Call for Proposals to Identify a New Partner Project for Effect 2 “prevention” of the A3pv Program At Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

Leave a Comment / Haiti / By
  1. Introduction and background

Consult the link below for all information relating to the call for proposals: https://kdrive.infomaniak.com/app/share/838286/0083749e-c125-4248-a813-87a0b05f5c2c

In the context of Haiti’s multidimensional crisis (security, political, economic, social and humanitarian), gender-based violence (GBV) constitutes a major protection risk for women and girls. It is fueled by a deeply rooted patriarchal societal system. GBV takes different forms (physical, psychological, sexual or economic) depending on the specific socio-economic, political, security, environmental context, etc. In the South, a priority area of ​​Switzerland [1] , patriarchal norms and structures legitimize GBV as well as the economic dependence of women within households. In this predominantly rural region, the family sphere emerges as the main space for this domestic and spousal violence and exclusion. In the Metropolitan Zone of Port-au-Prince (ZMPP), armed violence adds to these structural challenges. Criminal groups (CG) have gradually increased their control in the ZMPP to around 85% by mid-2025. The GC systematically use (gang) rape, sexual assault, kidnapping followed by sexual assault, etc. to terrorize and dominate populations in their areas of influence. For the first quarter of 2025, 1,741 cases of GBV were reported, a figure likely underestimated.

In 2025, 1.5 million people in Haiti will need protection due to GBV. The main groups vulnerable to protection risks are women and girls, children and youth, internally displaced persons, and other marginalized groups. The situation is particularly difficult for more than 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), who represent 61% of the total number of survivors. The weakness/absence of state institutions (police, legal services, medical services, etc.) constitutes considerable barriers to the protection of women and girls from violence. Access to holistic care services (shelter, appropriate psychosocial and medical services, legal assistance, etc.) remains extremely limited. The few services available are often inaccessible due to the economic inability to acquire the necessary logistics or due to general insecurity. The use of these services carries risks of reprisals for both survivors and referrers, which justifies the need for appropriate referral systems that are managed locally. The lack of awareness of available support services poses a major concern for supporting GBV survivors. This lack of awareness of the system results, among other things, from poor coordination between key GBV actors (lack of human and financial resources, appropriate tools and approaches, etc.). Finally, in this context, preventive measures against gender-based violence and patriarchal norms are of crucial importance.

In order to contribute to a coordinated response to this multidimensional crisis in Haiti, Switzerland is paying particular attention to building the resilience of targeted populations and protecting vulnerable groups, taking into account the effects and consequences of violence against them. In this regard, Swiss Cooperation (SC) in Haiti has three programs linked to its 2025-2028 strategy, including one in particular, Improving the Protection of Haiti’s Most Vulnerable Populations (A3PV), dedicated to the protection of women and girls, including minority groups, against GBV. In a highly fragile context where gender social norms are combined with the weakness of the protection system, Switzerland wants no one to be left behind.

Indeed, the CS, through the A3PV program, contributes to objective 1 of Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025-2028 (“Save lives, alleviate human suffering and support access to quality basic services for the most disadvantaged populations”), as well as to Sustainable Development Goal #5 (gender equality) and #10 (reduced inequalities). At the national level, this program is in line with the national plan to combat GBV from 2023 to 2027 and follows the dynamics of the guidelines of Haiti’s 2014-2034 gender equality policy.

Since 2019, Switzerland has funded one-off protection initiatives in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area (ZMPP), supporting local and international actors in preventing and responding to GBV. As a result, a holistic approach to care coupled with prevention delivers better results, and sustainable change in practices requires long-term action. The A3PV program builds on this lesson learned and seeks to improve protection and strengthen community resilience with a specific and exclusive focus on GBV.

The A3PV program will work on three pillars closely linked to the three desired outcomes: response (“life-saving measures”), prevention of GBV, and coordination in the sector to strengthen the first two pillars. The program operates in the South and the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area (ZMPP).

The program would be implemented by the following actors:

Pillar 1 – response (“ life saving measures ”):

  • ZMPP: Consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI) and the Coalition for Peace and Development (CPD)
  • South: Women Decide

Pillar 2 – prevention of GBV exclusively in the South department:

  • The CS is launching this call for proposals with the intention of finding a partner to implement the “prevention” component focusing on innovative methodologies and approaches in the South department (see Chapter 3). This dynamic should lead to a shared funding agreement and the implementation of an action focused exclusively on objective 2 of the A3PV program (see Chapter 2 for a description of the A3PV).

Pillar 3 – coordination in the sector:

  • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Call for Proposal Details

    1. Who can submit a proposal?

The call for proposals is open to applications from international NGOs and Haitian organizations that meet certain key criteria. Proposals from solidarity consortia are also welcome. In the case of a consortium, the composition of applicants must ensure complementarity, coherence, and expertise in all required areas. The CS plans to have only one contractual partner. Therefore, within the framework of this call for proposals, only one proposal will be selected (either from an individual organization or a consortium).

