• May 27, 2024
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Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Thematic Subgrants for Local CSO Sub-Awardees

 to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM)

(Supported by US DoS)

 

This is the announcement of funding opportunity number SPOCEFM001

 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number:	19.108
Type of Solicitation:	Open Competition
Issuance Date	July 12 2024
Deadline for Questions:	05:00 PM PST on July 22 2024
Application Deadline:	05:00 PM PST on July 29 2024
Total Funding Ceiling: PKR	60,000,000
Budget Ceiling for each Grant PKR	3,000,000
Anticipated number of Awards	Twenty
Type of Awards	Fixed Amount Awards
Programme Thematic Areas	Theme 1: Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy and awareness at the grassroots level to prevent CEFM and grassroots–level action by engaging community groups (religious, political elders, influentials, parents and caregivers, etc.) Theme 2: Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy campaign with policymakers on legislation and pending interventions Theme 3: Engagement of youth for youth-led actions Theme 4: Capacity building of stakeholders (policymakers, provincial and district authorities, and community groups including family units) Theme 5: Strengthening of child protection and GBV referral mechanisms and support services.
Grant Cycle #	1
Duration/Period of Performance	10 Months
Anticipated time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds	2 months
Who should apply	Local Civil Society Organizations of the Districts: Jacob Abad, Khairpur – Sindh & Jaffar Abad Naseer Abad – Balochistan

 

 Subject:        Notice of Funding Opportunity # SPOCEFM001

Thematic Subgrants for Local CSO Sub-Awardees to End Child, Early And Forced Marriage

 SPO with the support of Save the Children Pakistan is excited to announce the funding opportunity for subgrants to engage local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the project, “Grassroots Action to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM),” with financial support of the US Department of State.

Through this notice of funding opportunity, we are seeking community-based innovative ideas from local CSOs working in the districts of Jaffarabad & Naseerabad (Balochistan) and the districts of Khairpur & Jacobabad (Sindh) to prevent and respond to CEFM.

This notice for funding opportunity is officially commenced from (July 12 2024) and will remain open until (July 29 2024).

Interested organizations who are eligible as per the following criteria and functionally present in the proposed districts are invited to submit their proposals following the guidelines outlined in the attached document:

• District-based organizations with Head Offices in the proposed 4 districts
• Registered with relevant authority
• Registered with tax authority
• NOC with district-level authority (NOC for any current or previous project) or Support letter for the proposed project
• Operational Bank Account

Women’s rights organizations, women-led, girl-led and/or youth-led organizations, and Organizations of People with Disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. We sincerely hope that you will consider participating in this exciting opportunity. Your participation can make a meaningful impact on the project’s success and outcomes. Applicants can find application forms and other materials needed to apply online at: https://spopk.org/cefm-grants/ under the announcement title “End Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM),” funding opportunity number SPOCEFM001.

Applications must be submitted in English to SPO. All applicants must submit applications through ONE of the following modes:

• Through email with all required materials and information at:

proposals@spopk.org

Note: Attachments of 8 MB or more should be sent via Google Drive (Accessible) link to the above-mentioned email address.

• Hard copy submitted to the following address:

Strengthening Participatory Organization

Building No.1-B, Street 26, G-9/1, Islamabad.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section I: Program Description. 4

Grassroot Action Fund to End Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) 4

Objectives. 4

Expected Results. 5

1. LOGIC MODEL. 5

Sub Grant Information – Purpose and Scope of subgrants. 9

Scope of Work. 11

Theme 1. Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy and awareness at the grassroots level to prevent CEFM and grassroots-level action by engaging community groups (religious, political elders, influentials, parents and caregivers, etc ) 11

Theme 2. Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy campaign with policy makers on legislations and pending interventions. 12

Theme 3. Engagement of youth for youth-led actions. 13

Theme 4. Capacity building of stakeholders (policymakers, provincial and district authorities and community groups including family units) 14

Theme 5. Strengthening of Child Protection and GBV referral mechanisms and support services. 16

Section II: Federal Award Information. 16

CEFM Grant Category, Fund Size, Duration and Type. 17

Geographic Focus. 18

Section III: Eligibility Information. 18

Eligible Applicants. 18

Ineligible Applicants. 18

Cost Sharing. 18

Section IV: Application and Submission Information. 19

Address to Notice of Funding Opportunity Package. 19

Application Preparation and Submission Instructions. 19

Application Format 20

Cost Application. 22

Conflict of Interest Disclosure. 22

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number and System for Award Management (SAM) 23

Ineligible Activities. 23

Section V: Application Review Information. 24

Initial Screening. 24

Review Criteria. 24

Review Process and Scoring. 25

Section VI: Federal Award and Administration Information. 25

Award of Grant 25

Administrative and National Policy and Legal Requirements. 26

Reporting Requirements. 26

Section VII: Point of Contact 26

Questions about this NOFO.. 26

 

Section I: Program Description

Grassroot Action Fund to End Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM)

Background

Pakistan has some of the highest rates of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) in the world. Almost a fifth of women 20–24 years old in South Asia including Pakistan were first married or in union before they were 18 years old. Girls, especially adolescent girls, face the greatest risks and harms of CEFM, and these increase when girls also experience intersecting forms of social inequality based on their gender, age, disability, ethnicity, caste, religion, socio-economic status, and sexuality. The same systems of oppression also restrict the meaningful participation and leadership of women, girls, and other marginalized groups within organizations and networks that address CEFM and their ability to support survivors and women and girls at risk of CEFM. Grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) in Pakistan are best placed to lead impactful, community-based programming to end CEFM but they lack funding, information, organizational capacity and systems, recognition by governments and other key actors, and support from CEFM-related networks.

