Tender Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Call for Business Plan Proposals from Women-Led Organizations and
Networks for Income-Generating Activities that Strengthen Protection and
Economic Independence
Project name REBUILD: A multisectoral intervention to strengthen the resilience of host
communities and internally displaced persons in Somalia.
Organization ActionAid International Somalia
Location Beledweyne, Hiiraan, Somalia
Background
Somalia continues to face a severe protection crisis, with gender-based violence (GBV) against
women and girls exacerbated by armed conflict, forced displacement, recurrent droughts and
floods, poverty, and harmful social norms. Women and girls, particularly those living in IDP
settlements and hard-to-reach communities, face heightened risks of sexual violence, rape, physical
assault, sexual exploitation, and child early and forced marriage, overcrowded shelters,
inadequate lighting and sanitation facilities, and limited access to safe spaces further increase their
exposure to violence.
Beledweyne district in Hiiraan region, faces multiple and recurring crises driven by climate change,
conflict and insecurity. Drought-induced displacement and insecurity caused by Al-Shabaab attacks
have forced large numbers of people to flee to Beledweyne town, while repeated flooding during
the Deyr (October to December) rains has compounded the humanitarian situation. Protection
remains under-funded, and women and girls are exposed to risks such as rape and other forms of
GBV. Survivors and at-risk women often lack the economic autonomy needed to leave situations of
violence or to reach essential services such as legal and psychological support.
ActionAid International Somalia (AAIS) is implementing A multisectoral intervention to strengthen the
resilience of host communities and internally displaced persons in Somalia aimed at strengthening
the protection of women and girls and the meaningful engagement of communities with humanitarian
and development actors. The project recognizes that women-led organizations and networks are
best placed to identify and address protection issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) and
other forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), because they know their communities
and are trusted by women and survivors, including those who access protection services in safe
spaces and who are therefore particularly vulnerable.
As part of this effort, AAIS invites women-led organizations and networks to participate in a Small
Grants Business Plan Call. AAIS will launch a localized campaign encouraging community
organizations and networks to submit business plans for starting small income-generating activities,
such as soap making, tie and dye clothes and shampoo formulation.
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The call will particularly contribute to the project’s protection and economic empowerment
components by introducing products that promote good hygiene practices to the local market,
launching businesses that can sustain themselves after the project ends, and enabling participating
women to build autonomy and economic independence and to more easily access essential
protection services. It will also recognize and strengthen the role that local women’s organizations
and networks play in their communities, highlighting the challenges women face and actively
working to mitigate them.
Purpose of the Grant
The overall purpose of the grant is to enable women-led organizations and networks to start and
manage small, sustainable income-generating businesses that strengthen the economic
independence of women and girls and improve their access to protection services. AAIS will support
the selected organizations throughout the process:

• Grant funding of €5,000 per organization or network
• Training in starting and managing small income-generating businesses
• Coaching, mentoring and monitoring support throughout implementation
• Linkages to protection services, including legal and psychological support
• Visibility for the role of women-led organizations in addressing GBV and VAWG, and
• Other capacity-building resources identified during implementation.
  The support should build sustainable, long-term capacity within the selected organizations, drawing
  on their local knowledge and expertise, and strengthen the overall protection landscape in the
  region.

Skills Required

Attachment

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