Organizations should demonstrate:

  1. Proven experience in the field of GBV prevention. In particular, changing individual and collective (community level) behaviors in order to transform social norms, systems and structures, including working with men and boys (positive masculinity).
  2. Proven experience and expertise in the use of approaches and methodologies specific to GBV prevention at the community level, including the aspect of positive masculinity as indicated in chapter “3.1. Needs and specificities of the call for proposals”. For example, approaches and methodologies such as “Champions of Change”, “Healing Together”, “Planting Equality” or mixed approaches can be proposed. The organization must demonstrate its experience through projects it has successfully implemented in the past.
  3. Proven experience in training and capacity building of CSOs and CBOs at the community level regarding these methodologies and approaches for GBV prevention (see “3.1. Needs and specificities of the call for proposals”).
  4. Proven experience in community mobilization on gender equality and building sustainable, transformative networks.
  5. Proven ability to implement projects in a complex and fragile context with robust budget management requiring compliance with rigorous administrative and financial procedures. The organization should include either letters of recommendation from previous donors or other relevant references relating to actions currently being implemented or already implemented.
  6. Community anchoring and/or partnerships with CBOs/CSOs in the South Department of Haiti. Where applicable, a strong capacity to quickly develop effective implementation partnerships with CBOs/CSOs in the South Department and an explanation of how this will occur in the proposal.
  7. A good knowledge of the priorities of the CS’s work in Haiti (values, objectives, thematic focus, approaches, intervention strategy, cross-cutting priorities, etc.).
  8. Adaptability to the frequent changes that can occur in a context of permanent crisis, capitalizing on lessons learned and continuing actions. The proposal should include avenues for possible reorientation/adaptation/change of the program in the event of a crisis.

What types of projects can be funded?

This call for proposals focuses on outcome 2 of the A3PV program, which aims at prevention. It emphasizes a series of non-exhaustive elements capable of guiding the choice of partner for the next steps. The project should be clearly formulated and should address the following points:

  1. Promote actions related to the prevention of GBV at the community level which focus on changing the norms, systems and social structures which generate GBV according to the explanations provided in chapter “3.1. Needs and specificities of the call for proposals”.
  2. Emphasize, master, and implement approaches and methodologies for GBV prevention and work on innovative positive masculinities such as “Champions of Change,” “Healing Together,” “Planting Equality,” or any other relevant methodologies. Mixed approaches are possible.
  3. Applicant organizations may feel free to propose any approach they have control over and whose impact has been objectively proven in fragile contexts within the framework of programs previously implemented in connection with the prevention of GBV and the promotion of positive masculinity (as described in chapter “3.1. Needs and specificities of the call for proposals”).
  4. Include the objective of mobilizing CSOs and CBOs as partners in the action, which would be strengthened in their capacities to apply the methodologies and approaches used by the project. The goal is to ensure the sustainability of actions in the future with or without funding. In particular, strengthening the capacities of CSOs and CBOs to master innovative methodologies and approaches to GBV prevention is a key focus of the project.
  5. The project should ideally already be developed or in implementation in Haiti; possibly it could also be a new project implemented within the timeframe required for this call for proposals, see chapter 6 “Timetable”). The project can be in its implementation phase in all departments of Haiti. However, the proposal submitted to the CS should provide for its extension to the South Department of Haiti. The CS will only be able to co-finance the part of the project whose implementation will take place in the South Department.
  6. To be able to integrate, as far as possible, aspects of gender intersectionality in relation to vulnerable minorities such as LGBTQI+, individuals living with disabilities, etc.
  7. Formulating consideration of the nexus: This project is part of a nexus logic, implying medium-term change related to the situations of systemic violence that women and girls, as well as other vulnerable groups, face on a daily basis. In addition, prevention activities should pave the way for greater community dialogues on violence and conflict. Consequently, the project will also contribute to strengthening the social fabric and inclusion, as well as promoting peace.
  8. Conflict-sensitive program management (CSPM) is an integral part of the intervention strategy.

[1] Southern Department with focus on the South coast, from Port Salut to Les Anglais

How to apply

  • Submission procedure
    • Contact et information

Swiss Cooperation in Haiti

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

11G Black Mountain Road

Petion-Ville, Port-au-Prince

Tel.: +509 3886 1418

Email : portauprince@eda.admin.ch

  1. Documents to submit

The following documents must be sent directly to Swiss Cooperation in Haiti (see address 5.1.):

  • Cover letter signed by the organization or consortium (1 to 2 pages) including the name(s) of the expert(s) available and responsible for the project submission process. The corresponding CVs can be attached as an appendix.
  • Project Document (Prodoc): All organizations responding to this call for proposals must follow the format provided in the appendix for drafting their project document. In case of doubt about the content, Swiss Cooperation will answer questions regarding the document upon request (see below). Maximum number of pages 25-30 , excluding annexes. It is essential to stick to the annexes mentioned in the project document. Additional documents not mentioned in the Prodoc format will not be accepted.
  • Financial proposal according to the format in the appendix:
    1. Budget for the entire project (including the contribution of the CS and the co-financing provided by the organization or consortium) covering three years of intervention and specifying the main cost elements linked to the different lines of intervention;
    2. Relationship between estimated costs and expected results of the project proposal.
  • Letters of recommendation from previous donors or other relevant references relating to actions currently being implemented or already implemented (see chapter 4.1., point 5).
  • Additional appendices or links to other documents are not accepted and will not be read or considered.
  • An organization may submit or participate in multiple proposals.
  • Language of offers: French
  • Any questions from applicants on any aspect of the call for proposals should be sent via email to “portauprince@eda.admin.ch” with the following subject heading: “Questions from the organization ( name of the organization ) regarding the A3PV call for proposals – ( date of sending the questions )”. All responses would be published according to the schedule below (chapter 6) and under the following link:https://kdrive.infomaniak.com/app/share/838286/0083749e-c125-4248-a813-87a0b05f5c2c