Section 1: Background

1.1 UNFPA mandate

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

1.2 UNFPA Programme of Assistance in  [Lesotho Country Office]

In Lesotho Country Office, UNFPA works with the government and other partners to promote the universal access to sexual and reproductive health rights especially for adolescents and women. This is currently delivered through the 2024-2028 CPD.

The full detailed Programme Document can be accessible on this link: http://unfpa.org/[Lesotho

1.3 Specific results

Within this framework and as set out in 2024-2028 CPD working with government and other partners, UNFPA will contribute to achieve the following results:

1. Policy and Accountability

Output 1: By 2028, Laws, policies and strategies, and accountability frameworks are developed, harmonized and strengthened to advance SRHR in Universal Health Coverage.

This output will generate evidence to strengthen the enabling environment that advances and protects the SRH rights of beneficiaries through review, development, harmonization and implementation of laws, policies, strategies that effectively integrate SRHR/HIV/GBV, including in humanitarian settings.

2. Quality of Services

Output 2: Health systems, communities and institutional capacities strengthened to provide quality comprehensive SRHR information and services, including harmful practices.

The output intends to strengthen the capacities of the relevant institutions to be able to efficiently deliver SRH and GBV rights to the people living in Lesotho. This is intended to be achieved through strengthening health management data systems especially SRHR related, strengthening midwifery skills to manage maternal deaths, promotion of integrated SRH services that include Post Partum Family Planning, HIV Prevention and adolescent friendly SRH services.

3. Gender and Social Norms Change.

Output 3: By 2028 strengthened mechanisms and capacities of actors and institutions address discriminatory gender and social norms and advance gender equality and decision making

The output will address harmful practices and negative social, cultural and religious norms to address root causes of structural gender inequalities and empower women and girls working in partnership with different organizations including the civil society. It intends to build on normative work on gender-transformative strategies, policies and programming to implement human rights-based, integrated, context-specific, evidence-based, and innovative initiatives.

Based on the aforementioned background, UNFPA Lesotho Country Office intends to engage two non-governmental organizations as its implementing partners for the 8^th CPD in the following areas;

1. One implementing partner shall be responsible for  Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Social Behavioural Change Communication for Adolescents and young People and Key Populations
2. One implementing partner that shall be responsible for integrated SRHR, HIV and GBV outreach services particularly around Roman Catholic Catchment Areas as such health centres do not provide family planning services, and other hot spots to be identified.

The full detailed Country Program Document is accessible on the following link: Lesotho CPD 2024-2028.docx - Google Docs

Section 2: Application requirements and timelines

2.1 Documentation required for the submission

The expression of interest shall include the following documentation:

• Copy of provisions of legal status of the NGO in Lesotho [Required to be eligible for review]
• Copy of provisions of legal status of the NGO in Lesotho (for International NGOs)
• Attachment I – NGO Profile and Programme Proposal
• Latest annual report and audit report as separate documents or hyperlink to the documents

2.2 Indicative timelines

Invitation for Proposal issue date

 12^th February 2024

Deadline for submissions of proposals

29 February 2024

Deadline for requests of additional information/ clarifications

23rd February 2024

Review of NGO submissions

within 2 weeks of submissions

Notification of results communicated to NGO

latest by the 29th of March 2024

Section 3: Process and timelines

3.1 Review & evaluation of NGO submissions

Applications will be assessed by a review panel to identify organizations that have the required knowledge, skills, and capacity to support achievement of results using criteria outlined in section 3.2 below.

It should be noted, however, that participation in this Invitation for Proposals does not guarantee the organization will be selected for partnership with UNFPA. Selected NGOs will be invited to enter into an implementing partner agreement and applicable UNFPA programme policy and procedures will apply.

3.2 Selection criteria

Eligible organizations will be selected through a transparent and competitive manner, based on their capacity to ensure the highest quality of service, including the ability to apply innovative strategies to meet programme priorities in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

UNFPA Lesotho Country office will review evidence provided by the NGO submission and evaluate applications based on the following criteria:

NB: Any proposal not submitted in specified working language will be excluded from consideration.

Governance & Leadership

• The organization has a clearly defined mission and goals that reflect the organization’s structure and context, as well as alignment to UNFPA priority areas.
• Organization does not have a history of fraud, complaints or service delivery issues.

Human Resource

• Organization has sufficient staff resources and technical expertise to implement the proposed activities.
• Organization does not have conflicts of interest with UNFPA or its personnel that cannot be effectively mitigated.

