AFAD (Association For Alternative Development)

Call for Expression of Interest (EoI) for 3 (Three) Peer Humanitarian Partners (PHPs)
(This opportunity does not include direct funding; only mentoring support will be provided)

1. ToGETHER! – Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timeliness in Humanitarian Emergency Response”

With the support of the German Federal Foreign Office and Malteser International, Association For Alternative Development (AFAD) is implementing in a consortium the localisation program “ToGETHER - Towards Greater Effectiveness and Timeliness in Humanitarian Emergency Response”. The first phase of the program was successfully implemented over four years, from March 2020 to April 2024, across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It provided an opportunity for five local or national organizations in each of the eight participating countries to collaborate in developing and implementing capacity-strengthening and exchange initiatives. These efforts aimed to enhance their institutional and operational capabilities for more effective humanitarian crisis response.

See more information on the website: https://together-for-localisation.org

ToGETHER 2.0 (the second phase) creates space for establishing complementary partnerships and promoting local partners as leading actors in humanitarian response. Currently, the program has five Local Humanitarian Partners (LHPs), with AFAD being one of them in Bangladesh. ToGETHER 2.0 started on May 1, 2024, and will run until April 30, 2027. It focuses on operational activities that directly impact affected populations, including a mentoring component to expand outreach and local knowledge. The program is designed to be as streamlined as possible for efficient implementation. It aims to balance operational and structural aspects, emphasizing key strategic elements of humanitarian assistance such as gender, innovation, and anticipatory humanitarian action.

LHPs will mentor Peer Humanitarian Partners (PHPs) through a peer-mentoring approach. These mentoring activities will help peer humanitarian partner by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and capacities in areas such as due diligence, humanitarian networking, and coordination mechanisms, as well as through participation in LHPs training sessions. AFAD is seeking 3 (three) Peer Humanitarian Partners (PHPs) to participate in the ToGETHER 2.0 program. Selected PHPs will receive mentoring support to enhance their institutional and operational capacities.

2. General Information on AFAD

AFAD (Association For Alternative Development) is a women-led non-profit organization based in northern Bangladesh, actively working since 1999 to empower women and girls for a world of equal opportunities and full potential. AFAD is a dynamic force for positive change, championing gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization addresses a wide range of critical issues, including gender equality, education, economic empowerment, disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change resilience, WASH, livelihood, and the localization of humanitarian aid. AFAD is registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) of the Prime Minister's Office of the People's Republic of the Government of Bangladesh, with registration number 2443. It also obtained registration from the Directorate of Women's Affairs (DWA). Simultaneously, AFAD is registered with the Directorate of Youth Development (DYD), Government of Bangladesh.

3. Information on the application and selection process

We would like to hear from any local NGO/organisation who is interested and motivated to be part of the collaborative mentoring program. The selection of partners will take place in a two-stage process. In the first stage an initial shortlisting of organisations will be carried out based on your expressed motivation, expectations and added value for this program. The second stage will involve a participatory process to ensure that the AFAD and the identified potential Peer Humanitarian Partners (PHP) complement and support each other and are a good fit with the objectives of the program.

Please fill in the Application Form. In the Application Form, in addition to basic information on your organisation, we ask you to share with us your motivation for collaboration in this program, the expectations you place on the program as well as the added values your organisation brings to the program. These constitute the main criteria for selection. Kindly also submit the supporting documentation as stated in the Application Form.

4.PHPs eligibility and qualification criteria

Any local NGO/organisation meeting the below programme-related criteria and administrative requirements are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest.

Be a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) or Department of Social Welfare, or Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, working closely with the local community, with at least 5 years of experience in humanitarian response.
Have a presence and being active in the Kurigram District of Bangladesh.
Organizations representing diverse vulnerable and socially marginalized groups, such as women, youth, and people with disabilities will be given priority.
Have previous experience in humanitarian (or preparedness) action and/or have a double mandate in development and humanitarian action. Have experience in working with marginalized and vulnerable groups.
Be willing to enter a mentorship partnership based on the principles of trust and respect; mutuality; complementarity; transparency, anti-fraud, anti-corruption; accountability.
Be committed to respecting humanitarian standards: Core Humanitarian Standard, Code of Conduct for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief, Do No Harm, Sphere Handbook, Gender and Diversity, Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), Child protection and safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).
Share the vision of the ToGETHER! programme on localizing humanitarian emergency response.

5. Requirements to submit the Expression of Interest (EoI)

The application form forthis Expression of Interest is available in the attached “EOI Application Template” and if you have any question about the call or ToGETHER program, please contact us by phone number +88 01713202608 -during office hours.

Interested organizations are requested to submit their applications alongside the required supporting documents as laid out in the Application Form not later than 26th February 2025, 5:00 pm at afadkuri@gmail.com and indicating in the subject line “Submission: ToGETHER 2.0 Program”. Applications are welcome in English or Bengali languages. Applications will be considered only if meeting all basic requirements are set out in the detailed expression of interest. Shortlisted NGOs will be contacted for further process.