Save the Children Pakistan along with consortium partner Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) is implementing the project, “Grassroots Action to End Child, Early & Forced Marriage” in 4 districts of Pakistan Jacob Abad, Khairpur – Sindh & Jaffar Abad Naseer Abad – Balochistan from Oct 2023 to September 2025 with financial support of US-DoS. The project builds on Save the Children Federation, Inc.’s (SC’s) and consortium partners’ technical CEFM and organizational expertise and links to CSOs and CEFM-related networks. The approach is designed for sustainability and scale as activities focus on strengthening CSO’s capacity, fostering ecosystem improvements for local CSOs and stakeholders, complemented by changes in social norms and advancements in CEFM policy implementation. The project will strengthen CSOs’ ability to address context-specific drivers of CEFM, mobilize communities against the practice, influence key stakeholders to improve CEFM prevention and response including multisectoral services, and link survivors to quality services. It also promotes local leadership and ownership of the project’s goal, objectives, and activities, ensuring sustainability and increased action to address CEFM.

Objectives

Grassroots CSOs are supported to engage in and implement high-quality, gender-transformative programming and advocacy that contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of CEFM and increased support for women and girls who experience or are at risk of CEFM.

• Objective 1. Mobilize, support, and coordinate grassroots CSOs to prevent and respond to CEFM with synchronized and gender-transformative, community-based approaches.
• Objective 2. Increase coordination among CSOs, relevant government authorities, and other key stakeholders to strengthen local leadership and implementation of gender-transformative and effective policies, programs, and advocacy to prevent and respond to CEFM.

The above objectives will be achieved focusing on supporting, mobilizing and coordinating with local CSOs to respond to CEFM with gender-transformative and community-based approaches. On the other hand, increasing coordination among CSOs, Government authorities and other key stakeholders to implement effective policies and advocacy to prevent CEFM.

Each objective will be achieved through the implementation of a package of activities that contribute to the outcome and output indicators included in the log frame.

The project aims to strengthen grassroots CSOs’ ability to prevent and respond to CEFM in Pakistan with community-based and high-quality, gender-transformative programming and advocacy. To contribute to this goal, the project will also support the broader ecosystem (e.g., stakeholders, institutions, networks, policies) and CSO’s leadership within it, to accelerate action to reduce the prevalence of CEFM and expand support for survivors and at-risk women and girls. The project will:

1. Provide financial, organizational, and technical support for 25 local CSO sub-awardees in Pakistan that prevent and respond to CEFM in Naseerabad and Jaffarabad in Balochistan province and Jacobabad and Khairpur districts in Sindh province.
2. Support at least two (one in each province) CEFM-related CSO networks at the district and provincial levels through sub-awardee participation to enable all CSO members to enhance evidenced-based CEFM programming, coordination, resource sharing, and joint advocacy and synchronize efforts with national- and provincial-level CSO networks.
3. Strengthen at least two (one in each province) CEFM-related multistakeholder networks of grassroots CSOs, relevant government authorities, and other key stakeholders to promote collaboration on CEFM prevention and response; address harmful gender and social barriers within networks that stifle leadership of historically marginalized groups; engage in joint advocacy, align local through national policy and programming, and disseminate key learnings to support high-quality, gender-transformative programming to end CEFM.
4. Facilitate the leadership and meaningful participation of marginalized groups (based on gender, age, caste, ethnicity, disability, socio-economic status, religion) within CSOs sub-awardees and the leadership of these groups, along with youth- and women-led CSOs within CEFM-related networks.

Expected Results

1. LOGIC MODEL

Sindh and Balochistan provinces in Pakistan, have some of the highest rates of CEFM in the region. CEFM is a complex issue that requires significant investments in terms of time, effort, and financial and human resources. While grassroots CSOs are well-positioned to address this human rights violation as they are embedded within local communities, many lack resources, capacity, knowledge sharing mechanisms/platforms, strong relationships with government and other key stakeholders, and ways to coordinate government and CSO work to address CEFM. Addressing these will enable a synchronized and comprehensive approach that strengthens timely and multisectoral support to survivors and women and girls at risk of CEFM. A coordinated approach is also essential to enhance CSOs relationships with local government officials and other key stakeholders to implement and strengthen existing CEFM policies and programs and address deeply entrenched drivers of CEFM.
Project Objective 1: Mobilize, support, and coordinate grassroots CSOs to prevent and respond to CEFM with synchronized and gender-transformative, community-based approaches.
Needs	Inputs	Activities	Outputs	Outcomes	Impact
Grassroots CSOs lack resources and technical and organizational capacity to prevent and respond to CEFM with sustainable, synchronized, and effective approaches that are evidence-based,  inclusive, and contextually appropriate	Staff time   Partners’ staff time   Grassroots Action Fund to End  CEFM   Meeting costs (venue, refreshments)	1.1   Refine GAP analysis research findings and recommendations with local CSOs and key stakeholders, and refresh CSO landscape analyses to ground project activities in context-specific evidence on CEFM   1.2   Launch the ‘Grassroots Action (GAC) Fund to End CEFM’, with country-specific selection criteria and select a diverse range of local CSO sub-awardees   1.3   The GAC Team will support CSO sub-awardees to complete OCAs and strengthening plans and engage in gender-transformative capacity strengthening   1.4 Strengthen CSO CEFM-related networks and regular cross-learning among CSOs at the district and local level in each country	1.1   CSOs resourced, capacitated, mobilized, awarded, and coordinated to share learning and knowledge on CEFM in supported CSO networks.	1.1 CSOs’ capacity enhanced to prevent and respond to CEFM   1.2 CSO sub-awardees enhance sustainability due to improved resources, capacity, and coordination, to operate beyond life of project.	Reduced acceptance of CEFM by children, families, communities, and survivors and women and girls at risk of CEFM  are better protected from violence, exploitation, and abuse
Project Objective 2: Increase coordination among CSOs, relevant government authorities, and other key stakeholders to strengthen local leadership and implementation of gender-transformative and effective policies, programs, and advocacy to prevent and respond to CEFM.
Needs	Inputs	Activities	Outputs	Outcomes	Impact
CSOs, local government, and other key stakeholders (service providers, law enforcement agencies, etc.) lack regular coordination mechanisms to manage implementation of CEFM-related policies and programs	Staff time   Partners’ staff time   Grassroots Action Fund to End CEFM   Meeting costs (venue, refreshments)	1    2    2.1  Strengthen multistakeholder networks of CSOs, relevant government authorities, and other key stakeholders and coordinate joint forums on preventing and responding to CEFM   2.2 Conduct policy review and recommendations workshop with CEFM-related multistakeholder networks   2.3 Support local, joint advocacy and campaigns by CSOs, government authorities, and other key stakeholders on ending CEFM   2.4. In conjunction with CSO sub-awardees, disseminate project learnings and evidence to improve provincial and district-level programming on CEFM prevention and response	1 2 2.1   CSOs engage in advocacy networks   2.2 Increased advocacy, collaboration, by CSOs and citizens to ensure the local government and service providers and law enforcement appropriately implement policies, budgets, and programs to prevent and respond CEFM	2.1   CSOs conduct programs for CEFM prevention and response   2.2 CSOs conduct individual and joint programs for prevention and response of CEFM, benefiting CEFM victims from low income and marginalized communities through advocacy and social service delivery	Government and key stakeholders take greater action to tailor services to the needs of women and girls to prevent and respond to CEFM and realize the rights of girls and women
Assumptions			External Factors
Individuals and local institutions are ready and willing to engage in the project.    Availability, sufficiency, and timely disbursement of funds    Cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders    Ending CEFM is a priority for both local government and grassroots CSOs			Local government continue to engage with international organizations, but can refuse to cooperate on sensitive issues such as CEFM.     Although the political situation is stable in Pakistan, there is risk of political instability.   Covid-19 cases are under control, however there is a risk that a new strain/wave of COVID- virus can emerge, disrupting the project operation.

