Call for Proposals: Assess Existing and Potential Safe Homes, Sustainable Support, Refurbishment and Operationalization of Safe Homes in Three High-Risk Districts, and Develop a Safe Home Model for Sierra Leone

Grounding itself in the United Nations Charter, UN Women works globally to eliminate discrimination against women and girls and promote gender equality as a central priority across development and peacebuilding efforts. Under the framework of the "Empowering Communities Through Gender-Responsive Local Governance" project (2026–2028), a Responsible Party will be selected to implement Activity 2.2.6. This initiative focuses on strengthening community-based response systems to gender-based violence (GBV) by identifying, refurbishing, equipping, and operationalizing survivor-centered safe homes across three high-risk districts in Sierra Leone: Bonthe, Moyamba, and Kambia.

Building upon the national Safe Home Assessment findings and leveraging previous Spotlight Initiative investments, the selected partner will carry out technical evaluations, manage rehabilitation works, install necessary furniture, ICT, and security systems, and establish local management governance structures. Beyond physical infrastructure, the intervention aims to fortify district-level referral mechanisms by directly linking safe homes with Family Support Units, healthcare facilities, legal aid providers, social welfare services, and local councils, while delivering structured training to operating personnel and documenting best practices for future scaling.

Local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will play a strategic role in driving grassroots mobilization, social accountability, advocacy, and monitoring across gender-responsive governance, community protection, and economic empowerment pillars. Eligible candidate organizations must be registered in Sierra Leone with an established presence in at least two target districts, possessing demonstrated technical expertise in GBV programming and the institutional capacity to deliver high-quality interventions. It is in this context that this CFP is launched.