Open Call for Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands in the Horn of Africa

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals to enhance effectiveness of conflict prevention and mitigation, disaster risk reduction and management, and resilience-building in cross-border communities in select border areas in the Horn of Africa.

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:

• Enhanced capacities of formal and informal cross-border stakeholders in conflict prevention and management and social cohesion building, with particular focus on women (and youth).

• Enhanced access to income generating opportunities and shared natural resources for borderlands community members.

Priorities

• The priority(ies) of this call for proposals is/are to:

  • Work with the respective communities and local institutions in the targeted clusters, identifying the underlying causes of conflict prior to implementing conflict prevention and management measures.

  • As previous experience has shown, only a very community-centred implementation model can succeed in the targeted areas.

  • Support communities, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders in becoming more resilient towards both conflict as well as the impacts of other, often climate related, shocks. As outlined in, a number of complementing activities may contribute to this objective, including by working through Disaster Risk Reduction Committees (DRR), improved small-scale infrastructure, improved skills and knowledge and the support to obtain an income from alternative livelihoods to avoid sole dependence on keeping livestock.

  • The proposals are expected to highlight the cross-border nature of the selected clusters. Despite the absence of formal border crossings (apart from Moyale), cross-border communities are very connected and depend on small-scale trade as well as frequently cross-borders to access certain services, such as health and education.

• Ensure that cross-cutting elements are strongly considered in the respective proposals:

  • Environmental Protection & Climate Change: The select border areas are located in arid and semi-arid lands which are vulnerable to climate change. Unpredictable weather patterns, such as long periods of drought followed by heavy rainfall, are leading to less predictable conditions, including on food and water security. Hence, the proposed activities must promote and support landscape approaches based on the dissemination/adoption of climate change adaptation practices (e.g. in agriculture and natural resources management). The proposals must also consider contributions to increased resilience, fighting against desertification and disaster risk reduction.

  • Gender equality and empowerment of women and girls: Gender equality is considered a deliberate objective throughout the programme, hence all activities must actively apply specific targeting and gender sensitive inclusion. This is in line with the EU Gender Action Plan – GAP III, notably area 3: ‘towards a gender-equal world’. Overall, the proposals are expected to consider gender considerations in all the components, phases, stages and activities. It shall draw attention to female-led peace initiatives as well as target female-headed households and women's empowerment when providing sustainable livelihoods interventions.

  • Conflict sensitivity, peace and resilience: Conflict sensitive approaches must guide the design of each proposal. For this, a good knowledge of the actors, causes, dynamics and consequences of conflicts is essential. In addition, it is key to ensure all activities are presented and discussed with community leaders from all involved communities, to ensure no misconceptions arise, especially with regard to access to resources, considered as a key driver of conflict.

  • Human rights: Proposals must be guided by a human rights-based approach with a specific focus on supporting ethnic minority groups.

• Show willingness to coordinate with successful implementing partners in other lots as well as the foreseen coordination component and IGAD. A Steering Committee will be set up across the programme, as well as coordination meetings for each Cluster.

• The proposals should take into consideration the work completed under phase one of the programme: Collaboration in Cross-border areas in the Horn of Africa. Yet, it must consider local and geo-political developments that have occurred since the adoption of the previous programme, while taking into account the severe impact of the ongoing drought and include activities that can strengthen the resilience towards climatic shocks, which are becoming increasingly frequent in the Horn of Africa.

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 34,000,000. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.

  • Lot 1: Karamoja Cluster (focusing on the border region of South Omo/Ethiopia, Turkana/Kenya and Eastern Equatoria/South Sudan)

    • minimum amount: EUR 13,000,000

    • maximum amount: EUR 14,000,000

  • Lot 2: Moyale-Borana Cluster (focusing on the Moyale border area of Kenya and Ethiopia)

    • minimum amount: EUR 5,000,000

    • maximum amount: EUR 6,000,000

  • Lot 3: Somali Cluster (focusing on the Mandera triangle between Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia)

    • minimum amount: EUR 13,000,000

    • maximum amount: EUR 14,000,000.

• Duration: The initial planned duration of an action may not exceed 36 months.

Location

• Actions must take place in the following regions:

  • Lot 1 = Cluster I: Karamoja (focusing on the border regions of South Omo/Ethiopia, Turkana/Kenya and Eastern Equatoria/South Sudan);

  • Lot 2 = Cluster II: Moyale-Borana (focusing on the Moyale border area of Kenya and Ethiopia);

  • Lot 3 = Cluster III: Somali Cluster (focusing on the Mandera triangle between Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia).