Tender Description

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Fast Responsive Funding (FRF)

Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Somalia

1. Background

The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) project is a multi-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Plan International and Plan International Canada, in partnership with Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), and NAFIS Network. Together, the project partners aim to deliver an initiative that increases the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls in all their diversity and to advance gender equality across Somalia. As a result, consolidating the power and voice of women from across the country to lead their own development, demonstrate their agency, and influence policy through feminist, intersectional, and locally led approaches. 

RWVL prioritizes strengthening the sustainability, leadership, and influence of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), and Youth Led Organizations (YLOs), particularly those led by or serving structurally excluded groups such as internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic and clan minorities. Recognizing Somalia’s volatile humanitarian, political, and climate context—and the disproportionate risks faced by women, girls, and feminist movements - RWVL has established a Fast Responsive Funding (FRF) mechanism. FRFs provides rapid, flexible, short-term funding to enable timely responses to urgent threats, emerging issues, crises, and advocacy opportunities that cannot wait for standard funding cycles.

2. Purpose of the Expression of Interest

This Expression of Interest (EOI) invites WROs, WHRDs, and YLOs based across the country to apply for Fast Responsive Funding.

FRF is an open and rolling funding mechanism designed to support urgent, time-sensitive, and emerging needs, including protection, collective care, emergency response, and rapid feminist advocacy. EOIs may be submitted at any time, subject to the availability of funds.

3. Fast Responsive Funding (FRF) Overview

FRF supports short-term, flexible interventions where rapid action is essential to prevent harm, respond to crises, or seize advocacy opportunities affecting women’s and girls’ rights.

Key Features:

• Total Grants: Up to 40
• Grant Value: Up to CAD 10,000
• Grant Duration: Up to 6 months
• Disbursement: One-time lump sum
• Application Window: Open and rolling (no fixed deadline)
• Due Diligence: Proportionate and light-touch for informal groups

Indicative Types of Support:

• Emergency response to gender-based violence (GBV) incidents
• Protection, relocation, safety, or collective care for WHRDs
• Rapid advocacy, mobilization, or campaigning in response to policy, legal, or social developments
• Crisis response related to conflict, displacement, droughts, floods, or climate shocks
• Short-term community-based protection initiatives for women and girls
• Innovative, feminist, and time-sensitive actions that cannot wait for longer funding cycles

4. Eligibility Criteria

FRF is intentionally designed to be accessible to grassroots and informal feminist actors.

Eligible Applicants:

• Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs)
• Women Human Rights Defender (WHRD) groups or collectives
• Youth-Led Organizations (YLOs)
• Informal, nascent, or unregistered groups

Eligibility Requirements:

• Based and operating in any part of the country.
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s rights, gender equality, and feminist principles
• Capacity to implement short-term activities and account for funds received
• Pass anti-terrorism screening and declare affiliations, pending legal cases, and any bankruptcies, etc.

Priority Will Be Given To:

• Women- and youth-led organizations
• WHRD-led initiatives
• Organizations working with structurally excluded groups, including:
  • Internally displaced women and girls
  • Women and girls with disabilities
  • Minority clan and ethnic groups
  • Rural and hard-to-reach communities

Ineligible Applicants:

• Organizations affiliated with political parties, government institutions, or for-profit entities
• Religious or partisan organizations

Note: Legal registration is not required for FRF applicants.

5. Eligible and Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs (Indicative):

• Staff or volunteer stipends linked to the activity/service/item
• Emergency protection and relocation costs
• Psychosocial and collective care support
• Advocacy, mobilization, and campaign activities
• Transport, communication, and coordination costs
• Training, workshops, and community engagement
• Crisis modifier actions (e.g. sudden GBV incidents, displacement)

Ineligible Costs:

• Partisan or religious activities
• Personal expenses unrelated to the activity
• Large-scale construction
• Activities implemented outside Somalia. 
• Purchase of goods from prohibited sources 
• Expenses related to activities which are illegal under Somali country law 
• 6. Selection and Review Process

EOIs will be reviewed on a rolling basis to enable rapid decision-making.

Review Process:

• Initial administrative and technical screening by Plan International based on eligibility requirements above.
• Review and validation by an independent Grant Selection Committee (GSC) comprising representatives from Plan International, SSWC, NAFIS Network, and independent advisors
• Decisions prioritized based on urgency, relevance, feasibility, feminist leadership, and alignment with RWVL objectives

Illustrative Assessment Criteria:

• Urgency and risk level (40%)
• Feminist relevance and alignment with women’s rights priorities (30%)
• Feasibility and innovation within a 6-month timeframe (30%)

Conflicts of interest are declared and managed in line with RWVL grant governance procedures.

7. Due Diligence, Safeguarding, and Risk Management

RWVL applies a proportionate due diligence approach:

• FRF applicants undergo streamlined due diligence, including identity verification, basic financial controls, and safeguarding commitments.
• All grantees must adhere to Plan International’s Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and anti-fraud standards.
• Tailored support and orientation will be provided, especially for informal or first-time grantees.

Risk mitigation measures include coaching, light monitoring, and flexible activity adjustments where needed.

8. Reporting and Accountability

Reporting requirements are simplified and proportionate:

• FRF grantees submit one short final report, including:
  • Brief narrative summary
  • Simple financial breakdown
• Alternative reporting formats (e.g. audio, photos, reflection notes) may be accepted.
• Support will be provided to ensure reporting does not create barriers for grassroots groups.

9. Redress and Complaints Mechanism

RWVL ensures transparent and fair grant management.

• Applicants may request clarification or appeal decisions within 10 working days of notification.
• Appeals may be submitted via email or WhatsApp (including voice messages).
• Appeals are reviewed by the GSC or a designated panel, with responses provided within 15 working days.

Skills Required

Follow us on social media