Call for Business Plan Proposals from Women-Led Organizations and Networks for Income-Generating Activities that Strengthen Protection and Economic Independence

Tender descriptionTERMS OF REFERENCECall for Business Plan Proposals from Women-Led Organizations andNetworks for Income-Generating Activities that Strengthen Protection andEconomic IndependenceProject name REBUILD: A multisectoral intervention to strengthen the resilience of hostcommunities and internally displaced persons in Somalia.Organization ActionAid International SomaliaLocation Beledweyne, Hiiraan, SomaliaBackgroundSomalia continues to face a severe protection crisis, with gender-based violence (GBV) againstwomen and girls exacerbated by armed conflict, forced displacement, recurrent droughts andfloods, poverty, and harmful social norms. Women and girls, particularly those living in IDPsettlements and hard-to-reach communities, face heightened risks of sexual violence, rape, physicalassault, sexual exploitation, and child early and forced marriage, overcrowded shelters,inadequate lighting and sanitation facilities, and limited access to safe spaces further increase theirexposure 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 attackshave forced large numbers of people to flee to Beledweyne town, while repeated flooding duringthe Deyr (October to December) rains has compounded the humanitarian situation. Protectionremains under-funded, and women and girls are exposed to risks such as rape and other forms ofGBV. Survivors and at-risk women often lack the economic autonomy needed to leave situations ofviolence or to reach essential services such as legal and psychological support.ActionAid International Somalia (AAIS) is implementing A multisectoral intervention to strengthen theresilience of host communities and internally displaced persons in Somalia aimed at strengtheningthe protection of women and girls and the meaningful engagement of communities with humanitarianand development actors. The project recognizes that women-led organizations and networks arebest placed to identify and address protection issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) andother forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), because they know their communitiesand are trusted by women and survivors, including those who access protection services in safespaces and who are therefore particularly vulnerable.As part of this effort, AAIS invites women-led organizations and networks to participate in a SmallGrants Business Plan Call. AAIS will launch a localized campaign encouraging communityorganizations and networks to submit business plans for starting small income-generating activities,such as soap making, tie and dye clothes and shampoo formulation.P a g e 2 | 5The call will particularly contribute to the project’s protection and economic empowermentcomponents by introducing products that promote good hygiene practices to the local market,launching businesses that can sustain themselves after the project ends, and enabling participatingwomen to build autonomy and economic independence and to more easily access essentialprotection services. It will also recognize and strengthen the role that local women’s organizationsand networks play in their communities, highlighting the challenges women face and activelyworking to mitigate them.Purpose of the GrantThe overall purpose of the grant is to enable women-led organizations and networks to start andmanage small, sustainable income-generating businesses that strengthen the economicindependence of women and girls and improve their access to protection services. AAIS will supportthe selected organizations throughout the process:Grant funding of €5,000 per organization or networkTraining in starting and managing small income-generating businessesCoaching, mentoring and monitoring support throughout implementationLinkages to protection services, including legal and psychological supportVisibility for the role of women-led organizations in addressing GB