 

Sub Grant Information – Purpose and Scope of subgrants

The launch of the Grassroots Action Fund for local CSOs is one of the major activities of the project. SPO and SC Pakistan will launch the fund with active engagement and participation of local CSOs through a sub-awards mechanism. These local CSO sub-awardees will be selected through an innovative transparent and competitive process through active engagement with CSOs and other stakeholders working on CEFM.

The main objective of this fund is to support and strengthen the capacity of grassroots CSOs so that they can prevent and respond to CEFM with community-based approaches.

The project’s approach to addressing CEFM incorporates attention to social norm change, reflecting the complexity of girls’ lives with multi-sectoral programming, building girls’ agency and solidarity, engaging men and boys for gender equality and bringing insight to advocacy. The project will apply the socio-ecological model to address the issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and CEFM through local CSOs. The socio-ecological model suggests that gender transformation and social inclusion is accomplished by working at multiple levels at the same time (individual, family, community, institutional, and policy) and targeting changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior explicitly related to gender equality and social inclusion.

As a capacity-strengthening primer on shifting power to young people and promoting their leadership on advocacy and campaigns on preventing and responding to CEFM, CSOs will improve their ability to engage in collaborative leadership with children and young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, through the co-creation of strategies and campaigns against inequitable gender and social norms, attitudes, and beliefs related to CEFM, and address persistent barriers to effective community-based programming, such as the lack of government funding for CEFM policy implementation.

Resources, evidence, and learnings shared by CSO sub-awardees, government authorities, and other key stakeholders during regular multistakeholder network meetings and the policy workshop will be documented. Project partner and CSO sub-awardees will synthesize this information into accessible products and presentations such as the preparation of learning briefs, radio talks, and other ways suitable in local contexts. They will be disseminated widely to stakeholders and provide nuanced and context-specific information to guide programming to address CEFM.

Approach

Gender-transformative and inclusive approaches will be applied to address gender and intersecting social barriers and ensure accessibility. By applying these approaches, the project will:

• Select a diverse cross-section of grassroots CSOs as sub-awardees, including youth- and women-led CSOs that work with women and girls at risk of or who are survivors of CEFM.
• Use inclusive and gender-transformative methodologies in the CSOs’ Organizational Capacity Strengthening (OCS) assessments and in technical assistance.
• Work with CSO sub-awardees to address institutional gender and social gaps within their organizations and promote local leadership of marginalized groups, including girls and women.
• Advance the meaningful participation and leadership of marginalized groups, including youth- and women-led CSOs, in all CEFM-related networks.
• Promote significant engagement of male leaders in multistakeholder advocacy to end CEFM.

 

Scope of Work

Ending CEFM requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses various thematic areas. Below are some key thematic areas to consider for all Local CSOs planning to submit their proposals. By addressing these thematic areas comprehensively and collaboratively, research has shown the possibility of making significant progress towards ending CEFM and ensuring the rights and well-being of all children. For sub-awards to prohibit CEFM these themes or areas of interventions under which the sub-grants will be awarded are aimed at building social movements, shaping policies, coalition-building, and bringing change in the behavior of communities and decision-makers to end CEFM. An indicative list of activities is provided under each thematic area as examples for the guidance of CSOs while developing the proposals. These activities listed under each theme are indicative and flexible; applicant CSOs can pick all, choose some, or propose any innovative activities under the given themes. An organization can apply for more than one thematic area by sending separate applications for each thematic area, however one organization if selected, will be awarded with one grant only under this NOFO.

 

Theme 1. Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy and awareness at the grassroots level to prevent CEFM and grassroots-level action by engaging community groups (religious, political elders, influentials, parents and caregivers, etc )

Number of Subgrants: 4

Budget Ceiling: 3,000,000 each

 

One sub-grant under this theme will be awarded in each of the districts as mentioned above.

 

Based on the socio-ecological model approach of the project, this award will be used at the community level, looking at engaging community members. This will include working closely with all community leaders, political, religious elders, caregivers, youth (girls and boys), and men and women, etc. Collaborating with and engaging the community involves shared learning and educating them about the detrimental effects on children’s health, education, and overall development and well-being if married early, sharing existing laws, and encouraging commitments to end CEFM. Awareness campaigns will include workshops, seminars, theater, targeting parents, community leaders and young people. One of the important aspects of community engagement is to complement the component of girls’ empowerment which involves girls’ education, life skills, access to opportunities for sports, formal and normal education, right to live, and informed decisions about their future. Community engagement can involve advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of legal implications and consequences of child rights and also to chalk out community safety actions for CEFM mitigation.

 

Examples of indicative activities to be undertaken:

 

1. Establishing UC level committees (more men and boys are engaged in these committees and mobilized to support girls’ and women’s basic rights to end CEFM, promote health rights of women/girls, education rights of girls, ensure participation of community in campaigns. i.e. access to education, health, decision-making, etc.
2. Creating 4 key messages for promoting birth registration, CNIC and marriage registration and on child rights to stop CEFM
3. Print gender-responsive IEC material on CEFM for community awareness.
4. Dissemination of messages through print, electronic, and social media.
5. Conduct 4 Awareness sessions with community groups (men, women, youth, PWD, older people) on the impacts of CEFM on girls’ health, gender-based violence, family life and social roles.
6. Organize a community theater programme for awareness raising on the effects of CEFM
7. Organize 2-day workshops with parents, community leaders, religious leaders, Nikah registrars, tribal elders, and people sitting in decision-making process at the community level (example can be jirga / punchayet where applicable in the context of a specific district) to mobilize them on the importance of birth registration, marriage / Nikah Nama and making of CNIC to prohibit CEFM.
8. 2 Advocacy campaigns on enrollment in schools particularly for girls through awareness-raising sessions for girls (at schools and communities) and parents.

Theme 2. Social behavior changes to end CEFM – Advocacy campaign with policy makers on legislations and pending interventions

Number of Subgrants: 4

Budget Ceiling: 3,000,000 each

In this subgrant we are looking at the socioecological level of policies and legislature. The sub-theme of advocacy and awareness encompasses the significant role of provincial assemblies and relevant departments in taking ahead the legislative pending interventions related to CEFM. As after the election of 2024, a new government is formed, it is important to not only orient the new legislators, but also to identify and engage the anti-CEFM champions from this group who will take ahead the process of policy/law making. A series of interventions e.g. consultation will be done on pending bill (Balochistan) and experience sharing (Sindh), strengthening the role of departments for implementation  of legislative steps and actions by relevant departments. Conduct policy dialogues with government authorities and stakeholders, policy dialogues with parliamentarians including parliamentary women caucus, and dialogues with support mechanisms. Printing and dissemination of behavioral change and communication materials will also be a part of advocacy campaigns.

Examples of indicative activities to be undertaken:

1. 4 Corner meetings with legislators and representatives of political parties
2. Collaborate with stakeholders and policymakers to create Anti-CEFM champions (youth, women)
3. Plan several meetings with relevant departments and experts who can shape the policy-level interventions that can strengthen the agenda of CEFM mitigation
4. Form a coalition that will engage on issues of CEFM and GBV at the government level
5. Development of IEC material on laws
6. Networking meetings with the organizations working on the prohibition of CEFM
7. 2 Experience sharing workshops with government stakeholders
8. Conduct 2 policy dialogues with government authorities on existing policies and their implementation.

Theme 3. Engagement of youth for youth-led actions

Number of Subgrants: 4

Budget Ceiling: 3,000,000 each

 To ensure adequate engagement and space for young people to have their voices heard, SC Pakistan and SPO will provide sub-grants for youth engagement using SHIFT. SHIFT is a campaign accelerator model designed by Save the Children that supports young activists (aged 15- 25 years) to design and deliver public campaigns for social or environmental change. One sub-grant for this theme will be awarded in each of the districts.

Under the CEFM project, engagement of youth to counter CEFM is a significant strategy. Our focus is on utilizing emerging digital platforms that support young people to express their views and mobilize audiences. Shift uses a co-creation methodology designed through consultation with young people themselves to design interventions to counter CEFM.

Examples of indicative activities to be undertaken

1. Outreach and Preparation (2 months)

• In collaboration with young people (girls, boys, PWDs, and other excluded groups), identify CEFM champions and design activities
• Selection of youth group; A maximum of 15 participants should be chosen as best practice for workshop size. Finalizing names of participants for co-creation workshop.
• Networking activities and groups formed to begin building team relationship and trust.
• Finalization of a clear campaign strategy

2. Co-Creation and Campaign Design (2 months)

• Co-creation sessions
• Have the campaign topic finalized.
• Workshop to develop a campaign strategy This may also involve consultation with a local implementing creative agency.

3. Campaign Implementation (2 months+)

• Approve the campaign strategy,
• Produce the campaign.
• Development of IEC material to end CEFM
• Content creation, social media strategy and in local media engagement (production and implementation costs of the campaign and may include costs like multimedia production and social media boosting/influencer costs)
• Hold campaign update meetings during campaign implementation phase, with youth campaign committee in attendance.
• Conveying messages using digital/social media and other local ways e.g., road shows, theater, puppet shows, feature writing, etc.

 

Theme 4. Capacity building of stakeholders (policymakers, provincial and district authorities and community groups including family units)

Number of Subgrants: 4

Budget Ceiling: 3,000,000 each

One sub-grant under this theme will be awarded in each of the districts to enhance the capacity of different stakeholders to understand and address the underlying factors that contribute to child marriage, such as gender inequalities, cultural norms, the impact of discrimination, and power dynamics. The sub-grant will promote inclusion to address the root causes of child marriages and take preventive and mitigation actions as a crucial aspect of community engagement efforts. The findings of a recent Gender and Power (GAP) analysis conducted by SC and SPO reflects that power imbalance and inequalities are structural in nature. To address these inequalities, there is a need to address different domains of power imbalance, which intersect to perpetuate these inequalities. It is also needed to involve all stakeholders, like public departments, civil society, the private sector, service providers such as health care and education, livelihoods services, and public and private institutions like women development departments, child rights commissions and CSOs to achieve gender equality and children’s safety and well-being. So it is recommended not only to focus on awareness raising and sensitization sessions on gender equality with men and women community members, boys and girls, community elders, PWDs, and boys and girls with disabilities, but also to create the awareness of social protection laws against child marriage, and human rights should be part of awareness campaigns and training within the community.

