The EU’s Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action 2021–2025 (GAP III) introduces three bold principles—a gender-transformative approach, an approach that addresses intersectionality, and an approach based on human rights—to guide the EU’s approach to gender in external action.

The European Commission (EC) has published a call for proposals to empower civil society groups and support their efforts to advance and defend human rights, especially for the most vulnerable members of society. Additionally, the EC hopes to strengthen the role of these organisations as agents of positive change.

Specific initiatives to promote and preserve the rights of women and girls who fall within the targeted demographic should be highlighted in relation to the EU Gender Action Plan (III).

The program’s objectives and priority issues
This call for proposals aims to advance the socioeconomic rights of individuals with albinism in Malawi.
The following are the top priorities for this request for proposals:

Creating and implementing comprehensive and long-lasting socioeconomic assistance programmes for individuals with albinism and their families.Encouraging and educating people with albinism, the community, and important local and national stakeholders about international law standards, human rights, and the essential duties of duty bearers to uphold, defend, and advance these rights, establishing connections with pertinent government organisations, such as the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Justice, Police, Judiciary, and Civil Society Organisations, to impact efficient coordination and cooperation of projects concerning the defence and advancement of the rights of individuals with albinism.

Funding Details
This request for proposals has an indicative total sum of EUR 600,000. EUR 305,000 will come from the budget for 2023 and EUR 295,000 from the budget for 2024.

Time Frame
An action’s initial planned duration cannot be longer than 36 months or shorter than 30 months.

Activities Types
The creation and execution of all-encompassing and long-lasting socioeconomic assistance programmes for individuals with albinism and their families must be the primary focus of the action. The following activities can be used in addition to these: lobbying and educating the public, local communities, and significant national and local stakeholders about human rights, international legal norms, and the essential duties of duty bearers to uphold, advance, and defend these rights.

Establishing connections with pertinent government organisations, such as the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Justice, Police, Judiciary, and Civil Society Organisations, to impact efficient coordination and cooperation of projects concerning the defence and advancement of the rights of individuals with albinism; analysis and action to improve pertinent legislative and policy frameworks that protect the rights of individuals with albinism; providing people with albinism and their families with medical, psychological, and security support, as well as counselling, legal help, and any other pertinent aid; monitoring the development of judicial cases and raising awareness on their resolution; improved albinism data quality and study to stop attacks and violence.

Location: The minimum number of districts where the actions must occur is Balaka, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Ntcheu, Nsanje, Thyolo, Mulanje, Machinga, Mangochi, Phalombe, Salima, and Zomba.

Qualifications
Principal applicant or candidates as stipulated in Regulation (EU) no 2021/947 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI), the lead applicant must be a legal person, a civil society organisation or an Associate of CSOs, a specific type of organisation, non-profit-making, and established in a Member State of the European Union or eligible non-EU Member States to be eligible for a grant.

Co-applicant(s)

At least one (1) local co-applicant must participate in cases where the lead applicant is an international organisation. A co-applicant is not required to join if the lead applicant is a regional organisation. Co-applicants take part in the planning and executing the action, and their expenses are covered in the same manner as the lead applicants.

Co-applicants take part in the planning and executing of the action, and their expenses are covered in the same manner as the lead applicant’s expenses. The eligibility requirements that apply to the lead applicant personally must also be met by co-applicants.

To know more, kindly visit the European Commission.