has been submitted, no further changes will be possible. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants must meet all information requirements in order for project proposals to be reviewed.

VIII. Deadline and Review Process

Proposals must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, 20 October 2010. Proposals will be evaluated through the following stages:

Administrative check: Proposals will be initially screened for completeness of the information. Proposals will not be considered if:

· The application is incomplete;

· The applicant, project or costs are not eligible;

· Project request exceeds US$75,000;

· Project duration exceeds 12 months;

· The application is received after 11:59 PM EST on 20 October 2010.

Evaluation of the projects: An internal Technical Review Group will be constituted at a sub-regional level to evaluate the overall quality, results-oriented nature and technical quality of proposals, including the budget, and the capacity of the applicant vis-à-vis the following eight, equally-weighted technical criteria (Further explanations on each criterion can be found in Annex 1):

1. Applicant has at least three years of experience in promoting, advocating, or implementing initiatives on women’s inheritance and property rights.
2. The project provides a sound analysis of the problem/issue.
3. The project is technically sound
4. The project has strong prospects for successful implementation.
5. The project will have significant impact.
6. The project has potential for sustainability beyond grant period.
7. The project represents good value for money.
8. The project utilizes an innovative approach to address women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV.

The Technical Review Group will develop a short-list of recommended projects, based on each applicant’s technical score and forward to the Programme Appraisal Committee for final awards determination.

Final Selection and Notification: A regionally-based Programme Appraisal Committee, consisting of 7-9 experts and representing government, civil society organizations, HIV positive women’s organizations and networks, UNIFEM and other UN agencies, CIDA and academia, will make the final selection of projects by end November 2010 based on the recommendations of the Technical Review Group. Selected organizations will be notified at that time and offered a contract to be signed with UNIFEM.

Financial details and terms of payment: The grant amount will be released in three tranches in a ratio of 70:20:10. Grantees will receive 70% of funds at signing of the agreement; 20% after receipt and approval of mid-term project report and the final 10% after UNIFEM has received the final project report.

IX. Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Learning

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation: Organizations selected will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation of progress made according to the indicators outlined in the project document. Furthermore, organizations will need to submit a mid-term and end of project narrative and financial report, using reporting templates provided by UNIFEM.

Learning and Knowledge Sharing: UNIFEM’s Gender and HIV/AIDS web portal (http://www.genderandaids.org/) will provide a space online for grantees to communicate with each other, to share the learning from their efforts, to network with one another and to showcase their activities to the international community.

X. Further Information

It will not be possible to provide direct support to the preparation of applications, however the Fund for Women’s Property and Inheritance Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS will endeavor to respond promptly to any queries received. Any questions regarding the application process and the Call for Proposals may be sent to inquiries.WPIR-HIV@unifem.org. Please also note that UNIFEM is not in a position to entertain or respond to any individual inquiries regarding project selection.

Annexes:

1. Grant Technical Criteria

2. Proposal Template

3. Budget Template

4. Guidelines for Letter of Endorsement

Annex 1: Grant Technical Criteria

The following eight criteria will serve as the dimensions on which proposals will be scored. Technical Review Committee members will rate each dimension on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 1 being lowest and 5 being highest). Criteria are equally considered with no one criterion outweighing the other.

Technical Criteria

1. The applicant organization has a strong track record.

1. Applicant has at least three years of experience in promoting, advocating, or implementing initiatives on women’s inheritance and property rights in the context of HIV.

2. The project provides a sound analysis of the problem/issue

1. The project clearly identifies the scope of the problem
2. Project utilizes baseline data or situational analysis to inform its approach and interventions.
3. The project either complements existing activities or fills a gap in services in a given community or region of the country.
4. In the absence of baseline information, the project indicates a plan to undertake one.

3. The project is technically sound.

1. Project is logical and presents a sound rationale and clear plan for how it will deliver results – including activities, outputs, and results/outcomes.
2. Project addresses issues of human rights and gender equity to address women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.

4. The project has strong prospects for successful implementation.

1. Project results are realistic and achievable within the overall scope, duration and budget.
2. Applicant organization has demonstrated capacity and expertise to deliver planned results.

5. The project will have significant impact

1. Potential of the project to strengthen and broaden women’s access to property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.
2. Potential of project to be scaled up and replicated in other communities and regions.

6. The project has potential for sustainability beyond grant period.

1. Project strengthens the participation of key stakeholders in implementation.
2. Project offers favourable prospects for longer-term sustainability beyond the duration of the grant.

