Collaboration with a Gender Lighthouse Organisation to support horizont3000’s partner organisations under the ADA Framework Pro Tender at Horizont3000

1. Background

horizont3000 (h3) is an Austrian non-governmental organisation working in sustainable development cooperation. Based in Vienna, with offices in the four focus areas East Africa, Central America, Senegal and Mozambique, we are backed by eleven Austrian Catholic grassroots organisations.

We support partner organisations (POs) and locally-led initiatives through co-financing based on grant schemes, medium to long-term advisory services and knowledge management to facilitate learning and sharing processes. Our projects and programmes are embedded in two main sectors, “Human Rights & Civil Society” and “Sustainable Livelihoods”, with a focus on gender equality, climate action and policy dialogue. We work with communities who have been marginalised in claiming their rights and leading self determined lives, foremost with smallholder farmers, disadvantaged women, children and youth, women’s and human rights groups as well as indigenous people.

The ongoing h3 framework programme 2023-2026 “Gender Equality 4 Sustainable Development”, cofounded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), aims at strengthening gender equality in h3’s main sectors. Therefore, it integrates gender mainstreaming in all individual projects. In addition, it supports specific projects which focus on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. In East Africa individual projects under the ADA framework programme 2023-2026 are implemented by 15 POs (2 in Kenya, 7 in Tanzania, 6 in Uganda) within the sectors “Human Rights & Civil Society” and “Sustainable Livelihoods”.

The global programme intervention “know-how3000” (kh3000), which facilitates organisational learning and sharing on gender equality and gender mainstreaming in all POs, constitutes a key element of the framework programme and is implemented by h3 and its regional and country offices. In order to make the best use of existing local knowledge the ongoing kh3000 programme phase 2023-2026 “Learning & Sharing 4 Gender Equality” seeks to collaborate with regional and/or local organisations that have profound practical experience in gender mainstreaming, strengthening gender equality, and applying transformative practices and can therefore be understood as gender lighthouse organisations.

2. Objective of the collaboration

The general objective of this collaboration is to utilize existing knowledge and expertise in promoting gender equality in h3000’s work. Through this collaboration, POs in East Africa will be supported in their effort to improve their awareness, knowledge and practical capacities regarding gender equality, both at institutional and project level. Further, it will facilitate learning and sharing on gender in a way that is efficient and relevant for the realities and work of h3000 POs.

3. The organisation we are seeking to collaborate with

H3 is seeking to collaborate with a Gender Light House Organisation (LHO) to provide guidance, mentoring and support for gender equality in policy, projects and towards organisational transformation. The LHO shall demonstrate a strong commitment and solid expertise in gender equality in project management, with dedicated programs for technical assistance, mentorship and resource sharing to help the 15 Partner Organisations grow. It should have a strong focus on gender integration in sector work and engaging communities in gender transformative approaches.

4. Scope of Collaboration

In close collaboration with the kh3000 team at h3’s Regional Office East Africa (ROEA) the selected organisation will be responsible to guide and implement the following tasks:

1. Prepare and facilitate online sessions of a peer learning exchange forum focusing on the topics listed below until December 2025
2. Prepare and facilitate in-person trainings on gender-based violence and male engagement to take place in July and / or August 2025 in Kampala and Arusha incl. individual follow-ups with selected POs to further enhance their capacity
3. Guide and share experience with selected POs in developing gender equality policies
4. Participate in monthly coordination calls with the kh3000 team at h3’s ROEA

Topics of interest for the Peer learning exchange could be:

• Facilitation skills and support of community-led transformation
• Gender transformative approaches (eg to Engage Men and Boys and GBV)
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Advocacy for gender equality
• (Safeguarding policies) Do no harm
• Monitoring and evaluating social norm transformation

Note: All in reference to Gender Analysis conducted by the 15 POs

The details of task 1 to 3 will be clarified in separate Terms of Reference for each activity. Also note that all logistical needs will be met by horizont3000 (venues, transportation, Invitations etc)

4. Expected deliverables

Expected outputs to support the learning and mentoring activities under this arrangement are as follows:

1. Substantial materials for the activities mentioned above
2. Recordings of the virtual activities mentioned above
3. One report each for activities 1 to 3, including post-evaluations, learnings and recommendations by latest two weeks after the respective activity
4. One general report at the end of the collaboration highlighting key learnings, remaining needs and recommendations for future support of the POs

5. Duration and Timeline

The collaboration is supposed to begin on May, 1st 2025 and last until December, 31st 2025(8 months).

Timelines for the specific tasks will be specified during the first month of the collaboration. An extension of the collaboration in 2026 is dependent on the availability of funds as well as on the success of the collaboration in 2025.

6. Budget

The applying organization should propose a budget that covers their fees (based on an hourly or daily rate), communication costs, taxes, and any other relevant expenses. The budget should be submitted along with the technical proposal.

Payment will be done in instalments per activity completed.

7. Required Qualifications

The organization and the specific staff members who will take the lead in this collaboration should meet the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated practical experience including programing in promoting gender equality at the grassroots level, in East Africa, and specifically in applying gender transformative approaches, engaging male community members, and preventing / responding to gender-based violence
• Demonstrated practical experience in enhancing gender equality in organizations, and specifically in developing gender equality policies
• Demonstrated practical experience in developing and delivering gender trainings and mentoring civil society organizations
• Track record of collaboratively working with other organizations, offering hands-on technical assistance, mentorship and support
• Demonstrated practical experience in facilitating online training and coaching
• Strong communication skills and the ability to simplify complex concepts
• Functional networks that facilitate access to partners in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
• Excellent command of English, working proficiency in spoken Kiswahili

How to apply

7. Application Process

Interested organizations should submit their application to h3 via email to office-UGA@horizont3000.org by April, 9th 2025. The application should include:

• A technical proposal outlining their understanding of the assignment, proposed approach and methodology, and a timeline for delivering the tasks and deliverables. (10 pages max)
• A financial proposal detailing the organisation’s fees, communication costs, taxes, and any other relevant expenses.
• Curriculum vitaes highlighting relevant qualifications and experience of the specific staff members who will take the lead in this collaboration.

8. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Qualifications and experience (40%)
• Technical proposal (30%)
• Financial proposal (30%)

The successful organisations will be notified and invited for interviews. Before commencing the assignment, the selected organisation will be required to sign a contract with h3.