We are pleased to announce this Call for Proposals, inviting interested organizations to submit grant proposals for conflict prevention initiatives in the North-West region of Nigeria. This call aims to address the escalating conflicts and promote peacebuilding and rule of law, efforts in the region. It also seeks to support innovative and creative projects that contribute to sustainable peace and stability in the region, addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting societal inclusion and cohesion. Successful proposals will be awarded Low Value Grants (LVG) to implement projects in collaboration with local stakeholders and communities.

1. Background:
The North-West region of Nigeria has experienced a significant increase in conflicts, primarily driven by intercommunal clashes between the nomadic herders and farmers, resource disputes, ethnic tensions, armed and organized criminal activities – banditry. These conflicts have resulted in loss of lives, displacement of communities, and socio-economic instability. The widespread and deep-rooted banditry phenomenon has affected large parts of the population, with thousands of victims of violence every year, hundreds of thousands internally displaced persons, and considerable pressures on inter and intra-communal relations. A debilitating effect has been dealt on the key social sectors leaving schools, teachers, and students under increased attacks. 2021 was marked by proliferated attacks on schools in Nigeria where 76% of them are situated in North-west states of Nigeria. Kaduna state was the most frequently attacked (8/25), and Katsina (344 learners) followed by Zamfara states (327 learners) reported the highest number of abductees taken in a single abduction. The unprecedented and growing attacks on schools in the NW Nigeria is reversing hard fought gains in access to, and retention of children in schools, in particular girls. It is imperative to implement proactive measures to prevent the escalation of conflicts and foster sustainable peace in the region.

2. Introduction:
Although the conflict between the nomadic herders and farmers are ancient spanning decades, the two groups have a history of cooperation and understanding underpinned by the strength, effectiveness and credibility of community structures and authority – with pastoralists once known to adhere to integrated structures, norms and rules co-created as social contracts. Access to and use of land and natural resource management issues, compounded by climate change risks have further complicated this relationship and are key to understanding the changing dynamics of peace and stability in the North-West. Rapid population growth has combined with an expanding desert, climate change, unchecked resource exploitation and ‘land grabbing’ has further increased competition for farm and grazing land and heightened tensions between farmers and herders. A relationship that existed - built on trust, mutual understanding, has been weakened rendering traditional dispute resolution processes and local peace building mechanisms less effective. It has equally impacted on formal and informal security and justice system. The greatest victims have been the community people, especially the vulnerable ones largely made up of women and girls. The conflict has further heightened cultural and religious values, some of which are unfavorable towards women and girls. Minorities whose voices barely counts in the skim of things are equally affected.
Given the level of vulnerability of people in the region, UNDP is working to address the root causes of the conflict in the North-west, the climate linked exacerbator of conflict and the security and justice structural deficits that have allowed the crisis to continue. As a way of inclusive and impactful delivery of the project, UNDP through its Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention and rule of law cluster under the Northwest Prevention Facility with support from the German and Norwegian Governments is partnering other UN organizations, the government of the states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara and community stakeholders. It recognizes that sustainable peace and resilience-building backed by effective rule of law and security systems can only be achieved through coordinated interventions within the pilot states of Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara and in specific the communities in the Local Government Areas (LGAs); Jibia in Katsina, Illela in Sokoto and Zamfara (TBD).  

3. Objectives:
The main objective of this call is to support innovative and effective conflict prevention initiatives in the North-West region of Nigeria at both the state level (Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina) and Local Government level (Jibia and Illela).  The proposed interventions aim to achieve the following:
• Identify and address the root causes of conflicts in the region.
• Strengthen community resilience and social cohesion to prevent the occurrence of conflicts.
• Promote dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation processes among different stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationship and accountability between formal and informal security and justice providers including community members.
• Facilitate the integration of marginalized groups and address their grievances.
• Enhance the capacity of local traditional and institutions in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
• Transfer skills, competences and technologies to enhance off-farm agricultural capacities of communities from a livelihood’s perspective.
• Support Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) with technical support on green-business development and matching grants for scaling climate-resilient livelihoods or to serve as crisis modifiers.

4. Eligibility Criteria:
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 
• community-based organizations (CBOs), and 
• Civil society organizations (CSOs) are eligible to apply. 
• The organization should have a unique insight and be well positioned for the implementation of projects in conflict-affected areas and possess relevant experience in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and Rule of Law.
• Partnership with local organizations, community leaders, and other relevant stakeholders is strongly encouraged. 
• The proposed project should align with the objectives of this call and demonstrate a clear strategy, methodology, and expected outcomes.

Download proposal template here - https://bit.ly/48H48fN

Summary of Technical Proposal Evaluation Forms
Score Weight Points Obtainable
 
1. NGO Eligibility and Registration 10% 100
2. Relevance and appropriateness of proposal to the Project 20% 200
3.  Understanding of context and problem being addressed 30% 300
4. Effectiveness of Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation 30% 300
5. Key Personnel 10% 100
Total 1000

5. Funding Information: 
(a) Applying organizations may request for grants within the range of $30,000.00 to $150,000.00. 
(b) The proposed projects should have a duration of 6 - 12 months.
6. Application Guidelines:
(a) Interested organizations must submit their Grant proposals in English, using the provided template and submit all requested information including evidence of corporate registration.
(b) Proposals must clearly demonstrate how the project aligns with the objectives of this call.
(c) Proposals should have a clear methodology, implementation plan, and expected outcomes
(d) The proposal should include a detailed, realistic, and justifiable budget that clearly breaks down (in Naira) personnel costs, workshop costs, administrative costs and other costs as necessary to your proposal.
(e) Proposals should include monitoring and evaluation framework to assess progress and impact.
(f) Applications must be submitted by October 7th, 2023, to nwproposals.ng@undp.org
(g) The subject line of the Proposal should read: "Conflict Prevention Proposal - [Organization Name]”
(h) Late applications will not be considered.
7. Selection Process:
• All submitted proposals will undergo a thorough review process by an expert panel.
• The evaluation will be based on the relevance of the proposed project, feasibility, sustainability, potential impact, and organizational capacity.
• Shortlisted organizations may be invited for an interview or clarification of their proposals.
• The final selection will be based on the evaluation results and available funding.
• Successful applicants will be notified and provided with further instructions for the contracting process.

8. Tentative Timeline: 
• Call for Proposals Announcement: September 29, 2023 
• Proposal Submission Deadline: October 7, 2023
• Evaluation and Selection Process: 1 Week 
9. Contact Information:
For any inquiries or clarifications regarding this Call for Proposals, please contact: nwproposals.ng@undp.org
We look forward to receiving your proposal.
United Nations Development Programme.