Call for Grant Application – National Women’s Consultation on PVE

International Organization for Migration

REF No. 17819 Date: 16-05-2023

• Eligible organizations: Iraqi Non-Governmental Organizations
• Locations: Iraq (whole country)
• Budget: Up to a maximum of 145,000 USD
• Implementation Period: 15 July 2023 – 15 April 2024 (9 months)
• Deadline for submission of questions: 5pm Baghdad time 27 May 2023 (answers to questions will be circulated to all applicants)
• Deadline for submission of applications: 5pm Baghdad time 10 June 2023

Requests for clarification or additional information must be submitted in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (copy: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) before 5pm 27 May 2023. IOM will compile all questions and respond to all organizations shortly after. To ensure transparency, IOM will not engage in bilateral discussions with organizations during the application period. Completed applications must be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. under the title “National Women’s Consultation – Proposal - *Name of Organization*” (CC: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) before 5pm 10 June 2023. Applications must be completed in English. A completed application must include: 1. One-page cover letter, signed and stamped 2. Annex A – Narrative Proposal 3. Annex B – Financial Proposal 4. Copy of organizational registration

PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUNDING

Project Background

Iraq is at a critical juncture, emerging from conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and a long history of the internecine conflict which have set back the country’s economic, social, cultural, educational and security development substantially. Iraq grapples with many of the features of the so-called “conflict trap”, in which the cumulative effects of Iraq’s conflicts on development leave the country vulnerable to the recurrence of conflict.

Over the past years, the Government of Iraq (GoI) has stepped up its efforts to respond emerging challenges posed by violent extremism both, in the country and regionally. In 2019 the government adopted the National Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism which highlights the need to increase prevention of violent extremism (PVE) measures across different actors. IOM Iraq works in partnership with the Government of Iraq, in particular the Office of the National Security Advisory, to support and strengthen government and civil society led PVE efforts.

IOM Iraq’s Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) work evolves around addressing local conditions that are conducive to violent extremism. Working at the institutional, community, and individual levels, IOM supports a whole of government and whole-of society approach to addressing key drivers of violent extremism through context-specific interventions. These interventions focus on supporting institutional development and the provision of technical support as well as building community and individual resilience. Notably, IOM’s interventions are designed to focus on alternative, positive, pro-social responses to reinforce community resilience to rhetoric or ideology that is exclusivist or violent, rather than confronting specific violence extremist groups, their messages or methods or recruitment.

IOM’s prevention of violent extremism programming and technical assistance is evidence based and grounded in a gender mainstreaming approach. IOM recently published a report on Opportunities for Gender Mainstreaming in PVE in Iraq highlighting recommendations based on gaps in women’s inclusion in PVE programming and policymaking in Iraq and the diverse experiences and impacts of VE on women. Gender roles and relations are a central but often invisible part of how violent extremism (VE) functions. They are part of different communities’ and individuals’ vulnerability to VE, and often exploited by VE organizations as part of a recruitment strategy. Similarly, understanding gender roles and inequalities, and using gender as an analytical tool, is a vital part of PVE efforts, though PVE efforts to date have not always taken gender into account.
The GoI has expressed its openness to receive further guidance in developing a stronger evidence-base on the role of women in PVE efforts, as well as for designing interventions that capitalize on the unique contribution that women can make in addressing drivers of violent extremism – all the while largely surpassing the traditional narrative that women can only be victims of VE and not perpetrators or facilitators.

Program Description & Objectives

IOM is seeking to work with an Iraqi national women’s non-governmental organization to lead on a national consultation process on women’s views on PVE and violent extremism. These series of consultations at the national and local level will aim to diversify voices in the peace and security sector and find synergies between gender-equality agendas in Iraq. The outcomes of this consultation process will be developed into a set of advocacy tools that can be used by national and local civil society organizations for advocating for stronger gender-mainstreaming in PVE initiatives, policies, and strategies. To support the long-term impact of this work, capacity building on PVE, advocacy and policy-engagement will be provided to specific organizations engaged in the consultation process, so that they can engage directly on advocating for more gender-sensitive approaches to policy making at the central and local level. The consultations will also seek to leverage the newly established all-female sub-committee of the National Committee for the implementation of the National Strategy and establish a platform of engagement between women led organizations and the GoI on PVE.

