With the support of the Spanish Government through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI), the NEPAD Secretariat will implement a three-year project on the empowerment of women in Africa.

On behalf of the NEPAD/AECI Steering Committee, the Secretariat is inviting proposals for the implementation of this project from institutions involved in implementing programs that have the potential to unlock women’s economic potential, fight poverty, close gender gaps, empower women, and who are contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the attainment of sustainable development.

The application format should contain characteristics such as the purpose, beneficiaries, duration of the projects to be financed, proposed budget, geographical location and thematic priority. It should be in a prescribed format and be will be subjected to a selection criteria.

The objective of the criteria is to help applicants demonstrate their key competences in implementing the project and should include the following :

Suitability to the sector-based and geographic priority lines in the announcement for proposals and the matching of the objectives of the proposals with the NEPAD/AU/RECs and national priorities.

Technical competency, agency capability and experience of the applicant in the sector of the action, as well as in the increase of the capacity and autonomy of women and the promotion of gender equality.

Technical quality of the proposal submitted, valuing innovative actions and those that include the suitable indicators to measure the progress achieved, broken down by gender.

Suitability and feasibility of the action as well as ability to implement the proposed project within the project framework, parameters, timeframe and budget.

High impact of the action in the protection of women’s rights, fighting poverty, eliminating gender inequality and increasing the capacity, enhancing empowerment and creating equal opportunities for African women.

Alignment and complementary nature with national policies and strategies.

Sustainability — making it possible to give continuity to the activities once the project is over.

Applications must be submitted electronically to the NEPAD Secretariat by 1 pm on 31 August 2007 at the address given below.

Institutions with requisite capacity, networks, experience of working with women groups, community cooperatives, informal sector and addressing gender inequality are urged to apply. Source : nepad, august 3, 2007

Websites

 NEPAD : www.nepad.org
 Spanish and African Women’s Network : www.mujeresporunmundomejor.org