7. The project represents good value for money.

1. Project costs are reasonable for the planned activities, scope, duration and expected results
2. Project budget is reasonable as compared to applicant organization’s annual budget.

8. The project utilizes an innovative approach to address women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV.

Annex 2: Proposal Template

FUND FOR WOMEN’S PROPERTY AND INHERITANCE RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF HIV/AIDS

2010 Call for Proposals

1. Contact Information

a. Organization contact
Organization name*
Organization Acronym
Address
City, State or Province		Postal Code
Country	Website
Telephone number	Fax number

*Name of the applicant organization. In case there is more than one organization applying, only include the name of the organization that will be responsible for project management and contractual obligations. There will be an opportunity to list names of co-applicants later.

b. Head of Organization/ Primary contact person		c. Secondary contact person
Title	Ms. Mrs. Mr. Dr.	Title	Ms. Mrs. Mr. Dr.
First Name		First Name
Last Name		Last Name
Telephone number		Telephone number
Fax number		Fax number
E-mail		E-mail
Skype (if applicable)		Skype (if applicable)
Address		Address

2. Organizational Information

a. Type of organization (select one)

Women led NGO

Women’s Cooperative

Women’s Fund/Human Rights Organization

Network / Coalition

Membership Association

Faith-based

Other

b. Level at which the organization operates (select all that apply)
Community-based/grassroots	Sub-national (i.e. province, state)	Regional
Local	National	International

c. Year the Organization was established.

d. Mission Statement of Organization
e. Annual Organizational Budget	2008	2009		2010
f. Primary Sources of Funding
g. Does the organization have a bank account?	Yes		No
h. Does the organization have previous work experience with UNIFEM, other UN agency, international donor or development partner?	Yes		No
If so, please state name of agency, year, amount, fund or programme title and use of funds received.
i. Affiliation (Please indicate any affiliation or cooperation with national, regional or international associations, networks or organizations)

3. Project Information

a. Title
b. Project Location (please specify where in country (i.e. cities, regions, whole country)
c. Project Summary (In 3-4 sentences, describe what your project is aiming to achieve)
d. Requested Grant Amount
e. Total budget of proposed project, if different from above.
f. Main Feature of the Project (select all that apply)
Increase in number of legal framework and processes that protect women’s rights and eliminate gender inequality in the context of HIV/AIDS, in relation to women’s property and inheritance rights. Capacity strengthened to implement adequate legislation or remove gender discriminatory provisions in existing legislation relating to HIV and AIDS toward promoting and protecting women’s rights to property and inheritance. Gender equality experts, advocates and their organizations, including organizations of women living with HIV enhance their capacity and influence to ensure that there are national HIV/AIDS laws, policies and strategies that uphold and promote women’s rights, particularly in relation to women’s property and inheritance rights.
g. Who are the primary beneficiaries of this project and in what ways will their lives change as a result of the intervention?
h. Main characteristics of primary beneficiaries (check all that apply)
Age	Socio-economic level	Location
Girls (0-9)	Low	Urban
Adolescents (10-19)	Medium	Rural
Young Women (20-24)	High
Adult Women
Elderly women (60 and above)
i. With whom will this project seek to influence and/or engage in order to change the lives of the primary beneficiaries? (Select all that apply)
Government (decision makers, policy implementers)	Community-based groups	Faith-based organizations/religious leaders
Legal actors (informal and formal, such as paralegals, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, traditional leaders and institutions)	Journalists/media	General public/community at large
Parliamentarians	Teachers/educators	Networks
Social/welfare workers	Men and/or boys	Other (please specify)
j. Strategies/areas of intervention (Select all that apply)
Advocacy	Capacity Development	Service Delivery
Data collection and research	Public outreach/awareness-raising	Accountability/Monitoring Mechanisms of Policies/Laws
Partnership/Coalition building	Community mobilization	Other (please specify)

4. Project Description, Rationale and Analysis

a. Describe the problem your project is attempting to solve or the issue or opportunity your project will be addressing. Specify the needs of beneficiary target group. Include relevant statistical information to illustrate the problem and justify the need for the intervention. Please be sure to cite references where applicable. (½page)

b. Objective(s)

State the overall goal of the project. Indicate how the project will contribute to enhancing women’s capacity and access to property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS. (one paragraph)

c. Describe in a clear manner the strategies and activities for the project you are proposing. (½ page)

d. Describe in a clear manner the outputs/deliverables to be produced by the activities. (½ page)

These should be measurable products or events.

e. Describe the intended results or outcomes expected. (¼ page)

The results or outcomes should look beyond the project outputs and describe what the project is expected to change or achieve vis-a vis women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.

f. Sustainability (¼ page)

Describe how the achievements of the project will be maintained beyond the funding period

g. Innovation (one paragraph)

Elaborate on the promising, innovative aspects of the project. Include information regarding any new knowledge expected to emerge from this intervention and how it will be documented and disseminated.

