Faith-Based Initiative for Gender Equality: Men’s Caregiving and Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
About
Applications are now open for the Faith-Based Initiative for Gender Equality: Men’s Caregiving and Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme.
General overview of required services/results
This Call for Proposals aims to identify an Implementing Partner (a Civil Society Organization) to facilitate the engagement of religious institutions at the regional level, through dialogues, capacity building and knowledge production to promote caregiving of men and boys and women’s economic empowerment.
Although a distinct focus will be on Sunni Muslim actors -which belong to the most prevalent religion in the target countries, the partner institution will also promote inter-faith dialogues between diverse religions (Sunni and Shia Islam, Christianity, etc.).
Description of required services/results
The selected Implementing Partner will develop a regional manual for religious actors and institutions to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, with a focus on promoting the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and domestic work, and women’s participation in paid employment.
General functions of the regional Implementing Partner are as follows:
Facilitate the engagement of religious institutions at the regional level, through dialogues, capacity building and knowledge production to promote gender equality, with a focus on caregiving of men and boys and women’s economic empowerment.
Collaborate with religious institutions (i.e., Al-Azhar in Egypt, Rabita Mohammedia of Oulémas in Morocco, Ministry of Religious Affairs of Tunisia, Royal Institute of Inter Faith Studies in Jordan, etc.), to advance gender-equitable interpretations of religious teachings and practices, with a particular focus on the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and domestic work and women’s economic empowerment.
Develop a regional manual for religious actors and institutions to promote gender equality, with a focus on the unpaid care and domestic work of men and boys, and women’s participation in paid employment.
Undertake capacity building and Training of Trainers for religious actors from Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan to roll out the manual/learning course at country level.
Develop an animation or short video that highlights religious interpretations in favour of gender equality, with a focus on promoting the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and household responsibilities, and women’s economic empowerment.
Funding Information
The budget range for this proposal should be USD 120,000 – USD 154,000.
Duration
This is a one-year implementation project. The project is expected to commence on 1 July 2025 and end by 30 June 2026.
Outcomes
Outcome 1: Societies across the MENA region demonstrate an increased involvement of men and boys in caregiving and household responsibilities and more empowerment of women and girls.
Outcome 2: Key institutions effectively transform patriarchal masculinities and social norms, with a focus on advancing caregiving and household responsibilities of men and boys and the economic empowerment of women and girls.
Outcome 3: More men and boys are able to take their share in caregiving and household responsibilities with more enabling laws and policies that promote their caregiving and household responsibilities, and paternity leave.
Specific Deliverables
Development of a practical manual for the use of religious teachings and practices to promote gender equality, with a focus on the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and domestic work, and on promoting women’s economic empowerment. The target audience of the manual will be Sheikhs and Imams from the Arab States region, with a focus on the four target countries of the Dare to Care programme: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan. The manual will be in three languages (Arabic, English and French), will have an extension of less than 40 pages and will be presented in a professional layout of publishable quality.
Organization of one regional dialogue with religious institutions and actors from different faiths to highlight the importance of gender equality, with a focus on the engagement of men and boys in unpaid care, and on promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Delivery of one Training of Trainers to roll out the manual in the four countries of programme implementation, in close collaboration with the implementing partners recruited by UN Women at the country level to roll out the manual in the four countries.
Development of a short Public Service Announcement (video) that highlights religious interpretations in favor of gender equality, with a focus on promoting the involvement of men and boys in unpaid care and household responsibilities, and on supporting women’s participation in paid employment.
Eligibility
Competencies
Technical/functional competencies required:
At least 10 years of demonstrated organizational experience in working with religious institutions and actors in the Arab States region to advance human rights and sustainable development in alignment with international standards and frameworks.
Demonstrated organizational experience in promoting gender equality and women’s rights.
In-depth capacity and experience on Sunni theological exegesis.
Demonstrated organizational experience to engage with religious institutions and actors from different faiths and to promote inter-faith dialogues in the Arab States region, ideally at both regional and country levels.
Full competency in Arabic language and ability to lead the development of knowledge products and organization of dialogues and conferences in Arabic as primary language.
Comprehensive understanding of the religious and socio-cultural aspects, nuances and dynamics of the Arab region and its communities and societies.
Experience in the management and execution of projects funded by international development organizations and/or UN agencies, with strong financial management and administration capacity to recruit new employees and sub-contracted organizations and/or companies, manage large budgets, provide training and capacity-building activities, manage data, undertake MEL activities, prepare high-quality progress reports, and develop new knowledge products.
A well-defined governance system (e.g., board of directors/trustees, well-defined organogram, well-defined management, and administration roles etc)
Compliance with full registration and legal requirements of the Government of the country in which the CSO is based.
Other competencies, which, while not required, can be an asset for the performance of services:
A CSO with a strong gender equality mandate.
Experience in initiatives related to engaging men and boys in gender equality and on women’s economic empowerment.
CSO with internal policies and practices that support male allyship and work/life balance to facilitate staff in their unpaid care work duties, such as parental leaves, flexible work arrangements, childcare provision, codes of conduct, etc.
Focus Country:
Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
Post Date: June 19, 2025