The overall project and developed modules will contribute to IOM’s PVE program of work, specifically with regards to enhance diverse voices in policy engagement. The selected implementing partner is expected to carry out the following deliverables:

• Carry out a national consultation on women’s views on PVE, engaging a wide range of actors to ensure representation of the diversity of Iraqi women.
• Develop and disseminate an advocacy toolkit to be used by civil society organization to advance gender mainstreaming within PVE policy and programming.
• Establish an engagement platform with government stakeholders working on PVE.

Mandatory Organizational Requirements

Application organizations must meet the following requirements and qualifications:

• Formally registered as a non-governmental organization in Iraq. Applications from individuals and government bodies will not be accepted.
• Currently, or recently, operating in Iraq.
• Financial capacity to pre-finance 30% of the activities.
• Strong project management skills, as evidenced by the successful delivery of projects and grants.
• Experience in relevant technical areas, such as gender mainstreaming, women peace and security, PVE, advocacy, dialogue, and/or awareness raising.
• Ability to work proficiently in English for project management and monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Evaluation Criteria

All completed applications will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria. Proposals must:
• Have clear and concrete objectives, communicated simply.
• Contribute to the objectives of the Call for Proposal.
• Be realistic and achievable, considering the budget and timeframe.

Applications will be evaluated and scored by an evaluation committee of IOM program and operational staff in line with the below selection criteria and weighting.

Organizational Capacity – 10%

Applicants should:

• Have a strong mission statement
• Demonstrate physical and human capacity (e.g. presence in the target area, sufficient staff to deliver the interventions)
• Hold relevant technical knowledge and expertise
• Demonstrate how they include female and youth staff members in decision making within their organization

In assessing applications, we will consider the ‘added value’ offer of the applicant, especially where it develops networks and capacities or valuable collaborations.

Relevant Experience – 20%

Applicants should have a strong track record delivering similar projects in the region. Applicants should have experience working in the prevention of violent extremism in Iraq or similar contexts.

Quality of Intervention – 40%

The proposal should be clear and in line with the Call for Proposal objectives. Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the context and problem to be addressed. Proposals which contravene fundamental ethical principles such as Do Not Harm principle, gender inclusion and respect for diversity or fail to comply with the relevant security procedures shall not be selected.

Feasibility – 10%

The team should have a well-developed, realistic plan to execute on the proposal, including a simple but comprehensive logic framework that includes outcomes, outputs and measurement indicators. Target groups and indicators should be realistic and measurable. Moreover, the team should have the right expertise and skills to execute on the proposal or have identified the right partners and domain experts needed for implementation.

Budget – 20%

The financial application should include a detailed overview of all costs for proposed activities as per the attached budget template (Annex B), being realistic and competitive (i.e. cost efficiency and effectiveness). Where existing investment can be unlocked or additional funding or in-kind support can be acquired to support project activities, this should be highlighted.

How to Apply

Completed applications must be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (cc: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) under the title “National Women’s Consultation – Proposal - *Name of Organization*” before 5pm 10 June 2023. Applications must be completed in English. A completed application must include:

1. One-page cover letter, signed and stamped
2. Annex A – Narrative Proposal
3. Annex B – Financial Proposal
4. Copy of organizational registration
Do not submit any other documents, supplementary attachments will not be reviewed by the evaluation team. Hand-written applications will not be accepted.

Tender's Files

6463797a001aa-ref-no.17819-iom-iraq-call-for-proposals-national-women-s-consultation.pdf
6463797a01907-annex-a-narrative-proposal.docx
6463797a01a3a-annex-b-financial-proposal.xlsx