Please direct any questions to: sahel@civiliansinconflict.org
I. INTRODUCTION
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. Our Theory of Change goal is to bring about a significant reduction in conflict-related civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored and are advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.
At CIVIC, we believe that
· Civilians are not “collateral damage” and civilian harm is not an unavoidable consequence of conflict — civilian harm can and must be prevented.
· Civilians are not merely victims of conflict but have agency and influence in ensuring that their protection needs are met.
· Civilians experience conflict differently based on several aspects of their identities, including gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, ethnicity, and language and therefore have different protection needs.
· Armed actors are responsible and must be held accountable for preventing and addressing civilian harm.
· Direct engagement with armed actors and civilians is necessary to significantly reduce harm and improve protection outcomes for conflict-affected communities.
· Working collaboratively with a wide range of partners and in coalitions is critical to accelerating global action on the protection of civilians and reducing public tolerance for civilian harm.
To accomplish this, we assess the causes of civilian harm in particular conflicts, craft practical solutions to address that harm and advocate the adoption of new policies and practices that lead to the improved wellbeing of civilians caught in conflict. Recognizing the power of collaboration, we engage with civilians, governments, militaries, and international and regional institutions to identify and institutionalize strengthened protections for civilians in conflict.
Learn more about CIVIC’s work in the Sahel here.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this request for proposal is to identify a local/national civil society partner organization in Niger for CIVIC’s project: “Protecting Civilians by, with and through Civil Society”.
After a period of relative decline, the prevalence and intensity of armed conflict is again on the rise. As militaries and armed groups wage war, civilians always suffer most. Unfortunately, the civilians and the communities affected by conflict rarely have direct access to the leaders and decision-makers who have the power to prevent further harm or to provide remedy for the harm they suffer in war, and the governments doing the fighting too rarely take steps to address harm without being pressured to do so. Yet despite this heavy responsibility, many members of civil society and the media lack reliable or consistent ways to engage with local or international security forces in order to help local communities define their own security needs, to express their concerns, or to hold armed actors accountable for their conduct.
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is prepared to help change this dynamic supporting local civil society with a network of actors focused on the protection of civilians. This project aims to help establish common benchmarks for protecting civilians that can be shared among civil society globally, and the means for local civil society to promote change locally.
The overall project will include: the development and dissemination of a common framework and resources for evaluating and influencing national policies and practices for civilian harm prevention, mitigation, and response; work with a local civil society partner in Niger to customize and apply the framework; development and piloting of civil society-led strategies for promoting change in government practice; dissemination and socialization of the resources developed to representatives from global, independent civil society to improve outcomes for civilians affected by conflict.
Our proposal is based on the three foundational premises:
1) The first is our belief that civil society and public participation in effective and accountable security policy is important.
2) The second is our commitment to developing a higher standard for the protection of civilians, globally.
3) Finally, our experience that with the right policies, practices, and political commitment, harm to civilians can be prevented, minimized, and remedied.
The selected subrecipient will be expected to work closely with the CIVIC team, following their direction and vision.
III. SCOPE OF WORK
1. Scope of work
While civilians harmed by conflict are the intended beneficiary of the project, the primary audience are those civil society organizations and champions that serve as a critical source of public advice, oversight and accountability for security policies. CIVIC’s partner in Niger will help bridge the gap between CIVIC’s protection of civilians’ expertise with civil society organizations in Niger.
This partnership aims to be a collaborative one, in which CIVIC and the partner will work together to develop the project’s parameters, customize a local evaluation framework and put the framework into action. CIVIC sees this framework to have a life beyond the end of the project dates, and hopes this partnership will reflect the same sentiment.
The partner will be expected to complete the following tasks in cooperation and consultation with CIVIC.
The partner will:
- Engage in consultation and creation of project parameters with CIVIC.
This includes identifying specific technical areas each is interested in building during the project and developing a project plan.
- Participate in two 2 days or more capacity building workshops with CIVIC
CIVIC will provide its partners with structured mentoring and training on civilian harm mitigation concepts, the evaluation framework and advocacy tools.