Comparative Advantage

• The organization’s mission and/or strategic plan focuses on at least one of the UNFPA’s programme areas.
• The organization has experience in the country or field and enjoys prominence in areas related to UNFPA’s mandate.
• The organization has a proven track record in implementing similar activities and is seen as credible by its stakeholders and partners.
• The organization has relevant community presence and ability to reach the target audience; especially vulnerable populations and hard-to-reach areas.

Monitoring

• The organization has systems and tools in place to systematically collect, analyse and use programme monitoring data

Partnerships

• The organization has established partnerships with the government and other relevant local, international and private sector entities.

Environmental Considerations

• The organization has established policies or practices to reduce the environmental impact of its activities. If no policies exist, the organization must not have a history of its activities causing negative impact to the environment.

3.3 Prospective partnership agreement

UNFPA will inform all applicants of the outcome of their submissions in writing to the email/ postal address indicated in the NGO submission.

The purpose of this proposal is to provide the following information: a) overview of the NGO, b) an outline of the activities the NGO is proposing to partner with UNFPA and c) provide UNFPA with sufficient evidence to show it meets the criteria outlined in section 3.2 of the IFP. [If the Invitation for Proposals allows for multiple submissions, the following text may be added: A separate form should be filled for each programme proposal submitted.]

Information provided in this form will be used to inform the review and evaluation of NGO submissions as outlined in the Invitation for Proposals.

Section A. NGO Identification

A.1 Organization information

Organization name

Address

Website

A.2 Contact information

Name

Title/Function

Telephone

Email

Are you registered in the United Nations Partner Portal?

A.3 Conflict of interest statement

To your knowledge, do any staff members of your organization have personal or financial relationships with any staff of UNFPA, or any other conflicts of interest with this programme or UNFPA? If so, please explain.

A.4. Fraud statement

Does your organization have fraud prevention policies and practices in place?

Section B. Overview of the organization

B.1 Annual budget

Size of annual budget (previous year, USD)

Source of funding

Outline funding base, including local, international, and private sector donors

Main funding partners/ donors

B.2 Staff capacity

List of number and key functions of core organization staff

B.3 NGO mandate and background

Outline the organization’s mandate and field of work, and how it aligns to UNFPA’s mandate.

B.4  Available expertise and specialists

Outline the distinctive technical capacity of the organization to achieve results in the proposed programmatic area

B.5 Experience in proposed area of work

Outline of type/scope and key results achieved in proposed programmatic area in recent years, including any recognition received at local / global level for the work in the proposed area. Include a summary experience in [Lesotho] and prior experience with any organization of the United Nations

B.6 Knowledge of the local context/ Accessibility to target population

Outline of presence and community relations in the location(s) the activities will be implemented in: include access to vulnerable populations and hard-to-reach areas, if any)

B.7 Credibility

To what extent is the NGO recognized as credible by the government, and/or other key stakeholders/partners?

B.8 Monitoring

Outline the systems in place (policies, procedures, guidelines, and other tools) that systematically collect, analyse and use programme monitoring data

Section C. Proposal overview

C.1 Programme title

C.2 Results to which the programme contributes

Refer to Section 1.3 of the Invitation for Proposal

C.3 Proposed programme duration

From MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY

C.4 Proposed Programme budget

Section D. Proposed interventions and activities to achieve intended results

D.1 Programme Summary

This section should provide a brief summary of the programme.

It should include a problem statement, the context and the rationale for the Programme:

• Overview of the existing problem;
• How the problem is linked to global/regional/national priorities and policies; and
• The relevance of the programme in addressing problem identified

D.2 Organizational background and capacity to implement

This section should briefly explain why the proposing organization has the experience, capacity and commitment to successfully implement the workplan.

D.3 Expected results

“What” this programme will achieve - programme objectives and expected results

D.4 Description of activities and budget

This section includes a detailed description of budgeted activities to be undertaken to produce the expected results. Clear linkages between activities and results must be indicated. The applicant should include a separate excel spreadsheet with full details of activities and associated budget.

D.5 Gender, Equity and Sustainability (optional)

Explain briefly the practical measures taken in the programme to address gender, equity and sustainability considerations

D.6 Environmental impact

Outline the likely environmental impact of the programme, if any.

D.7 Other partners involved

This section outlines other partners who have a role in programme implementation, including potential sub-contractees and other organization providing technical and financial support for the programme

D.8 NGO contribution

This section briefly outlines the partner specific contribution to the programme (monetary or in-kind)

D.9 Additional documentation

Additional documentation can be mentioned here for reference

Section E. Programme Risks and Monitoring

E.1 Risks

Identify major risk factors that could result in the proposed activities not being successfully implemented and any key assumptions on which the proposed intervention is based. Include any actions the organization will undertake to address/reduce identified risk(s).

