Tender Description

Expression of Interest (EOI)

Influencing Grants (IG)

Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Background and Strategic Context

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. Influencing Grants (IGs) constitute one of RWVL’s three tailored sub granting mechanisms and are specifically designed to resource advocacy, policy engagement, coalition building, and feminist research initiatives that contribute to structural and normative change at subnational, national, regional, and international levels.

1. Purpose of the Expression of Interest

This Expression of Interest is the first stage of a competitive and proportionate selection process to identify eligible organizations interested in applying for an Influencing Grant under RWVL Somalia.

The EOI process aims to:

• Identify organizations with demonstrated experience and strategic potential in advocacy, influencing, and movement building;‑building;
• Assess alignment with RWVL’s feminist, rights-based, and intersectional objectives;‑based, and intersectional objectives;
• Shortlist organizations to be invited to submit a full Influencing Grant proposal and undergo proportionate due diligence in line with the RWVL Sub‑Granting Management Plan.

Submission of an EOI does not constitute a commitment to fund, nor does it guarantee progression to the full proposal stage.

1. Influencing Grant Overview

Influencing Grants are intended to strengthen the capacity of WROs, WHRDs, and YLOs to collectively influence decision making spaces, advance feminist agendas, and promote accountability for women’s and girls’ rights.

Under RWVL, Influencing Grants may support, but are not limited to, the following types of initiatives:

• Advocacy and policy dialogue with government institutions and duty bearers;
• Feminist research, documentation, and evidence generation to inform advocacy;
• Coalition building, alliance strengthening, and intergenerational feminist organizing;
• National, regional, and international advocacy campaigns and participation in strategic forums;
• Engagement with regional and global mechanisms to amplify Somali feminist voices.

Indicative Grant Size: Approximately CAD 30,000 per organization

Grant Duration: Up to one (1) year

Number of Grants: Up to ten (10)

Disbursement will be made in tranches and linked to proportionate reporting requirements, in accordance with RWVL grant management guidelines.

1. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration, applicant organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a WRO, WHRD group, or YLO based in any part of the country. 
• Demonstrate a clear mandate and track record in advocacy, policy engagement, movement‑building, or rights‑based influencing work;
• Be women‑led or youth‑led. Male‑led organizations may be considered where at least 50% of leadership, staff, or membership are women and/or non‑binary persons;
• Be legally registered in Somalia/Somaliland for at least one year (for Influencing Grant applicants);
• Demonstrate basic organizational, governance, and financial management capacity commensurate with the grant size;
• Show clear alignment with feminist principles, gender equality, and human rights-based approaches;‑based approaches;
• Be willing to participate in participatory institutional assessments, capacity strengthening, and feminist monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (FMEAL) processes;
• Declare compliance with safeguarding, antifraud, antiterrorism, and conflict-of-interest requirements.‑fraud, anti‑terrorism, and conflict‑of‑interest requirements.

Organizations affiliated with political parties, government institutions, or for-profit entities are not eligible.‑profit entities are not eligible.

Priority will be given to organizations that are women-led and/or working with structurally excluded groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, ethnic and clan minorities, and conflict affected communities.‑led and/or working with structurally excluded groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, ethnic and clan minorities, and conflict‑affected communities.

1. Priority Focus Areas

RWVL encourages EOIs that propose advocacy and influencing initiatives aligned with one or more of the following priority areas:

• Legal and policy reform advancing women’s and girls’ rights;
• Gender‑based violence prevention, response, and accountability mechanisms;
• Women’s leadership, political participation, and feminist peacebuilding;
• Ending harmful practices, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage;
• Feminist research and evidence generation to inform policy and advocacy;
• Movement‑building, coalition strengthening, and collective feminist action;
• Regional and international advocacy platforms that elevate Somali feminist priorities.

1. Selection Process

The selection process will follow the principles of fairness, transparency, inclusion, and proportionality, as outlined in the RWVL Sub‑Granting Management Plan.

• EOIs will undergo administrative screening by Plan International;
• Eligible EOIs will be reviewed by a Grant Selection Committee using agreed technical criteria, including relevance, influence potential, organizational capacity, and alignment with RWVL objectives;
• Shortlisted organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal and undergo proportionate due diligence;
• Final funding decisions will be documented and communicated.

Unsuccessful applicants may request feedback and access the project’s formal redress mechanism within the stipulated timeframe.

1. Information Required in the EOI

Applicants will be requested to provide concise information covering:

• Organizational profile, mandate, and legal status;
• Summary of advocacy and influencing experience;
• Description of target policies, institutions, or decision-making spaces;‑making spaces;
• Proposed influencing focus, objectives, and expected change;
• Rationale for the Influencing Grant and its strategic value;
• Overview of governance, safeguarding, and financial management systems;
• Signed declarations on safeguarding, anti‑fraud, and conflict of interest.

EOIs should be concise and proportionate and do not require a detailed budget or work plan at this stage.

1. Safeguarding, Accountability, and Compliance

All Influencing Grant recipients will be required to:

• Adhere to Plan International’s Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct;
• Comply with anti‑fraud, anti‑corruption, and anti‑terrorism requirements;
• Participate in ongoing monitoring, learning, and adaptive management processes.

Reporting and accountability requirements will follow flexible, context-appropriate, and feminist approaches that prioritize learning, safety, and movement strengthening.‑appropriate, and feminist approaches that prioritize learning, safety, and movement strengthening.

Call for Expressions of Interest – Advertisement Text

Plan International, in partnership with Plan International Canada, Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), and NAFIS Network, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, invites eligible Women’s Rights Organizations, Women Human Rights Defenders, and Youth-Led Organizations to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Influencing Grants under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project.‑Led Organizations to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Influencing Grants under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) – Somalia Project.

Influencing Grants support advocacy, policy engagement, feminist research, and movement-building initiatives that advance gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights in Somalia. Grants are expected to average approximately CAD 30,000 for a period of up to one year, with up to ten organizations to be supported.‑building initiatives that advance gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights in Somalia. Grants are expected to average approximately CAD 30,000 for a period of up to one year, with up to ten organizations to be supported.

The call is open to WROs, WHRDs, and YLOs across the country, with priority given to womenled organizations and those working with marginalized and structurally excluded groups.

Skills Required

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