Various mechanisms already exist that can support the prevention of CEFM and response to CEFM survivors. These mainly include, but are not limited to, police stations and women reporting centers, women crisis centers, dar-ul-aman (shelter homes of government as well as run by NGOs), social welfare departments, hospitals and health clinics, and networks for child rights. These mechanisms often lack the information and capacity to provide support for preventing or responding to CEFM matters. Therefore, building their capacities through the local CSOs will enable them to serve the survivors of CEFM in a proper manner and play their role in preventing CEFM. The training will result in a better understanding of the role of these mechanisms as duty bearers for preventing and responding to GBV and CEFM issues. The grant will also be utilized to sensitize and enhance the capacity of district-level stakeholders who can make a more conducive environment and support grassroots-level actions to address CEFM at provincial and local levels. These actors can be representatives of Nikah registrar offices, judges, lawyers of session courts, reporting desks (police, WDD and social welfare department), and other relevant departments that can play a pivotal role in addressing CEFM at the grassroots level i.e education, health, local government, representatives of CMCR, etc.

 

It is also important to enhance the capacity of network representatives on the CEFM issue and the network’s role in promoting girls’ empowerment by campaigning to minimize and mitigate the CEFM practices in society. Capacity building initiative will also encompass the reactivating or establishment of district-level networks working on GBV and CEFM and connecting these networks with provincial networks. The capacity-building initiatives will include reactivating and synergizing the networks, revising their strategic goals and action plan, network positioning and defining the role of CSOs participating in the network. And strengthen the network for preparing advocacy materials, research, and notes for decision-making bodies.

 

Examples of indicative activities to be undertaken:

 

1. Training of parents at community levels covering positive parenting, gender equality introduction to including laws, policies reporting and referral pathways. The training module will be developed accompanied by a trainer guide to support the effective rollout of the training module.
2. 2-day training of Nikahkwan and community-based religious leaders on relevant CEFM laws/policies, their role, and reporting system and mechanisms for CEFM issues.
3. Develop material and conduct 3-day training of support and response mechanisms (police stations and women reporting centers, women crisis centers, dar-ul-aman, shelter homes of government as well as run by NGOs), social welfare departments, hospitals and health clinics, media representatives, networks for child rights) on implementation of laws/policies, and prevention and response to CEFM. This training will include GBV concepts, laws/policies/regulations on GBV and child rights, support strategies for reported CEFM survivors, referral mechanisms in case support from other institutions, coordination among these mechanisms, and reporting on the number of CEFM incidences in their areas. Training will include an orientation on using referral mechanisms established by the government for prevention and response to GBV and CEFM.
4. Reactivating/creating the district-level networks (1 Network in each district) – this support network within communities can provide resources and assistance to families at risk of child marriage. These networks may include community organizations, religious leaders, and local government and district authorities.
5. Sensitization sessions with representatives, parents, Nikah registrar office, judges, lawyers of session courts, reporting desks (police, WDD and social welfare department), and other relevant departments.

 

 

Theme 5. Strengthening of Child Protection and GBV referral mechanisms and support services

Number of Subgrants: 4

Budget Ceiling: 3,000,000 each

One sub-grant under this theme in each district will focus on service provision to strengthen child protection systems, provide support services for survivors of child marriage, including referral for legal aid, counseling, hotline, and shelter, and ensure the reintegration and rehabilitation of affected individuals. It will strengthen referral mechanisms and case management to address CEFM cases at the district level by taking preventive and response measures.

Examples of indicative activities to be undertaken:

1. CP/ GBV Service providers assessment at district and provincial level to understand capacity gaps in the process of service delivery.
2. Reactivating and/or strengthening the CP/GBV referral and response mechanism at the district level
3. Adapt the referral pathways already existing in the country closely collaborating with the relevant government departments (Social Welfare Department, Women Development Department, Child Protection Centers). Clear protocols will be developed for the referral pathways. The pathways will be both translated in Urdu and Sindhi languages and will also be presented in pictorial forms so that every can understand them.
4. Once developed/adapted, the printed referral pathways will be disseminated among the girls, parents, community members, support functions, Nikahkhwans and other stakeholders through various activities (meetings, awareness-raising sessions, seminars, etc.).
5. Identification of referral pathways and maintaining and printing the directory.
6. Refer the cases of CEFM, child labor, GBV to service providers i.e. CPU, DUA, women’s centers, social safety schemes, health institutions, law enforcement, etc.
7. Conduct two-day training at the district level for lawyers (members of district bar associations) and journalist members of the district Press Clubs
8. Establish the 1 Data management system for prevention and response to CEFM cases at the district level.

Section II: Federal Award Information

Organizations can submit one application in response to the NOFO. SPO may

(a) reject any or all applications,

(b) accept other than the lowest cost application,

(c) accept more than one application, and

(d) waive irregularities in applications received.

SPO may make award(s) on the basis of initial applications received, without discussions or negotiations. Therefore, each initial application should contain the applicant’s best terms from a cost and technical standpoint. SPO reserves the right (though it is under no obligation to do so), however, to enter into discussions with one or more applicants in order to obtain clarifications, additional detail, or to suggest refinements in the project description, budget, or other aspects of an application.

SPO anticipates awarding either a grant or cooperative agreement depending on the needs and risk factors of the program. The final determination on award mechanism will be made by SPO. The distinction between grants and cooperative agreements revolves around the existence of “substantial involvement.” Cooperative agreements require greater SPO participation in the project. If a cooperative agreement is awarded, SPO will undertake reasonable and programmatically necessary substantial involvement.

Examples of substantial involvement can include, but are not limited to:

• Active participation or collaboration with the recipient in the implementation of the award;
• Review and approval of one stage of work before another can begin;
• Collaboration on selection and/or review and approval of sub-award partnerships or sub-contracts beyond existing Federal policy;
• Approval of the recipient’s budget or plan of work prior to the award.

The authority for this funding opportunity is found in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA).