E.2 Monitoring

This section briefly outlines the monitoring activities

Section F. References

Please provide 3 references to support your proposal. Include name, title, contact information and brief summary of relationship.

Reference 1:

Reference 2:

Reference 3:

Section G. Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Capacity Assessment  

Please note, the results of this assessment may be shared with other United Nations entities

G.0 Preliminary Screening

Does the organization have direct contact with beneficiaries?

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

If your response is no, stop here and do not complete this section. However, please note if your organization begins working with beneficiaries at a later date, UNFPA will require your organization to fill out a self-assessment.

If yes, please continue.

Has the organization’s PSEA capacity been assessed by a UN entity in the last 5 years? 

Yes  ☐    If yes, share the assessment rating and supporting documentation with UNFPA and do not complete this section.

No ☐   If no, complete G.1 through G.8

G.1 Policy Requirement

Please provide supporting documentation for any fields marked “Yes”.

Your organization has a policy document on PSEA. At a minimum, this document should include a written undertaking that the partner accepts the standards of conduct listed in section 3 of the ST/SGB/2003/13.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Code of Conduct (internal or interagency)
• PSEA policy
• Documentation of standard procedures for all personnel to receive/sign PSEA policy
• Other (please specify):

G.2 Subcontracting

Your organization’s contracts and partnership agreements include a standard clause requiring sub-contractors to adopt policies that prohibit SEA and to take measures to prevent and respond to SEA.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐           *N/A  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Contracts/partnership agreements for sub-contractors
• Other (please specify):

* Please Note: If the partner notes that it does not have subcontractors in the self-assessment this core standard is not applicable and UNFPA will assess this core standard as N/A. However, if this situation changes and the same partner subsequently subcontracts activities to another entity, this would warrant a re-assessment.

G.3  Recruitment

Your organization has a systematic vetting procedure in place for job candidates through proper screening. This must include, at minimum, reference checks for sexual misconduct and a self-declaration by the job candidate, confirming that they have never been subject to sanctions (disciplinary, administrative or criminal) arising from an investigation in relation to SEA, or left employment pending investigation and refused to cooperate in such an investigation.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Reference check template including check for sexual misconduct (including reference from previous employers and self-declaration)
• Recruitment procedures
• Other (please specify):

G.4 Training

Your organization holds mandatory trainings (online or in-person) for all IP employees and associated personnel^[1] (herein “personnel”) on PSEA and relevant procedures. The training should, at a minimum include:

1. a definition of SEA (that is aligned with the UN's definition);
2. an explanation on prohibition of SEA; and
3. actions that personnel are required to take (i.e. prompt reporting of allegations and referral of victims).

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Training package
• Attendance sheets
• Training certificates
• Other (please specify):

G.5 Reporting

Your organization has mechanisms and procedures for personnel, recipients of assistance and communities, including children, to report SEA allegations that comply with core standards for reporting (i.e. safety, confidentiality, transparency, accessibility).

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Internal Complaints and Feedback Mechanism
• Participation in joint reporting mechanisms
• Communication materials
• PSEA awareness-raising plan
• Description of reporting mechanism
• Whistle-blower policy
• Other (please specify):

G.6 Assistance

Your organization has a system to refer SEA victims to locally available support services, based on their needs and consent. This can include actively contributing to in-country PSEA networks and/or GBV systems (where applicable) and/or referral pathways at an inter-agency level.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Internal or Interagency referral pathway
• List of Available service providers
• Description of referral or Standard Operation Procedure (SOP)
• Referral form for survivors of GBV/SEA
• Guidelines on victim assistance and/or training on GBV and GBV case management principles
• Other (please specify):

G.7 Investigations

Your  organization has a process for investigation of allegations of SEA and can provide evidence. This may include a referral system for investigations where in-house capacity does not exist.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Written process for review of SEA allegations 
• Dedicated resources for investigation(s) and/or commitment of partner for support
• PSEA investigation policy/procedures 
• Contract with professional investigative service
• Other (please specify):

G.8  Corrective Measures

Your organization has taken appropriate corrective action in response to SEA allegations, if any.

Yes  ☐           No  ☐        N/A ☐

Supporting documentation may include:

• Evidence of implementation of corrective measures identified by the UN partner entity, including capacity strengthening of staff.
• Specific measures to identify and reduce risks of SEA in programme delivery.
• Other ((please specify):