5. Organizational Capacity

a. Technical expertise (¼ page)

Describe the capacity and relevant areas of expertise of the applicant organization and implementing organizations (if applicable). Include information on proven record on programming to address women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS. Explain technical assistance arrangements for the project’s implementation.

b. Partnerships and Coordination (¼ page)

Describe the partnerships and coordination strategies and arrangements needed to achieve project results. If applicable, identify key project partners and indicate the roles and responsibilities of each one, as well as specific components of the project they will implement. Explain synergies and coordination with existing initiatives on women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation

a. Monitoring & Evaluation (½ page)

Provide details of how baseline data will be collected to measure progress, and how the project will be documented and monitored. Indicate what oversight mechanisms will be in place. Describe how project results/outcomes will be measured, what measurements will be used and who will be responsible for measuring them.

7. Project budget

Include budget according to the budget summary in Annex 3.

8. Commitments

a. Commitments (Boxes that must all be checked off by applicants)
	The Applicant aims and purposes are in conformity with the spirit, purposes, and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
	The Applicant is duly registered in the country where the main project activities take place, either at national or local government level.
	The Applicant has statutes/by-laws providing for a transparent process of decision-making, election of officers and members of the Board; the CSO has authority to speak for its members through its authorized representatives identified above.
	The Applicant will provide narrative and financial mid-term and final progress reports (that will include a participatory feedback process involving key project stakeholders).

Annex 3: Budget Summary Template

Project Title:

Applicant Organization:

General Category of Expenditures	Amount Requested from WPIR-HIV Fund	Contributions and/or other sources of funds from applicant	Total Cost
PERSONNEL
TRAVEL
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES
TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS
MEETINGS & SEMINARS
PROJECT EQUIPMENT
OUTREACH
MONITORING (including baseline collection, other)
MISCELLANEOUS
OTHER (please specify)
TOTAL

Budget Notes/Explanations:

1) Personnel: Please include all professional project personnel, administrative personnel and/or other staff costs. Personnel costs for managing the project should not exceed 20% of the total budget. This does not include costs related to technical assistance which can be budgeted under contractual services.

2) Travel: Travel and per diem (meals and accommodation) for project management team. Note: participants traveling to workshops, training courses should not be listed here but included under workshop category.

3) Contractual services: this includes commercial services (translators, consultants, providers).

4) Trainings & Workshops: this line item includes rental of premises, refreshments, banners, public address systems, interpretation, travel, hotels and meals (per diem), as well as resources (human resources)

5) Meetings & Seminars: this line item includes rental of premises, refreshments, banners, public address systems, interpretation, travel, hotels and meals (per diem), as well as resources (human resources)

6) Project Equipment: IT equipment, project support equipment

7) Outreach: publications, pamphlets, brochures, print material, websites, etc.

8) Monitoring (including baseline): Projects should ensure that 3-5% of the total budget is allocated to ongoing monitoring implementation and progress of project, as well as for baseline and end line studies.

9) Miscellaneous: Stationery, communications, postage, courier plus fuel, utilities, etc. Please limit this line item to 1-2% of the total budget.

10) Other: Applicant must specify what this budget category includes.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a detailed budget at the time of the signing of a grant agreement with UNIFEM (now part of UN Women).

Annex 4: Guidelines for Letter of Endorsement

Organizational Letter Head

[ Date ]

Fund for Women’s Property & Inheritance Rights

c/o UNIFEM (part of UN Women)

304 East 45^th Street, 15^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

USA

To whom it may concern:

In my capacity as [Title of Endorser and name of Endorsing Organization], I am pleased to offer my support of [Name of Applicant Organization’s] project: [Project Title].

Second paragraph: Endorsing organization should provide reasons for its endorsement (i.e. in what capacity has Endorsing Organization worked with Applicant Organization; how Applicant Organization has been influential in the community or the ways in which its constituents have benefited from Applicant Organization’s services) and how this project will result in strengthening women’s access or capacity to property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS.

Last paragraph: Should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [Endorsing Organization to provide contact information].

Sincerely,

Name

Title

Endorsing Organization