Overview : Nigeria ranks 118 out of 134 countries on the Gender Equality Index. The inadequate inclusion of women and girls' perspectives in policy making decisions, resource allocation and implementation in economic and social sectors continues to challenge the advancement of gender equality. Gender-based violence is widespread and 30 percent of women aged 15-49 have reported experiences of sexual abuse. Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in Africa and one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Nigeria also accounts for the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation, reported at 25 percent prevalence. Harmful practices occur in a context of limited knowledge and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services, with complications of early child bearing and obstructed labor such as obstetric fistula. The Nigerian Government’s response has included efforts to improve its institutional and policy framework, which include the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act, enacted at the national level in 2015, the National Policy on the Elimination of FGM/C, the National Strategy to End Child Marriage, a Road Map and National Priority Actions to End Violence Against Children (VAC) which have been adopted and are being supported for implementation as well as several policies and frameworks for a conducive environment for women and girls’ access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services. As a preventive measure, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with civil societies is implementing Family Life HIV Education (FLHE) to empower adolescents and young people develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes and competences required for making the right life choices to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. Ongoing efforts to increase access to quality accessible and affordable services include the National Health Act, as well as the One PHC per ward initiative of the Federal Government. PROJECT OBJECTIVE Through a comprehensive approach, the Spotlight Initiative supports the Government of Nigeria and civil society partners to realize the vision of a Nigeria that is free from all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls, by addressing the linkages between sexual and gender-based violence with harmful practices and some aspects of sexual and reproductive health rights as a cross-cutting theme. Spotlight Initiative is supporting interventions at Federal, State and Community levels and horizontally across 5+1 focus states (Lagos, Sokoto, FCT, Ebonyi, Adamawa and Cross River) based on a mixed set of criteria (including prevalence, political will, enabling environment, capacities and potential to facilitate further expansion and up-scaling). The target for the Spotlight Initiative is vulnerable women and girls. Specific focus is being placed on prevention efforts, particularly addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and harmful practices (child marriage and FGM) against women and girls; and ensuring access to inclusive, timely, and quality services for victims and survivors. Civil society remains an important constituency, working to hold the government accountable to deliver on rights protection. The Programme Management Unit of the Spotlight Initiative Nigeria, on behalf of the Recipient United Nations organizations: UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, wishes to engage CSO partners to implement activities across the six pillars of the Spotlight Initiative. 1) Laws and Policies, 2) Institutions, 3) Prevention, 4) Services, 5) Data, and 6) Women’s movement translate into six outcomes: Outcome 1: Legislative and policy frameworks, based on evidence and in line with international human rights standards, on all forms of violence against women and girls and harmful practices and their associated sexual and reproductive health and rights needs are in place and translated into plans. Outcome 2: National and sub-national systems and institutions plan, fund and deliver evidence-based programmes that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and harmful practices including for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and in other relevant sectors. Outcome 3: Gender equitable social norms, attitudes and behaviors change at community and individual levels to prevent violence against women and girls and harmful practices and to promote their access to sexual and reproductive health services. Outcome 4: Women and girls who experience violence and harmful practices use available, accessible, acceptable, and quality comprehensive essential services including for long term recovery from violence. Outcome 5: Quality, disaggregated and globally comparable data on different forms of violence against women and girls and harmful practices and their SRHR needs, collected, analyzed and used in line with international standards to inform laws, policies and programmes. Outcome 6: Women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and relevant civil society organizations, including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization, more effectively influence and advance progress on GEWE and EVAWG and their SRHR needs. Organizations interested should submit their application to cso.ng@undp.org and it should be no more than 5 pages long (font Times New Roman 12) Deadline for submission of the application is 22nd MARCH 2020 by 17.00 CAT |