 

CEFM Grant Category, Fund Size, Duration and Type

• Grant Category: District Level Grant
• Total Grant Funding: PKR 60,000,000
• Grant Funding Amount: PKR 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 per grant
• Duration: up to 10 months
• Anticipated start date: 01 September 2024
• No of grants to be awarded: 20-25 grants
• Type of Grant: Fixed Amount Award
• Grants awarded per Applicant: One grant per applicant.

Applications for district level grants will be accepted until 29 July, 2024.

Geographic Focus

Applications are invited from eligible CSOs for Jacobabad & Khairpur in Sindh and Jafarabad & Naseerabad in Balochistan. Women’s rights organizations, women-led and girl-led and/or youth-led organizations, and organizations of people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

 

Section III: Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

• District-based organizations with Head Offices in the proposed 4 districts
• Registered with relevant authority
• Registered with tax authority
• NOC with district-level authority (NOC for any current /previous project) or Support letter for proposed project
• Operational Bank Account

In addition, potential applicants must provide all information as per the application template (see Annex 1); along with supporting documentation. To be eligible for award consideration, applications must be prepared according to the format which is available on CEFM Online web-based portal on SPO’s website.

Ineligible Applicants

Government of Pakistan (GOP) institutions and quasi-public/parastatal entities will not be considered for direct awards. However, CSOs may apply in partnership with government entities. Individuals are ineligible for CEFM grants, as are political parties, public international organizations, foreign-based organizations, faith-based organizations whose objectives are discriminatory and/or serve religious purposes, and informal alliances without legal status.

In addition, to be eligible for a CEFM grant, organizations must not be listed on the Excluded Parties List System in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (www.sam.gov) and/or have a current debt to the U.S. government. Such organizations are not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR,1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR,1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.”

 

Cost Sharing

Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is encouraged but not a requirement of an application in response to this funding announcement. These contributions must be consistent with 2 CFR 200.306 AND allowable per 2 CFR §200, Subpart E—Costs Principles.

Applications and later proposals for consideration should describe the sources and amounts of additional funding that may be utilized to complement CEFM funding, and meet the following criteria:

• Are not paid by the Federal Government under another Federal award;
• Are verifiable from the non-Federal entity’s records;
• Are not included as contributions for any other Federal award; and
• Are necessary and reasonable for accomplishment of project or program objectives.

Please include this information in the indicated column in the Budget section of the application submission.

Note:  Though favorably looked upon, inclusion will not result in a competitive ranking increase when evaluated.

 

Section IV: Application and Submission Information

The purpose of issuing the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO/notice) is to outline and describe the objectives, scope, and requirements to launch the Grassroots Action Fund for local CSOs. This shall help the potential grassroots-level CSOs understand what is expected from them. Secondly, the notice enables the process to explore a diversity of CSOs by comparing the proposals so that the best-fit CSOs can be identified through a competitive process. Through establishing the evaluation criteria, the NOFO process ensures that the organizations are assessed objectively, fairly, and transparently.

Potential CSOs can submit the proposal by following the structure/template attached as Annex 1. Ensure that your proposal is simple, well-organized, clear, and concise, and that it addresses all the requirements outlined in the NOFO.

 

Address to Notice of Funding Opportunity Package

Applicants can find application forms, and other materials needed to apply on https://spopk.org/cefm-grants/   under the announcement title “End Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM),” funding opportunity number SPOCEFM001.

Application Preparation and Submission Instructions

CEFM applications must be submitted in English languages to SPO. All applicants must submit applications through any ONE of the following modes:

• Through email with all required materials and information at:

proposals@spopk.org

Note: Attachments of 8 MB or more should be sent via Google Drive (Accessible) link to the above-mentioned email address.

• Hard copy submitted on the following address:

 

Strengthening Participatory Organization

Building No.1-B, Street 26, G-9/1, Islamabad.

**Write “Confidential CEFM Project application” on the right upper corner of the envelope.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application and all required materials are submitted completely through email or hard copy.

 

DOS, SC, and SPO bear no responsibility if an applicant is unable to submit an application due to technological errors with the online system. Incomplete applications will not be considered.  DOS, SC and SPO bear no responsibility for expenses incurred during hard copy submission or courier.

If there are problems in submitting the application by email, applicants should submit any concern or question via email address queries@spopk.org for technical assistance. Applicants are advised to retain a copy of their application and accompanying enclosures for their records.

 

Application Format

Grant applications must be written in English language. Applications must not exceed 15 pages, utilizing Times New Roman 12-font size, single spaced, typed in standard 8½ x 11 paper size, with one-inch margins top and bottom as well as right and left. Each page must be numbered consecutively, with page numbers in the footer of the document. Any pages that exceed the page limitation will not be forwarded to the CEFM Proposal Review Committee. Cover page, dividers, table of contents, abbreviation list, and annexes (e.g., resumes/CVs, legal registration documents, etc.) will not count toward the page limit. There is no page limit on attachments or cost applications.

The narrative grant application should demonstrate the applicant’s capabilities and expertise with respect to achieving the goals of this project. Therefore it should be specific, complete and presented concisely. It should take into account and be arranged in the order of the proposal review criteria specified in Section V.

The suggested outline for a grant application is:

1. Cover Page
2. Table of Contents
3. Past Performance
4. Technical Description of Grant Application
5. Workplan

 

1. Cover Page

A single page should identify the CEFM theme, the proposed project title, and the applicant. The cover page also should state the proposed duration and geographical coverage (province, district, and communities) of the grant project.

 

In addition, the cover page should provide a contact person for the applicant, including the individual’s name (both typed and his/her signature), title or position with the organization/institution, office address, landline and mobile telephone numbers, and e-mail address. State whether the contact person is the person with authority to contract for the applicant, and if not, that person with authority should also be listed with contact information.

The cover page should also list the law/regulation under which it is registered with the GOP, date of such registration, and institutional website, if any. NTN number and List of BoD should be provided, in case of youth- and women-led grassroots CSOs, the applicant should provide % of women and girl leaders, members, and volunteers in their respective organization. List of key personal and staff of the organization should provide along with their experience and key qualification. The list of BoD and key staff can be annexed. Details of the primary bank account with account number, bank and branch will also be required to establish banking experience. Details of last audit such as year of audit along with auditing firm should be provided. Last Audit report should be annexed.

