Mercy Corps: Call for SGBV Partnership

Program overview:

Under the BPRM Program funded by the US government, Mercy Corps is supporting both Lebanese host communities and Syrian refugee populations by developing and implementing innovative water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) solutions to increase access to reliable and safe water, improve water and sanitation facilities and raise awareness about safe hygiene practices. The WaSH program is integrated with Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Cash for Work and skills building activities, to ensure a multi-sector assistance for the most vulnerable people. The program timeline is from September 25th, 2018 to 24th, 2020.

Overview of SGBV activities within the program:

In line with LCRP protection sector, Mercy Corps will reduce risks to SGBV and increase safe access to quality services. Mercy Corps will work with local service providers to ensure availability of confidential, survivor-centered care. Community engagement, outreach and awareness raising will accompany interventions in all locations to ensure community members know how and where to access safe services.

The SGBV component aims to:

• Increase awareness to address and reduce SGBV risks;
• Increase community members’ safe access to available and quality services;
• Ensure access to effective and comprehensive case management;
• Ensure men and boys’ engagement in reducing SGBV risks;
• Ensure and increase participation of gatekeepers, stakeholders, and local authorities in the approach to respond and prevent SGBV risks;
• Maintain sustainability and ensure availability of confidential, survivor-centered care, by providing capacity building to local service providers and local partners.

Mercy Corps is therefore looking for local partners to implement activities to  to improve service delivery, develop safe spaces for consultations with survivors and strengthen organizational capacities during the first phase of the program. This initial phase of partnerships is expected to run from the 24th December 2018 to the 24th September 2019. The program will continue to be implemented until the 24th of September 2020, pending signature of a contract with BPRM for the second year of the program, and Mercy Corps anticipates that a second phase of partnerships will take place during the second year of the program.

Sub-awards partners planned activities:

In coordination with Mercy Corps, the partner organizations will:

• Engage in community outreach activities;
• Support the development of a community protection and referral network;
• Support community members to implement initiatives and SGBV community events that are a benefit to their communities.
• Provide awareness sessions and PSS activities;
• Support community members, especially SGBV survivors to access the available services in safe and confidential manner by making referrals;
• Benefit from Mercy Corps capacity building plan.

Sub-award period and Budget:

Subaward Budget: 70,850 USD / Partner.

Subaward Agreement Start Date: Expected the be 24th of December 2018. Expenses incurred prior to this date are not eligible.

Subaward Agreement End Date: 24th September 2019.

Eligibility Criteria for Partners:

• Experience in managing community spaces;
• Experience working in informal settlements;
• Strong relationship and connections within the community, especially with refugee and other populations;
• Experience working with different age-groups including men, women, girls and boys;
• Experience managing SGBV and protection programs;
• Working in the Beqaa or the South areas;
• Strong connection with community stakeholders;
• Good connection with local authorities;
• Experience managing budgets and tracking spending, forecasting, etc;
• Officially licensed from the Ministry of Social  Affairs;
• Established for at least two years.

Budget currency, budgeting instructions and any budget format requirements:

Budget Currency: USD
The applicant is responsible for developing the budget, based on expected actual costs to implement and support the proposed sub-award program activities.

The funds awarded shall be used for the purposes the program description and shall be expended in accordance with the approved budget. The funds provided shall be expended within the amounts funded for the categories of expenses.
All expenditures made with funds provided shall be for costs incurred in carrying out activities during this period.
The Sub-recipient shall not transfer or assign any part of any funds made available under this Sub-award to any other institution or organization for the performance of the functions, duties, or obligations assumed herein unless specifically identified in the approved program description or with the prior written approval of Mercy Corps. This prohibition is not intended to restrict or limit the ability of the Sub-recipient to: rent or lease office facilities, vehicles, or other equipment specifically identified in the approved program description and budget; or enter into contracts for facility and/or equipment maintenance, protection services or for other necessary operational services required to meet the objectives of the approved program description.

Description of eligible (or ineligible) costs:

Eligible costs include any reasonable program or project costs that are needed to effectively and efficiently carry out an approved program project or community event:

“Direct Costs” are costs which can be identified specifically as supporting the implementation of the program activities or which can be allocated to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy.

“Indirect Costs” are costs which are incurred to support the general operations of an organization and are not directly attributable to a particular project.

Description of any procurement rules that flow down to sub-recipients

All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. The recipient will have or establish written procurement procedures, attendance tracking and asset management is mandatory. Procurement records and files shall include the following information at minimum:

• Basis for contractor or vendor selection;
• Justification for lack of competition when competitive bids or offers are not obtained;
• Basis for award cost or price.

The recipient shall be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well as noncompetitive practices among contractors that may restrict or eliminate competition or otherwise restrain trade.

If the Sub-grantee uses any of the money transferred to it by Mercy Corps under this Sub-grant to buy supplies or equipment, it will buy them from local manufacturers in Lebanon (unless otherwise agreed by Mercy Corps), through an open and transparent process reflecting the principles of quality, economy and efficiency. Those supplies and equipment will be bought on the basis of competitive bids or quotations received from local manufacturers that accept the standard UNICEF contractual provisions relating to anti-personnel mines and child labor. Those supplies and equipment will be used, as far as possible, exclusively for implementation of the Program.

Description of financial reporting requirements

The Sub-recipient shall submit a Financial Report to Mercy Corps by the 10th day of the following month. Expenses to be charged against this Sub-award must be for actual costs incurred (on a cash basis only) for authorized activities that are adequately documented.

Financial Reports shall include as an attachment a detailed schedule of the amounts being reported in the current period. The detailed schedule shall be supported by copies of invoices, receipts and other supporting documentation for each transaction.

The format of the financial report template will usually follow the budget categories used for financial reporting under the prime award. The financial report must include the following:

• The period being reported on;
• The currency of the report;
• A comparison of actual expenditures to budget estimates by summary line items for both sub-award funding and match funding;
• Columns for the current reporting period, the cumulative total for prior periods and the grand total for all expenditures through that reporting period.

Host government taxes are not allowable where the Subrecipient has an exemption from such taxes.

Requirement to submit registration document(s) and other standard documentation to show applicant is in good standing with local laws, if applicable for the country

The applicant should submit all registration document(s) and other standard documentation.