Expression of Interest for Pilot Municipal Projects on Tackling Care Work at the Local Level. Context: Women and girls have disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care and domestic work; globally they spend three times as much time on this work as do men and boys. Unpaid care work is one of the main barriers preventing women from moving into paid employment and better-quality jobs. The GIZ program WoMENA Gender Responsive and Inclusive Politics and Economy in the MENA region has organized a series of workshops and exchange opportunities for engaged actors from 6 countries of the MENA region (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia) over a span of 15 months between November 2022 and October 2024. The participants were from different parts of life - policymaking, business, development practice, media, academia, and civil society. For Lebanon, an action plan has been drafted containing four main goals. The fourth goal was to working with local authorities to tackle Unpaid Care Work at the local level. 2. Background The GIZ program WoMENA - Promoting Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Politics and Economy in the MENA Region, aims to strengthen gender-transformative and resilient local governance by addressing unpaid care work as a key dimension of sustainable local development and social well-being. This Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) invites municipalities and unions of municipalities across Lebanon to join a pilot initiative that promotes innovative, inclusive, and community-based solutions to recognize, reduce, and redistribute care responsibilities at the local level. The initiative aligns with Lebanons commitments to gender equality, social inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Selected municipalities will benefit from technical assistance, tailored capacity building, and mentoring to co-design and implement small-scale, visible pilot projects that highlight the value of care work and strengthen transformative local governance within local policy, planning and activities. 3. Objectives of the Call Based on the Lebanese municipal law 118/77, especially articles 47 to 52, this call seeks to: Identify motivated municipalities ready to integrate and tackle care work into their governance priorities. Support them in developing localized care strategies through participatory methods (service mapping, time-use surveys, community consultations). Launch small-scale, high-impact and replicable pilot projects -(GIZ co-financing estimate: up to USD 10,000)- (e.g., awareness campaigns, breastfeeding corners, caregiver support activities, or flexible work policies or any other idea suggested by the applicant that contribute to tackling care work), with technical guidance and seed funding to selected municipalities or unions of municipalities. Foster community trust and gender responsive leadership at the local level. 4. Eligibility Criteria Municipalities or unions of municipalities are eligible to apply if they: Are operational and in good standing, not dissolved or suspended, and free from major administrative or legal disputes that could hinder project implementation. Demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing gender equality, social inclusion, and community well-being through local governance. Social inclusion refers to the process of improving the terms and opportunities for individuals and groups especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged to participating fully in society, the economy, and decision-making. Commit to appoint Municipal focal points and ensure the participation of both women and men in project activities and decision making. Are willing to collaborate or are already collaborating - with civil society organizations, womens associations, and/or private sector actors, to design and/or implement community-oriented initiatives, particularly those that promote social inclusion, care services, or support to families and caregivers. (Such collaboration may include joint activities, service partnerships, awareness campaigns, data collection, co-financing, or sharing local facilities.) Are ready to contribute resources, financial or in-kind (e.g., space, staff time, communication support), to ensure local ownership and sustainability of the pilot project. 5. Pre-Submission Information Session Before submitting their EOI, all interested municipalities and unions are invited to attend an Information Session on Caring Cities, Inclusive Governance: Women at the Core of Local Change. This session will: Introduce the concept of Unpaid Care Work, its importance in local governance and its relevance to inclusive development. Present the objectives, process, and expected results of the pilot initiatives. Guide participants on completing and submitting the EOI. Provide space to ask questions, exchange experiences, and share preliminary challenges and / or ideas. [Disclaimer: The above text is machine translated. For accurate information kindly refer the original document.] Tender Link : https://www.daleel-madani.org/calls-for-proposal