 

2. Table of Contents

The Table of Contents should list all parts of the grant application, with page numbers, and list attachments. It will also serve as a checklist to ensure that all relevant documents have been included with the application. Applicants may add a page explaining abbreviations if it will contribute to the application’s clarity.

 

3. Past Performance

Under this section, the application should cover the following:

• CSO should provide their experience in implementing gender-transformative programming on CEFM and/or GBV prevention and/or response related projects or initiatives. List of projects implemented in last 5 years along with source of funding and amount.
• CSOs serving marginalized populations (e.g., people with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, disadvantaged caste groups, and religious and ethnic minorities) will be prioritized and encouraged to apply for subawards.

 

4. Technical Description of Grant Application

Rationale, Methodology, Monitoring, Visibility and Sustainability

The rational must demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the development challenges relevant to the CEFM and the proposed project. The rational should also outline the why the project has been proposed. The approach should be relevant to local need with clear understanding of local community need including rural communities and supported by verified data and statistics on CEFM prevalence in the proposed area. Furthermore, the proposed use of funds should be aligned with localized effective approaches to prevent and respond to CEFM.

Section should include the description of the approach or proposed methodology to address the requirements; explaining of how the proposed solution meets the needs outlined in the NOFO. The proposed activities and workplan should align with the objective of project, specific activities and explain how and at what pace they are intended to achieve the project’s objectives. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative yet realistic approaches that are appropriate in the context of their target areas.

The subsection should include the monitoring mechanism, reporting schedule, visibility plans and branding of the project. The proposal should include a sub-section on and sustainability, explaining what aspects of the project interventions and benefits will continue after the completion of project. Applicants may note what measures they plan to take after the project period to monitor sustainability and to provide assistance to the project beneficiaries, indicating how recurring / ongoing costs will be managed.

 

5. Workplan

The proposed workplan should be aligned with the objective proposed activities and time line of project.

 

Cost Application

The cost application consists of a budget and a budget narrative:

• Budget: Applicants should provide in detail all estimated amounts required for implementation of the grant project, in Pakistani Rupees. Applicants should avoid “lump sums” and should instead calculate based on unit costs.
• Budget narrative: Applicants should provide detailed budget explanations and supporting justification of each proposed budget line item. They must clearly identify the basis of cost elements (unit costs), such as market surveys, price quotations, current salaries, historical practical experience, etc.

A basic budget template is provided (see Annexes). The supporting information that is not included in that template will be separately required at a later time. There is no page limit for the cost application, but applicants are encouraged to be as concise as possible, while providing the necessary detail to be clear.

The budget lines should be in Pakistani Rupees in the following categories:

• Direct Labor – Direct salaries, wages and benefits required to meet the objective of the award. Applicants should provide the annual salary history for at least the three most recent years for all proposed full-time and part-time grant project personnel during the budget negotiation stage.
• Supplies and Equipment – Applicants should differentiate between expendable (consumable) supplies and non-expendable equipment.
• Travel and Per Diem – Proposed per diem must be in accordance with the applicant organization’s established institutional policies and practices.
• Program Activities – Proposed activities with detailed breakup should be provided in the breakup sheet.
• Other Direct Costs – This category could include miscellaneous costs such as communications, utilities, report preparation costs, etc.
• Cost-Share – Applicants should estimate any cash or in-kind resources (reasonably monetized) that they will contribute to the grant project.

Although there is no requirement that applicants propose a specific cost share, cost sharing is an important element of the CEFM-grantee relationship. Applicants are encouraged to contribute resources from their own, private or local sources for the implementation of their grant project. Contributions can be either cash or in-kind.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Identifying and managing conflict of interest is central to shaping ethical culture in non-profit organizations such as SPO. SPO’s conflict of interest policy sets out guidelines on how to deal with such situations in order to protect its organizational interests/reputation and to prevent its work from being compromised as a result of familial or business connections of its employees and partners, ranging from donors, grantees and civil society organizations. The aim and objective of this policy is to protect SPO, its Board Members and employees from potentially damaging instances of impropriety arising from conflict of interest issues.

 

Entities affiliated with SPO Directors, Trustees, Officers or Employees will provide this information in the “Conflicts of Interest Disclosure” section of the grant application after approval of application and before grant award and implementation. Mention the name of SPO’s Director, Trustee, Officer or Employee and their affiliation with your organization. If family members (immediate or distant) of SPO’s Directors, Trustees, Officers or Employees are working with your organization in any capacity (board, management or staff), disclose the names and designations of both your employee and their SPO-affiliated relative.

 

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant is required to:

 

• be registered in SAM before submitting its application;
• provide a valid UEI number in its application; and
• continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award.

Grant applicants are encouraged to obtain a UEI number and register in the SAM in advance, as, no federal award may be made to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the award is ready to be made, SPO may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

 

Ineligible Activities

Activities that cannot be supported by the CEFM include:

 

1. Ineligible and Restricted Commodities – Military equipment, surveillance equipment, commodities and services for support of police and other law enforcement activities, abortion equipment and services, luxury goods, gambling equipment and weather modification equipment will not be eligible for funding under the CEFM. Other restrictions apply to purchases of agricultural commodities, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, contraceptive products, used equipment, fertilizers and pesticides.

 

2. Construction Activities- Construction activities will not be eligible for funding under the CEFM. “Construction” refers to construction, alteration, or repair (including dredging and excavation) of buildings, structures, or other real property and includes, without limitation, improvements, renovation, alteration and refurbishment. The term includes, without limitation, roads, power plants, buildings, bridges, water treatment facilities, and vertical structures.
3. Other Ineligible Activities

• Partisan activities or ones that encourage or support sectarian, linguistic, religious, gender, ethnic, racial or other divisions
• Legal fees for court cases against public bodies
• International travel
• Scientific, non-applied research
• Activities that violate any national law

 

 

Section V: Application Review Information

Initial Screening

Each application will be screened for eligibility (see Section III), completeness and compliance with the requirements of this NOFO. The CEFM team will notify applicants via email if they are not eligible to apply for a grant, if they have proposed ineligible activities, or if their application is not complete or compliant with the rules.

