Re- Request for Application (RFA)  

USAID Civil Society and Media Activity  

Technical Support in Drafting Policies for Women, Youth, and Marginalized (WYM) Communities

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND 

This Request for Application (RFA) is to solicit applications from prospective grantees to support The  Asia Foundation (hereafter referred to as "the Foundation”) in the implementation of the USAID Civil  Society and Media (CSM), funded by USAID (Award # 72036722LA00001) through CSM-STAND. 

The Civil Society and Media Program, funded by USAID through the Civil Society and Media– Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) Leader with Associates  Award, is led by The Asia Foundation in partnership with Pact. USAID-CSM is a five-year program  (2022-2027) to support ongoing and emerging civic engagement in areas that advance the interests  of sub-national communities, particularly those with a history of challenges in engaging women,  youth, and marginalized sections of their populations. USAID CSM focuses on civic and media  engagement related to good governance (accountability, transparency, participation, equity and  inclusion); and access to and quality of education.  

USAID CSM’s overarching goal is to support independent civil society and media led by and for  women, youth and marginalized (WYM) communities to advance public interest, fundamental  freedoms, and accountability. The Program works to achieve this through mutually reinforcing  activities under three inter-related objectives while contributing to USAID’s Country Development  Cooperation Strategy (CDCS):  

1. To foster an enabling environment for civic space where issues and interests of WYM  communities are addressed. 

2. Increase WYM's engagement in civic and public spaces and advance their interests through better  access to resources, assets, and skills. 

3. Improve availability of credible information and diverse narratives within media that better  represent WYM issues and perspectives.  

OBJECTIVE AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

The concept of federalism is rooted in the belief that subnational governments play a crucial role in  creating favorable conditions for vulnerable sections of Nepali society. These governments are expected  to strive to accommodate diversity through policies that meet the needs of their respective provinces and  local communities. However, recent trends suggest that the policies enacted by subnational governments  often fail to adequately address the concerns of women, youth, and marginalized groups. Furthermore,  these policies may be influenced by the vested interests of political leaders, and other influential individuals. 

Additionally, Women, youth, and marginalized communities (WYM) are disproportionately affected by the  intersecting issues of gender inequality, disability, and social exclusion. Local and provincial governments  lack comprehensive frameworks to effectively address these issues. Absence of specific policies tailored to  these groups' experiences and vulnerabilities perpetuates disparities and injustices, highlighting the urgent  need for enhanced policy formulation and implementation efforts. 

In this context, this grant opportunity created by USAID CSM seeks to empower local organizations to  collaborate with provincial/local government in drafting policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of  WYM communities, thereby bridging existing gaps and advancing the interest of WYM communities across  Madhesh and Lumbini province. 

Background and Rationale 

The Government of Nepal has already endorsed the national level GESI policy and requested provincial  and local governments to formulate Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) policies in  their respective areas targeting WYM communities and PWD citizens. Similarly, the provincial government  of Lumbini province has already endorsed the GEDSI policy. 

Within this context, USAID CSM aims to support the provincial and local government to formulate  comprehensive GEDSI policy along with strategic and action plan at Madhesh Province. USAID CSM  conducted a scoping visit to some of the local level governments of Madhesh province and recognized the  urgent need to address issues such as early marriage, dowry, high dropout rate and other social issues.  

The absence of GEDSI policies at the provincial and local levels has impeded the efforts of Civil Society  Organizations (CSOs) to address the pressing issues effectively. Formulating GEDSI policies in Madhesh  province is crucial for several reasons as Madhesh is a diverse province with a significant population of  WYM communities. Without targeted policies, like GEDSI, these communities often face discrimination  and exclusion from socio-economic opportunities. At the same time, formulation and endorsement of such policies would empower CSOs to enhance their effectiveness and streamline their operations in  addressing these critical issues.  

Similarly, Constitution of Nepal, 2015 has created a significant opportunity for advancing education in the  country. The constitution now assigns the responsibility for school-level education to municipal  governments. This shift in authority represents a notable change, as local governments and communities  will now play a more active role in managing schools, leading to improved outcomes.  

Granting autonomy to local governments in overseeing local activities, including education, can facilitate  more effective governance tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the community, particularly  in a diverse society like Nepal. However, along with this newfound responsibility, local governments may  face challenges due to potential knowledge, expertise, and resource gaps. Although the government has  the authority to establish legislation to address these needs, the existing legislative and regulatory  frameworks are considered inadequate.  

Considering these challenges, USAID CSM published this RFA to select a partner that can support the  provincial government of Madhesh province to formulate a GEDSI policy. The selected partner is expected  to work in partnership with the provincial government and other stakeholders to develop the policy. It is  also expected to support some local governments in Madhesh to develop their GEDSI policies/plans.  Furthermore, it is expected to work with and for three local governments in Madhesh and Lumbini  provinces each to develop education-related policies. 

Objective 

The purpose of this RFA is to solicit applications from prospective CSO/Institution, 

• To support provincial/local government to formulate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)  policies along with strategy and plan of action at Madhesh province through technical inputs driven  by evidence. 

• To support local government to formulate education related policies at Madhesh and Lumbini  province through technical inputs driven by evidence.

For Detailed RFA, Please Click Here

For Annex A- Scope of Work, Please Click Here

For Annex B- Cost Proposal, Please Click Here