Tender Description

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 Somalia 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.

Multi Year Core Funding (MYCF) is a central funding mechanism under RWVL, designed to provide predictable, flexible, and long-term support to strengthen organizational capacity, sustain feminist programming, and advance advocacy and movement building efforts.

2. Purpose of the Expression of Interest

In recognition that WROs, WHRDs, and YLOs are key drivers delivering women’s human rights and gender justice programming, the RWVL project is providing accessible, diverse, and responsive grants for local, regional, and national organizations, with a particular emphasis on those led by or serving structurally excluded populations, including ethnic minorities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, and informal or nascent organizations. The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to invite eligible WROs, WHRDs, and YLOs based in Somalia to express their interest in applying for Multi Year Core Funding (MYCF) under the RWVL project.

The MYCF is a flexible and predictable funding mechanism designed to support long-term organizational strengthening, strategic planning, and movement-building priorities to increase achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The Fund enables women-led organizations to invest in self-identified areas to sustain their work, strengthen core capacities, and advance transformative change over time. EOIs are invited during scheduled calls, subject to the availability of funds.

3. Multi Year Core Funding Overview

1) Gender Transformative Programming

MYCF provides long term, flexible grants to support organizations’ core functions and strategic priorities. MYCF is intended to enable organizations to:

Key Features:

• Total Grants: 20 MYCF grants

• Grant Value: Up to CAD 65,000 per year

• Grant Duration: Average of 12 months to a maximum of 2 years

• Disbursement: Tranche-based or periodic disbursements aligned with organizational needs

• Application Window: Two scheduled calls for proposals

• Due Diligence: Proportionate and risk-based, supportive of women-led and grassroots organizations

Indicative Types of Support:

• Strengthen governance, leadership, and internal systems.
• Sustain and expand gender transformative programming and advocacy.
• Invest in organizational resilience, collective care, and movement building.
• Feminist research, policy dialogues, and consultation. 
• Respond adaptively to evolving contexts and community needs.

2) Capacity Building Process

All organizations who receive a grant will undergo a self-assessment to identify their institutional strengths, priorities, and needs. The Participatory Institutional Assessment (PIA) will engage grantees in self-reflection, through a conversation on their perspective on their current organizational capacities. The PIA will enable WOs to: 

• Assess barriers and enablers in delivering a gender transformative program
  • Self-identify current strengths and weaknesses in pre-identified areas of inquiry, relating to their ability to deliver gender transformative programs and advocacy
  • Self-define targets for improvement in various areas
  • Self-define the strategies and action plans to achieve the targets

Following the PIA process, selected grantees will also receive training in various modules of organizational development, which will be developed based on the collective needs identified through the PIA process. 

The PIA process is also intended to enable grantees to further define a project plan for their MYCF, including activities and outcomes of their proposed Expression of Interest (EoI).  4. Eligibility Criteria

MYCF 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
• Demonstrate established presence within the proposed community of implementation and clear evidence of understanding the communities’ needs by effectively engaging its members.
• Capacity to implement long-term activities and account for funds received
• Minimum 3 years of annual financial statements OR with annual audited accounts 
• Plan International encourages collaboration among organizations, so partnerships that enhance project impact can strengthen an application.
• Organizations must pass an anti-terrorism screening and declare any affiliations, pending legal cases and any bankruptcies etc.

Priority Will Be Given To:

• Women- and youth-led organizations[1]
• 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 MYCF applicants.

5. Eligible and Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs (Indicative):

• Operational costs such as staff salaries, rent, utilities, assets, etc.
• 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)
• Social enterprise setup
• Match funding for other programs

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
• Membership fees and patents.

6. Selection and Review Process

The first cycle will be open for EoIs from February 15th, 2026, until March 5th, 2026, while the second cycle will be announced in 2027. Organizations who are unsuccessful in the first cycle are encouraged to seek feedback and resubmit during the next open call for applications.

Review Process:

• Initial administrative and technical screening by Plan International
• 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:

• Organizational strength, sustainability, and strategic clarity (40%)
• Alignment with feminist principles and women’s rights priorities (30%)
• Capacity to effectively utilize flexible core funding and demonstrate learning, adaptation, and accountability over a 12-month period (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:

• MYCF 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:

• MYCF grantees submit light periodic reports, including:
  - Brief narrative update on organizational progress, learning, and strategic priorities
  - Simple financial summary of core expenditures
• Reporting focuses on accountability, learning, and adaptation, in line with the feminist Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (FMEAL) approach.
• Alternative reporting formats (e.g. audio submissions, photos, phone interviews, or reflection notes) may be accepted, particularly where standard reporting is not feasible due to context, accessibility, or security constraints.
• Ongoing support and accompaniment will be provided to ensure reporting does not create barriers for women-led, grassroots, or informal organizations.

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

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