Call for Expressions of Interest - virtual consultation around the review of the GFATM Gender Equality Strategy

Deadline: 9^th May 2011

The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA) is a worldwide alliance of civil society groups, networks or women living with HIV, women’s organizations, AIDS service organizations, and the United Nations system, committed to strengthening AIDS programming for women and girls.

Our mission is to mobilize leadership and political will to influence laws, policies, programmes, and funding, to promote action that gives girls and women the power to prevent HIV infection, and to live fulfilling and productive lives when living with HIV. 

In keeping with its 2011 work plan, one of the key processes that the GCWA will engage in throughout 2011 is the review of the gender equality strategy of the Global Fund Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM). We are currently calling for expressions of interest from the GCWA member organizations to undertake this work in partnership.

II. The review process

The GFATM gender equality strategy was approved in November 2008. It focuses on four key areas of intervention:

1. Ensure Global Fund’s policies, procedures and structures (including the CCM, and TRP) effectively support programs that address gender inequalities
2. Establish and strengthen partnerships that effectively support the development and implementation of programs that address gender inequalities and reduce women’s and girls’ vulnerabilities, provide quality technical assistance, and build capacity of groups who are not currently participating in Global Fund processes but should be
3. Develop a robust communications and advocacy strategy that promotes the Gender Equality Strategy and encourages programming for women and girls and men and boys
4. Provide leadership, internally and externally, by supporting, advancing and giving voice to the Gender Equality Strategy
   

The process to review the gender equality strategy is now underway and aims to evaluate the implementation of the strategy and identify if there is a need to modify them in any way. The evaluation will seek to review progress in meeting the challenges faced in implementing the strategy; as well as specifically the progress achieved through a focus on Gender Equality Strategy.

The evaluation will be a year long process, with key milestones including:

• The formation of an Expert Advisory Group (January)
• Invitation for submissions against key themes/questions and key informant interviews  (April/May)
• Focused discussion at Partnership Forum (June)
• Presentation to Global Fund Board (December)
  

III. Undertaking a virtual consultation

As a means to substantively contribute to the review of the gender equality strategy, the GCWA is calling for expressions of interest from member organizations to undertake a virtual consultation to review the operationalisation of the gender strategy to see whether: The consultation will seek to clearly identify and articulate the experience of women around the globe in regards to the implementation of the gender equality strategy, and specifically whether

• It has resulted in greater access to funding for a) networks of women living with HIV and b) women’s health and rights organisation working on HIV related issues
• It has resulted in scaled up programming and service delivery for the needs and right of women and girls in the context of HIV
  

The consultation will be conducted through an online survey, while also inviting partners to propose ways in which the engagement of women who do not have access to the Internet can be facilitated. It is envisioned that the survey will be conducted in at least 6 languages. 

In addition to leading the development of the virtual consultation, the partner organization will be expected to lead in the analysis of the outcomes, developing both a comprehensive report and key messages based on these.

IV. Submitting an Expression of Interest

Expressions of interest must not exceed two pages, and must respond to the following questions:

• What is the mission of the organization and why is it best placed to conduct this work?
• What experience does the organization have around the Gender Equality Strategy of the GFATM?
• How will the organization ensure that a diversity of women, including but not limited to women living with HIV, are meaningfully involved in the consultation?
• How will the organization seek to engage women who are not connected to the Internet?
• What is the budget required to conduct this work?
• What is the timeline under which the work could be completed?

While the GCWA hopes to engage a multiplicity of partners through the consultation, only one lead partner will be selected. Expressions of interest must be sent to gcwamembership@gmail.com with “GENDER REVIEW EOI” in the subject line, no later than 9^th May 2011. Late submissions will not be considered.