- Lead consultations and support the customization of the local evaluation framework relative to the Niger civil society context
CIVIC and its partner will work together to customize the evaluation framework and assessment tool for use in the local context, with a focus on one of the categories of analysis. CIVIC will develop the initial evaluation framework, a concise tool for evaluating the gaps and identifying opportunities for bolstering protection of civilians within government practices and policy. The tool identifies the different grades in various key competences, from tracking and amends to security force practices to national law and policies.
- Conduct a pilot analysis
In partnership with CIVIC, the partner will produce an analysis that will identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the prevention mitigation and response to harm in the context of conflict-affected areas in Niger. This activity will utilize the customized evaluation framework.
- Participate in a two day long strategy workshop
CIVIC and its partner will conduct a strategy workshop to develop an advocacy strategy for CSO partners.
- Conduct public and private advocacy events
CIVIC and its partners will conduct at least one joint, private advocacy event based with NGO and government stakeholders, and another joint, public event to raise awareness of one or more topics identified in the advocacy strategy.
2. Deliverables
The expected deliverables are:
Project plan: a plan that will break down the timeline and expectations for delivering on activities.
Customized local evaluation and assessment tool
Pilot analysis: using the local evaluation and assessment tool, the partner will identify strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities in the prevention, mitigation and response to harm in a local context.
Advocacy strategy: a summary advocacy strategy to be utilized by the partner and disseminated amongst CSO network.**
Action plan: a plan for promoting change or capitalizing on opportunities for the prevention, mitigation and response to harm
Project reports (upon request): to update teams on progress on deliverables and activities
3. Location
Niger, the partner must be based in Niger and activities will center around Niamey
4. Timeline (non-negotiable with some flexibility)
The partnership would be from August 15, 2021 – April 30, 2022.
IV. FIXED AMOUNT AWARD AND MILESTONES
CIVIC intends to award a Fixed Amount Award beginning in September for programs/activities and operations cost. Subaward payments shall be made based on the completion and approval of defined milestones with specified values.
Milestones will be negotiated between CIVIC and the subrecipient prior to award.
Milestones will include: a description of the deliverable/goal/task to be accomplished; a description of how the recipient will document the completion of the deliverable/goal/task; and the amount that CIVIC will pay the subrecipient for the deliverable.
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V. ELIGIBILITY CIVIC invites non-profits entities in good financial and legal standing, with a record of past performance. To be eligible to bid on this proposal, the organization must meet all of the following criteria:**
• The organization must be not-for-profit and registered in Niger
• The organization has demonstrated experience in the implementation of similar projects, with specific work with civil society and protection of civilians in Niger
• The organization has been in existence for more than 3 years
• The organization has minimum absorptive capacity and demonstrates the potential to acquire sufficient capacity to manage programs in a sustainable manner
• The organization must be able to show proof of having a functional financial system with sufficient accounting and financial policies and procedures to properly track and report on expenditure of funds, including procurement procedures and sanctions compliance
• The key staff working on this project must be proficient in French and English (both written and speaking)
• Conflict of Interest: The awardee’s other relationships, associations, activities, and interests should not create a conflict of interest that could prevent full impartiality in implementation of the subaward activities.
• Experience in public and private advocacy is an added value
VI. APPLICATION
Interested organizations should complete the following information in English or French:
Application information form (see below)
Proposal (see below)
Applicant’s declaration (see below)
The completed application form and supporting documents should be submitted by Monday, August 2nd at 5pm GMT via email to sahel@civiliansinconflict.org
VII. SELECTION CRITERIA
Prior to selection, CIVIC will conduct due diligence which will take into account: organizational capacity and past performance; organizational mission; administrative capacity; staff qualifications; community standing; financial health and systems; and security of staff and duty of care.
Proposals received will be evaluated by CIVIC on the following selection criteria:
Demonstrated experience in protection of civilians in Niger (50%)
Technical approach (20%)
Budget and milestones (10%)
Ability to meet the expected timeline for completing the project (based on overall quality of the program (20%)
Selected proposal will be decided by August, 13th, 2021.
VIII. QUESTIONS/INQUIRIES
For questions regarding the subaward, please contact sahel@civiliansinconflict.org
SUBGRANT APPLICATION FORM
How to apply:
The completed application form and supporting documents should be submitted by Monday, August 2nd at 5pm GMT via email to sahel@civiliansinconflict.org