The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from various bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Statement of Purpose

The Asia Foundation is currently implementing a Justice System Strengthening Program (JSSP) in selected districts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh to reduce GBV through increased justice system capacity. The project’s goal is to engage justice sector stakeholders to adequately process GBV cases while prioritizing the needs of the survivors and mobilizing community networks to reduce the incidence of GBV. Public awareness will also be increased to foster accountability around the impact of GBV on society and individual victims.

Geographical areas:

The Foundation invites proposals for implementing awareness and advocacy activities in selected districts across Punjab (10), KP (4), and Sindh (18). Organizations are encouraged to choose provinces based on their expertise and operational presence. When selecting a province, please emphasize ongoing or past work and relevant geographical interventions.

Key Responsibilities/deliverables for Selected Organizations:

1. Provide support in identifying lists for district level training participants from diverse sectors including law enforcement, prosecutors, legal aid professionals, victim advocates, local Jirga officials, and judicial officers at district levels (including Punjab Judicial Academy instructors and ex-judicial officers).
2. Liaison and coordination with government departments focused on women-centric services.
3. Conduct networking and practice-sharing workshops in Punjab, Sindh, and KP geographic clusters to improve inter-departmental coordination, raise awareness of institutional roles, and develop strategies for supporting GBV victims throughout the justice process.
4. Provide support for national showcase event at the end of the project to present key insights, best practices, and project impact to a broader audience of government officials, legal experts, and women’s rights advocates.
5. Conduct innovative community learning platforms and disseminate IEC materials to promote legal rights and redress mechanisms related to GBV.
6. Increase public awareness of GBV issues through knowledge materials, and mobile legal awareness camps in collaboration with relevant government departments. Aim would be to provide women in rural and marginalized communities with access to basic legal services and knowledge of GBV-related rights and referrals.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must have a proven track record of working on issues related to gender-based violence (GBV), legal aid, women’s rights, or the rule of law, with at least five years of relevant experience.
2. Demonstrated experience in conducting awareness, advocacy, or capacity-building activities in the selected provinces (Punjab, KP, Sindh) is required.
3. Organizations must have a significant operational presence in the province(s) they are applying for. Prior or ongoing work in the selected districts should be highlighted, with evidence of geographical interventions in the area.
4. Applicants must have the capacity to implement the proposed activities, including sufficient staff, resources, and local networks to engage with target communities, law enforcement, legal professionals, and other key stakeholders.
5. Organizations should have experience managing similar projects with a demonstrated ability to meet objectives, timelines, and reporting requirements.
6. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnerships or collaborations with local institutions, including government bodies, legal aid organizations, women’s rights groups, and community-based organizations.
7. Preference will be given to organizations with established relationships with local stakeholders such as law enforcement, judiciary, legal aid providers, and advocacy groups.
8. The organization must have experience in monitoring and evaluating project outcomes and reporting on progress, with an established system for tracking activities and ensuring accountability.
9. Applicants should demonstrate a clear plan for sustaining the impact of the project activities beyond the funding period, including strategies for local ownership, long-term advocacy, and ongoing community engagement.
10. Organizations must be legally registered entities in Pakistan and compliant with relevant national laws, including tax and financial regulations. The Foundation welcomes applications from non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) to implement the project activities. The applicant organizations will be assessed further on the provision of the following documents and requirements:

a)      Registration Status/Authority

b)      Valid Not-for-Profit Certification from the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP)

c)      Latest approved Tax Exemption Certificate u/s 2(36) of Income Tax Ordinance 2001 from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)

d)      Status of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD)

e)      Status of Registration/Certification with Charity Commission (relevant province or Federal)

f)        Latest Audited Financial Statements and Audit Report for the last three years from reputable audit firm as included in the list issued by Institute of Chartered Accountant of Pakistan (ICAP).

g)       Organizational Work Profile

     11.  Applicants should have robust financial and administrative management systems in place, including the ability to handle grants and financial reporting. Applicants must have strong financial and administrative management systems in place, including the capacity to handle grants and conduct accurate financial reporting.

Responsibilities of the Foundation

The Foundation will monitor and supervise the progress of the work, provide regular technical support, and feedback and provide support when required.

Intellectual Property 

All information pertaining to this project under the grant, which the organization may come into contact within the performance of their duties under this partnership shall remain the property of The Asia Foundation-Pakistan who shall have exclusive rights over their use. Except for this grant's purposes, the information shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever form without the Foundation's written permission.

Payment Modality

The payment on the grant award will be made in Pakistani Rupees (PKR) against the deliverables and on submission of the report as per the Foundation financial rules and payment conditions stipulated in the grant document.

Proposal Submission Procedure and Deadline:

Sealed Proposals shall be reached at the above office on or before COB September 30, 2024. The proposer must submit the Technical and Financial Proposals in separate sealed envelopes mentioning "Technical Proposal" and "Financial Proposal" on the top of the respective envelopes. Then a big envelope shall be used to cover both proposals, mentioning "Grant proposals for the selection of partner organizations under Justice System Strengthening Program." on the top of the big, sealed envelope. Unsealed Proposals and proposals received after the deadline would be ground for rejection.