 

Review Criteria

The CEFM team will review applications according to standardized criteria. The criteria provide guidance for applicants about what topics they should address in their applications. The relative importance of each section of the application is indicated by the number of points assigned in the table below. A total of 100 points is possible.

 

The review criteria for each section of the grant application are summarized here.

 

Organizational Capacity Criteria
Past Performance (30 marks)	Past performance; CSO should provide their experience in implementing gender sensitive/transformative programming on CEFM and/or GBV prevention and/or response related projects or initiatives. List of projects implemented in last 5 years along with source of funding and amount. (10 marks)
	Youth- and women-led grassroots CSO. – CSO should provide % of women and girl leaders, members, and volunteers in their respective organization. (10 marks)
	CSOs working with people with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, disadvantaged caste groups, and religious and ethnic minorities will be prioritized and encouraged to apply for subawards. (10 marks)
Technical Description of Grant Application Criteria (short narrative application)
Rationale (30 marks)	Clear understanding of local community need including rural communities. Verified data and statistics on CEFM prevalence in their proposed areas. (15 marks)
	Proposed use of funds aligned with localized effective approaches to prevent and respond to CEFM. (15 marks)
Methodology (15 Marks)	Description of the approach or methodology proposed to address the requirements; explaining of how the proposed solution meets the needs outlined in the NOFO. The proposed activities and workplan should align with the objective of project, specific activities and explain how and at what pace they are intended to achieve the project’s objectives. (10 Marks) Sustainability explaining what aspects of the project interventions and benefits will continue after the completion of project.  (5 marks)
Workplan (15 Marks)	Workplan aligning the objective and time line of project. (15 marks)
Cost Application Criteria (simple budget)
Accuracy and Cost Effectiveness and Budget Justification (10 marks)	The simple budget should be submitted however it should be clear accurate and cost effective aligned with activities and objectives of proposed project.

 

Review Process and Scoring

A CEFM Proposal Review Committee (PRC) will review applications on a periodic basis, based on the above review criteria, and will forward to the Steering Committee (SC) all applications with their scores. The SC will forward its analysis and recommendations to DOS for final approval. The process of awarding a grant may take up to 2 months.

 

Application must score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 (60%) to merit further consideration. If few applications meet the threshold score, the CEFM team might further consider lower-scoring applications or provide technical advice to improve some grant applications. The CEFM team also reserves the right to require modification of the duration or budget or approach of a project to align it with overall CEFM goals or available funding or to improve the quality of the planned grant project outputs.

 

Section VI: Federal Award and Administration Information

Award of Grant

DOS, SC and SPO reserve the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted in response to this NOFO. The CEFM may (1) reject any or all applications, (2) recommend more than one application to DOS, and/or (3) waive formalities and minor irregularities in the application received. Since CEFM funding is limited, the CEFM may only award grants to applicants deemed as “the best” for the program objectives while not awarding a grant to otherwise qualified applications.

 

As part of its review process, the CEFM team may choose to discuss technical, cost or other pre-award issues with one or more applicants. These CEFM discussions do not imply that the applicant will receive a grant or confer any rights to the applicant.

 

Awards will be made to applicants whose applications offer the greatest value, with technical, management plan and other factors considered. DOS will make all final grant award decisions. A grant document signed by the applicant and the CEFM team shall result in a binding agreement. Applicants are specifically advised that until a fully-executed grant agreement document is duly signed by the SPO Chief Executive Officer (CEO), no expenditures will be paid by the SPO, SC or DRL, and no rights are conferred to the applicant.

 

Administrative and National Policy and Legal Requirements

SPO requires all recipients of foreign assistance funding to comply with all applicable Department and Federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to the following:

The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards set forth in 2 CFR Chapter 200 (Sub-Chapters A through F) shall apply to all non-Federal entities, except for assistance awards to Individuals and Foreign Public Entities. Sub-Chapters A through E shall apply to all foreign organizations, and Sub-Chapters A through D shall apply to all U.S. and foreign for-profit entities. The applicant/recipient of the award and any sub recipient under the award must comply with all applicable terms and conditions, in addition to the assurance and certifications made part of the Notice of Award. The Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions can be viewed at https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/.

 

Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include:

 

2 CFR 25 – UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

2 CFR 170 – REPORTING SUBAWARD AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION INFORMATION

2 CFR 175 – AWARD TERM FOR TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

2 CFR 182 – GOVERNMENTWIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE)

2 CFR 183 – NEVER CONTRACT WITH THE ENEMY

2 CFR 600 – DEPARTMENT OF STATE REQUIREMENTS

 

Reporting Requirements

CEFM grantees will be required to submit electronic narrative and invoices to the CEFM unit of SPO on a pre-determined schedule, which will be specified in each grant agreement. In particular, grantees will be required to provide evidence of the completion of activities and work plans, including but not limited to time-stamped photographs and signed participant lists with individual phone numbers. The applicants should note that the CEFM team implements rigorous monitoring and verification of grant project activities, and grant recipients will be required to facilitate monitoring and other visits from- CEFM personnel and sub-contractors.

 

Section VII: Point of Contact

Questions about this NOFO

Prospective applicants with questions concerning the contents of this NOFO should submit them in writing via email on: queries@spopk.org to seek guidance and support. Questions regarding the NOFO can be submitted by 22 July 2024 and SPO will respond within 24 hours by email. Guidance provided on the email will be limited to a set of standardized points to ensure fairness among applicants. No questions will be answered in person by any staff member of SPO or the CEFM team.

 

This NOFO is available in PDF here: Final NOFO-CEFM-District level grants 

Please download the Application Template from this link: Annex 1 – Application Template

Please download the Cost Application Template from this link: Annex 2- Cost Application

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please refer to the following document: FAQs

 

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